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Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Serbian push-ups
Miodrag Gidra Stojanovic holds the world record of 50 in 10 seconds and 29,449 in 24 hours.
Rats would rather starve than eat healthy food
Adding fuel to the idea that junk food is like crack, scientists at Scripps Florida say rats fed high-calorie junk food became addicted to the food and voluntarily starved when given healthy food instead.
Scripps Florida scientists Paul Kenny and Paul Johnson have said that junk food changed the rats' brain chemistry in the same way that chronic cocaine use alters an addicts brain functions.
In the experiment, one group of rats was given healthy, nutritionally balanced food. A different group was given "unlimited access to the worst stuff Johnson could find at [the supermarket] Publix, including bacon, sausage, cheesecake, pound cake, Ding Dongs and frosting."
The junk food group gained weight and became less active. "More surprisingly, the fat rats exhibited the sort of self-destructive behaviour associated with human junkies. The rats would eat junk food even if they knew doing so would result in a mild but distinctly uncomfortable electrical shock to their feet."
The scientists then replaced the unhealthy food with the healthy diet of the first group of rats, and the fat rats refused to eat at all.
Junk food alters the brain's chemistry by releasing dopamine that would normally be released when having sex, snorting cocaine or eating a rich dessert, say the scientists. The junk food-addicted rats learned that the easiest way to experience pleasure was by eating high-calorie, high-fat food. Kenny and Johnson hope the results of the study can help people learn to deal with food addictions.
Scripps Florida scientists Paul Kenny and Paul Johnson have said that junk food changed the rats' brain chemistry in the same way that chronic cocaine use alters an addicts brain functions.
In the experiment, one group of rats was given healthy, nutritionally balanced food. A different group was given "unlimited access to the worst stuff Johnson could find at [the supermarket] Publix, including bacon, sausage, cheesecake, pound cake, Ding Dongs and frosting."
The junk food group gained weight and became less active. "More surprisingly, the fat rats exhibited the sort of self-destructive behaviour associated with human junkies. The rats would eat junk food even if they knew doing so would result in a mild but distinctly uncomfortable electrical shock to their feet."
The scientists then replaced the unhealthy food with the healthy diet of the first group of rats, and the fat rats refused to eat at all.
Junk food alters the brain's chemistry by releasing dopamine that would normally be released when having sex, snorting cocaine or eating a rich dessert, say the scientists. The junk food-addicted rats learned that the easiest way to experience pleasure was by eating high-calorie, high-fat food. Kenny and Johnson hope the results of the study can help people learn to deal with food addictions.
Australian restaurant introduces flip-flop surcharge
Darwin has long been known as Australia’s most relaxed capital city when it comes to dress codes, where soaring temperatures mean shorts, singlets and flip-flops are de rigeur among locals. Even some of the Northern Territory’s politicians are reluctant to wear a suit and tie in parliament.
But a restaurant in Darwin is fighting back against the Top End’s unofficial dress code, charging a $10 (£6) “thongage” surcharge to patrons who wear flip-flops while they dine.
John Spellman, the manager of the Tramontana restaurant said he decided to charge people who wear thongs (the Australian name for the flip-flop, not the type of underwear) after a group of people from a local shoe shop came in for dinner wearing the offending footwear last week.
“I just had enough, I’ve spent 40 years asking people to wear bloody shoes,” Mr Spellman, who even added a ‘thongage’ button to the restaurant’s cash register. “I’m sick of explaining to people how to dress so I figured if I just put a ‘thongage’ on the bill there’d be no complaints.”
But a restaurant in Darwin is fighting back against the Top End’s unofficial dress code, charging a $10 (£6) “thongage” surcharge to patrons who wear flip-flops while they dine.
John Spellman, the manager of the Tramontana restaurant said he decided to charge people who wear thongs (the Australian name for the flip-flop, not the type of underwear) after a group of people from a local shoe shop came in for dinner wearing the offending footwear last week.
“I just had enough, I’ve spent 40 years asking people to wear bloody shoes,” Mr Spellman, who even added a ‘thongage’ button to the restaurant’s cash register. “I’m sick of explaining to people how to dress so I figured if I just put a ‘thongage’ on the bill there’d be no complaints.”
Google translate for animals
Translate for Animals is an application for Android phones that recognises and transcribes words and phrases that are common to a species, like cats for example.
Man jailed for barking at dog
A Monessen man found that a bark can result in a bite from the law when it's directed at a canine police officer.
Norris "Big Dog" Daniels, 57, of Pricedale was sentenced to up to a year in jail after he pleaded guilty Friday to one misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct for barking at Ivo, the Monessen City Police dog.
Monessen police Officer Brian Vitale originally charged Daniels with taunting a police animal, a felony count.
In his arrest report, Vitale said Ivo was in the back seat of a police cruiser on Jan. 27 when Daniels walked up and started barking at the dog. Vitale said he told Daniels to stop, but the barking continued.
"I came around the corner. The kids call me Big Dog," Daniels explained yesterday in a Westmoreland County courtroom. "I saw some pit bulls and started barking at them. The officer assumed I was barking at their dog. I was barking at a little pit bull.
"I was at the wrong place at the wrong time," he said. Unable to post $5,000 bail, Daniels has been in jail since he was taken into custody.
Norris "Big Dog" Daniels, 57, of Pricedale was sentenced to up to a year in jail after he pleaded guilty Friday to one misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct for barking at Ivo, the Monessen City Police dog.
Monessen police Officer Brian Vitale originally charged Daniels with taunting a police animal, a felony count.
In his arrest report, Vitale said Ivo was in the back seat of a police cruiser on Jan. 27 when Daniels walked up and started barking at the dog. Vitale said he told Daniels to stop, but the barking continued.
"I came around the corner. The kids call me Big Dog," Daniels explained yesterday in a Westmoreland County courtroom. "I saw some pit bulls and started barking at them. The officer assumed I was barking at their dog. I was barking at a little pit bull.
"I was at the wrong place at the wrong time," he said. Unable to post $5,000 bail, Daniels has been in jail since he was taken into custody.
Cher's son formalises sex change
Cher's son Chaz Bono has asked a judge in Los Angeles to formally change his name and gender following the sex change surgery he had last year.
The 41-year-old, who was born Chastity Sun Bono, now wants to be known as Chaz Salvatore, according to a petition filed earlier this week.
He revealed last June he had undergone the surgery calling it "the best decision I've ever made".
At the time, Cher promised to support her child on his "difficult journey".
"Although I may not understand, I will strive to be understanding," said the singer, who had Chastity with her first husband, the late Sonny Bono, in 1969.
A hearing has been scheduled for 6 May in Santa Monica, California.
The 41-year-old, who was born Chastity Sun Bono, now wants to be known as Chaz Salvatore, according to a petition filed earlier this week.
He revealed last June he had undergone the surgery calling it "the best decision I've ever made".
At the time, Cher promised to support her child on his "difficult journey".
"Although I may not understand, I will strive to be understanding," said the singer, who had Chastity with her first husband, the late Sonny Bono, in 1969.
A hearing has been scheduled for 6 May in Santa Monica, California.
Chinese army recruit shows how not to throw a grenade
A Chinese army recruit somehow managed to escape unhurt after throwing a badly aimed grenade.
The grenade hit a wall, ricocheting back to explode in the recruit's training bunker. Nobody was hurt.
The grenade hit a wall, ricocheting back to explode in the recruit's training bunker. Nobody was hurt.
Monkey bites off owner's thumbs
To a disabled Vietnam vet in Virginia, his pet monkey "Noah" is like his own son. Babe Hameric said he's used the animal to help cope with post-traumatic war stress.
"When I get ready to go into an anxiety attack, he'll jump up on me and hug me around the neck and he'll chatter in my ear so I know it's time to sit down and relax," he said.
But after losing both of his thumbs in an attack two weeks ago and suffering another attack just this week, the former soldier is having second thoughts.
Local animal control officers said Hameric has told them he's now willing to give up the monkey for adoption. "Even though this happened, he's still my baby," Hameric said.
With news video.
"When I get ready to go into an anxiety attack, he'll jump up on me and hug me around the neck and he'll chatter in my ear so I know it's time to sit down and relax," he said.
But after losing both of his thumbs in an attack two weeks ago and suffering another attack just this week, the former soldier is having second thoughts.
Local animal control officers said Hameric has told them he's now willing to give up the monkey for adoption. "Even though this happened, he's still my baby," Hameric said.
With news video.
Biodegradable bag to clean up Kenya slum's 'flying toilets'
Trials of a disposable toilet bag have been carried out by families in the Kenyan slum of Kibera, before it reaches the market in a few months. The "Peepoo" is a small biodegradable bag coated with a chemical which turns human waste into fertiliser.
Kibera - East Africa's largest informal settlement - lacks sewers and suffers from poor levels of sanitation. Residents frequently use polythene bags, known as "flying toilets", to dispose of their waste.
It is hoped the Peepoo will provide a cleaner, more environmentally friendly alternative to the flying toilets, which have contaminated Kibera's water sources and caused the spread of disease.
Peepoo's inventor, Anders Wilhelmson, said the biodegradable bag would actually save money, as it was chemically treated so that it could turn human waste into fertiliser.
He said the product was safe and easy to use. "It doesn't smell for up to 24 hours, so you can use it inside, during the night, and the day, and then have it collected, or just use it in your back garden," he said.
Dickson Matu Makau, who was in charge of distributing and collecting the used bags, said that the Peepoo proved to be very popular and was much preferred to the flying toilets. The Peepoo will be free or cost the same as a traditional plastic bag.
Kibera - East Africa's largest informal settlement - lacks sewers and suffers from poor levels of sanitation. Residents frequently use polythene bags, known as "flying toilets", to dispose of their waste.
It is hoped the Peepoo will provide a cleaner, more environmentally friendly alternative to the flying toilets, which have contaminated Kibera's water sources and caused the spread of disease.
Peepoo's inventor, Anders Wilhelmson, said the biodegradable bag would actually save money, as it was chemically treated so that it could turn human waste into fertiliser.
He said the product was safe and easy to use. "It doesn't smell for up to 24 hours, so you can use it inside, during the night, and the day, and then have it collected, or just use it in your back garden," he said.
Dickson Matu Makau, who was in charge of distributing and collecting the used bags, said that the Peepoo proved to be very popular and was much preferred to the flying toilets. The Peepoo will be free or cost the same as a traditional plastic bag.
Farmer killed by out-of-control manure hose
A 50-year-old Tyrolean farmer died after he was hit on the head by a liquid manure hose. Police in Innerzehent in the province’s Innsbruck-Land district said today the man died before an ambulance team arrived.
They explained the man’s 79-year-old father pumped manure through the hose onto a steep field without being aware that his son, who was standing around 100 metres uphill, was unprepared for the manure avalanche.
They explained the man’s 79-year-old father pumped manure through the hose onto a steep field without being aware that his son, who was standing around 100 metres uphill, was unprepared for the manure avalanche.
Pineberries ready for spring eating
What looks like a strawberry, but is white and tastes like a pineapple? A pineberry, of course.
While the delicacy might look like a faded strawberry, it is said to have the exotic flavour and smell of a pineapple.
If the pineberry tantalises your tastebuds, you best be quick - they are only in season for the next five weeks.
The fruit, which has the same genetic make-up as the common strawberry, originated in South America where it grew wild.
It had been near to extinction until seven years ago when Dutch farmers saved it.
Now it is grown commercially in glasshouses, turning from green to white and is ripe when the seeds turn dark red.
While the delicacy might look like a faded strawberry, it is said to have the exotic flavour and smell of a pineapple.
If the pineberry tantalises your tastebuds, you best be quick - they are only in season for the next five weeks.
The fruit, which has the same genetic make-up as the common strawberry, originated in South America where it grew wild.
It had been near to extinction until seven years ago when Dutch farmers saved it.
Now it is grown commercially in glasshouses, turning from green to white and is ripe when the seeds turn dark red.
Hadron Collider II planned for Circle Line
London Underground is in talks with the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (Cern) about the possibility of using the 23km tunnel of the Circle Line to house a new type of particle accelerator similar to the Large Hadron Collider in Geneva.
Particle physicists believe the existing tunnel can be adapted to take a small-scale "atom smasher" alongside the passenger line at a fraction of the cost of building a new tunnel elsewhere in Europe. They are understood to have approached London Underground with a view to announcing a feasibility study later this year.
Specialist engineers commissioned by Cern have already produced a preliminary report which proposes installing supercooled magnets and collision detectors at strategic positions on the Circle Line. The main collision experiment will be sited at the newly refurbished Westminster Station, directly below Portcullis House, the offices of more than 200 MPs.
Although there are still considerable technical problems to overcome, such as a geo-magnetic "kink" in the circuitry at Edgware Road station, Cern is quietly confident that it will be able to convince London Underground of the merits of the scheme, which should result in the first air-conditioned underground line as a spin-off of installing supercooled magnets below ground.
The idea was initially mooted in the mid-1980s as an alternative site to the 27km tunnel below Geneva but the idea was dropped. Now, with improvements in technology and miniaturisation of the equipment, Cern believes it can build a successor to the Large Hadron Collider within the Circle line by 2020.
It would mean that two beams of protons would be travelling in clockwise and counterclockwise directions at 99.999999 per cent of the speed of light, within feet of Circle line passengers stuck in perpetual immobility. However, health and safety advisers to London Underground are understood to be concerned about the proposal, and have raised the prospect of a mini black hole being created at Westminster when the two proton beams collide to recreate the conditions of the Big Bang.
Particle physicists believe the existing tunnel can be adapted to take a small-scale "atom smasher" alongside the passenger line at a fraction of the cost of building a new tunnel elsewhere in Europe. They are understood to have approached London Underground with a view to announcing a feasibility study later this year.
Specialist engineers commissioned by Cern have already produced a preliminary report which proposes installing supercooled magnets and collision detectors at strategic positions on the Circle Line. The main collision experiment will be sited at the newly refurbished Westminster Station, directly below Portcullis House, the offices of more than 200 MPs.
Although there are still considerable technical problems to overcome, such as a geo-magnetic "kink" in the circuitry at Edgware Road station, Cern is quietly confident that it will be able to convince London Underground of the merits of the scheme, which should result in the first air-conditioned underground line as a spin-off of installing supercooled magnets below ground.
The idea was initially mooted in the mid-1980s as an alternative site to the 27km tunnel below Geneva but the idea was dropped. Now, with improvements in technology and miniaturisation of the equipment, Cern believes it can build a successor to the Large Hadron Collider within the Circle line by 2020.
It would mean that two beams of protons would be travelling in clockwise and counterclockwise directions at 99.999999 per cent of the speed of light, within feet of Circle line passengers stuck in perpetual immobility. However, health and safety advisers to London Underground are understood to be concerned about the proposal, and have raised the prospect of a mini black hole being created at Westminster when the two proton beams collide to recreate the conditions of the Big Bang.
Labour's election strategy unleashes Gordon McBroon's inner hard man
In an audacious new election strategy, Labour is set to embrace Gordon Brown's reputation for anger and physical aggression, presenting the prime minister as a hard man, unafraid of confrontation, who is willing to take on David Cameron in "a bare-knuckle fistfight for the future of Britain".
Following months of allegations about Brown's explosive outbursts and bullying, Downing Street will seize the initiative this week with a national billboard campaign portraying him as "a sort of Dirty Harry figure", in the words of a senior aide. One poster shows a glowering Brown alongside the caption "Step outside, posh boy," while another asks "Do you want some of this?"
Brown aides had worried that his reputation for volatility might torpedo Labour's hopes of re-election, but recent internal polls suggest that, on the contrary, stories of Brown's testosterone-fuelled eruptions have been almost entirely responsible for a recent recovery in the party's popularity. As a result, the aide said, Labour was "going all in", staking the election on the hope that voters will be drawn to an alpha-male personality who "is prepared to pummel, punch or even headbutt the British economy into a new era of jobs and prosperity".
Strategists are even understood to be considering engineering a high-profile incident of violence on the campaign trail, and are in urgent consultations on the matter with John Prescott, whose public image improved in 2001 after he punched an egg-throwing protester.
The Brown team has been buoyed by focus group results suggesting that an outbreak of physical fighting during the campaign, preferably involving bloodshed and broken limbs, could re-engage an electorate increasingly apathetic about politics. They also hope they can exploit the so-called "Putin effect", and are said to be exploring opportunities for Brown to be photographed killing a wild animal, though advisers have recommended that weather, and other considerations, mean Brown should not remove his shirt.
You can see the full poster campaign here.
Following months of allegations about Brown's explosive outbursts and bullying, Downing Street will seize the initiative this week with a national billboard campaign portraying him as "a sort of Dirty Harry figure", in the words of a senior aide. One poster shows a glowering Brown alongside the caption "Step outside, posh boy," while another asks "Do you want some of this?"
Brown aides had worried that his reputation for volatility might torpedo Labour's hopes of re-election, but recent internal polls suggest that, on the contrary, stories of Brown's testosterone-fuelled eruptions have been almost entirely responsible for a recent recovery in the party's popularity. As a result, the aide said, Labour was "going all in", staking the election on the hope that voters will be drawn to an alpha-male personality who "is prepared to pummel, punch or even headbutt the British economy into a new era of jobs and prosperity".
Strategists are even understood to be considering engineering a high-profile incident of violence on the campaign trail, and are in urgent consultations on the matter with John Prescott, whose public image improved in 2001 after he punched an egg-throwing protester.
The Brown team has been buoyed by focus group results suggesting that an outbreak of physical fighting during the campaign, preferably involving bloodshed and broken limbs, could re-engage an electorate increasingly apathetic about politics. They also hope they can exploit the so-called "Putin effect", and are said to be exploring opportunities for Brown to be photographed killing a wild animal, though advisers have recommended that weather, and other considerations, mean Brown should not remove his shirt.
You can see the full poster campaign here.
AA rocketmen to fly to the rescue of stranded motorists
Next time you break down on the motorway don't scan the road for the AA van to arrive. Look up in the sky. The breakdown rescue service is launching a rapid response patrol that will see 'AA Rocketmen' in lightweight jet-packs flitting over traffic jams to reach stranded motorists.
The AA has chosen today, the first day of the annual Easter getaway, to test the service. It follows a series of secret trials at Dunsfold Aerodrome near Guildford. Film of the early trials shows patrolmen taking off and landing with pin-point accuracy.
Today's test will be carried out on the M25 between Surrey and Heathrow Airport between dawn and noon. The Transport Department and the Civil Aviation Authority will then rule on whether the scheme can be extended across Britain later this year. The AA, or Automobile Association, was founded to help motorists in distress.
But until now, its solutions have been very much on the ground - with a fleet of vans, motorcycles and electric scooters. This is the first time the AA has tried to go over the traffic rather than through it to reach stranded drivers.
With news video. There's more information at the AA website.
The AA has chosen today, the first day of the annual Easter getaway, to test the service. It follows a series of secret trials at Dunsfold Aerodrome near Guildford. Film of the early trials shows patrolmen taking off and landing with pin-point accuracy.
Today's test will be carried out on the M25 between Surrey and Heathrow Airport between dawn and noon. The Transport Department and the Civil Aviation Authority will then rule on whether the scheme can be extended across Britain later this year. The AA, or Automobile Association, was founded to help motorists in distress.
But until now, its solutions have been very much on the ground - with a fleet of vans, motorcycles and electric scooters. This is the first time the AA has tried to go over the traffic rather than through it to reach stranded drivers.
With news video. There's more information at the AA website.
World's first ever calorie negative Diet Cola Bottle launched
Woolworths.co.uk have launched the world’s first ever calorie negative sweet - the Diet Cola Bottle.
The sweet, part of its Pic n’ Mix range, burns more calories when eating and digesting than the sweet actually contains.
Matthew Jacques, Head of brand at Woolworths.co.uk, says “The Diet Cola Bottle looks almost identical and tastes equally as good as the original cola bottle, but without the calories.”
Woolworths.co.uk has worked closely with health and nutritional expert Prof. A.Prilfoolius to develop the Diet Cola Bottle.
The slimming sweet contains seven calories, 50 per cent less than the original.
Energy expended on chewing and digestion uses nine calories meaning each sweet effectively contains minus two calories per bottle. Eating 100g of Diet Cola Bottles can clock up minus 140 calories.
The sweet, part of its Pic n’ Mix range, burns more calories when eating and digesting than the sweet actually contains.
Matthew Jacques, Head of brand at Woolworths.co.uk, says “The Diet Cola Bottle looks almost identical and tastes equally as good as the original cola bottle, but without the calories.”
Woolworths.co.uk has worked closely with health and nutritional expert Prof. A.Prilfoolius to develop the Diet Cola Bottle.
The slimming sweet contains seven calories, 50 per cent less than the original.
Energy expended on chewing and digestion uses nine calories meaning each sweet effectively contains minus two calories per bottle. Eating 100g of Diet Cola Bottles can clock up minus 140 calories.
Sustainable fishing move could help your cat reduce its eco pawprint
For the environmentalist who has done it all, from greening their home to decarbonising their travel, there's a new frontier: greening their pet.
Later this year the UK's 8m cat owners will, for the first time, be able to feed their kitties their favourite fish with a clear conscience.
Whiskas and Sheba pet foods are to become the first to sell products using Marine Stewardship Council-certified fish, which is caught sustainably and without threatening further dwindling stocks.
While eight out of 10 cats are likely to have no opinion on the provenance of their fish, Mark Johnson of manufacturer Mars Petcare said people were increasingly aware of the importance of sustainability.
But pet lovers have so far been limited to giving their animals human food such as sustainably caught tinned tuna: an expensive way to limit their pets' ecological impact.
While cats and dogs may seem unlikely environmental villains, UK pet owners buy 1.5m tonnes of food a year and globally there are an estimated 750m pets who consume 20m tonnes annually.
Later this year the UK's 8m cat owners will, for the first time, be able to feed their kitties their favourite fish with a clear conscience.
Whiskas and Sheba pet foods are to become the first to sell products using Marine Stewardship Council-certified fish, which is caught sustainably and without threatening further dwindling stocks.
While eight out of 10 cats are likely to have no opinion on the provenance of their fish, Mark Johnson of manufacturer Mars Petcare said people were increasingly aware of the importance of sustainability.
But pet lovers have so far been limited to giving their animals human food such as sustainably caught tinned tuna: an expensive way to limit their pets' ecological impact.
While cats and dogs may seem unlikely environmental villains, UK pet owners buy 1.5m tonnes of food a year and globally there are an estimated 750m pets who consume 20m tonnes annually.
Police told "Santa" driving speeding car
A man told police "Santa" was driving his car when it was snapped by a speed camera travelling at 79 mph. Paul Ellard, 24, from Connah's Quay, wrote on a formal notice it was not a VW car, but a sleigh "pulled by Rudolph and the rest of the gang at 379 mph." A court heard the car was travelling in a 30mph zone at Pentre, Deeside.
Ellard denied failing to provide the information but did not attend a trial at Flintshire magistrates' court where the case was proved in his absence. Magistrates heard he had crossed out his name on the form and replaced it with Santa Claus and crossed out the make of car and replaced it with a sleigh. In a section asking for the driver's contact details Ellard wrote the driver lived at "Santa's Grotto in the North Pole" where he said "the town is freezing and full of elves."
Prosecutor John Wylde told the court: "That does not provide sufficient information to enable the prosecution to identify the driver." Magistrates adjourned sentencing to a future date for him to attend because he already had six penalty points on his driving licence. He faces a driving ban. Magistrates joked whether anyone had checked with the North Pole. Legal adviser Tracey Etienne said: "We have been assured that in September that Santa was busy wrapping presents and had then gone on holiday with Mrs Santa Claus!"
The court heard how the car had within a few months had a number of different registered keepers. Originally from south Wales, it was now registered to a man in Glasgow, but the court heard that Ellard was said to be in possession of it at the time. It was stressed that he was not being prosecuted for speeding but for failing to provide sufficient information about the driver at the time of the speeding offence.
Ellard denied failing to provide the information but did not attend a trial at Flintshire magistrates' court where the case was proved in his absence. Magistrates heard he had crossed out his name on the form and replaced it with Santa Claus and crossed out the make of car and replaced it with a sleigh. In a section asking for the driver's contact details Ellard wrote the driver lived at "Santa's Grotto in the North Pole" where he said "the town is freezing and full of elves."
Prosecutor John Wylde told the court: "That does not provide sufficient information to enable the prosecution to identify the driver." Magistrates adjourned sentencing to a future date for him to attend because he already had six penalty points on his driving licence. He faces a driving ban. Magistrates joked whether anyone had checked with the North Pole. Legal adviser Tracey Etienne said: "We have been assured that in September that Santa was busy wrapping presents and had then gone on holiday with Mrs Santa Claus!"
The court heard how the car had within a few months had a number of different registered keepers. Originally from south Wales, it was now registered to a man in Glasgow, but the court heard that Ellard was said to be in possession of it at the time. It was stressed that he was not being prosecuted for speeding but for failing to provide sufficient information about the driver at the time of the speeding offence.
Ferrets used to lay digital cables
Specially trained ferrets are being used to deliver broadband to rural areas following groundbreaking techniques used by an Internet provider.
The animals have been used by Virgin Media for over a year to help lay cables for its broadband service, the company has disclosed.
The ferrets wear jackets fitted with a microchip which is able to analyse any breaks or damage in the underground network.
The development could help increase broadband in current Internet "dead zones", giving access to inaccessible places, and and helping bridge the 'digital divide'.
The animals have been used by Virgin Media for over a year to help lay cables for its broadband service, the company has disclosed.
The ferrets wear jackets fitted with a microchip which is able to analyse any breaks or damage in the underground network.
The development could help increase broadband in current Internet "dead zones", giving access to inaccessible places, and and helping bridge the 'digital divide'.
Boots refused to print student's pictures because they were 'too good'
A photography student was told by staff at Boots that they would not print her pictures - because they appeared to be of professional standard.
Joanna Ornowska, 25, photographed her pregnant best friend Malgorzata Kulinsha last week so that Miss Kulinsha could show her family the pictures.
But the pair were astonished when Boots refused to print the pictures because they suspected they were professional shots illegally downloaded on the internet.
Boots' policy on copyright means it is illegal to print photographs taken by a professional photographer without their permission.
Miss Ornowska showed staff her student ID and a letter from the university proving they were her photos but the manager at the store in the Lower Precinct shopping centre in Coventry, West Midlands, still turned her away.
A Boots spokesman said: ''We have a legal obligation to ensure that we don't infringe any copyright laws including those of professional photographers. In the case of Joanna our store staff were over cautious and on reflection could have sold the pictures. We've refreshed all procedures in this particular store and the staff have been fully briefed regarding appropriate customer care.''
You can see some of the photos here.
Joanna Ornowska, 25, photographed her pregnant best friend Malgorzata Kulinsha last week so that Miss Kulinsha could show her family the pictures.
But the pair were astonished when Boots refused to print the pictures because they suspected they were professional shots illegally downloaded on the internet.
Boots' policy on copyright means it is illegal to print photographs taken by a professional photographer without their permission.
Miss Ornowska showed staff her student ID and a letter from the university proving they were her photos but the manager at the store in the Lower Precinct shopping centre in Coventry, West Midlands, still turned her away.
A Boots spokesman said: ''We have a legal obligation to ensure that we don't infringe any copyright laws including those of professional photographers. In the case of Joanna our store staff were over cautious and on reflection could have sold the pictures. We've refreshed all procedures in this particular store and the staff have been fully briefed regarding appropriate customer care.''
You can see some of the photos here.
New innovation set to take football by storm
Football authorities have been secretly testing 'ref-mobile' Segways - and they will be used in the Blue Square Premier next season.
Blackburn manager, Sam Allardyce, believes the motorised two-wheeler will keep referees up to speed with the game's fastest players.
Allardyce said: "Players are athletes and we can't expect refs to keep up with them for a full 90 minutes, so this gives them a real edge.
"We can no longer say the referee was nowhere near the incident because, with this, he will be."
Top referee Mark Halsey said: "Not only does the innovation help referees keep right up with play it will also mean older, more experienced refs will not be lost to the game. It's easy to move it round the pitch. This could be the biggest move forward in refereeing yet."
If the experiment works in non-league, the idea will be put forward to UEFA for it to be introduced all over Europe.
With news video.
Blackburn manager, Sam Allardyce, believes the motorised two-wheeler will keep referees up to speed with the game's fastest players.
Allardyce said: "Players are athletes and we can't expect refs to keep up with them for a full 90 minutes, so this gives them a real edge.
"We can no longer say the referee was nowhere near the incident because, with this, he will be."
Top referee Mark Halsey said: "Not only does the innovation help referees keep right up with play it will also mean older, more experienced refs will not be lost to the game. It's easy to move it round the pitch. This could be the biggest move forward in refereeing yet."
If the experiment works in non-league, the idea will be put forward to UEFA for it to be introduced all over Europe.
With news video.
Jail for man who broke into woman's home to frame husband for child porn
A man has been sent to prison after he attempted to force his way into a female colleague’s life by breaking into her house and framing her husband for downloading child pornography. Ilkka Karttunen, who was born in Finland, became obsessed by a co-worker and hoped that he could forge a relationship with her if he could break up her marriage, jurors at Basildon Crown Court were told.
He sneaked into her home in Southend, Essex, while she and her family were asleep and used the family computer to download images of children being abused, the jury was told. Kartunnen, 48, who denied charges of harrassment, perverting the course of justice and making indecent images of children between December 2008 and March 2009, then stole the computer’s hard drive and sent it anonymously to police with a note stating that it had been taken from his victim’s address.
Suzanne Stringer, for the prosecution, said that police officers went to the house of the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and arrested her husband on suspicion of possession of indecent images of children. “This had a devastating effect on the family as he was given no access to his young children or his home while he was under investigation and he had to live with the trauma of being accused of crimes against young children, of which he is wholly innocent,” she said. Karttunen was arrested and his computer was analysed using specialist software designed for use in terrorist cases.
Miss Stringer said that it was one of the most unusual cases she had ever encountered. “He had been inside the home of his colleague at night whilst the family were upstairs asleep and had downloaded the contents of their home computer. In doing this Karttunnen had hoped to have an innocent man arrested and imprisoned so he could take his place in the family. The lengths this man went to in order to pursue a fantasy were incredible. We only hope the family can now move forward positively with their lives.” Karttunnen denied the charges against him, but a jury convicted him on Friday. He was sentenced to four and a half years in prison. He was also made subject to a restraining order and has been ordered to sign the sex offenders register.
He sneaked into her home in Southend, Essex, while she and her family were asleep and used the family computer to download images of children being abused, the jury was told. Kartunnen, 48, who denied charges of harrassment, perverting the course of justice and making indecent images of children between December 2008 and March 2009, then stole the computer’s hard drive and sent it anonymously to police with a note stating that it had been taken from his victim’s address.
Suzanne Stringer, for the prosecution, said that police officers went to the house of the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and arrested her husband on suspicion of possession of indecent images of children. “This had a devastating effect on the family as he was given no access to his young children or his home while he was under investigation and he had to live with the trauma of being accused of crimes against young children, of which he is wholly innocent,” she said. Karttunen was arrested and his computer was analysed using specialist software designed for use in terrorist cases.
Miss Stringer said that it was one of the most unusual cases she had ever encountered. “He had been inside the home of his colleague at night whilst the family were upstairs asleep and had downloaded the contents of their home computer. In doing this Karttunnen had hoped to have an innocent man arrested and imprisoned so he could take his place in the family. The lengths this man went to in order to pursue a fantasy were incredible. We only hope the family can now move forward positively with their lives.” Karttunnen denied the charges against him, but a jury convicted him on Friday. He was sentenced to four and a half years in prison. He was also made subject to a restraining order and has been ordered to sign the sex offenders register.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Jack the dog has great football skills
Paws only.
He also appears to have the run of a very nice room.
He also appears to have the run of a very nice room.
Billboard campaign in New York asks youths to pull up sagging pants
A new billboard campaign in Brooklyn is asking young people to clean up their acts by pulling up their pants. It's a public appeal to "stop the sag."
The 22-foot tall billboards will feature the backsides of two male models with their pants so low their underwear is exposed. They will appear in six locations around Brooklyn, primarily in Crown Heights. State Sen. Eric Adams unveiled the prototype on Sunday.
"When you raise your pants you raise your character. When you raise pants your raise your grades. When you raise your pants you reaise your self-esteem. Then you raise how you feel about yourself," he said. Adams said he paid $2,000 for the billboards with campaign funds.
The 22-foot tall billboards will feature the backsides of two male models with their pants so low their underwear is exposed. They will appear in six locations around Brooklyn, primarily in Crown Heights. State Sen. Eric Adams unveiled the prototype on Sunday.
"When you raise your pants you raise your character. When you raise pants your raise your grades. When you raise your pants you reaise your self-esteem. Then you raise how you feel about yourself," he said. Adams said he paid $2,000 for the billboards with campaign funds.
Police chase ends abruptly when suspect unwittingly breaks into prison
A police chase ended with a suspect scaling a fence into a prison yard. It happened around 1 a.m. on Monday morning, after Garfield Heights Police say they tried to pull over a driver for failing to signal. Police say 20-year-old Ricky Flowers, II, took off on a high speed chase, reaching speeds of more than 90 miles an hour.
The chase spanned several communities and two local interstates, I-480 and I-77, before ending up in the most ironic of places, The Northeast Pre-Release Center for Women at E. 30th and Broadway. The men jumped out of the car and took off on foot. Police say Mitchell Byers, 19, and Lamar Sullins, 19, ran down a dead-end ally and were captured by police.
Gabriel Huston, 20, tried to scale the fence at the womens prison, but was tasered by police from another department. Ricky Flowers managed to jump the fence but that's where his luck runs out. "He ended up in the prison yard," said Capt. Robert Sackett.
"He was apprehended. He had no where to go. It was a little easier to get in than get out, apparently." Now he and his three passengers are facing a slew of charges, including fleeing and eluding and obstructing justice.
With news video.
The chase spanned several communities and two local interstates, I-480 and I-77, before ending up in the most ironic of places, The Northeast Pre-Release Center for Women at E. 30th and Broadway. The men jumped out of the car and took off on foot. Police say Mitchell Byers, 19, and Lamar Sullins, 19, ran down a dead-end ally and were captured by police.
Gabriel Huston, 20, tried to scale the fence at the womens prison, but was tasered by police from another department. Ricky Flowers managed to jump the fence but that's where his luck runs out. "He ended up in the prison yard," said Capt. Robert Sackett.
"He was apprehended. He had no where to go. It was a little easier to get in than get out, apparently." Now he and his three passengers are facing a slew of charges, including fleeing and eluding and obstructing justice.
With news video.
Seattle studio offers yoga for dogs
A Seattle yoga studio is opening its classes to four-legged friends.
In its "doga" class, the "downward dog" pose is done with real dogs.
The goal is to bring the soothing spiritual benefits of yoga to our furry friends. Brenda Bryan just opened the studio about a month ago and says it's been a real hit with dog lovers and their pets alike.
Dogs like it because they get stretched and massaged. Owners like it because the get to spend quality time with their pets.
Brenda says "doga" is more than just rubbing bellies and scratching behind the ears. It's about connecting with your pooch on a deeper level.
She also says the classes teach the pups to relax and have their legs stretched and paws handled, which can really help when it comes to grooming.
In its "doga" class, the "downward dog" pose is done with real dogs.
The goal is to bring the soothing spiritual benefits of yoga to our furry friends. Brenda Bryan just opened the studio about a month ago and says it's been a real hit with dog lovers and their pets alike.
Dogs like it because they get stretched and massaged. Owners like it because the get to spend quality time with their pets.
Brenda says "doga" is more than just rubbing bellies and scratching behind the ears. It's about connecting with your pooch on a deeper level.
She also says the classes teach the pups to relax and have their legs stretched and paws handled, which can really help when it comes to grooming.
Motherfudging school production of Scarface is not all that it seems
A video of a group of school children performing the gangster film Scarface has become a viral hit.
But it's the work of director Marc Klasfeld and Rockhard Films who did the videos for Lady Gaga's "Pokerface" and Adam Lambert's "For Your Entertainment." It was produced in L.A. within the last few weeks and the audience members were a mix of cast family members, colleagues and friends.
Via: Cynical-C.
But it's the work of director Marc Klasfeld and Rockhard Films who did the videos for Lady Gaga's "Pokerface" and Adam Lambert's "For Your Entertainment." It was produced in L.A. within the last few weeks and the audience members were a mix of cast family members, colleagues and friends.
Via: Cynical-C.
Cucumber in rear was 'failed suicide bid'
A Hong Kong man, taken to the hospital to have a cucumber removed from his bottom, told doctors he inserted it in a suicide attempt.
Chin Wei, 62, said the method was a variation of the Japanese ritual suicide hara-kiri - usually carried out with a sword plunged into one's own stomach.
He was found in a pool of blood by his daughter before being rushed to receive medical health.
Medics said a severe tear to the man's anus was not life-threatening.
Chin Wei, 62, said the method was a variation of the Japanese ritual suicide hara-kiri - usually carried out with a sword plunged into one's own stomach.
He was found in a pool of blood by his daughter before being rushed to receive medical health.
Medics said a severe tear to the man's anus was not life-threatening.
Rescuers free boy from narrow pipe in China
A rescue team in northwest China has managed to free a seven-year-old boy trapped in a narrow pipe.
The first rescue attempt involved hoisting the thinnest member of the group down the pipe to try to attach a harness around him.
But the boy was too far down to reach and the rescuer could not get his shoulders into the pipe.
A group of firemen then lowered a makeshift harness down and encouraged the boy to grab it, and eventually hauled him out. The boy emerged shocked but otherwise uninjured. It is unclear how the boy became trapped in the pipe.
The first rescue attempt involved hoisting the thinnest member of the group down the pipe to try to attach a harness around him.
But the boy was too far down to reach and the rescuer could not get his shoulders into the pipe.
A group of firemen then lowered a makeshift harness down and encouraged the boy to grab it, and eventually hauled him out. The boy emerged shocked but otherwise uninjured. It is unclear how the boy became trapped in the pipe.
Stranger answers man's misdialed call for help
A misdialed call probably saved the life of a cancer patient desperately reaching out for help. Dan Oien, 62, who suffers from brain cancer, had a medical emergency in the early hours of March 7, and tried to call for help.
But Oien misdialed, and reached Aquarius Arnolds, a student at Indiana University Purdue University-Indianapolis, instead. "I didn't know who it is so I just decided to answer the phone and see. I couldn't understand anything the caller was saying," she said.
Arnolds said her first instinct was to hang up, but that something kept her on the line. "It seemed like he was in distress, so I just said, you know, do you need help, and he belted out 'Yes,' and that was the only thing I could understand," she said. With only the man's phone number to go off of, Arnolds called 911 and helped dispatchers get help to Oien.
"When the police got there, they had to kick down his door and they couldn't understand anything he was saying. He couldn't talk and he was in constant seizures" said Oien's girlfriend, Sherry Proctor. "I think that I would have come home and found him dead, or in worst shape than what he was."
She called Arnolds Oien's guardian angel, giving family members time to travel to Indiana to see him for what will likely be the last time. "His brothers came from Minnesota, Florida and Georgia, and I don't think they would have ever seen him alive again had it not been for her," Proctor said.
Oien is now in a nursing home, where Arnolds has visited him several times. "He was able to wave, blow a kiss to me and hold my hand," she said. Proctor said she's just thankful Oien found a caring person on the other end of his early-morning call for help. "He dialed one phone number and it just happened to be the right person," she said. "I thank God for that."
With news video.
But Oien misdialed, and reached Aquarius Arnolds, a student at Indiana University Purdue University-Indianapolis, instead. "I didn't know who it is so I just decided to answer the phone and see. I couldn't understand anything the caller was saying," she said.
Arnolds said her first instinct was to hang up, but that something kept her on the line. "It seemed like he was in distress, so I just said, you know, do you need help, and he belted out 'Yes,' and that was the only thing I could understand," she said. With only the man's phone number to go off of, Arnolds called 911 and helped dispatchers get help to Oien.
"When the police got there, they had to kick down his door and they couldn't understand anything he was saying. He couldn't talk and he was in constant seizures" said Oien's girlfriend, Sherry Proctor. "I think that I would have come home and found him dead, or in worst shape than what he was."
She called Arnolds Oien's guardian angel, giving family members time to travel to Indiana to see him for what will likely be the last time. "His brothers came from Minnesota, Florida and Georgia, and I don't think they would have ever seen him alive again had it not been for her," Proctor said.
Oien is now in a nursing home, where Arnolds has visited him several times. "He was able to wave, blow a kiss to me and hold my hand," she said. Proctor said she's just thankful Oien found a caring person on the other end of his early-morning call for help. "He dialed one phone number and it just happened to be the right person," she said. "I thank God for that."
With news video.
Dramatic rescue for raccoon with jar stuck on its head
The saga began in the back yard of a Pass Christian home. Bill Broadway found a raccoon with a jar struck on its head.
Broadway wanted to save the animal, so he called volunteers from the Wildlife Rehabilitation and Nature Preservation Society for help.
"I knew it couldn't get food, couldn't get water," Broadway said. "I didn't have a clue as to how long she would be able to last without the food and water, but I definitely knew she was in danger."
But getting the animal help was no easy task. It took four days to finally trap the raccoon. It was immediately taken to the clinic run by Dr. Jennifer Griffin. But efforts to get the coon out of the trap were met with fierce resistance.
The animal was finally tranquilized and caring hands gently removed the plastic jar. Dr. Griffin said if it wasn't for the rescuers, the outcome would have been a lot different.
"That raccoon would have died from starvation and dehydration," she said. The raccoon has now been released back into the wild.
Broadway wanted to save the animal, so he called volunteers from the Wildlife Rehabilitation and Nature Preservation Society for help.
"I knew it couldn't get food, couldn't get water," Broadway said. "I didn't have a clue as to how long she would be able to last without the food and water, but I definitely knew she was in danger."
But getting the animal help was no easy task. It took four days to finally trap the raccoon. It was immediately taken to the clinic run by Dr. Jennifer Griffin. But efforts to get the coon out of the trap were met with fierce resistance.
The animal was finally tranquilized and caring hands gently removed the plastic jar. Dr. Griffin said if it wasn't for the rescuers, the outcome would have been a lot different.
"That raccoon would have died from starvation and dehydration," she said. The raccoon has now been released back into the wild.
Cigarettes may contain pig blood
Cigarettes may contain traces of pigs' blood, an Australian academic says with a warning that religious groups could find its undisclosed presence "very offensive". University of Sydney Professor in Public Health Simon Chapman points to recent Dutch research which identified 185 different industrial uses of a pig - including the use of its haemoglobin in cigarette filters.
Prof Chapman said the research offered an insight into the otherwise secretive world of cigarette manufacture, and it was likely to raise concerns for devout Muslims and Jews. Religious texts at the core of both of these faiths specifically ban the consumption of pork.
"I think that there would be some particularly devout groups who would find the idea that there were pig products in cigarettes to be very offensive," Prof Chapman said.
"The Jewish community certainly takes these matters extremely seriously and the Islamic community certainly do as well, as would many vegetarians.
"It just puts into hard relief the problem that the tobacco industry is not required to declare the ingredients of cigarettes ... they say 'that's our business' and a trade secret." The Dutch research found pig haemoglobin - a blood protein - was being used to make cigarette filters more effective at trapping harmful chemicals before they could enter a smoker's lungs.
At least one cigarette brand sold in Greece was confirmed as using pig haemoglobin in its processes, Prof Chapman said. "If you're a smoker and you're of Islamic or Jewish faith then you'd probably would want to know and there is no way of finding out."
Prof Chapman said the research offered an insight into the otherwise secretive world of cigarette manufacture, and it was likely to raise concerns for devout Muslims and Jews. Religious texts at the core of both of these faiths specifically ban the consumption of pork.
"I think that there would be some particularly devout groups who would find the idea that there were pig products in cigarettes to be very offensive," Prof Chapman said.
"The Jewish community certainly takes these matters extremely seriously and the Islamic community certainly do as well, as would many vegetarians.
"It just puts into hard relief the problem that the tobacco industry is not required to declare the ingredients of cigarettes ... they say 'that's our business' and a trade secret." The Dutch research found pig haemoglobin - a blood protein - was being used to make cigarette filters more effective at trapping harmful chemicals before they could enter a smoker's lungs.
At least one cigarette brand sold in Greece was confirmed as using pig haemoglobin in its processes, Prof Chapman said. "If you're a smoker and you're of Islamic or Jewish faith then you'd probably would want to know and there is no way of finding out."
Casino says $42m slot machine win was 'malfunction'
When the lights and bells went off at a slot machine at the Fortune Valley Casino, in Central City, Colorado, Louise Chavez thought she had the win of a lifetime - $42 million. But after the casino claimed the machine malfunctioned, all Chavez got was a few dollars, some free meals and a room for the night.
Colorado gaming officials are investigating the incident, but said it could be nothing more than an unfortunate computer glitch. Chavez may not see a dime. "I put my money in there," Chavez said. "Whatever I won, I should get... There are dreams and there are things I'd like to do - helping my family, helping my kids. That's why I'm disappointed. I just don't know."
The Denver woman can remember all too clearly when she thought her life had changed. "All of a sudden I saw the light come on on top of the machine," Chavez said. "I'm like, 'Oh, my God! Oh, my God!' I'd never had this feeling before in my life, never."
The payout she was expecting? $42,949,673. She said she usually makes about $12,000 per year as an in-home personal care provider. But champagne and caviar dreams quickly evaporated. Casino employees told Chavez the slot machine had malfunctioned.
Chavez said the casino offered only to comp her room and meals and give her back about $20 she'd put into the machine. "My emotions changed from excited, thrilled to very upset," she said.
"We've been open for 15 years at Fortune Valley and this is the first time we've had something of this magnitude," Fortune Valley communications director Joe Behm said. "It's unfortunate when it happens," said Colorado Division of Gaming spokesman Don Burmania. "We don't like it to happen, the casinos don't like it to happen and in this case, the patron didn't like it, either."
Colorado gaming officials are investigating the incident, but said it could be nothing more than an unfortunate computer glitch. Chavez may not see a dime. "I put my money in there," Chavez said. "Whatever I won, I should get... There are dreams and there are things I'd like to do - helping my family, helping my kids. That's why I'm disappointed. I just don't know."
The Denver woman can remember all too clearly when she thought her life had changed. "All of a sudden I saw the light come on on top of the machine," Chavez said. "I'm like, 'Oh, my God! Oh, my God!' I'd never had this feeling before in my life, never."
The payout she was expecting? $42,949,673. She said she usually makes about $12,000 per year as an in-home personal care provider. But champagne and caviar dreams quickly evaporated. Casino employees told Chavez the slot machine had malfunctioned.
Chavez said the casino offered only to comp her room and meals and give her back about $20 she'd put into the machine. "My emotions changed from excited, thrilled to very upset," she said.
"We've been open for 15 years at Fortune Valley and this is the first time we've had something of this magnitude," Fortune Valley communications director Joe Behm said. "It's unfortunate when it happens," said Colorado Division of Gaming spokesman Don Burmania. "We don't like it to happen, the casinos don't like it to happen and in this case, the patron didn't like it, either."
Robbers dig their way into Parisian bank vault
A gang of robbers have dug their way into the vault of a Parisian bank and emptied almost 200 private safes. They entered the Credit Lyonnais branch near the opera house using building equipment to burn holes and shatter walls on Saturday night.
They tied up a security guard and spent the next nine hours robbing the bank before setting it on fire as they left. The value of the stolen goods is still being estimated, police said. One investigator described the heist at the Avenue de l'Opera branch as a "professional job".
Photo from here.
The robbers came in at about 2200 on Saturday and left at 0700 on Sunday, reports say. They entered through the cellars of the neighbouring building, digging through a series of tunnels and at one stage burning a hole into a wall 80cm (31in) thick, to get into the bank which was undergoing building works at the time. When they left, they set the place on fire to remove any trace of evidence, triggering the anti-fire system and flooding the building. The guard escaped unharmed.
The heist has been compared to the Spaggiari Affair, dubbed the heist of the century, masterminded by Albert Spaggiari in Nice more than 30 years ago. Spaggiari and his gang spent two days and three nights digging into the vault of a Societe Generale branch, stealing 50m francs.
Video.
They tied up a security guard and spent the next nine hours robbing the bank before setting it on fire as they left. The value of the stolen goods is still being estimated, police said. One investigator described the heist at the Avenue de l'Opera branch as a "professional job".
Photo from here.
The robbers came in at about 2200 on Saturday and left at 0700 on Sunday, reports say. They entered through the cellars of the neighbouring building, digging through a series of tunnels and at one stage burning a hole into a wall 80cm (31in) thick, to get into the bank which was undergoing building works at the time. When they left, they set the place on fire to remove any trace of evidence, triggering the anti-fire system and flooding the building. The guard escaped unharmed.
The heist has been compared to the Spaggiari Affair, dubbed the heist of the century, masterminded by Albert Spaggiari in Nice more than 30 years ago. Spaggiari and his gang spent two days and three nights digging into the vault of a Societe Generale branch, stealing 50m francs.
Video.
British man to be locked in room with world's deadliest snakes
A Sussex carpenter is hoping to earn a place in the record books by spending nearly four months in a room with some of the world's most venomous snakes. David Jones, 44, of Crawley, is due to fly to Johannesburg next month to see the room he will be sharing with 40 snakes.
His room-mates will include deadly puff adders, snouted cobras, boomslangs, green mambas and black mambas. The 121-day challenge is to begin on 24 April. The current record is held by South African Martin Smit.
Mr Jones, whose wife is scared of snakes, said the last person to attempt the record did so in 2009 and was bitten by a puff adder and narrowly avoided having to have part of his leg amputated. He said: "I have always been interested in snakes and I thought now is the time to do something slightly out of the ordinary in my life, so I though this was a challenge that I wanted to do.
"I'm not terrified - concerned, yes, for a lot of reasons. Not just the fact they are venomous snakes and there is a very real possibility of ending up in hospital, I'm also leaving a wife, I'm leaving a son and I'm leaving my family for four and a half months." Mr Jones is using the challenge to raise money for St Catherine's Hospice in Crawley.
Video.
His room-mates will include deadly puff adders, snouted cobras, boomslangs, green mambas and black mambas. The 121-day challenge is to begin on 24 April. The current record is held by South African Martin Smit.
Mr Jones, whose wife is scared of snakes, said the last person to attempt the record did so in 2009 and was bitten by a puff adder and narrowly avoided having to have part of his leg amputated. He said: "I have always been interested in snakes and I thought now is the time to do something slightly out of the ordinary in my life, so I though this was a challenge that I wanted to do.
"I'm not terrified - concerned, yes, for a lot of reasons. Not just the fact they are venomous snakes and there is a very real possibility of ending up in hospital, I'm also leaving a wife, I'm leaving a son and I'm leaving my family for four and a half months." Mr Jones is using the challenge to raise money for St Catherine's Hospice in Crawley.
Video.
Rastafarian man banned from singing Bob Marley songs
A Bob Marley fan has been hit with an Anti-social behaviour order – to stop him singing reggae classics on his doorstep.
Rastafarian Michael Logan, 33, tormented neighbours with his singing from 8am until late at night.
He repeatedly sang Marley hits such as No Woman, No Cry and I Shot The Sheriff to passers-by at his Salford home.
Neighbours also complained that he patrolled the street waving a Jamaican flag and preaching from the bible.
Jamaican-born Logan was taken to court after he was given a series of warnings by council officers. He was issued with a two-year order banning him from 'chanting', 'bawling' and 'talking loudly' in the street.
Mr Logan, who has been married to his wife Iris for 10 years, said he had children in Jamaica but did not know how many.
Rastafarian Michael Logan, 33, tormented neighbours with his singing from 8am until late at night.
He repeatedly sang Marley hits such as No Woman, No Cry and I Shot The Sheriff to passers-by at his Salford home.
Neighbours also complained that he patrolled the street waving a Jamaican flag and preaching from the bible.
Jamaican-born Logan was taken to court after he was given a series of warnings by council officers. He was issued with a two-year order banning him from 'chanting', 'bawling' and 'talking loudly' in the street.
Mr Logan, who has been married to his wife Iris for 10 years, said he had children in Jamaica but did not know how many.
Council ordered JCB and four men to remove mattress
Council officials said they could not remove a mattress dumped on an embankment after claiming they needed four men and a JCB to do the job. Householders in Little Lever, near Bolton, Greater Manchester, had assumed that the mattress would be promptly removed by one or two workers after it was reported to the local authority.
But they had failed to take into account the health and safety requirements of Bolton Metropolitan Council. An official was duly dispatched to the scene to carry out a risk assessment. He decided that the only safe way to shift the mattress was to scoop it up in a 1.7 ton JCB digger – an operation that would require the services of a driver, a banksman to guide him, and two officials to make sure it was done properly.
Photo from here.
The council said it could be a week before the item was removed but a local councillor and a cafe owner then joined forces to drag it onto the roadside and on Monday the mattress was taken off to a nearby tip in the back of a council van. The councillor, Sean Hornby, said: “I’m not saying it was an easy job, but it took us four minutes to move it. The council’s approach is barmy – it’s health and safety gone mad”.
Bolton Council confirmed that the on-site assessment had been carried out by a trainee with the council’s “performance and improvement team”. He had concluded that the most appropriate course of action was to call in mechanical equipment.
But they had failed to take into account the health and safety requirements of Bolton Metropolitan Council. An official was duly dispatched to the scene to carry out a risk assessment. He decided that the only safe way to shift the mattress was to scoop it up in a 1.7 ton JCB digger – an operation that would require the services of a driver, a banksman to guide him, and two officials to make sure it was done properly.
Photo from here.
The council said it could be a week before the item was removed but a local councillor and a cafe owner then joined forces to drag it onto the roadside and on Monday the mattress was taken off to a nearby tip in the back of a council van. The councillor, Sean Hornby, said: “I’m not saying it was an easy job, but it took us four minutes to move it. The council’s approach is barmy – it’s health and safety gone mad”.
Bolton Council confirmed that the on-site assessment had been carried out by a trainee with the council’s “performance and improvement team”. He had concluded that the most appropriate course of action was to call in mechanical equipment.
Pet shop owner fined £1,000 and told to wear an electronic tag for selling a goldfish to boy aged 14
Buying a goldfish at a pet shop used to be an innocent childhood pleasure. But an elderly pet shop owner has told how she was 'entrapped' into selling a goldfish to a 14-year-old schoolboy, then warned she could face jail. She had breached a law introduced in 2006 which bans selling live fish to anyone under 16.
After a prosecution estimated to have cost taxpayers £20,0000, Joan Higgins, 66, a great-grandmother who has never been in trouble before, has been forced to wear a tag on her ankle like a common criminal and given a seven-week curfew.
Her son, Mark, 47 was also handed a fine and ordered to carry out 120 hours unpaid work in the community. Magistrates have been accused of using a hammer to crack a nut in their bid to enforce the animal welfare laws.
The court ruling means she is unable to babysit her great-grandson at his home, attend bingo sessions with her sister or enjoy a Rod Stewart concert after tickets were bought for her by her TV actor nephew Will Mellor. Her son said: 'I think it's a farce. What gets me so cross is that they put my mum on a tag - she's nearly 70, for goodness sake. She's a great grandma so she won't be able to babysit a new born baby. You would think they have better things to do with their time and money.'
After a prosecution estimated to have cost taxpayers £20,0000, Joan Higgins, 66, a great-grandmother who has never been in trouble before, has been forced to wear a tag on her ankle like a common criminal and given a seven-week curfew.
Her son, Mark, 47 was also handed a fine and ordered to carry out 120 hours unpaid work in the community. Magistrates have been accused of using a hammer to crack a nut in their bid to enforce the animal welfare laws.
The court ruling means she is unable to babysit her great-grandson at his home, attend bingo sessions with her sister or enjoy a Rod Stewart concert after tickets were bought for her by her TV actor nephew Will Mellor. Her son said: 'I think it's a farce. What gets me so cross is that they put my mum on a tag - she's nearly 70, for goodness sake. She's a great grandma so she won't be able to babysit a new born baby. You would think they have better things to do with their time and money.'
Smacking by Sunday school teachers to be outlawed
The British government has promised to make it illegal for private tutors and teachers in Sunday schools and madrasas to smack pupils after it was claimed that some were enacting biblical scenes of child punishment.
A legal loophole has meant that while teachers have been banned from administering corporal punishment in state schools since 1987, and in private schools since 1993, teachers in religious schools have been free to do so.
The law has permitted smacking in educational establishments that teach children for less than 12.5 hours a week. Teachers in these settings have the same status as someone who is standing in for a parent and can plead the defence of "reasonable punishment".
The government's chief adviser on children's safety, Sir Roger Singleton, recommended that the law be changed so that children are not allowed to be smacked by anyone outside their family.
A legal loophole has meant that while teachers have been banned from administering corporal punishment in state schools since 1987, and in private schools since 1993, teachers in religious schools have been free to do so.
The law has permitted smacking in educational establishments that teach children for less than 12.5 hours a week. Teachers in these settings have the same status as someone who is standing in for a parent and can plead the defence of "reasonable punishment".
The government's chief adviser on children's safety, Sir Roger Singleton, recommended that the law be changed so that children are not allowed to be smacked by anyone outside their family.
Open air sex is risk to restaurant plans as gay group claim 'post dusk social networking' could be hit
Concerns have been raised that plans to open a riverboat restaurant on the River Nene in Northampton could clash with 'cruisers and cottagers' who indulge in open air sex in a nearby car park.
Members of Northampton Borough Council's planning committee will discuss plans to open the floating restaurant close to Midsummer Meadows, near Bedford Road, next week.
But in a report shown to committee members, council planning officer, Richard Boyt, said both Northamptonshire Police and the Northants Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Alliance (NLGBA) had raised concerns about allowing the restaurant to open in an area which is renowned for people taking part in outdoor sex sessions.
He warned councillors: "Northamptonshire Police have noted the potential clash with 'cruisers and cottagers' who frequent nearby areas."
Discussing similar concerns raised by the NLGBA, he added: "The NLGBA states that a commercial activity will harm the openness, the semi-natural character of the meadows, and the freedom of the area. Further they state that if the 'post dusk social networking' is displaced elsewhere this may be an area of concern."
Despite the concerns of the two groups, the planning official said their worries should not prevent the restaurant from opening and added that he believed it would actually improve the Midsummer Meadows area.
Members of Northampton Borough Council's planning committee will discuss plans to open the floating restaurant close to Midsummer Meadows, near Bedford Road, next week.
But in a report shown to committee members, council planning officer, Richard Boyt, said both Northamptonshire Police and the Northants Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Alliance (NLGBA) had raised concerns about allowing the restaurant to open in an area which is renowned for people taking part in outdoor sex sessions.
He warned councillors: "Northamptonshire Police have noted the potential clash with 'cruisers and cottagers' who frequent nearby areas."
Discussing similar concerns raised by the NLGBA, he added: "The NLGBA states that a commercial activity will harm the openness, the semi-natural character of the meadows, and the freedom of the area. Further they state that if the 'post dusk social networking' is displaced elsewhere this may be an area of concern."
Despite the concerns of the two groups, the planning official said their worries should not prevent the restaurant from opening and added that he believed it would actually improve the Midsummer Meadows area.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Drunk man found sleeping in engine of Indian Airlines Airbus
An allegedly drunk man was found in a commercial jet engine as it was being prepared for take-off.
The man was only spotted when an engineering and security team member saw a leg dangling from the rear of the engine.
Rubbing his eye in disbelief and after checking again to make sure it wasn't a delusion, he informed others, who then rushed to the engine.
Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, India, confirmed it was the first of its kind incident.
The plane, an Indian Airlines Airbus A-320, was being prepared for its first flight of the day two hours before scheduled departure to Raipur.
The young man was quizzed by the airline security and said he entered the airport in a truck. He walked into the operational area and being sleepy, chose the engine as his bed for the night.
The man was only spotted when an engineering and security team member saw a leg dangling from the rear of the engine.
Rubbing his eye in disbelief and after checking again to make sure it wasn't a delusion, he informed others, who then rushed to the engine.
Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, India, confirmed it was the first of its kind incident.
The plane, an Indian Airlines Airbus A-320, was being prepared for its first flight of the day two hours before scheduled departure to Raipur.
The young man was quizzed by the airline security and said he entered the airport in a truck. He walked into the operational area and being sleepy, chose the engine as his bed for the night.
$88 billion deposited in woman's bank account
She was expecting a deposit but there was far more than just a paycheck in Stephanie Hickman's account on Saturday morning. $88,888,888.88 more. Of course, the Hickman's were honest and contacted Suntrust bank. The problem is the bank can't help them.
When her husband called Suntrust to report the error, even the managers couldn't fix it. "My husband talked to three different people and they all told us they can't access the account and they can't fix the problem," Hickman says.
Now Hickman cannot use her account at all. "Everything's frozen, online banking, mobile banking," she says. "I'm not saying that the $88 billion is my money, but the $150 at least that we had in the account was my money and now I can't even access that."
Hickman says Suntrust is telling them to wait. Until then, she'll have to make due with whatever cash is in her wallet.
With news video.
When her husband called Suntrust to report the error, even the managers couldn't fix it. "My husband talked to three different people and they all told us they can't access the account and they can't fix the problem," Hickman says.
Now Hickman cannot use her account at all. "Everything's frozen, online banking, mobile banking," she says. "I'm not saying that the $88 billion is my money, but the $150 at least that we had in the account was my money and now I can't even access that."
Hickman says Suntrust is telling them to wait. Until then, she'll have to make due with whatever cash is in her wallet.
With news video.
Dog survives 16 days on yacht lost at sea
Dogs have survived incredible deprivation before, but Juanita's 16-day-ordeal is the longest known of in New Zealand.
Juanita belongs to Paul van Rensburg – the yachtie whose boat was discovered yesterday near the Chatham Islands. Mr van Rensburg was not on board – but Juanita was.
As a dog behaviourist, Dan Abdelnoor knows what makes dogs tick, but even Doggie Dan, as he likes to be known, is amazed at Juanita's survival – but warns she will need help getting over the ordeal.
“Dogs do become extremely scared and worried, just like you'd expect them to be when they're left alone on the boat and they don't know what's going on,” Mr Abdelnoor says. He says Juanita would have been stressed, but dogs are very resilient.
Doggie Dan thinks she also probably owes it to her master taking plenty of rations on board. “Sixteen days – it had to be getting water from somewhere,” Mr Abdelnoor says. “Very likely it raided the water on the boat and it's raided the food on the boat.”
Chatham Island police say Juanita is doing well, but dog experts say the two-year-old will no doubt be wondering where her good friend and companion is.
Juanita belongs to Paul van Rensburg – the yachtie whose boat was discovered yesterday near the Chatham Islands. Mr van Rensburg was not on board – but Juanita was.
As a dog behaviourist, Dan Abdelnoor knows what makes dogs tick, but even Doggie Dan, as he likes to be known, is amazed at Juanita's survival – but warns she will need help getting over the ordeal.
“Dogs do become extremely scared and worried, just like you'd expect them to be when they're left alone on the boat and they don't know what's going on,” Mr Abdelnoor says. He says Juanita would have been stressed, but dogs are very resilient.
Doggie Dan thinks she also probably owes it to her master taking plenty of rations on board. “Sixteen days – it had to be getting water from somewhere,” Mr Abdelnoor says. “Very likely it raided the water on the boat and it's raided the food on the boat.”
Chatham Island police say Juanita is doing well, but dog experts say the two-year-old will no doubt be wondering where her good friend and companion is.
Broken hearted teenager cuts off his genitals
An apparently broken hearted nineteen year-old, AMD, cut off his genitals and had to undergo serious treatment at a Cilacap General Hospital, Central Java.
The hospital`s Director Sugeng Budi Santoso, confirmed the incident and said the hospital is doing its best to heal the teenager`s wound.
The teenager`s family is unwilling to give the incident`s details, and only said the boy cut off his genitals learning that his girlfriend had married another man.
Initially AMD`s family tried to persuade in dealing with the case, but it was too late, because his cut-off his penis was already thrown into a well and could not be found.
The hospital`s Director Sugeng Budi Santoso, confirmed the incident and said the hospital is doing its best to heal the teenager`s wound.
The teenager`s family is unwilling to give the incident`s details, and only said the boy cut off his genitals learning that his girlfriend had married another man.
Initially AMD`s family tried to persuade in dealing with the case, but it was too late, because his cut-off his penis was already thrown into a well and could not be found.
Teenager defecated in wrong car
A teenager who allegedly defecated in a man's car - thinking it was his girlfriend's - was indicted in Las Cruces on Thursday on multiple charges of criminal property damage.
Leaving work late on March 11, the car's owner reported finding 18-year-old Austin Horries Purifoy in the back seat of his Honda Civic, pulling up his underwear.
"This is your car?" Purifoy said, according to documents filed in court. "I thought this was Desiree's car."
Purifoy then allegedly got out of the car and ran west. Located not long after by a nearby ditch, Purifoy allegedly told officers he was outside because he didn't want his "girlfriend" Desiree to see him smoking.
Leaving work late on March 11, the car's owner reported finding 18-year-old Austin Horries Purifoy in the back seat of his Honda Civic, pulling up his underwear.
"This is your car?" Purifoy said, according to documents filed in court. "I thought this was Desiree's car."
Purifoy then allegedly got out of the car and ran west. Located not long after by a nearby ditch, Purifoy allegedly told officers he was outside because he didn't want his "girlfriend" Desiree to see him smoking.
Man charged with bizarre McDonald's robbery
Police in Western Australia have charged a man who allegedly robbed a McDonald's restaurant wearing only blue underwear, wrapping his head and body in tea towels and toilet paper in an attempt to disguise himself.
Police allege Dalton Jeffrey Brittain, 20, walked into the McDonald's outlet in the southern Perth suburb of Spearwood armed with a six-inch-long knife.
Tea towels were wrapped around his head and toilet paper around his body as he threatened at least two staff members and demanded cash, a court heard. Money was handed over before he fled on foot.
Brittain was later arrested and charged with one count of stealing with threats of violence. Magistrate Geoff Lawrence remanded him in custody and ordered him to be held in a hospital to undergo a mental health assessment. He was scheduled to return to court on April 6.
Police allege Dalton Jeffrey Brittain, 20, walked into the McDonald's outlet in the southern Perth suburb of Spearwood armed with a six-inch-long knife.
Tea towels were wrapped around his head and toilet paper around his body as he threatened at least two staff members and demanded cash, a court heard. Money was handed over before he fled on foot.
Brittain was later arrested and charged with one count of stealing with threats of violence. Magistrate Geoff Lawrence remanded him in custody and ordered him to be held in a hospital to undergo a mental health assessment. He was scheduled to return to court on April 6.
Fools own all hotels in Indian town
It may sound like a foolish business but tourism chiefs in a remote Indian town are no dummies after renaming all the local hotels after idiots. Until a few years ago the town of Giridih in India's eastern Jharkhand state had little to recommend it on the tourism map - but now hotels such as "The Idiot's Hotel" and "The World's Biggest Idiot's Hotel" are often packed as people turn up to stay at the business run by fools.
"We love to call ourselves fools. It's a great way to attract business," says Ashok Singh, the owner of the Bewkoof Hotel that translates into Fool's Hotel. He added: "My father named the hotel as a joke and suddenly loads of people started coming by to stay the night, now all the hotels in the town are using the same name. It's kind of a nice name, funny and quirky. It works for us," said Singh.
Michael Topno, who owns Maha Bewkoof Hotel that translates into Bigger Fool's Hotel, said: "This city has had these hotels for some time now and I think there is no need to change the name. It works for me, it works for those who come here. I like the surprise element in the name." The tradition is now so popular that even restaurants are cashing in with the "Idiots Bar" and "Idiot's Restaurant" among the most popular.
Avdesh Singh, 65, a local tailor said: "The first hotel ended up with all the customers and so everybody else joined in and then the trend caught on. To be honest, everyone makes their money out of it so no one minds being called a fool here."
"We love to call ourselves fools. It's a great way to attract business," says Ashok Singh, the owner of the Bewkoof Hotel that translates into Fool's Hotel. He added: "My father named the hotel as a joke and suddenly loads of people started coming by to stay the night, now all the hotels in the town are using the same name. It's kind of a nice name, funny and quirky. It works for us," said Singh.
Michael Topno, who owns Maha Bewkoof Hotel that translates into Bigger Fool's Hotel, said: "This city has had these hotels for some time now and I think there is no need to change the name. It works for me, it works for those who come here. I like the surprise element in the name." The tradition is now so popular that even restaurants are cashing in with the "Idiots Bar" and "Idiot's Restaurant" among the most popular.
Avdesh Singh, 65, a local tailor said: "The first hotel ended up with all the customers and so everybody else joined in and then the trend caught on. To be honest, everyone makes their money out of it so no one minds being called a fool here."
Elderly couple arrested in Jell-O refund scam
All they wanted was free pudding. Now they're under arrest. Suffolk County Police have arrested an East Northport husband and wife for tampering with Jell-O brand pudding mixes purchased at local supermarkets.
After reviewing hours of surveillance video and following up on numerous leads, officers identified Christine Clement, 64, and Alexander Clement, 68, both from 139 Dickinson Ave., as the individuals responsible for tampering with the pudding mix.
Apparently, Christine Clement purchased the product, removed the original pudding mix and re-filled the boxes with a sandwich bag containing salt and sand. The boxes were then resealed and returned to the supermarkets for a monetary refund.
There is no indication that Christine's intent was to inflict physical harm to any other consumers or the supermarkets, but to obtain the pudding mix without having to pay for it. None of the individuals that purchased the product that had been tampered with were injured.
Christine Clement was charged with five counts of Petit Larceny and five counts of Tampering With A Consumer Product 2nd Degree. Alexander Clement was charged with five counts of Petit Larceny and five counts of Tampering With A Consumer Product 2nd Degree. Both will be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip at a later date.
After reviewing hours of surveillance video and following up on numerous leads, officers identified Christine Clement, 64, and Alexander Clement, 68, both from 139 Dickinson Ave., as the individuals responsible for tampering with the pudding mix.
Apparently, Christine Clement purchased the product, removed the original pudding mix and re-filled the boxes with a sandwich bag containing salt and sand. The boxes were then resealed and returned to the supermarkets for a monetary refund.
There is no indication that Christine's intent was to inflict physical harm to any other consumers or the supermarkets, but to obtain the pudding mix without having to pay for it. None of the individuals that purchased the product that had been tampered with were injured.
Christine Clement was charged with five counts of Petit Larceny and five counts of Tampering With A Consumer Product 2nd Degree. Alexander Clement was charged with five counts of Petit Larceny and five counts of Tampering With A Consumer Product 2nd Degree. Both will be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip at a later date.
Dubai Briton faces jail over 'middle finger salute'
A British expatriate in Dubai is facing jail and deportation after being accused of making a single-finger gesture in an argument. Simon Andrews, 56, has had his passport confiscated for almost eight months while waiting for his case to be heard.
He told Dubai Court of Misdemeanours he denies "flipping the finger" at Mahmoud Rasheed, an Iraqi aviation student, during an argument. He will appear in court on Sunday for a full hearing of the case.
Mr Andrews has said Mr Rasheed, who has not yet appeared in court to give evidence, is mistaken and no finger was raised. At a court hearing on Sunday, he asked for the passport put up as bail surety for him by a friend to be returned as the friend had to go abroad for work.
He was told to provide another passport in its place. His own passport has also been confiscated, preventing him leaving Dubai before the case is heard. Making insulting gestures is regarded as unacceptable, and carries with it the possibility of a jail sentence of up to six months and deportation.
He told Dubai Court of Misdemeanours he denies "flipping the finger" at Mahmoud Rasheed, an Iraqi aviation student, during an argument. He will appear in court on Sunday for a full hearing of the case.
Mr Andrews has said Mr Rasheed, who has not yet appeared in court to give evidence, is mistaken and no finger was raised. At a court hearing on Sunday, he asked for the passport put up as bail surety for him by a friend to be returned as the friend had to go abroad for work.
He was told to provide another passport in its place. His own passport has also been confiscated, preventing him leaving Dubai before the case is heard. Making insulting gestures is regarded as unacceptable, and carries with it the possibility of a jail sentence of up to six months and deportation.
Sex-change killer to wed lesbian murderess in jail
A double killer is getting married behind bars after being switched to a women's jail following a sex swap - and falling for a lesbian murderess. Strangler Douglas Wakefield, 61, has won permission to get married in the prison chapel.
Other inmates will be guests at the civil partnership ceremony as Wakefield - who underwent a taxpayer-funded "gender reassignment" and is now called "Tai" - recites vows with mother-of-three Thelma Purchase, 45, a fellow lifer.
Wakefield was sentenced 36 years ago for strangling his uncle, beating him with a hammer and stabbing him 48 times with a garden fork in Gipton, Leeds. The father of two became notorious as one of the most dangerous men in jail after killing an inmate at Parkhurst and twice taking prison officers hostage. He clocked up more than 1,000 hours in solitary.
He has been married twice, once behind bars. His £11,000 sex operation in the '90s came after he started wearing earrings and decorated his cell with lace curtains and flowers. Wakefield was then transferred to New Hall, where Purchase began her life sentence two years ago.
She was jailed for a minimum of 30 years after getting a job caring for a disabled man - who she suffocated to get her hands on £70,000 he left her in his will. The pair must pay their £345 wedding costs out of money they have saved.
A prison source said: "To allow a sex-swap double life-sentence prisoner and a murderess to marry is grotesque. But the management don't think there is anything wrong with it."
Other inmates will be guests at the civil partnership ceremony as Wakefield - who underwent a taxpayer-funded "gender reassignment" and is now called "Tai" - recites vows with mother-of-three Thelma Purchase, 45, a fellow lifer.
Wakefield was sentenced 36 years ago for strangling his uncle, beating him with a hammer and stabbing him 48 times with a garden fork in Gipton, Leeds. The father of two became notorious as one of the most dangerous men in jail after killing an inmate at Parkhurst and twice taking prison officers hostage. He clocked up more than 1,000 hours in solitary.
He has been married twice, once behind bars. His £11,000 sex operation in the '90s came after he started wearing earrings and decorated his cell with lace curtains and flowers. Wakefield was then transferred to New Hall, where Purchase began her life sentence two years ago.
She was jailed for a minimum of 30 years after getting a job caring for a disabled man - who she suffocated to get her hands on £70,000 he left her in his will. The pair must pay their £345 wedding costs out of money they have saved.
A prison source said: "To allow a sex-swap double life-sentence prisoner and a murderess to marry is grotesque. But the management don't think there is anything wrong with it."
Happiness charity seeks boss
Wanted: director to bring happiness to the world. Must have a vision of society in which people are motivated by more than just money. Salary: £80,000. This year marks the launch of the Movement For Happiness, an organisation that aims not only to increase the sum of human happiness but also to lower the amount of misery as well (and all that with a staff of three).
The movement is the creation of two academics and a policy expert who have become convinced that increases in material wealth in the West have failed to deliver a happier society. They are Lord Layard, a founder director of the Centre for Economic Performance at the London School of Economics, who became known as the Government’s “happiness czar” for his role in making his agenda part of government policy; Anthony Seldon, Master of Wellington College; and Geoff Mulgan, former head of policy at 10 Downing Street. “We hope it will become a mass movement, extending far beyond our borders, with members who are committed to trying to produce more happiness in all spheres of life,” said Lord Layard.
In an advertisement for the post of director (who will “need to have proven leadership ability”) the founders said: “We hope this movement will help to shift our culture away from selfish materialism towards more rewarding forms of social engagement.” In the meantime, however, there is the selfishly materialistic question of how much to pay the director. Remuneration, and its relationship to happiness, is of great interest to Lord Layard, who has discussed before how bigger salaries do not necessarily lead to greater contentment. Evidence from the United States, he said, had shown that beyond £60,000, increases in salary do not lead to significantly greater increases in happiness.
On that basis, any director they recruit should be more than happy with what is on offer. “We have got to be able to pay a proper salary,” said Lord Layard. “We would not be ruling out £80,000 for the right person. They would have to believe in the message — to change the culture away from feeling that your main job in life is what you can get, to what you can contribute — and have some sort of imaginative flair as well as organisational ability.”
The movement is the creation of two academics and a policy expert who have become convinced that increases in material wealth in the West have failed to deliver a happier society. They are Lord Layard, a founder director of the Centre for Economic Performance at the London School of Economics, who became known as the Government’s “happiness czar” for his role in making his agenda part of government policy; Anthony Seldon, Master of Wellington College; and Geoff Mulgan, former head of policy at 10 Downing Street. “We hope it will become a mass movement, extending far beyond our borders, with members who are committed to trying to produce more happiness in all spheres of life,” said Lord Layard.
In an advertisement for the post of director (who will “need to have proven leadership ability”) the founders said: “We hope this movement will help to shift our culture away from selfish materialism towards more rewarding forms of social engagement.” In the meantime, however, there is the selfishly materialistic question of how much to pay the director. Remuneration, and its relationship to happiness, is of great interest to Lord Layard, who has discussed before how bigger salaries do not necessarily lead to greater contentment. Evidence from the United States, he said, had shown that beyond £60,000, increases in salary do not lead to significantly greater increases in happiness.
On that basis, any director they recruit should be more than happy with what is on offer. “We have got to be able to pay a proper salary,” said Lord Layard. “We would not be ruling out £80,000 for the right person. They would have to believe in the message — to change the culture away from feeling that your main job in life is what you can get, to what you can contribute — and have some sort of imaginative flair as well as organisational ability.”
Couple can’t get insurance for chrome-plated Mini
Fed-up Ian and Toni Grice reflect on their bad luck after buying a £38,000 chrome-plated Mini Cooper - which they can't drive on the road.
Builder Ian, 42, saw the super-shiny special edition in a London showroom on Valentine's Day and bought it for Toni, 41. He was given a week's free insurance by BMW so he could drive it 120 miles home to Greasley, Notts.
But when the seven days were up and Ian tried to get normal cover, he was refused a quote by one insurance firm after another. The dad-of-two said: "I've been left with the world's most expensive mirror.
"No-one will touch it with a barge-pole. They say it's too fragile and it'll get scratched and scuffed too easily. It's a Mini Cooper for crying out loud, not a Ferrari.
"It's a terrible waste because it's such a striking car. If you look at the body you see your reflection perfectly."
A spokesman for the Association of British Insurers said: "It could be a target for thieves. My advice is to try a broker who taps into specialised markets - but he should expect to pay a considerable amount."
Builder Ian, 42, saw the super-shiny special edition in a London showroom on Valentine's Day and bought it for Toni, 41. He was given a week's free insurance by BMW so he could drive it 120 miles home to Greasley, Notts.
But when the seven days were up and Ian tried to get normal cover, he was refused a quote by one insurance firm after another. The dad-of-two said: "I've been left with the world's most expensive mirror.
"No-one will touch it with a barge-pole. They say it's too fragile and it'll get scratched and scuffed too easily. It's a Mini Cooper for crying out loud, not a Ferrari.
"It's a terrible waste because it's such a striking car. If you look at the body you see your reflection perfectly."
A spokesman for the Association of British Insurers said: "It could be a target for thieves. My advice is to try a broker who taps into specialised markets - but he should expect to pay a considerable amount."
'Crazy' thieves drill cars for petrol
Police patrols have been stepped up in parts of Worcester after nearly 100 incidents of fuel tanks being drilled and petrol drained. The thieves have targeted vehicles in quieter streets in Warndon, St John's and Claines over the past three months, West Mercia Police said. Replacing a tank can cost between £400 to £1,000 depending on the car, mechanics in Worcester said.
Victim David Thomas said the offenders were "crazy" to risk such danger. His car, his wife's and five of his neighbours were all drained of petrol during a night-time raid. He said: "To drill into tanks for petrol, a single cigarette could set light to it, and in an residential area, they must be crazy," he said.
Mechanic Richard Stanley, who has repaired damaged cars, said that the thieves have drilled at least two holes in the tank and drained off what they want, leaving the rest to spill out.
Ch Insp Sharon Gibbons said there had been an increase in reported incidents, particularly in February. She said there were 22 incidents in January, 48 in February and 26 so far in March. "It does make you wonder what facilities they have with them," she said.
Victim David Thomas said the offenders were "crazy" to risk such danger. His car, his wife's and five of his neighbours were all drained of petrol during a night-time raid. He said: "To drill into tanks for petrol, a single cigarette could set light to it, and in an residential area, they must be crazy," he said.
Mechanic Richard Stanley, who has repaired damaged cars, said that the thieves have drilled at least two holes in the tank and drained off what they want, leaving the rest to spill out.
Ch Insp Sharon Gibbons said there had been an increase in reported incidents, particularly in February. She said there were 22 incidents in January, 48 in February and 26 so far in March. "It does make you wonder what facilities they have with them," she said.
1929 Austin found in a garage - and five decades since it was last driven, starts first time
A fine example of British engineering, it was built at a time when things were made to last, and has benefited from one careful owner in 81 years. Made in 1929, a rare Austin 12/4 has been found have been languishing in a garage, unused, for five decades.
But when Roger Bulled turned the starter handle, ready to fire up the engine for first time since 1961, he was amazed to hear it turn over as if it had been driven every day. The fabric-bodied motor was owned by Mr Bulled’s late father, Leslie, who had been given it by his parents when it was brand new and straight off the forecourt.
Mr Bulled, 63, said he discovered the old car whilst going through his father’s possessions shortly after his death in 2008. He was too frightened to start the engine up fully in case it ruined the car, but is now putting it up for sale to allow an expert to restore it fully and hopefully get it onto the road.
Photo from here.
He said: “I pumped up the tyres and they stayed up. The rubber is cracked but the inner tubes are obviously still intact, which is remarkable really. And the engine turned over when we tried it with the starter handle, but I didn't try to start her up in case I did any damage but I'm sure it would go. I've never seen another fabric bodied saloon, even in a museum."
The car was built at the company's Longbridge factory in Birmingham and comes with an Austin 12 handbook, the licence belonging to its only driver, and a black and white photograph showing the car in its prime. The car is expected to attract nationwide interest when it goes under the hammer at Unique Auctions in Lincoln on April 5.
Terry Woodcock, the auctioneer, said: "The wheels alone are worth £100 each, it's incredible. "Restoring it will cost a fortune, but for someone it will be a labour of love, and it will be lovely because you don't see vintage cars around anymore."
But when Roger Bulled turned the starter handle, ready to fire up the engine for first time since 1961, he was amazed to hear it turn over as if it had been driven every day. The fabric-bodied motor was owned by Mr Bulled’s late father, Leslie, who had been given it by his parents when it was brand new and straight off the forecourt.
Mr Bulled, 63, said he discovered the old car whilst going through his father’s possessions shortly after his death in 2008. He was too frightened to start the engine up fully in case it ruined the car, but is now putting it up for sale to allow an expert to restore it fully and hopefully get it onto the road.
Photo from here.
He said: “I pumped up the tyres and they stayed up. The rubber is cracked but the inner tubes are obviously still intact, which is remarkable really. And the engine turned over when we tried it with the starter handle, but I didn't try to start her up in case I did any damage but I'm sure it would go. I've never seen another fabric bodied saloon, even in a museum."
The car was built at the company's Longbridge factory in Birmingham and comes with an Austin 12 handbook, the licence belonging to its only driver, and a black and white photograph showing the car in its prime. The car is expected to attract nationwide interest when it goes under the hammer at Unique Auctions in Lincoln on April 5.
Terry Woodcock, the auctioneer, said: "The wheels alone are worth £100 each, it's incredible. "Restoring it will cost a fortune, but for someone it will be a labour of love, and it will be lovely because you don't see vintage cars around anymore."
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