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Wednesday, June 30, 2010
White elephant caught in Burma 'is omen of political change'
A rare white elephant, historically considered an omen of political change, has been captured in the west of military-ruled Burma.
The female elephant was captured by officials on Saturday in the coastal town of Maungtaw in Rakhine state, according to news reports in Burma, also known as Myanmar.
She is aged about 38 years old and seven feet four inches tall, the English-language New Light of Myanmar said, although it did not mention where she would be kept.
White elephants are often depicted as snow white, but are in fact grey or reddish-brown in colour, turning light pink when wet. They have fair eyelashes and toenails.
Kings and leaders in Burma, a predominantly Buddhist country, have traditionally treasured white elephants, whose rare appearances in the country are believed to herald political change and good fortune.
The announcements of the discoveries of white elephants in 2001 and 2002 in Burma was seen by opposition leaders as bolstering support for their parties. The South-East Asian country, which has been ruled by the military since 1962, is due to hold its first elections for two decades later this year, although a date has not yet been announced.
The female elephant was captured by officials on Saturday in the coastal town of Maungtaw in Rakhine state, according to news reports in Burma, also known as Myanmar.
She is aged about 38 years old and seven feet four inches tall, the English-language New Light of Myanmar said, although it did not mention where she would be kept.
White elephants are often depicted as snow white, but are in fact grey or reddish-brown in colour, turning light pink when wet. They have fair eyelashes and toenails.
Kings and leaders in Burma, a predominantly Buddhist country, have traditionally treasured white elephants, whose rare appearances in the country are believed to herald political change and good fortune.
The announcements of the discoveries of white elephants in 2001 and 2002 in Burma was seen by opposition leaders as bolstering support for their parties. The South-East Asian country, which has been ruled by the military since 1962, is due to hold its first elections for two decades later this year, although a date has not yet been announced.
Woman accused of toilet lid attack
A family dispute in Florida took a turn for the worse when a woman tried to attack her cousin with a toilet lid.
The domestic row in New Port Richey, near the cities of Tampa and St. Petersburg, escalated to the point where Angelic Innamorato picked up the ceramic toilet lid and swung it at her cousin’s head, narrowly missing him.
After her toilet attack failed, she opted for a more conventional weapon, pulling a revolver on her cousin and threatening to kill him, before stealing his wallet and fleeing.
When she was arrested, 28-year-old Innamorato admitted to police that she had picked up the toilet lid, but insisted that she was only ‘looking for her keys’. Upon being arrested, Innamorato also allegedly smashed the door of a police cruiser. She has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault, petty theft and criminal mischief, and released on bail.
The domestic row in New Port Richey, near the cities of Tampa and St. Petersburg, escalated to the point where Angelic Innamorato picked up the ceramic toilet lid and swung it at her cousin’s head, narrowly missing him.
After her toilet attack failed, she opted for a more conventional weapon, pulling a revolver on her cousin and threatening to kill him, before stealing his wallet and fleeing.
When she was arrested, 28-year-old Innamorato admitted to police that she had picked up the toilet lid, but insisted that she was only ‘looking for her keys’. Upon being arrested, Innamorato also allegedly smashed the door of a police cruiser. She has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault, petty theft and criminal mischief, and released on bail.
Monk 'filmed holy water bathroom porn'
A Cambodian court charged a Buddhist monk on Tuesday for secretly filming hundreds of women as they bathed naked with holy water at a temple and then sharing the clips. Net Khai, 37, faces up to a year in jail after being charged with "producing and distributing pornographic images'' by Phnom Penh Municipal Court, prosecutor Ek Chheng Huot said.
He was arrested at his pagoda in the Cambodian capital on Saturday over allegations that he secretly taped the women pouring sacred water over themselves in a pagoda bathroom, said police chief Touch Naruth. Net Khai was arrested after a victim approached police and said that video clips showing the naked women had been shared among people via their mobile phones in recent weeks.
He was subsequently stripped of his religious status. "He has filmed hundreds of women since 2008. They came to the monk to be blessed with holy water, but they were secretly filmed," Touch Naruth said.
"His act affects other monks and Buddhism and seriously harms our tradition," he said, adding that Net Khai had confessed to his crimes. Police said they were looking for the man's accomplices.
He was arrested at his pagoda in the Cambodian capital on Saturday over allegations that he secretly taped the women pouring sacred water over themselves in a pagoda bathroom, said police chief Touch Naruth. Net Khai was arrested after a victim approached police and said that video clips showing the naked women had been shared among people via their mobile phones in recent weeks.
He was subsequently stripped of his religious status. "He has filmed hundreds of women since 2008. They came to the monk to be blessed with holy water, but they were secretly filmed," Touch Naruth said.
"His act affects other monks and Buddhism and seriously harms our tradition," he said, adding that Net Khai had confessed to his crimes. Police said they were looking for the man's accomplices.
Russian airline release sexist advert of the year
In what must be the most sexist ad of the year – or sexiest, depending on your standpoint - four female crew members strip off and get busty, sorry, busy, with their carrier.
And to help them out is the local fire crew, who kindly let them play with their huge water hoses.
Avianova launched in August last year and serves 16 destinations within Russia.
It has a fleet of five Airbus A320 planes, and has recently advertised fares starting from under £5.
And to help them out is the local fire crew, who kindly let them play with their huge water hoses.
Avianova launched in August last year and serves 16 destinations within Russia.
It has a fleet of five Airbus A320 planes, and has recently advertised fares starting from under £5.
Police say 2-year-old killed for crying during World Cup
Police in McAllen, Texas, have arrested a man for allegedly killing his 2-year-old stepdaughter because she kept crying during the U.S.-Ghana World Cup game on Saturday. The details that police allege are horrific.
Police say Hector Castro, 28, called firefighters to his apartment because the girl swallowed a screw. But police say the screw was jammed down the throat of the girl to make the death look like an accident, and that she died because she was beaten and suffocated.
"There are no words for this," McAllen Police Chief Victor Rodriguez said. "It makes you want to think about doing lots of things to this guy, but he will face the criminal justice system just like everybody else."
Rodriguez said Castro is an illegal immigrant and that he gave investigators a confession that implicated himself in the girl's death. Several of the girl's ribs were cracked, police said. They haven't released the name of the child. Castro was to be arraigned and is to face a capital murder charge.
Police say Hector Castro, 28, called firefighters to his apartment because the girl swallowed a screw. But police say the screw was jammed down the throat of the girl to make the death look like an accident, and that she died because she was beaten and suffocated.
"There are no words for this," McAllen Police Chief Victor Rodriguez said. "It makes you want to think about doing lots of things to this guy, but he will face the criminal justice system just like everybody else."
Rodriguez said Castro is an illegal immigrant and that he gave investigators a confession that implicated himself in the girl's death. Several of the girl's ribs were cracked, police said. They haven't released the name of the child. Castro was to be arraigned and is to face a capital murder charge.
Councillor found guilty of racial harassment over 'coconut' jibe - Update
A black councillor has been found guilty of racial harassment after describing an Asian political opponent as "a coconut" during a heated debate today. Shirley Brown, 48, the first black Liberal Democrat elected to Bristol city council, who employed the term about a Conservative, Jay Jethwa, denied committing an offence.
Bristol magistrates court heard the term was used to accuse someone of betraying their heritage by pandering to white opinion, just as a coconut was brown on the outside but white in the middle.
She was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £620 in costs. The chairman of the bench, Simon Cooper, told her the remark had been "purely gratuitous" and could have stimulated racial hatred.
"You made a mistake for which you have to accept responsibility," he added. "It is a sad case."
Jethwa, 42, did not hear the remark during the council meeting but watched it later on a webcast.
She wept as she told the court: "I was completely shocked and I was numb and had to rewind the footage to see if it was only me she had directed the comment to. I was very, very upset and distressed. The word is doubly insulting as it insults both me and the white population."
Previously.
Bristol magistrates court heard the term was used to accuse someone of betraying their heritage by pandering to white opinion, just as a coconut was brown on the outside but white in the middle.
She was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £620 in costs. The chairman of the bench, Simon Cooper, told her the remark had been "purely gratuitous" and could have stimulated racial hatred.
"You made a mistake for which you have to accept responsibility," he added. "It is a sad case."
Jethwa, 42, did not hear the remark during the council meeting but watched it later on a webcast.
She wept as she told the court: "I was completely shocked and I was numb and had to rewind the footage to see if it was only me she had directed the comment to. I was very, very upset and distressed. The word is doubly insulting as it insults both me and the white population."
Previously.
Tired Toby hitches ride in doggy taxi
A rescue puppy with a rare muscle-wasting disease is getting around thanks to big hearted animal charity staff who have created a special wagon for him. The seven month old Labrador cross is able to hitch a ride in the buggy, which has been dubbed 'Toby's Taxi'.
Sadly, Toby is not expected to live long beyond a year. However, his courage and character has endeared him to Scottish SPCA kennel worker Sheena McIntosh who has adopted him. We got three from a litter of unwanted pups and they looked normal, little chubby things, but Toby was always quite slim. At first we called him Gentle George because he didn’t run around like normal puppies do. But we watched him and it became obvious that something was not right with him", she said.
Labrador myopathy is very uncommon in cross breeds but unfortunately is incurable. “As he grows, the weaker he becomes”, Sheena said. Toby's lack of strength and co-ordination means sometimes ‘walkies’ can be too much for him, which is where his taxi comes in.
A specially-made cart means he can be top dog and still take in the sights. Sheena explained: “A very kind gentleman called Ian Leech made us a lovely little bogie for him so he can sit in there and I can pull him along as I walk my other dog because he hates to be left behind."
Video.
Sadly, Toby is not expected to live long beyond a year. However, his courage and character has endeared him to Scottish SPCA kennel worker Sheena McIntosh who has adopted him. We got three from a litter of unwanted pups and they looked normal, little chubby things, but Toby was always quite slim. At first we called him Gentle George because he didn’t run around like normal puppies do. But we watched him and it became obvious that something was not right with him", she said.
Labrador myopathy is very uncommon in cross breeds but unfortunately is incurable. “As he grows, the weaker he becomes”, Sheena said. Toby's lack of strength and co-ordination means sometimes ‘walkies’ can be too much for him, which is where his taxi comes in.
A specially-made cart means he can be top dog and still take in the sights. Sheena explained: “A very kind gentleman called Ian Leech made us a lovely little bogie for him so he can sit in there and I can pull him along as I walk my other dog because he hates to be left behind."
Video.
Schoolboy makes Spiderman machine
A Cambridge schoolboy has converted two budget vacuum cleaners into a Spiderman gadget which helps him scale walls.
Hibiki Kono, 13, a big fan of the superhero, made the incredible climbing machine using the suction from two Tesco Value vacuum cleaners. The schoolboy then amazed his friends by using the giant suckerpads to climb the school wall during morning assembly.
"I used to dress up as Spiderman when I was younger and I love all the films so it's great to be able to climb walls like him," said Hibiki.
Hibiki spent five months designing and making the gadget in his design technology lessons at King's College School in Cambridge. He used two 1400 watt vacuum cleaners, bought for just £14.98 each from Tesco and attached square wooden pads to the nozzles.
Design technology teacher Angus Gent said: "I'm hugely proud of him. When he came to me with the idea at the beginning I had my doubts, but once he proved it could be done I encouraged him. He developed it himself which is amazing for someone of his age. He has spent two and a half hours a week creating it over the last five months."
Hibiki added: "My mum thinks it's brilliant but she won't let me us it in my bedroom as she is worried I may pull down the ceiling. I've climbed up the school wall but I'm not allowed too high. It's not scary and I completely trust the machine."
Hibiki Kono, 13, a big fan of the superhero, made the incredible climbing machine using the suction from two Tesco Value vacuum cleaners. The schoolboy then amazed his friends by using the giant suckerpads to climb the school wall during morning assembly.
"I used to dress up as Spiderman when I was younger and I love all the films so it's great to be able to climb walls like him," said Hibiki.
Hibiki spent five months designing and making the gadget in his design technology lessons at King's College School in Cambridge. He used two 1400 watt vacuum cleaners, bought for just £14.98 each from Tesco and attached square wooden pads to the nozzles.
Design technology teacher Angus Gent said: "I'm hugely proud of him. When he came to me with the idea at the beginning I had my doubts, but once he proved it could be done I encouraged him. He developed it himself which is amazing for someone of his age. He has spent two and a half hours a week creating it over the last five months."
Hibiki added: "My mum thinks it's brilliant but she won't let me us it in my bedroom as she is worried I may pull down the ceiling. I've climbed up the school wall but I'm not allowed too high. It's not scary and I completely trust the machine."
Cat clings to car roof for 30 mile journey
This exhausted cat was feline a little stressed out after it survived a terrifying 30 mile journey by a whisker stuck on a car roof.
Hapless pet ‘Bilbo Baggins’ desperately clung onto the roof rack of the Land Rover by her claws as the driver sped along a busy dual carriageway at 70mph.
The stunned driver only spotted the terrified stowaway when he slowed to round a bend and saw the traumatised animal leap off the vehicle and run off into the undergrowth.
Incredibly, Bilbo survived the terrifying 30 journey from Kings Acre, Hereford to Ludlow, Shropshire.
Bilbo’s owners Alli and Andrew Hartless spent six days searching for the ten-year-old tabby until they finally spotted her trembling on top of a fence.
Mother-of-two Alli, 42, said: ”We are amazed she survived the journey. She is a resilient cat but is still too scared to go near cars. She certainly used a few lives up with her adventure.”
Hapless pet ‘Bilbo Baggins’ desperately clung onto the roof rack of the Land Rover by her claws as the driver sped along a busy dual carriageway at 70mph.
The stunned driver only spotted the terrified stowaway when he slowed to round a bend and saw the traumatised animal leap off the vehicle and run off into the undergrowth.
Incredibly, Bilbo survived the terrifying 30 journey from Kings Acre, Hereford to Ludlow, Shropshire.
Bilbo’s owners Alli and Andrew Hartless spent six days searching for the ten-year-old tabby until they finally spotted her trembling on top of a fence.
Mother-of-two Alli, 42, said: ”We are amazed she survived the journey. She is a resilient cat but is still too scared to go near cars. She certainly used a few lives up with her adventure.”
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Dutch artist uses human ashes to create 3D sculptures
A Dutch artist is using the ashes of dead people to create common household objects using a 3D industrial printer. The donated remains funnel into the unit - usually used to create solid prototypes of manufacturing parts - and come out as a bizarre memorial.
Artist Wieki Somers said the project demonstrates the fragility of life and questions our attachment to inanimate objects.
“We may offer Grandpa a second life as a useful rocking chair or even as a vacuum cleaner or a toaster,” she said. “Would we then become more attached to these products?”
More than 465,000 litres of human ashes are produced every day worldwide and Somers’ experiment is the latest in a growing list of alternatives to the traditional scattering.
Artist Wieki Somers said the project demonstrates the fragility of life and questions our attachment to inanimate objects.
“We may offer Grandpa a second life as a useful rocking chair or even as a vacuum cleaner or a toaster,” she said. “Would we then become more attached to these products?”
More than 465,000 litres of human ashes are produced every day worldwide and Somers’ experiment is the latest in a growing list of alternatives to the traditional scattering.
The girl who must eat every 15 minutes to stay alive
Lizzie Velasquez weighs just four stone and has almost zero per cent body fat but she is not anorexic. In fact, the 21-year-old from Austin, Texas, must eat every 15 minutes to stay healthy. Miss Velasquez has a rare condition which prevents her from gaining weight even though she eats up to 60 small meals a day.
Despite consuming between 5,000 and 8,000 calories daily, the communications student, has never tipped over 4st 3lbs. "I weigh myself regularly and if I gain even one pound I get really excited," said 5ft 2 ins Miss Velasquez, who wears size triple zero clothes. "I eat every 15-20 minutes to keep my energy levels up.
"I eat small portions of crisps, sweets, chocolate, pizza, chicken, cake, doughnuts, ice cream, noodles and pop tarts all day long, so I get pretty upset when people accuse me of being anorexic." She was born four weeks prematurely weighing just 2lb 10oz. Doctors found there was minimal amniotic fluid protecting her in the womb. "They told us they had no idea how she could have survived," said Miss Velasquez's mother Rita, 45, a church secretary.
Doctors speculated Lizzie might have the genetic disorder De Barsy syndrome but soon ruled it out as it became clear she did not have learning difficulties. "They kept on trying to figure out what was wrong with her but we treated her like any other child," said Mrs Velasquez, who charted her daughter's health in dozens of notebooks. She was taken to see genetic experts but they still could not diagnose her.
Miss Velasquez's case has fascinated doctors all over the world and she is part of a genetic study run by Professor Abhimanyu Garg, MD, at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. Professor Garg and his team now believe Lizzie may have a form of Neonatal Progeroid Syndrome (NPS) which causes accelerated ageing, fat loss from the face and body, and tissue degeneration. People with PRS often have triangular and prematurely aged faces with a pointy nose.
He said: "I am aware of a small number of people that have similar conditions to Lizzie but each case is slightly different. We cannot predict what will happen to Lizzie in the future as the medical community are yet to document older people with NPS. However Lizzie is lucky to have healthy teeth, organs and bones so the outlook is good. We will continue to study her case and learn from her."
Despite consuming between 5,000 and 8,000 calories daily, the communications student, has never tipped over 4st 3lbs. "I weigh myself regularly and if I gain even one pound I get really excited," said 5ft 2 ins Miss Velasquez, who wears size triple zero clothes. "I eat every 15-20 minutes to keep my energy levels up.
"I eat small portions of crisps, sweets, chocolate, pizza, chicken, cake, doughnuts, ice cream, noodles and pop tarts all day long, so I get pretty upset when people accuse me of being anorexic." She was born four weeks prematurely weighing just 2lb 10oz. Doctors found there was minimal amniotic fluid protecting her in the womb. "They told us they had no idea how she could have survived," said Miss Velasquez's mother Rita, 45, a church secretary.
Doctors speculated Lizzie might have the genetic disorder De Barsy syndrome but soon ruled it out as it became clear she did not have learning difficulties. "They kept on trying to figure out what was wrong with her but we treated her like any other child," said Mrs Velasquez, who charted her daughter's health in dozens of notebooks. She was taken to see genetic experts but they still could not diagnose her.
Miss Velasquez's case has fascinated doctors all over the world and she is part of a genetic study run by Professor Abhimanyu Garg, MD, at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. Professor Garg and his team now believe Lizzie may have a form of Neonatal Progeroid Syndrome (NPS) which causes accelerated ageing, fat loss from the face and body, and tissue degeneration. People with PRS often have triangular and prematurely aged faces with a pointy nose.
He said: "I am aware of a small number of people that have similar conditions to Lizzie but each case is slightly different. We cannot predict what will happen to Lizzie in the future as the medical community are yet to document older people with NPS. However Lizzie is lucky to have healthy teeth, organs and bones so the outlook is good. We will continue to study her case and learn from her."
Female hands sewn onto male soldier in Poland
Polish surgeons conducted a unique transplantation operation on a soldier of the nation’s special forces. The 31-year-old man, whose name has not been exposed, was waiting for this surgery for more than three years. In 2007, he saved the life of his colleague, an inexperienced soldier. He snatched a bomb from his hands. He saved the newcomer, but became a disabled individual himself. The bomb explosion severed the man’s left hand and seriously injured his right hand, having left only two fingers on it.
A team of surgeons from the hospital of the town of Trzebnica conducted the unique transplantation of the man’s both hands. The medics said that the surgery, which continued for almost 24 hours, ended successfully. “Everything turned out to be much more complicated than we thought, but we managed to cope with this,” Adam Domanasiewicz, one of the five surgeons said.
“When the man was ready for surgery, our colleagues from another hospital amputated the hands of a recently deceased middle-aged woman. She became a donor for our hero,” the doctor added. He also said that the donor’s sex did not matter at all. It was vital for her anatomic parameters to coincide with those of the recipient.
The patient feels fine. The man is happy and can even move his new fingers, which is a very good sign. Now the soldier will have to stay at hospital for not less than five weeks to recover. Doctors will observe the healing process of his new hands and conduct special physical exercises to develop the mobility of the hands. It will take the man at least three years to recover completely, but the surgeons are certain that their recipient will be able to use his new hands like any other person.
A team of surgeons from the hospital of the town of Trzebnica conducted the unique transplantation of the man’s both hands. The medics said that the surgery, which continued for almost 24 hours, ended successfully. “Everything turned out to be much more complicated than we thought, but we managed to cope with this,” Adam Domanasiewicz, one of the five surgeons said.
“When the man was ready for surgery, our colleagues from another hospital amputated the hands of a recently deceased middle-aged woman. She became a donor for our hero,” the doctor added. He also said that the donor’s sex did not matter at all. It was vital for her anatomic parameters to coincide with those of the recipient.
The patient feels fine. The man is happy and can even move his new fingers, which is a very good sign. Now the soldier will have to stay at hospital for not less than five weeks to recover. Doctors will observe the healing process of his new hands and conduct special physical exercises to develop the mobility of the hands. It will take the man at least three years to recover completely, but the surgeons are certain that their recipient will be able to use his new hands like any other person.
Pellet pistol robber scared off by shop worker's real gun
A pistol packing Pizza Pipeline employee discouraged a would-be thief from robbing his store on Wednesday night. Spokane Police say the suspect entered the Pizza Pipeline at 1724 W. Wellesley armed with a pellet gun and wearing a green mask.
What the burglar didn't know is that one of the employees behind the counter happens to have a concealed pistol licence and was carrying his gun during this particular shift.
When the suspect showed his pellet gun and demanded money, the employee pulled out his pistol and told the suspect to drop his weapon. Police say the startled suspect bolted out the door at the sight of the armed employee. Police found parts of the suspect's busted pellet gun in the store's parking lot.
Responding officers set up a perimeter around the store and brought in a K-9 in an attempt to catch the suspect, but the search produced no results.
What the burglar didn't know is that one of the employees behind the counter happens to have a concealed pistol licence and was carrying his gun during this particular shift.
When the suspect showed his pellet gun and demanded money, the employee pulled out his pistol and told the suspect to drop his weapon. Police say the startled suspect bolted out the door at the sight of the armed employee. Police found parts of the suspect's busted pellet gun in the store's parking lot.
Responding officers set up a perimeter around the store and brought in a K-9 in an attempt to catch the suspect, but the search produced no results.
Male fish in Mexico sports sexy 'moustache'
Male molly fish in Mexico wear a moustache that makes them appear more sexy to females. Scientists were unsure why male Mexican mollies wear an extravagant moustache-like structure on their top lip. Now a study has revealed that female fish find the moustache sexually attractive, and it is likely to be a sexually selected trait. As well as being visually-attractive, the moustache may be used to rub the female fish's genitals, exciting them. Details are published in the journal Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology.
As their name suggests, Mexican mollies (Poecilia sphenops) live in Mexico, being a fairly common species that resides in a range of habitats from small rivers to creeks and lakes. The fish has a complicated mating behaviour, with males fertilising females internally, rather than spreading sperm over externally laid eggs. Not all males are equal, however. Some possess a moustache-type structure growing from scales on their top lip.
Until now, its function has not been known as it has not been studied or described in any detail. So zoologist Professor Ingo Schlupp of the University of Oklahoma in Norman, US and colleagues in the US and Germany decided to study it for the first time. They caught from the wild a selection of male and female Mexican mollies, measuring the length of the moustache on those males found to be growing one.
The research team then conducted a series of experiments, placing male and female fish into tanks, and measuring how long females spent in the company of males sporting moustaches of various lengths, or none at all. They also measured how female fish responded to videos of different males. The results were clear: on experiments involving over 100 fish, females consistently preferred males with moustaches. "The moustache-like structure seems to be a previously unrecognised sexually selected trait in poeciliid fishes," the researchers write in the journal.
As their name suggests, Mexican mollies (Poecilia sphenops) live in Mexico, being a fairly common species that resides in a range of habitats from small rivers to creeks and lakes. The fish has a complicated mating behaviour, with males fertilising females internally, rather than spreading sperm over externally laid eggs. Not all males are equal, however. Some possess a moustache-type structure growing from scales on their top lip.
Until now, its function has not been known as it has not been studied or described in any detail. So zoologist Professor Ingo Schlupp of the University of Oklahoma in Norman, US and colleagues in the US and Germany decided to study it for the first time. They caught from the wild a selection of male and female Mexican mollies, measuring the length of the moustache on those males found to be growing one.
The research team then conducted a series of experiments, placing male and female fish into tanks, and measuring how long females spent in the company of males sporting moustaches of various lengths, or none at all. They also measured how female fish responded to videos of different males. The results were clear: on experiments involving over 100 fish, females consistently preferred males with moustaches. "The moustache-like structure seems to be a previously unrecognised sexually selected trait in poeciliid fishes," the researchers write in the journal.
Man swam for 14 hours in shark-infested waters to help friends
When Michael Williams swam for help after a fishing trip turned horribly wrong, he didn't know the swim would become a 14-hour struggle through shark-infested waters. But as the hours dragged on, the belief he could save the lives of his friends John Jarrett and Charlie Picton kept the now 41-year-old afloat.
The courage he showed when their vessel capsized 13km off the Byron Bay coast in February 2008 has seen him nominated for this year's Pride of Australia medal in the outstanding bravery category. "You go through so many stages when you're out there," Mr Williams said yesterday. "At first I was re-thinking the decision, but when I looked back I realised it was too late to stop and I had to keep going. I'd see the ripples and start to hallucinate about fins popping up out of the waves."
"Because I had cuts and was bleeding, I was worried that I was leaving a trail for them. Towards the end, there was a low tide going out. It was like hitting a brick wall and I really started to struggle."
Mr Williams made it to shore near Brunswick Heads but by the next morning when rescuers found the vessel, Mr Picton had drowned. "I still think of Charlie all the time, we'd been friends since school," Mr Williams said. "It was very, very hard on all of us." He has remained close to Mr Jarrett and and the pair are now writing a book.
The courage he showed when their vessel capsized 13km off the Byron Bay coast in February 2008 has seen him nominated for this year's Pride of Australia medal in the outstanding bravery category. "You go through so many stages when you're out there," Mr Williams said yesterday. "At first I was re-thinking the decision, but when I looked back I realised it was too late to stop and I had to keep going. I'd see the ripples and start to hallucinate about fins popping up out of the waves."
"Because I had cuts and was bleeding, I was worried that I was leaving a trail for them. Towards the end, there was a low tide going out. It was like hitting a brick wall and I really started to struggle."
Mr Williams made it to shore near Brunswick Heads but by the next morning when rescuers found the vessel, Mr Picton had drowned. "I still think of Charlie all the time, we'd been friends since school," Mr Williams said. "It was very, very hard on all of us." He has remained close to Mr Jarrett and and the pair are now writing a book.
Mexican singer Sergio Vega 'El Shaka' murdered hours after denying death
A Mexican singer - famous for his songs about the lives of drug barons - has been shot dead just hours after he denied reports of his murder. Sergio Vega, known as 'El Shaka', was shot in his red Cadillac while driving through Sinaloa state on his way to perform in a concert. The 40-year-old singer recently told a website he had increased security measures after a number of Mexican Grupero - country music - singers were killed.
The Mexican media has reported that unidentified men, travelling in a truck behind El Shaka's Cadillac, shot at the car. When Vega lost control of the vehicle and crashed, the gunmen then "finished Mr Vega off" by shooting him in the chest and head, according to his passenger. Just hours before the shooting, Mr Vega spoke to La Oreja website to deny rumours he had been murdered.
"It's happened to me for years now, someone tells a radio station or a newspaper I've been killed, or suffered an accident," Mr Vega said. "And then I have to call my dear mum, who has heart trouble, to reassure her." Musicians who sing narcocorridos, music which celebrates life as part of the drug industry, are often in danger as they risk being killed by rival gangs.
Several have been killed over the last three years, with Sergio Gomez, the singer of popular Grupero band K-Paz De La Sierra, kidnapped after a concert in 2007 and later found strangled. In a country where the drug trafficking generates around $50bn a year, cultural associations with the industry are common. Mexico even has an unofficial patron saint of drug dealers, a man called Jesus Malverde, who was killed by police in 1909 for reportedly robbing the rich to give to the poor.
The Mexican media has reported that unidentified men, travelling in a truck behind El Shaka's Cadillac, shot at the car. When Vega lost control of the vehicle and crashed, the gunmen then "finished Mr Vega off" by shooting him in the chest and head, according to his passenger. Just hours before the shooting, Mr Vega spoke to La Oreja website to deny rumours he had been murdered.
"It's happened to me for years now, someone tells a radio station or a newspaper I've been killed, or suffered an accident," Mr Vega said. "And then I have to call my dear mum, who has heart trouble, to reassure her." Musicians who sing narcocorridos, music which celebrates life as part of the drug industry, are often in danger as they risk being killed by rival gangs.
Several have been killed over the last three years, with Sergio Gomez, the singer of popular Grupero band K-Paz De La Sierra, kidnapped after a concert in 2007 and later found strangled. In a country where the drug trafficking generates around $50bn a year, cultural associations with the industry are common. Mexico even has an unofficial patron saint of drug dealers, a man called Jesus Malverde, who was killed by police in 1909 for reportedly robbing the rich to give to the poor.
Marilyn Monroe's chest x-ray from 1954 sells for $45,000
Marilyn Monroe's bust has sold for a bundle. A 1954 x-ray of the stunning starlet's chest sold at auction in Las Vegas on Sunday for a sizable $45,000. This was well above the estimated $800 to $1,200 it was expected to fetch.
The bizarre medical photograph was one of several of Monroe's belongings that were up for bid at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino via Julien's Auctions over the weekend.
"[The x-ray] was taken around the time she was believed to be pregnant, and rumour has it that she had a miscarriage," President/CEO Darren Julien said back in April.
It was captured at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital (which in 1961 merged with another hospital to become Cedars-Sinai Medical Center), and features the then 28-year-old Monroe's chest and lungs.
The bizarre medical photograph was one of several of Monroe's belongings that were up for bid at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino via Julien's Auctions over the weekend.
"[The x-ray] was taken around the time she was believed to be pregnant, and rumour has it that she had a miscarriage," President/CEO Darren Julien said back in April.
It was captured at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital (which in 1961 merged with another hospital to become Cedars-Sinai Medical Center), and features the then 28-year-old Monroe's chest and lungs.
'Fully sick rapper' to leave hospital - Update
Countless videos and over six months in isolation later, Christiaan van Vuuren - the TB-afflicted man who became a YouTube star after posting rap videos from quarantine - has finally been given the all-clear to leave hospital today. Rising to fame as the "Fully sick rapper", van Vuuren used YouTube and social media to stay connected with the outside world while being confined to a small Sydney hospital room, after he was struck down with a multi-drug-resistant strain of tuberculosis in December last year.
His spoof clips and comedic raps about his time in hospital - about 13 of them have been posted to YouTube - have been viewed nearly 1.5 million times and van Vuuren's online celebrity even got him a regular gig on prime time national news in New Zealand, rapping the news of the day. Asked how he felt about his imminent departure from hospital, van Vuuren said he was "buzzing". His clear test results only came back on Friday.
"I'm just pumped to get home and sleep in my own bed, breathe fresh air and enjoy some of the sunlight ... I'm just excited to get back into life in the real world again," he said in a phone interview. Out of his six months in isolation, van Vuuren has only left his room for x-rays, tests, and just in the last few weeks, limited outdoor time upstairs in hospital to get some vitamin D.
"The only things I could really do was exercise, go online or watch or read something," he said. His doctors say he has to lay low at home for a week or two to gauge the effects of stopping one of his six medications, which was causing nasty side effects. "Then I'm going to fricken run a muck," van Vuuren said, adding he would be able to properly celebrate his 28th birthday on July 6. But ongoing medication means he won't be able to drink alcohol for about another year.
Previously.
His spoof clips and comedic raps about his time in hospital - about 13 of them have been posted to YouTube - have been viewed nearly 1.5 million times and van Vuuren's online celebrity even got him a regular gig on prime time national news in New Zealand, rapping the news of the day. Asked how he felt about his imminent departure from hospital, van Vuuren said he was "buzzing". His clear test results only came back on Friday.
"I'm just pumped to get home and sleep in my own bed, breathe fresh air and enjoy some of the sunlight ... I'm just excited to get back into life in the real world again," he said in a phone interview. Out of his six months in isolation, van Vuuren has only left his room for x-rays, tests, and just in the last few weeks, limited outdoor time upstairs in hospital to get some vitamin D.
"The only things I could really do was exercise, go online or watch or read something," he said. His doctors say he has to lay low at home for a week or two to gauge the effects of stopping one of his six medications, which was causing nasty side effects. "Then I'm going to fricken run a muck," van Vuuren said, adding he would be able to properly celebrate his 28th birthday on July 6. But ongoing medication means he won't be able to drink alcohol for about another year.
Previously.
Woman charged with intentionally running over boyfriend
A 58-year-old woman was arrested after police say she intenionally ran over her boyfriend with her car and then fled the scene.
Tarpon Springs investigators say the vicitm was walking south along Pinellas Avenue when his girlfriend, 58-year-old Kathy Wolanin, began driving behind him on the grass.
Wolanin lightly struck him with 1998 Mercury Sable, at which point he began banging on her hood, according to Lt. Barbara Templeton. That's when she sped up and hit him a 2nd time, this time knocking him into the road, Templeton said. Wolanin fled the scene but returned a short time later and was taken into custody.
The victim, whose name has not been released, was flown to Bayfront Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. Wolanin is charged with attempted murder.
Tarpon Springs investigators say the vicitm was walking south along Pinellas Avenue when his girlfriend, 58-year-old Kathy Wolanin, began driving behind him on the grass.
Wolanin lightly struck him with 1998 Mercury Sable, at which point he began banging on her hood, according to Lt. Barbara Templeton. That's when she sped up and hit him a 2nd time, this time knocking him into the road, Templeton said. Wolanin fled the scene but returned a short time later and was taken into custody.
The victim, whose name has not been released, was flown to Bayfront Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. Wolanin is charged with attempted murder.
Three arrested after stolen double-decker bus joyride
Joyriders - including a pair of 16-year-old girls - left a £30,000 trail of devastation after stealing a double-decker bus then posted video footage on YouTube. The three hoodies took the bus from a depot in Amesbury, Wiltshire, and went on a 12-mile wrecking spree, first smashing into a tree before eventually crashing into parked cars and running off. One of the thieves - a 21-year-old man - filmed the last five minutes on his mobile phone, showing one of the girls behind the wheel of the £200,000 bus as she heads down the A345.
The man repeatedly asks, 'What we driving?' to which the girls scream in reply, 'A double-decker!' He then points the camera at the smashed window and says, 'How to smash a window,' before telling the girl at the wheel to take a roundabout the wrong way round. She then begins weaving the bus back and forth across the road as he shouts: 'No, no, don't do that you'll roll the bus over!'
The driver then starts beeping the horn and laughing. The man then says: 'Now park at Archers Gate and we'll f*** off.' Then he changes his mind and says: 'No we'll dump it in the middle of the roundabout.'
He then adds: 'Park it outside my mum's house - that would be so funny.' Prophetically, the joyriders then says: 'How funny would this be if it was in the newspaper. If we get caught with this, you don't know nothing. Just "No comment, no comment," all the way.' The teenage driver then turns into a street lined with cars and appears to scrape past a couple.
The man can be heard yelling: 'Oh s***! Get out, get out, get out!' He then points the camera at himself and shouts, 'Oh dear god,' before the trio can be seen abandoning the bus and running away down the street screaming and shouting. The three joyriders were picked up by police who were called to the scene around 3:45am on Friday, June 18.
The video, called 'stolen bus solstice 2010 hoodies amesbury', has so far been viewed more than 11,000 times. The joyride caused an estimated £30,000 of damage to the bus, a green Volkswagen Polo, a silver Honda Jazz, and three other buses at the depot in Amesbury. A spokesman for Wiltshire and Dorset bus company described the action as a 'foolish crime.'
The man repeatedly asks, 'What we driving?' to which the girls scream in reply, 'A double-decker!' He then points the camera at the smashed window and says, 'How to smash a window,' before telling the girl at the wheel to take a roundabout the wrong way round. She then begins weaving the bus back and forth across the road as he shouts: 'No, no, don't do that you'll roll the bus over!'
The driver then starts beeping the horn and laughing. The man then says: 'Now park at Archers Gate and we'll f*** off.' Then he changes his mind and says: 'No we'll dump it in the middle of the roundabout.'
He then adds: 'Park it outside my mum's house - that would be so funny.' Prophetically, the joyriders then says: 'How funny would this be if it was in the newspaper. If we get caught with this, you don't know nothing. Just "No comment, no comment," all the way.' The teenage driver then turns into a street lined with cars and appears to scrape past a couple.
The man can be heard yelling: 'Oh s***! Get out, get out, get out!' He then points the camera at himself and shouts, 'Oh dear god,' before the trio can be seen abandoning the bus and running away down the street screaming and shouting. The three joyriders were picked up by police who were called to the scene around 3:45am on Friday, June 18.
The video, called 'stolen bus solstice 2010 hoodies amesbury', has so far been viewed more than 11,000 times. The joyride caused an estimated £30,000 of damage to the bus, a green Volkswagen Polo, a silver Honda Jazz, and three other buses at the depot in Amesbury. A spokesman for Wiltshire and Dorset bus company described the action as a 'foolish crime.'
Image released of 'crying' shop thief
Police have released a CCTV image of a thief who was seen crying in the street after he dropped cash he had stolen from a Buckinghamshire shop. Two men targeted the One Stop Shop in Bradwell Common in Milton Keynes on the morning of 6 May.
One of the men was holding £7,000 stolen from the safe, but dropped large quantities of it when he was chased by members of the public. The man was seen walking along the street crying shortly afterwards.
To gain access to the safe, one of the men hid behind stock at the store, and walked into the staff room when a member of staff left. The second offender kept watch. But as the man holding the money left the shop he turned to signal to the second offender and dropped some.
Members of the public and staff started to chase him. He dropped "large amounts of cash" as he tried to get away, police said. The second man was seen driving off at speed in a small black hatchback and it is believed he picked up the first offender. The first offender was described as black wearing a black jacket and the second offender was white and was wearing a black jacket and jeans.
One of the men was holding £7,000 stolen from the safe, but dropped large quantities of it when he was chased by members of the public. The man was seen walking along the street crying shortly afterwards.
To gain access to the safe, one of the men hid behind stock at the store, and walked into the staff room when a member of staff left. The second offender kept watch. But as the man holding the money left the shop he turned to signal to the second offender and dropped some.
Members of the public and staff started to chase him. He dropped "large amounts of cash" as he tried to get away, police said. The second man was seen driving off at speed in a small black hatchback and it is believed he picked up the first offender. The first offender was described as black wearing a black jacket and the second offender was white and was wearing a black jacket and jeans.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Woman admits sending cow’s tongue and opossum head to romantic rival
A woman admitted in federal court that she had sent threatening letters, a cow's tongue and the head of an opossum to a romantic rival. Jessica L. Bradshaw, 39, of Lincoln County, was married at the time but fell hard for a woman in Trenton, Ill., officials said. In January, Bradshaw sent threatening notes and the animal parts to the woman's girlfriend, she admitted in court.
Bradshaw pleaded guilty on three felony counts of mailing a threatening communication, and faces up to 16 months in prison under federal sentencing guidelines. Bradshaw's lawyer, Yi Sun, will ask for less, arguing that she should get a break due to her "diminished mental capacity" at the time of the offense, her plea agreement says.
The first threatening letter read, in part, "WE WILL TAKE OUT ALL YOU COME IN CONTACT WITH."
Bradshaw next mailed the cow's tongue in a tampon box, along with another threatening note. The opossum head was the third to arrive, according to Bradshaw's plea agreement. Her feelings for the woman "took on an intensity that overwhelmed her rational thought," according to a psychiatric evaluation conducted earlier this year.
Bradshaw pleaded guilty on three felony counts of mailing a threatening communication, and faces up to 16 months in prison under federal sentencing guidelines. Bradshaw's lawyer, Yi Sun, will ask for less, arguing that she should get a break due to her "diminished mental capacity" at the time of the offense, her plea agreement says.
The first threatening letter read, in part, "WE WILL TAKE OUT ALL YOU COME IN CONTACT WITH."
Bradshaw next mailed the cow's tongue in a tampon box, along with another threatening note. The opossum head was the third to arrive, according to Bradshaw's plea agreement. Her feelings for the woman "took on an intensity that overwhelmed her rational thought," according to a psychiatric evaluation conducted earlier this year.
Not very ugly dog wins ugliest dog contest
A Chihuahua mix from Clearlake with a hard luck story has become the newest World's Ugliest Dog.
Princess Abby, accompanied by her owner Kathleen Francis, won the 2010 World’s Ugliest Dog Contest before a packed crowd at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma on Friday evening.
Helping her clinch the title was the pooch's hunched and peculiar walk due to her back legs being longer than her front.
Princess Abby also is missing an eye, and had an audience-pleasing ability to dance on her two hind feet for treats.
Francis said that Princess Abby was rescued off of Clearlake's streets five months ago, and was found malnourished and flea-infested. When Francis spotted her, she promptly adopted her.
“She’s my best friend,” said Francis, who recently fell on hard times and works at a local department store for minimum wage. “Abby’s done more for me that I’ve done for her.”
Princess Abby, accompanied by her owner Kathleen Francis, won the 2010 World’s Ugliest Dog Contest before a packed crowd at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma on Friday evening.
Helping her clinch the title was the pooch's hunched and peculiar walk due to her back legs being longer than her front.
Princess Abby also is missing an eye, and had an audience-pleasing ability to dance on her two hind feet for treats.
Francis said that Princess Abby was rescued off of Clearlake's streets five months ago, and was found malnourished and flea-infested. When Francis spotted her, she promptly adopted her.
“She’s my best friend,” said Francis, who recently fell on hard times and works at a local department store for minimum wage. “Abby’s done more for me that I’ve done for her.”
American police accused of using a Taser on an 86-year-old, bed-ridden grandmother
American police have been accused of tasering an 86-year-old bed-ridden grandmother. Lonnie Tinsley called the emergency services to his home in El Reno, Oklahoma, when he became concerned that his grandma Lona Vernon had failed to take her medication. But instead of a medical technician, he claims at least a dozen armed police officers answered his call.
When Mrs Vernon ordered the police from her house, officer Thomas Duran allegedly decided she was being 'aggressive' and gave the order: 'Taser her.' Her alarmed grandson, is then said to have replied: 'Don't taze my granny!' According to a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court, Tinsley’s 'obstructive' behaviour prompted the police to threaten him with their tasers.
He was then was assaulted, removed from the room, thrown to the floor, handcuffed, and detained in a police car. At this point, the heroes in blue turned their attention to Lona. According to officer Duran’s official report, Mrs Vernon had taken an 'aggressive posture' in her hospital bed. In order to ensure 'officer safety', one of his men 'stepped on her oxygen hose until she began to suffer oxygen deprivation'.
Another of the officers then shot her with a taser, but the connection wasn’t solid.
A second fired his taser, 'striking her to the left of the midline of her upper chest, and applied high voltage, causing burns to her chest, extreme pain', and unconsciousness. Lona was then handcuffed with sufficient ruthlessness to tear the soft flesh of her forearms, causing her to bleed. After her wounds were treated at a local hospital, Lona was confined for six days in the psychiatric ward at the insistence of the El Reno Police Department.
More here.
When Mrs Vernon ordered the police from her house, officer Thomas Duran allegedly decided she was being 'aggressive' and gave the order: 'Taser her.' Her alarmed grandson, is then said to have replied: 'Don't taze my granny!' According to a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court, Tinsley’s 'obstructive' behaviour prompted the police to threaten him with their tasers.
He was then was assaulted, removed from the room, thrown to the floor, handcuffed, and detained in a police car. At this point, the heroes in blue turned their attention to Lona. According to officer Duran’s official report, Mrs Vernon had taken an 'aggressive posture' in her hospital bed. In order to ensure 'officer safety', one of his men 'stepped on her oxygen hose until she began to suffer oxygen deprivation'.
Another of the officers then shot her with a taser, but the connection wasn’t solid.
A second fired his taser, 'striking her to the left of the midline of her upper chest, and applied high voltage, causing burns to her chest, extreme pain', and unconsciousness. Lona was then handcuffed with sufficient ruthlessness to tear the soft flesh of her forearms, causing her to bleed. After her wounds were treated at a local hospital, Lona was confined for six days in the psychiatric ward at the insistence of the El Reno Police Department.
More here.
Aborigine outrage over Ayers Rock stripper
There is outrage after a dancer performed a strip show on Australia's most sacred rock. French-born exotic dancer Alizee Sery, 25, walked to the top of Uluru and laid on an impromptu show.
She said she did it as a "tribute" to Aboriginal people and their culture and to fulfil a lifelong dream. But the performance is likely to anger traditional owners who see Uluru as the most sacred place in Central Australia.Even non-indigenous people see The Rock as the spiritual heart of the nation.
The strip show is also likely to infuriate Parks Australia, which is under intense pressure to ban people from climbing the world's biggest monolith. Ms Sery had her performance photographed and videoed.
"I do not mean in any way for this video to offend the Aboriginal culture," she said. "I am aware that Uluru is sacred in their culture. My project is a tribute to the greatness of The Rock. What we need to remember is that traditionally, the Aboriginal people were living naked. So stripping down was a return to what it was like. After such a hard climb, when you reach the top, the view and the magic of the place gives you an amazing feeling of peace and freedom. You want to sing, dance - and strip."
She said she did it as a "tribute" to Aboriginal people and their culture and to fulfil a lifelong dream. But the performance is likely to anger traditional owners who see Uluru as the most sacred place in Central Australia.Even non-indigenous people see The Rock as the spiritual heart of the nation.
The strip show is also likely to infuriate Parks Australia, which is under intense pressure to ban people from climbing the world's biggest monolith. Ms Sery had her performance photographed and videoed.
"I do not mean in any way for this video to offend the Aboriginal culture," she said. "I am aware that Uluru is sacred in their culture. My project is a tribute to the greatness of The Rock. What we need to remember is that traditionally, the Aboriginal people were living naked. So stripping down was a return to what it was like. After such a hard climb, when you reach the top, the view and the magic of the place gives you an amazing feeling of peace and freedom. You want to sing, dance - and strip."
Abortion hotline in Pakistan faces violent opposition
An abortion hotline which has been set up in Pakistan is facing violent opposition. Islamic groups and political parties have condemned the hotline, which was launched yesterday, as "anti-Islamic" and "colonial", even though it will save the lives of thousands of women who die each year in backstreet abortion clinics. They have warned the organisers that they are at risk of reprisals. The hotline, set up by a collection of women's groups in Pakistan and the Dutch pro-choice group Women on Waves, advises women how to use a drug to induce miscarriage safely and aims to reduce the estimated 890,000 unsafe illegal abortions performed in Pakistan every year.
"There will be very strong opposition," said Ahsan Iqbal, of the Pakistan Muslim League. "This could create misuse. It cannot be done as free choice under our law and our religion." Access to abortion in Pakistan is very limited. Forbidden under Islamic law unless the mother's life is in danger, terminating a pregnancy carries a massive social stigma in the country, which is 97 per cent Muslim. As a result, a flourishing trade in backstreet abortion clinics has developed.
Figures from the Population Council of Pakistan show that the country has one of the highest rates of maternal mortality in the world, with 320 women dying for every 100,000 live births – compared to 13 per 100,000 in the UK. The Guttmacher Institute, which researches sexual and reproductive health, estimates that as many as one in six deaths are a result of illegal abortions. "We want to save women's lives," said Gulalai Ismail, founder of the Pakistani women's group Aware Girls, which is helping to set up the hotline. "We are empowering women, and trying to give them information to help them take control of their bodies. Any groups which try to help women will have problems with extremist and fundamentalist groups. Ninety-nine per cent of clerics will oppose this."
As well as the hotline, trained Pakistani staff will offer abortion information in communities in rural Pakistan, particularly in the tribal areas of the North-West Frontier Province, where opposition is expected to be fiercest. Massoud Shadjareh, chairman of the Islamic Human Rights Commission, warned the organisers that they risked reprisals. "To go against the majority like this might be seen sympathetically in the West, but it will be counterproductive and will create huge problems. At best, they are misguided, at worst they are trying to provoke," he said. "It is part of the colonial idea that the West's way is the best, and that is not the case."
"There will be very strong opposition," said Ahsan Iqbal, of the Pakistan Muslim League. "This could create misuse. It cannot be done as free choice under our law and our religion." Access to abortion in Pakistan is very limited. Forbidden under Islamic law unless the mother's life is in danger, terminating a pregnancy carries a massive social stigma in the country, which is 97 per cent Muslim. As a result, a flourishing trade in backstreet abortion clinics has developed.
Figures from the Population Council of Pakistan show that the country has one of the highest rates of maternal mortality in the world, with 320 women dying for every 100,000 live births – compared to 13 per 100,000 in the UK. The Guttmacher Institute, which researches sexual and reproductive health, estimates that as many as one in six deaths are a result of illegal abortions. "We want to save women's lives," said Gulalai Ismail, founder of the Pakistani women's group Aware Girls, which is helping to set up the hotline. "We are empowering women, and trying to give them information to help them take control of their bodies. Any groups which try to help women will have problems with extremist and fundamentalist groups. Ninety-nine per cent of clerics will oppose this."
As well as the hotline, trained Pakistani staff will offer abortion information in communities in rural Pakistan, particularly in the tribal areas of the North-West Frontier Province, where opposition is expected to be fiercest. Massoud Shadjareh, chairman of the Islamic Human Rights Commission, warned the organisers that they risked reprisals. "To go against the majority like this might be seen sympathetically in the West, but it will be counterproductive and will create huge problems. At best, they are misguided, at worst they are trying to provoke," he said. "It is part of the colonial idea that the West's way is the best, and that is not the case."
Guyanan man fined for sex with corpse, blaming nerves
A 20-year-old garbage collector in the South American country of Guyana has pleaded guilty to performing an indecent act on a dead body after he allegedly exhumed the corpse of an elderly woman and had sex with it.
Roopram Bacchus appeared before a judge on Friday and testified that he has a nerve problem that really bothers him and whenever he drinks it (the nerve problem) acts up. The judge ordered a psychiatric evaluation and fined him $US200. He faces a year in prison if he is unable to pay the fine.
Police divisional commander Steve Merai said that Bacchus dug up the body of a 75-year-old woman a day after relatives buried her in a cemetery in early March. Merai said Bacchus broke into the coffin, removed the corpse and had intercourse with it.
He said Bacchus and the family were neighbours.
Full story here.
Roopram Bacchus appeared before a judge on Friday and testified that he has a nerve problem that really bothers him and whenever he drinks it (the nerve problem) acts up. The judge ordered a psychiatric evaluation and fined him $US200. He faces a year in prison if he is unable to pay the fine.
Police divisional commander Steve Merai said that Bacchus dug up the body of a 75-year-old woman a day after relatives buried her in a cemetery in early March. Merai said Bacchus broke into the coffin, removed the corpse and had intercourse with it.
He said Bacchus and the family were neighbours.
Full story here.
Intruder demands woman make him an egg
A man who allegedly entered a woman’s apartment on Thistle Drive Thursday night pushed the woman around, grabbed $38 out of her purse and demanded she “make him an egg,” according to the Evansville Police Department. Daniel Santos-Barros, 28, was arrested and is in the Vanderburgh County Jail without bond pending a court hearing on preliminary charges of burglary, strong-armed robbery, theft and assault.
According to a probable cause affidavit, the woman told police when she opened her door around 9:30 p.m. to get her mail the man was standing outside with a beer in his hand. She said he entered her apartment, shoved her, took the money, pushed her around again and demanded the egg.
The woman said after she refused, he went into a bedroom and laid down, then got up and went into the kitchen where he began drinking his beer. The report doesn’t mention at what point the woman called police, but it says when they arrived the woman pointed to the man who was still standing in her kitchen.
Police said he had a strong odour of alcohol when they placed him in handcuffs. Santos-Barros told police he didn’t have an address.
According to a probable cause affidavit, the woman told police when she opened her door around 9:30 p.m. to get her mail the man was standing outside with a beer in his hand. She said he entered her apartment, shoved her, took the money, pushed her around again and demanded the egg.
The woman said after she refused, he went into a bedroom and laid down, then got up and went into the kitchen where he began drinking his beer. The report doesn’t mention at what point the woman called police, but it says when they arrived the woman pointed to the man who was still standing in her kitchen.
Police said he had a strong odour of alcohol when they placed him in handcuffs. Santos-Barros told police he didn’t have an address.
EU to ban selling eggs by the dozen
Shoppers will be banned from buying bread rolls or eggs priced by the dozen under new food labelling regulations proposed by the European parliament. Under the draft legislation, to come into force as early as next year, the sale of groceries using the simple measurement of numbers will be replaced by an EU-wide system based on weight.
It would mean an end to packaging descriptions such as eggs by the dozen, four-packs of apples, six bread rolls or boxes of 12 fish fingers. The legislation could even see special unit-based promotional packs offering 'eight chocolate bars for the price of six' banned, according to a report in trade magazine, The Grocer.
It comes after MEPs last week voted against an amendment to the regulations that would allow individual states to nominate products that could be sold by number. Individual countries are currently allowed to specify exemptions, but the proposed Food Labelling Regulations make no such provisions.
The changes would cost the food and retail industries millons of pounds as items would have to be individually weighed to ensure the accuracy of the label. The Grocer said food industry sources has described the move as "bonkers" and "absolute madness". Its editor, Adam Leyland, said the EU had "created a multi-headed monster".
It would mean an end to packaging descriptions such as eggs by the dozen, four-packs of apples, six bread rolls or boxes of 12 fish fingers. The legislation could even see special unit-based promotional packs offering 'eight chocolate bars for the price of six' banned, according to a report in trade magazine, The Grocer.
It comes after MEPs last week voted against an amendment to the regulations that would allow individual states to nominate products that could be sold by number. Individual countries are currently allowed to specify exemptions, but the proposed Food Labelling Regulations make no such provisions.
The changes would cost the food and retail industries millons of pounds as items would have to be individually weighed to ensure the accuracy of the label. The Grocer said food industry sources has described the move as "bonkers" and "absolute madness". Its editor, Adam Leyland, said the EU had "created a multi-headed monster".
Runaway donkey ends up in swimming pool
O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo…? Trapped in a swimming pool and being rescued by firefighters is not the line you expect next. But this was the saga that unfolded in a quiet Norfolk village when a donkey named after the famous Shakespeare character escaped from his paddock. Romeo's owners spent several hours looking for the errant equine after he made a bolt for freedom early yesterday.
Tim Hirst and his partner Rachel, from Mundham, near Loddon, scoured the local fields and roads after discovering Romeo had gone missing at about 3am, but there was no sign of him. It was not until about 9.30am that the donkey was found trapped in a swimming pool at a farm in the neighbouring village of Thwaite. It is thought he could have been in the pool for several hours after stumbling onto the blue cover and falling through.
A rescue operation promptly got underway and three fire crews from Norwich rushed to the scene. They freed Romeo using equipment borrowed from a farm opposite and the weary, but seemingly uninjured, donkey is now recovering at home. Mr Hirst described Romeo, who is about 35-years-old, as a “character” and a much-loved pet.
“When I went up to the farm there were three or four fire engines and there were various people helping to keep Romeo's head above water,” he said. The local farmer opposite came round with a teleporter and the fire brigade put straps around Romeo and lifted him out. The fire brigade did a great job. They got him out and he stood on his own feet. I think the worst part was walking him back home half a mile - it took me the best part of an hour.”
Tim Hirst and his partner Rachel, from Mundham, near Loddon, scoured the local fields and roads after discovering Romeo had gone missing at about 3am, but there was no sign of him. It was not until about 9.30am that the donkey was found trapped in a swimming pool at a farm in the neighbouring village of Thwaite. It is thought he could have been in the pool for several hours after stumbling onto the blue cover and falling through.
A rescue operation promptly got underway and three fire crews from Norwich rushed to the scene. They freed Romeo using equipment borrowed from a farm opposite and the weary, but seemingly uninjured, donkey is now recovering at home. Mr Hirst described Romeo, who is about 35-years-old, as a “character” and a much-loved pet.
“When I went up to the farm there were three or four fire engines and there were various people helping to keep Romeo's head above water,” he said. The local farmer opposite came round with a teleporter and the fire brigade put straps around Romeo and lifted him out. The fire brigade did a great job. They got him out and he stood on his own feet. I think the worst part was walking him back home half a mile - it took me the best part of an hour.”
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Orangutan learns to swim
Watch Suyia, a 7-year-old male orangutan, swim and dive underwater with his trainer. The great ape is able to swim up to twenty feet unaided using his rudimentary 'Borneo crawl', defying the common misconception that they are terrified of water.
Suriya looks comfortable retrieving hoops from the bottom of the pool and riding on the back of handler Moksha Bybee, 30, as she glides underwater. The ape staff at Myrtle Beach Safari, South Carolina, introduced the orangutan to their 67-foot-long pool after they noticed he had an unusual love for splashing around in the bath.
"The organutans went from playing in just a couple of inches of water to a couple of feet. They loved it so much they would splash around there for hours," Moksha Bybee said.
"One night, I decided to give the big oranguatan a lifevest, and immediately the light went on - Suyia understood that he could swim. Later we took him to the big pool and he learned all the new dimensions of what he could do underwater."
Suriya looks comfortable retrieving hoops from the bottom of the pool and riding on the back of handler Moksha Bybee, 30, as she glides underwater. The ape staff at Myrtle Beach Safari, South Carolina, introduced the orangutan to their 67-foot-long pool after they noticed he had an unusual love for splashing around in the bath.
"The organutans went from playing in just a couple of inches of water to a couple of feet. They loved it so much they would splash around there for hours," Moksha Bybee said.
"One night, I decided to give the big oranguatan a lifevest, and immediately the light went on - Suyia understood that he could swim. Later we took him to the big pool and he learned all the new dimensions of what he could do underwater."
Woman falls three stories, lands on car, wakes up on neighbour's couch
Lakemoor Police said they are trying to determine how a 30-year-old woman fell out of a third-story window and onto a parked car, then walked into a neighbour's house and slept for two hours. Police Chief Mike Marchese said family members believe the woman woke up about 3:30 a.m. in her townhouse on Pondview Lane and attempted to open a third-story window.
The woman, who police have not identified, may have slipped after opening the window, Marchese said. She crashed through the screen, and landed on the hood of her car in the driveway below, he said. She bounced off the car and landed on the pavement, he added.
"After hitting the ground, she got up and wandered over to the neighbour's house, where he left the garage door open," Marchese said. "She walked through the garage door, into the house, then fell back asleep on the neighbour's couch." He said the neighbour saw the woman sleeping on the couch at about 5:30 a.m., two hours after the fall, and phoned 9-1-1.
She was taken by the McHenry Fire Protection District to Centegra Hospital-McHenry. She was not suffering from any life-threatening injuries, Marchese said, but he did not know her condition. "There is absolutely no indication that alcohol or any drugs played a role in this at all," he said. "There are no signs of foul play or of a break-in or anything. All the circumstances show that this was a freak accident." Police are investigating, and officials plan to interview the woman after she is released from the hospital, he said.
The woman, who police have not identified, may have slipped after opening the window, Marchese said. She crashed through the screen, and landed on the hood of her car in the driveway below, he said. She bounced off the car and landed on the pavement, he added.
"After hitting the ground, she got up and wandered over to the neighbour's house, where he left the garage door open," Marchese said. "She walked through the garage door, into the house, then fell back asleep on the neighbour's couch." He said the neighbour saw the woman sleeping on the couch at about 5:30 a.m., two hours after the fall, and phoned 9-1-1.
She was taken by the McHenry Fire Protection District to Centegra Hospital-McHenry. She was not suffering from any life-threatening injuries, Marchese said, but he did not know her condition. "There is absolutely no indication that alcohol or any drugs played a role in this at all," he said. "There are no signs of foul play or of a break-in or anything. All the circumstances show that this was a freak accident." Police are investigating, and officials plan to interview the woman after she is released from the hospital, he said.
Policeman on horse rides through hookah bar
A Tampa Police officer was caught on tape walking his horse through a crowded Ybor City bar, and the police chief said she approves of it.
The video shows a mounted police officer walking his horse through Habibi's Hookah Bar on 7th Avenue. A woman is heard screaming in surprise as the horse rounds a corner into her path.
Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor said, "It's good public relations." However, one business owner complained about the practice.
Phat Katz Tattoo shares a walkway with the covered tobacco cafe. Owner Christiene Henry says the horse has walked through her shop as well. "To just come through, I think that's a safety hazard for everyone," said Henry. "The officers, the horse, as well as the people that are on the property, because it can get pretty busy out here at night."
The video shows a mounted police officer walking his horse through Habibi's Hookah Bar on 7th Avenue. A woman is heard screaming in surprise as the horse rounds a corner into her path.
Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor said, "It's good public relations." However, one business owner complained about the practice.
Phat Katz Tattoo shares a walkway with the covered tobacco cafe. Owner Christiene Henry says the horse has walked through her shop as well. "To just come through, I think that's a safety hazard for everyone," said Henry. "The officers, the horse, as well as the people that are on the property, because it can get pretty busy out here at night."
Man dies from heart attack after receiving receipt for his own cremation service
An elderly Indian man was so shocked to receive a bogus receipt for his own cremation service that he suffered a heart attack and died. Frail Than Singh, 70, was left aghast after reading that he had supposedly been cremated the week before.
But before the anxious dairy farmer could get to the bottom of what had happened he started complaining of chest pains. Relatives rushed him to the hospital but Singh suffered a massive heart attack and died.
In a macabre twist, his body was subsequently delivered to the same crematorium in Ghaziabad, northeastern India. And in another apparent coincidence, it was issued with the serial number 89 - the same number listed on the mysterious letter. Suspicious relatives called in police who believe his death was the result of a sick prank rather than an administrative mistake.
"The element of mischief is apparent and obvious," said senior superintendent of police, Ghaziabad Raghubir Lal. "What remains to be deciphered is if the person behind it wanted to shock the old man to the extent that he may collapse and if so then why, or if it was merely a prank that took a serious turn."
But before the anxious dairy farmer could get to the bottom of what had happened he started complaining of chest pains. Relatives rushed him to the hospital but Singh suffered a massive heart attack and died.
In a macabre twist, his body was subsequently delivered to the same crematorium in Ghaziabad, northeastern India. And in another apparent coincidence, it was issued with the serial number 89 - the same number listed on the mysterious letter. Suspicious relatives called in police who believe his death was the result of a sick prank rather than an administrative mistake.
"The element of mischief is apparent and obvious," said senior superintendent of police, Ghaziabad Raghubir Lal. "What remains to be deciphered is if the person behind it wanted to shock the old man to the extent that he may collapse and if so then why, or if it was merely a prank that took a serious turn."
Unexpected moose makes waves at beach
It was a perfect day for a dip Friday at Long Sands Beach in York, Maine - and that was true for both man ... and moose.
A female moose surprised surfers and sunbathers on Friday morning by swimming through the waves, startling beachgoers when it rose up out of the water.
The moose then jogged down the beach and headed back inland - it was last seen heading toward Shore Rd. in York. Moose are not an uncommon sight, even in Southern Maine - but it is rare to see one at one of southern Maine's more popular beaches.
A female moose surprised surfers and sunbathers on Friday morning by swimming through the waves, startling beachgoers when it rose up out of the water.
The moose then jogged down the beach and headed back inland - it was last seen heading toward Shore Rd. in York. Moose are not an uncommon sight, even in Southern Maine - but it is rare to see one at one of southern Maine's more popular beaches.
Thieves steal everything including the kitchen sink from police station
South Africa's police are investigating after thieves stripped a police station of all its contents, down to the kitchen sink. The office was under renovations and ready for re-occupation when the thieves hit.
The robbers helped themselves to everything of value - including doors, cupboards, basins, cutlery, tiles, furniture, electrical equipment and mortuary fridges. Officers from the Carletonville police station, west of Johannesburg, have had to cram into three small rooms.
The space is inadequate, and there with no holding cells or parking spaces. The rent costs the police about 127,000 rand ($17,000; £11,430) each month. It is not clear how the burglars managed to clean out the office without being detected by the security company contracted by the Department of Public Works to guard the premises.
Democratic Alliance police spokesperson Dianne Kohler Barnard said that the Department of Public Works had "failed taxpayers". "How bizarre, that the police will now have to investigate a crime committed at a police station," she said. "It's absolutely terrible, but typical of Public Works. For them to allow that place to be stripped is outrageous."
The robbers helped themselves to everything of value - including doors, cupboards, basins, cutlery, tiles, furniture, electrical equipment and mortuary fridges. Officers from the Carletonville police station, west of Johannesburg, have had to cram into three small rooms.
The space is inadequate, and there with no holding cells or parking spaces. The rent costs the police about 127,000 rand ($17,000; £11,430) each month. It is not clear how the burglars managed to clean out the office without being detected by the security company contracted by the Department of Public Works to guard the premises.
Democratic Alliance police spokesperson Dianne Kohler Barnard said that the Department of Public Works had "failed taxpayers". "How bizarre, that the police will now have to investigate a crime committed at a police station," she said. "It's absolutely terrible, but typical of Public Works. For them to allow that place to be stripped is outrageous."
Boy, 11, drives to safety after mother blacks out behind the wheel
A quick-thinking 11-year-old boy from Coweta County is credited with driving his family out of harm's way. The boy was forced to make a split-second decision when his mother blacked out from a sudden seizure while she was behind the wheel. Bailey Brogan described the terrifying ordeal and the split second decision that saved the lives of Bailey, his mother and his two sisters. "I didn't have any clue what was going on," said Nicole Brogan.
Brogan said she didn't remember the moment she blacked out from a seizure while she was behind the wheel of her car just after 11:00 a.m. Thursday. Brogan said she thought she was travelling about 55 to 60 miles per hour on Highway 34 East in Newnan when the seizure happened. It's a moment 11-year-old Bailey Brogan says he will never forget. The Sharpsburg boy said his little sisters, 3- year-old Breana and 5-year-old Audri, were in the backseat panicking and crying for their mom.
"I said calm down, everything's [going to] be alright," said Bailey Brogan. The 11 year old said the car was moving dangerously close to the vehicle ahead so he quickly grabbed the wheel to avoid a collision. Bailey Brogan then managed to steer the car until he reached the entrance of the Newnan Yamaha plant. "I was trying to stay in the lanes, then I thought to take the keys out of the ignition, [and it] slowed the car down," recalled the 11 year old.
Bailey Brogan's dad, Nate said paramedics praised his son's efforts. When Bailey Brogan's dad later retraced the events of the terrifying ride, he said he realized that his son drove nearly two miles, only hitting a few kerbs and all the while buckled in the passenger seat. "It's a feeling of, this is my first born - my only son - and he just saved my family's life. How can you repay that?" asked Nate Brogan.
Brogan said she didn't remember the moment she blacked out from a seizure while she was behind the wheel of her car just after 11:00 a.m. Thursday. Brogan said she thought she was travelling about 55 to 60 miles per hour on Highway 34 East in Newnan when the seizure happened. It's a moment 11-year-old Bailey Brogan says he will never forget. The Sharpsburg boy said his little sisters, 3- year-old Breana and 5-year-old Audri, were in the backseat panicking and crying for their mom.
"I said calm down, everything's [going to] be alright," said Bailey Brogan. The 11 year old said the car was moving dangerously close to the vehicle ahead so he quickly grabbed the wheel to avoid a collision. Bailey Brogan then managed to steer the car until he reached the entrance of the Newnan Yamaha plant. "I was trying to stay in the lanes, then I thought to take the keys out of the ignition, [and it] slowed the car down," recalled the 11 year old.
Bailey Brogan's dad, Nate said paramedics praised his son's efforts. When Bailey Brogan's dad later retraced the events of the terrifying ride, he said he realized that his son drove nearly two miles, only hitting a few kerbs and all the while buckled in the passenger seat. "It's a feeling of, this is my first born - my only son - and he just saved my family's life. How can you repay that?" asked Nate Brogan.
New York mugger knocks down elderly woman then helps her back up
Here’s the dramatic video of a thug trying to wrestle an 85-year-old woman to the ground for her purse - and then turning around and helping her to get up.
The alleged mugging took place on East 121st Street in Harlem at 11:15 a.m. last Saturday, when a man in his 30s approached an elderly woman walking with a cane - and callously tossed her to the ground.
The video appears to show the man then trying to steal the woman’s purse. But later video shows the same man helping his victim off the ground.
The woman managed to hang onto her bag, and police didn’t immediately know if anything was taken.
The alleged mugging took place on East 121st Street in Harlem at 11:15 a.m. last Saturday, when a man in his 30s approached an elderly woman walking with a cane - and callously tossed her to the ground.
The video appears to show the man then trying to steal the woman’s purse. But later video shows the same man helping his victim off the ground.
The woman managed to hang onto her bag, and police didn’t immediately know if anything was taken.
Prison inmate bitten as snakes invade prison
A prison inmate was bitten by an adder after an invasion of the venomous snakes, it was revealed yesterday. An ambulance with two paramedics raced to treat the shocked 30-year-old.
The baby adder had sank its fangs into his hand in the grounds of HMP The Verne in Dorset. He later told officers that he thought it was a slow worm - until he saw its mother coming at him.
The con, serving five years for fraud and drug offences, recovered fully in the jail's medical centre. It was believed that adders, Britain's only venomous snake, have been climbing the sloped walls to bask in the sunshine.
Bosses have put up signs warning the 600 inmates: "Due to warm weather, snakes are falling from the ramparts into the prison. If you see one, do not approach but alert staff."
The baby adder had sank its fangs into his hand in the grounds of HMP The Verne in Dorset. He later told officers that he thought it was a slow worm - until he saw its mother coming at him.
The con, serving five years for fraud and drug offences, recovered fully in the jail's medical centre. It was believed that adders, Britain's only venomous snake, have been climbing the sloped walls to bask in the sunshine.
Bosses have put up signs warning the 600 inmates: "Due to warm weather, snakes are falling from the ramparts into the prison. If you see one, do not approach but alert staff."
Woman sent to prison for throwing lawnmower at neighbour
A woman has been jailed for throwing a lawnmower at her neighbour and threatening him with a knife in a dispute over noise. Gloria Christie, aged 42, had previously been convicted at trial of affray and having an offensive weapon. The offences relate to an incident on August 17 last year in Biddick Drive in Keyham, where Christie lived.
The court was told that Christie's neighbour Robert Webb had gone to complain that she was playing her music too loud while his child was trying to sleep. When Christie did not comply, Mr Webb reached into her home and switched off her music system, the court was told. Summarising the case, Judge Ian Leeming QC said slightly-built Christie, originally from Jamaica, started shouting at Mr Webb and threatened him with a piece of furniture outside in the street.
She then threw a lawnmower at 6ft 7in, 20-stone Mr Webb, the court was told, and threatened to get a knife. Judge Leeming continued: "You went inside the house and came out with two large kitchen knives and made to attack Mr Webb. You acted in a most peculiar fashion, banging on the ground in what one witness described as a ritual fashion, and you then brandished the knives very close to Mr Webb on a number of occasions. This was very alarming to him and to a number of witnesses who had come out into the street and were watching."
The judge said Christie had a number of similar convictions in the past, including two for threatening people with knives. A report commissioned by the judge after the trial revealed that although Christie had a troubled past, she had no psychological illnesses. Judge Leeming jailed Christie for 17 months, saying 90 days spent on remand would count towards her sentence.
The court was told that Christie's neighbour Robert Webb had gone to complain that she was playing her music too loud while his child was trying to sleep. When Christie did not comply, Mr Webb reached into her home and switched off her music system, the court was told. Summarising the case, Judge Ian Leeming QC said slightly-built Christie, originally from Jamaica, started shouting at Mr Webb and threatened him with a piece of furniture outside in the street.
She then threw a lawnmower at 6ft 7in, 20-stone Mr Webb, the court was told, and threatened to get a knife. Judge Leeming continued: "You went inside the house and came out with two large kitchen knives and made to attack Mr Webb. You acted in a most peculiar fashion, banging on the ground in what one witness described as a ritual fashion, and you then brandished the knives very close to Mr Webb on a number of occasions. This was very alarming to him and to a number of witnesses who had come out into the street and were watching."
The judge said Christie had a number of similar convictions in the past, including two for threatening people with knives. A report commissioned by the judge after the trial revealed that although Christie had a troubled past, she had no psychological illnesses. Judge Leeming jailed Christie for 17 months, saying 90 days spent on remand would count towards her sentence.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Woman set office on fire so she could go home early
A Florida woman accused of starting an office fire to get sent home early with pay pleaded guilty to criminal mischief.
The Pasco County Sheriff's Office said Michelle Perrino, 40, drew suspicion during a meeting of Bayonet Point Oxygen employees when she mentioned the May 12, 2009, fire had started in a filing cabinet before workers had been informed of the fire's origins.
Investigators said a friend of Perrino told them she had admitted to tripping the main circuit breaker and adjusting phones to block incoming calls in bids to go home early without sacrificing the day's pay.
Perrino was sentenced to 9 months imprisonment followed by 5 years of probation. She was also ordered to pay Bayonet Point Oxygen $4,800 in restitution and banned from contacting the company or its employees.
The Pasco County Sheriff's Office said Michelle Perrino, 40, drew suspicion during a meeting of Bayonet Point Oxygen employees when she mentioned the May 12, 2009, fire had started in a filing cabinet before workers had been informed of the fire's origins.
Investigators said a friend of Perrino told them she had admitted to tripping the main circuit breaker and adjusting phones to block incoming calls in bids to go home early without sacrificing the day's pay.
Perrino was sentenced to 9 months imprisonment followed by 5 years of probation. She was also ordered to pay Bayonet Point Oxygen $4,800 in restitution and banned from contacting the company or its employees.
Why did the 15-year-old girl steal 44 pairs of underwear?
Why did a 15-year-old girl steal 44 pairs of underwear from a St. Paul store?
The teen reportedly posed a question of her own to a police officer: "Do you expect me to wear dirty underwear?" She was cited for misdemeanor theft.
The case with the teen girl happened June 19 at the Maryland Avenue Kmart. She stashed the 44 pairs of women's underwear in a tote bag and walked out without paying, police said.
Thirty-one of the pairs were valued at $4.99 and 13 at $3.99, police said.
The teen reportedly posed a question of her own to a police officer: "Do you expect me to wear dirty underwear?" She was cited for misdemeanor theft.
The case with the teen girl happened June 19 at the Maryland Avenue Kmart. She stashed the 44 pairs of women's underwear in a tote bag and walked out without paying, police said.
Thirty-one of the pairs were valued at $4.99 and 13 at $3.99, police said.
Woman flashes breasts for peace and quiet
Marika De Florio is using bare breasts to win a feud with her neighbours. The 56-year-old says she is sick and tired of her neighbours' five-year-old grandson driving a loud all-terrain vehicle for hours on her quiet street in Seeley's Bay, near Kingston. So she found a solution under her shirt. De Florio has discovered that if she goes out topless, the boy's horrified grandparents rush the child into the house.
And she said she will continue to go topless every time the child rides the ATV. "It is maddening," she said of the noise. "I'm going mental. I can't breathe and I'm not moving, but I need some peace. I can't believe I did this, but they pulled the kid inside and then called police because of their small-town mentality."
De Florio says the problems with her neighbours, Mike and Nancy Berry, started two years ago when she moved to the area. Leeds OPP, which covers Seeley's Bay, have received complaint calls from both De Florio and the Berrys. She is not breaking the law, because in Canada women are allowed to be topless.
"There is not a criminal charge for that ... not since 1996," said Toronto Police Const. Isabelle Cotton. De Florio says she decided to go topless to solve the problem because police wouldn't do anything about the ATV noise. She said it's the bravest thing she has ever done. "I'll do what I have to to eradicate this problem," she said.
And she said she will continue to go topless every time the child rides the ATV. "It is maddening," she said of the noise. "I'm going mental. I can't breathe and I'm not moving, but I need some peace. I can't believe I did this, but they pulled the kid inside and then called police because of their small-town mentality."
De Florio says the problems with her neighbours, Mike and Nancy Berry, started two years ago when she moved to the area. Leeds OPP, which covers Seeley's Bay, have received complaint calls from both De Florio and the Berrys. She is not breaking the law, because in Canada women are allowed to be topless.
"There is not a criminal charge for that ... not since 1996," said Toronto Police Const. Isabelle Cotton. De Florio says she decided to go topless to solve the problem because police wouldn't do anything about the ATV noise. She said it's the bravest thing she has ever done. "I'll do what I have to to eradicate this problem," she said.
Couple who tried to sell 6-month-old baby outside Walmart arrested
Salinas police officers arrested a couple who they say tried to sell their 6-month-old baby for $25 on Tuesday night outside Walmart. Police spokesman Officer Lalo Villegas said the father tried to sell the child at around 7:20 p.m. outside the store on North Davis Road.
Villegas said Salinas resident Patrick Fousek, 28, had approached two women and asked to use their cell phone. After he finished, police said, Fousek asked the women, who were playing with the baby, if they would like purchase his daughter for $25. “They thought he was joking,” Villegas said. “They laughed, but he was very persistent. That’s when they knew this guy was serious.”
Police said Fousek immediately left and went to the car where the mother, Samatha Tomasini, 20, was waiting. As the couple drove away, Villegas said, the two women were able to get the pair’s license plate number. At around 1 a.m. on Wednesday, Villegas said, police officers tracked down the couple at their residence on the 700 block of East Romie Lane.
Police arrested Fousek and Tomasini on suspicion of child endangerment and being under the influence of a controlled substance. Fousek, police said, was also on probation. The pair were booked into the Monterey County Jail. Police said the baby has since been taken by Child Protective Services.
Villegas said Salinas resident Patrick Fousek, 28, had approached two women and asked to use their cell phone. After he finished, police said, Fousek asked the women, who were playing with the baby, if they would like purchase his daughter for $25. “They thought he was joking,” Villegas said. “They laughed, but he was very persistent. That’s when they knew this guy was serious.”
Police said Fousek immediately left and went to the car where the mother, Samatha Tomasini, 20, was waiting. As the couple drove away, Villegas said, the two women were able to get the pair’s license plate number. At around 1 a.m. on Wednesday, Villegas said, police officers tracked down the couple at their residence on the 700 block of East Romie Lane.
Police arrested Fousek and Tomasini on suspicion of child endangerment and being under the influence of a controlled substance. Fousek, police said, was also on probation. The pair were booked into the Monterey County Jail. Police said the baby has since been taken by Child Protective Services.
Camping trip ends in terror for sleeping man who woke to find giant bear had nearly bitten off his ear
An man from Ellensburg, Washington, says he holds no hard feelings against the bear who almost bit his ear off during a camping trip in Montana. Rob Holmes and his friend Brandon drove to Montana Sunday to go camping and fishing. He says he's an avid camper and knows the procedure to keep bears out of campsites, which is why he was shocked to wake up with a bloody ear and bear teeth marks on his tent.
Early on Monday morning, Rob felt a tug on his ear while sleeping in his tent. He started yelling to scare away whatever just bit him, which turned out to be a bear. His friend woke up and shined a flashlight on Holmes, to see the side of his head bloodied. "So I knew I'd been hurt but I didn't know how bad. Then when I looked at it and I'm like, 'Oh.'" said Holmes.
He was rushed bleeding to the hospital in Missoula, where he needed 21 stitches to reattach the bottom of his ear. "I was in shock about the whole thing but it was just surreal. The whole time we were joking about, you know, 'did that really just happen?'" said Holmes. "I've never heard of nothing like this happening to anyone," said his camping buddy Brandon.
Even though doctors told Holmes that he is lucky to be alive and his ear is still recovering, the two campers have no qualms with the bear. "It was just a bear doing what a bear does. I mean, I got a dog out back that puts his mouth on everything too because he's curious," said Holmes.
With news video.
Early on Monday morning, Rob felt a tug on his ear while sleeping in his tent. He started yelling to scare away whatever just bit him, which turned out to be a bear. His friend woke up and shined a flashlight on Holmes, to see the side of his head bloodied. "So I knew I'd been hurt but I didn't know how bad. Then when I looked at it and I'm like, 'Oh.'" said Holmes.
He was rushed bleeding to the hospital in Missoula, where he needed 21 stitches to reattach the bottom of his ear. "I was in shock about the whole thing but it was just surreal. The whole time we were joking about, you know, 'did that really just happen?'" said Holmes. "I've never heard of nothing like this happening to anyone," said his camping buddy Brandon.
Even though doctors told Holmes that he is lucky to be alive and his ear is still recovering, the two campers have no qualms with the bear. "It was just a bear doing what a bear does. I mean, I got a dog out back that puts his mouth on everything too because he's curious," said Holmes.
With news video.
Machete gang hacks off man's fingers and nose
A security worker is recovering after a machete attack outside his home in Kenya, his mother said yesterday. Mike Minihane, 45, lost his fingers and nose in the assault by a gang of five men in the Nairobi suburb of Karen. Mr Minihane was returning home with his wife Christine and their five-year-old son on June 13 when he was attacked.
He was taken to hospital in Nairobi and had eight hours of surgery. He is expected to have further reconstruction work, his mother said. Helen Minihane from Dollar, Clackmannanshire, said: "They hacked off his fingers but they have been reattached. He suffered a fractured skull and I believe he lost his nose, part of his jaw and his teeth. He may have to have a metal pin put behind one of his eyes. But he can walk and talk and he's quite lucid."
Mr Minihane, who has dual British-Irish nationality, has worked in Kenya for around 10 years. He was on a month's leave when he was attacked, in what is thought to have been an attempted carjacking. Mrs Minihane was on holiday in Canada when her other son, who lives in Dublin, called her to tell her what had happened.
She said: "They had been out to dinner somewhere and his wife and his little boy were in the car. They drove round a lane to get to the steel security door and Mike had got out to open it. There were five men and they had a machete, an axe and a machine gun. But at least he survived."
He was taken to hospital in Nairobi and had eight hours of surgery. He is expected to have further reconstruction work, his mother said. Helen Minihane from Dollar, Clackmannanshire, said: "They hacked off his fingers but they have been reattached. He suffered a fractured skull and I believe he lost his nose, part of his jaw and his teeth. He may have to have a metal pin put behind one of his eyes. But he can walk and talk and he's quite lucid."
Mr Minihane, who has dual British-Irish nationality, has worked in Kenya for around 10 years. He was on a month's leave when he was attacked, in what is thought to have been an attempted carjacking. Mrs Minihane was on holiday in Canada when her other son, who lives in Dublin, called her to tell her what had happened.
She said: "They had been out to dinner somewhere and his wife and his little boy were in the car. They drove round a lane to get to the steel security door and Mike had got out to open it. There were five men and they had a machete, an axe and a machine gun. But at least he survived."
Police quell Ryanair mutiny with chocolate
Police in Scotland had to buy emergency supplies of chocolate and water for a planeload of Ryanair passengers who were close to mutiny after spending four hours on the tarmac without any food and drink. Strathclyde police were called to the Ryanair flight at Prestwick airport in Ayrshire yesterday after the plane was held on the runway due to delays caused by an air traffic controllers strike in France.
The flight, to Girona in Spain, had been due to leave at 2pm but by 6pm the flight's besieged crew called the police. The 168 passengers, many with children, became increasingly angry after the crew refused to open the refreshment trolleys, saying they were forbidden from doing so until the flight was in the air. Others wanted to get off the plane.
Officers decided to buy Mars bars, Double Deckers and water at the force's expense and brought the supplies on board. The flight eventually left shortly before 8pm. A Strathclyde police spokeswoman said: "Officers attended at 6pm to assess the situation and assist cabin crew. Officers subsequently purchased water and chocolate for every passenger on board and took it to them.
"Some of the passengers were slightly fraught after a delay in their flight departing. [Police] remained at the airport until after the plane had left." Ryanair said it was unable to allow the passengers to disembark. "Ryanair asked passengers to remain on board while awaiting take-off authorisation, to minimise passenger inconvenience and avoid a further delay or likely flight cancellation," a spokesman said.
The flight, to Girona in Spain, had been due to leave at 2pm but by 6pm the flight's besieged crew called the police. The 168 passengers, many with children, became increasingly angry after the crew refused to open the refreshment trolleys, saying they were forbidden from doing so until the flight was in the air. Others wanted to get off the plane.
Officers decided to buy Mars bars, Double Deckers and water at the force's expense and brought the supplies on board. The flight eventually left shortly before 8pm. A Strathclyde police spokeswoman said: "Officers attended at 6pm to assess the situation and assist cabin crew. Officers subsequently purchased water and chocolate for every passenger on board and took it to them.
"Some of the passengers were slightly fraught after a delay in their flight departing. [Police] remained at the airport until after the plane had left." Ryanair said it was unable to allow the passengers to disembark. "Ryanair asked passengers to remain on board while awaiting take-off authorisation, to minimise passenger inconvenience and avoid a further delay or likely flight cancellation," a spokesman said.
£10,000 compensation given to worker who told boss to f**k off
A sacked factory worker yesterday won at least £10,000 compensation after telling a foreman to "f*** off". Machine operator Keith Bodman, 45, lost his job for swearing even though his workmates had only had written warnings for misconduct.
The shop steward, who said he had a 16-year clean work record, claimed he was singled out by bosses. He said: "I'm not proud of the language I used. But the factory floor was a very male environment. I never thought I'd end up losing my job, especially as colleagues only got written warnings for worse."
The Unite union said a "culture of foul language" existed at the Yuasa Battery factory in Ebbw Vale, South Wales. Local co-ordinator Bryan Godsell insisted Mr Bodman, from Blackwood, reacted after bosses quizzed him over his private life.
Yuasa Battery (UK) Ltd settled an undisclosed five-figure sum out of court after Mr Bodman took them to an employment tribunal. A spokesman denied the firm singled him out.
The shop steward, who said he had a 16-year clean work record, claimed he was singled out by bosses. He said: "I'm not proud of the language I used. But the factory floor was a very male environment. I never thought I'd end up losing my job, especially as colleagues only got written warnings for worse."
The Unite union said a "culture of foul language" existed at the Yuasa Battery factory in Ebbw Vale, South Wales. Local co-ordinator Bryan Godsell insisted Mr Bodman, from Blackwood, reacted after bosses quizzed him over his private life.
Yuasa Battery (UK) Ltd settled an undisclosed five-figure sum out of court after Mr Bodman took them to an employment tribunal. A spokesman denied the firm singled him out.
Meet Oscar, the ground-breaking puss in bionic boots
A cat that had its back feet severed by a combine harvester has been given two prosthetic limbs in a pioneering operation by a UK vet. The new feet are custom-made implants that "peg" the ankle to the foot. They are bioengineered to mimic the way deer antler bone grows through the skin. The operation - a world first - was carried out by Noel Fitzpatrick, a veterinary surgeon based in Surrey.
The prosthetic pegs, called intraosseous transcutaneous amputation prosthetics (Itaps) were developed by a team from University College London led by Professor Gordon Blunn, who is head of UCL's Centre for Biomedical Engineering. Professor Blunn and his team have worked in partnership with Mr Fitzpatrick to develop these weight-bearing implants, combining engineering mechanics with biology. Mr Fitzpatrick explained: "The real revolution with Oscar is [that] we have put a piece of metal and a flange into which skin grows into an extremely tight bone."
"We have managed to get the bone and skin to grow into the implant and we have developed an 'exoprosthesis' that allows this implant to work as a see-saw on the bottom of an animal's limbs to give him effectively normal gait." Professor Blunn said the idea was initially developed for patients with amputations who have a "stump socket". "This means they fix their artifical limb with a sock, which fits over the stump. In a lot of cases this is sucessful, but you [often] get rubbing and pressure sores."
The Itap technology is being tested in humans and has already been used to create a prosthetic for a woman who lost her arm in the July 2005 London bombings. "The intriguing thing with Oscar was that he had two implants - one in each back leg, and in quite an unusual site," Professor Blunn said. He said that the success of this operation showed the potential of the technology.
The prosthetic pegs, called intraosseous transcutaneous amputation prosthetics (Itaps) were developed by a team from University College London led by Professor Gordon Blunn, who is head of UCL's Centre for Biomedical Engineering. Professor Blunn and his team have worked in partnership with Mr Fitzpatrick to develop these weight-bearing implants, combining engineering mechanics with biology. Mr Fitzpatrick explained: "The real revolution with Oscar is [that] we have put a piece of metal and a flange into which skin grows into an extremely tight bone."
"We have managed to get the bone and skin to grow into the implant and we have developed an 'exoprosthesis' that allows this implant to work as a see-saw on the bottom of an animal's limbs to give him effectively normal gait." Professor Blunn said the idea was initially developed for patients with amputations who have a "stump socket". "This means they fix their artifical limb with a sock, which fits over the stump. In a lot of cases this is sucessful, but you [often] get rubbing and pressure sores."
The Itap technology is being tested in humans and has already been used to create a prosthetic for a woman who lost her arm in the July 2005 London bombings. "The intriguing thing with Oscar was that he had two implants - one in each back leg, and in quite an unusual site," Professor Blunn said. He said that the success of this operation showed the potential of the technology.
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