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Sunday, October 31, 2010
John Cleese answers the door
23 seconds in, you can see trained humans in the background, offering the dog a biscuit if it pretends to be dead.
Update: Following its swift removal from YouTube you can currently view it here. NSFW.
Cheers swan_pr!
Update: Following its swift removal from YouTube you can currently view it here. NSFW.
Cheers swan_pr!
Zimbabwe's blind cricket commentator
A blind cricket commentator in Zimbabwe manages to judge the power and direction of a shot – and rarely makes mistakes. When the ball hits the bat, the radio announcer exclaims that it's sailing far. Dean Du Plessis' acute sense of hearing and his eavesdropping on other commentators helps him overcome the fact that he is blind, producing a delivery so polished that most listeners are unaware that he can't see.
Mr Du Plessis hears the power and direction of the hit. He listens to the speed and spin of the ball, along with the players' exertions and their cries of elation or frustration. He senses the excitement – or otherwise – of the play on the cricket field and collates the scores with a computer-like memory.
In the media area at Harare's Country Club sports field, other journalists see the ball soar skyward after a sharp crack on the bat. "That's a big one. It's gone for six," said the 33-year-old Mr Du Plessis, his opaque eyes gazing into the distance. It has, flying way out of the field.
Team members and spectators murmur applause as the often sedate game of cricket goes on. In a fast-moving sport like football, Mr De Plessis' feat would likely be impossible. He asks a friend to confirm the score on the board and feeds the latest to state radio. "I have to ensure I am totally accurate," said. "I'm generally spot on or very close. I think I have a pretty big hard drive in my head."
Mr Du Plessis hears the power and direction of the hit. He listens to the speed and spin of the ball, along with the players' exertions and their cries of elation or frustration. He senses the excitement – or otherwise – of the play on the cricket field and collates the scores with a computer-like memory.
In the media area at Harare's Country Club sports field, other journalists see the ball soar skyward after a sharp crack on the bat. "That's a big one. It's gone for six," said the 33-year-old Mr Du Plessis, his opaque eyes gazing into the distance. It has, flying way out of the field.
Team members and spectators murmur applause as the often sedate game of cricket goes on. In a fast-moving sport like football, Mr De Plessis' feat would likely be impossible. He asks a friend to confirm the score on the board and feeds the latest to state radio. "I have to ensure I am totally accurate," said. "I'm generally spot on or very close. I think I have a pretty big hard drive in my head."
Man walked into hospital with severed arm in bin bag
A concrete worker walked into a hospital with his arm in a yellow bin bag after it was torn off by heavy machinery - and calmly asked doctors to sew it back on again.
Romanian Miheal Ionescu, 51, who works at a factory making concrete at Iasi in northern Romania, had his arm ripped off in the work accident, and stuffed it in a bin bag - before getting a friend to drive him to the hospital. Nine doctors then spent 12 hours working to reattach the arm of the man from Falticeni.
Hospital spokesman Doctor Tudor Ciuhodaru at the local St John's Hospital in the city said: "The man was clearly in shock, which is why he could remain so calm. He is now in intensive care.
"This is one of the most severe cases we have ever seen at the Iasi emergency room, and we specialise in this and do around 1,000 arms reattachments every year."
Romanian Miheal Ionescu, 51, who works at a factory making concrete at Iasi in northern Romania, had his arm ripped off in the work accident, and stuffed it in a bin bag - before getting a friend to drive him to the hospital. Nine doctors then spent 12 hours working to reattach the arm of the man from Falticeni.
Hospital spokesman Doctor Tudor Ciuhodaru at the local St John's Hospital in the city said: "The man was clearly in shock, which is why he could remain so calm. He is now in intensive care.
"This is one of the most severe cases we have ever seen at the Iasi emergency room, and we specialise in this and do around 1,000 arms reattachments every year."
Naked mother pinned down by four police officers in cell cleared of assault
A mother accused of assaulting police was cleared yesterday after a court was shown CCTV footage of them attacking her. Stephanie Rutter, 25, can be seen being pinned down by four officers after she was stripped naked in a police cell.
The hairdresser had been arrested after a row with her boyfriend. When she arrived at the police station there was a bust-up and her clothes were cut off. Stephanie was then said to have attacked a woman police sergeant, a woman PC and a male and female detention officer.
But the charges were dropped after her lawyer produced the CCTV at Runcorn Magistrates' Court, Cheshire. Stephanie, from Runcorn, was shown being elbowed in the jaw and pinned to the floor. The mum of one was then handcuffed and put in leg restraints.
Stephanie said: "It was four on one - and they won. They left me in the cell with blood dripping down my face and covered in bruises. I thought my jaw was broken." She said she was "overjoyed" at being cleared, adding: "Justice has been done." She is now taking action against the officers.
The hairdresser had been arrested after a row with her boyfriend. When she arrived at the police station there was a bust-up and her clothes were cut off. Stephanie was then said to have attacked a woman police sergeant, a woman PC and a male and female detention officer.
But the charges were dropped after her lawyer produced the CCTV at Runcorn Magistrates' Court, Cheshire. Stephanie, from Runcorn, was shown being elbowed in the jaw and pinned to the floor. The mum of one was then handcuffed and put in leg restraints.
Stephanie said: "It was four on one - and they won. They left me in the cell with blood dripping down my face and covered in bruises. I thought my jaw was broken." She said she was "overjoyed" at being cleared, adding: "Justice has been done." She is now taking action against the officers.
Man killed for having sex with donkey
A farmer has been arrested for killing a pervert who had sex with his prize donkey — while wearing lingerie and a pair of slippers. Police say Jose Gomes Pinto, 55, slashed the man's throat with a razor after discovering he had violated his favourite ass — a donkey named Russo.
Jaime Pires, 68, was found dead in a pool of blood wearing women's underwear in the village of Proenca-a-Velha, Portugal. Pires was known locally as Jaime Sheep because he regularly had sex with farm animals.
Local newspapers said Pires had started sleeping with animals 12 years ago before moving away. He recently returned to his home village and soon after locals accused him of having sex with chickens. Mayor Francisco Silva said the killing was "sad and regrettable".
He added: "I don't think there is anything behind it other than the animals." Pinto denied murder during an appearance at a court in nearby Idanha-a-Nova. He had earlier told reporters he had been out of the area when Pires was murdered.
Jaime Pires, 68, was found dead in a pool of blood wearing women's underwear in the village of Proenca-a-Velha, Portugal. Pires was known locally as Jaime Sheep because he regularly had sex with farm animals.
Local newspapers said Pires had started sleeping with animals 12 years ago before moving away. He recently returned to his home village and soon after locals accused him of having sex with chickens. Mayor Francisco Silva said the killing was "sad and regrettable".
He added: "I don't think there is anything behind it other than the animals." Pinto denied murder during an appearance at a court in nearby Idanha-a-Nova. He had earlier told reporters he had been out of the area when Pires was murdered.
Man admits flooding neighbour's home with garden hose
A neighbour from hell caused almost £50,000 of damage to a formerly close friend's home by drilling a hole in the wall and repeatedly flooding the foundations. Electrician Francis McGourty used a hosepipe to unleash a torrent of water into Shirley Elliott's Bridge of Earn home after he fell out with her. Although Perth Sheriff Court accepted he carried out his bizarre actions over a single weekend, the extent of damage forced Miss Elliott out of the home she shares with son David (21) and partner Colin Callachan (51) for six months.
Miss Elliott (53), an administration assistant at Perth High School, said she had often heard the sound of water rushing in the house, but hadn't been able to locate the source. She became convinced her home was being sabotaged and alerted the police on April 18 last year, stopping short of demanding they visit the house. The next day, though, she returned home to catch McGourty "red-handed" in his garden with the hosepipe sticking out of her wall.
She said, "We took photos of the hose going into our property and phoned the police. They came round and immediately heard the water and sneaked about the property and looked over and saw the hose and arrested him as he ran to switch his outside tap off." She said the water was inches deep when the flooring was ripped up and the pipework and electrics were ruined. "Builders came in and ripped up the floor and we lived with that through the coldest winter anyone can remember before the insurance moved us out in February."
The repair cost so far has been £47,000 and Miss Elliott was forced off work through stress and Mr Callachan discovered he is suffering from lung cancer during their absence from home. McGourty sold his house this summer and Miss Elliott said she still does not know what caused the dispute. Sheriff Jack Brown noted McGourty is a first offender and called for background reports ahead of sentencing on November 24.
Miss Elliott (53), an administration assistant at Perth High School, said she had often heard the sound of water rushing in the house, but hadn't been able to locate the source. She became convinced her home was being sabotaged and alerted the police on April 18 last year, stopping short of demanding they visit the house. The next day, though, she returned home to catch McGourty "red-handed" in his garden with the hosepipe sticking out of her wall.
She said, "We took photos of the hose going into our property and phoned the police. They came round and immediately heard the water and sneaked about the property and looked over and saw the hose and arrested him as he ran to switch his outside tap off." She said the water was inches deep when the flooring was ripped up and the pipework and electrics were ruined. "Builders came in and ripped up the floor and we lived with that through the coldest winter anyone can remember before the insurance moved us out in February."
The repair cost so far has been £47,000 and Miss Elliott was forced off work through stress and Mr Callachan discovered he is suffering from lung cancer during their absence from home. McGourty sold his house this summer and Miss Elliott said she still does not know what caused the dispute. Sheriff Jack Brown noted McGourty is a first offender and called for background reports ahead of sentencing on November 24.
Flasher is bitten by victim's dog
A man who indecently exposed himself to a woman ended up being bitten by her dog.
The victim, aged in her 60s, was walking her pet in Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, when she was approached by the flasher. A police spokesman said the man exposed himself and the terrier growled. It then bit him on the upper right arm.
Sgt Ian Dowling, of North Cotswolds police, said the dog seemed "to have acted instinctively". He added: "This was clearly an upsetting incident for the woman and her dog.
"The animal seems to have acted instinctively and was not urged to attack the offender. Naturally because of the nature of the incident, we are keen to hear about anyone seen with a dog bite on his right arm in the last 24 hours."
The victim, aged in her 60s, was walking her pet in Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, when she was approached by the flasher. A police spokesman said the man exposed himself and the terrier growled. It then bit him on the upper right arm.
Sgt Ian Dowling, of North Cotswolds police, said the dog seemed "to have acted instinctively". He added: "This was clearly an upsetting incident for the woman and her dog.
"The animal seems to have acted instinctively and was not urged to attack the offender. Naturally because of the nature of the incident, we are keen to hear about anyone seen with a dog bite on his right arm in the last 24 hours."
Thug filmed viciously kicking a puppy identified as Arthur Kent
A man caught on camera viciously kicking a puppy in a public park has said he is "disgusted and ashamed" of his behaviour. Arthur Kent, 24, of Welling, southeast London, said he became angry when the dog urinated on him and would not walk on a lead.
Kent was filmed by a member of the public yanking the puppy off the ground by its lead and delivering at least two kicks that were so hard the dog was knocked off its feet. "He wouldn't walk so I gave him a kick and a yank. I didn't mean him no harm, I was just trying to teach him how to walk," he said.
"The dog was a bit scared of me after that. But I apologised to him, kissed him and gave him some toys." The puppy was seized by police and given to the RSPCA, which is considering charges under the Animal Welfare Act.
Kent was previously jailed for 18 months for robbery. He says he expects to be sent back to prison if prosecuted by the RSPCA. Despite the puppy being seized, Kent still owns a whippet-cross Staffordshire-terrier.
Kent was filmed by a member of the public yanking the puppy off the ground by its lead and delivering at least two kicks that were so hard the dog was knocked off its feet. "He wouldn't walk so I gave him a kick and a yank. I didn't mean him no harm, I was just trying to teach him how to walk," he said.
"The dog was a bit scared of me after that. But I apologised to him, kissed him and gave him some toys." The puppy was seized by police and given to the RSPCA, which is considering charges under the Animal Welfare Act.
Kent was previously jailed for 18 months for robbery. He says he expects to be sent back to prison if prosecuted by the RSPCA. Despite the puppy being seized, Kent still owns a whippet-cross Staffordshire-terrier.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Lion cubs learn how to swim
Four future kings of the jungle had their first swimming lesson this week. The cubs, born in August, are preparing to join their mother in an outdoor enclosure later this year where they will be surrounded by a water-filled moat.
So keepers at National Zoo, in Washington DC, are making sure they aren’t dropped in at the deep end ... literally. Held by the scruff of their necks, the cubs were individually lowered into the water by the zoo’s great cats curator Craig Saffoe and keepers Rebecca Stites and Kristen Clark.
Three of the cubs preferred to swim along the edge of the moat for the test, needing a little push from the zookeepers to help them on their way. However, one of them was so confident that it swam straight out into the middle of the moat and had to be guided back to land by a keeper.
Luckily, the three female and one male cub all passed the test, successfully ‘doggy’ paddling their way along the moat and looking forward to their move in December.
So keepers at National Zoo, in Washington DC, are making sure they aren’t dropped in at the deep end ... literally. Held by the scruff of their necks, the cubs were individually lowered into the water by the zoo’s great cats curator Craig Saffoe and keepers Rebecca Stites and Kristen Clark.
Three of the cubs preferred to swim along the edge of the moat for the test, needing a little push from the zookeepers to help them on their way. However, one of them was so confident that it swam straight out into the middle of the moat and had to be guided back to land by a keeper.
Luckily, the three female and one male cub all passed the test, successfully ‘doggy’ paddling their way along the moat and looking forward to their move in December.
Sri Lankan arrested in India with 2,060 diamonds in his stomach
Police in India have arrested a Sri Lankan man with 2,060 diamonds and other precious stones in his stomach. The man was arrested on arrival at the airport in the southern city of Madras (Chennai) on Tuesday, police said.
The stones - estimated to be worth between $337,000 (£211,747) and $674,000 (£423,485) - have been recovered, police said. Once doctors confirmed the presence of stones in his body, the man was fed laxatives and bananas to eject them.
Senior police officer in Madras SR Jangid told a press conference he received a call about the man on Tuesday morning from a "reliable informant". The man had successfully cleared the customs and immigration and a search of his bags did not yield anything, police said.
"Even during questioning, he could not sit comfortably and when questioned, he told the police that he was suffering from piles," Mr Jangid said. "The police grew suspicious and took him to Chromepet Government Hospital. When doctors examined him, they found the stones lodged in his gut." Mr Jangid said the stones were stored in 42 condoms and it took the police six hours to retrieve them.
The stones - estimated to be worth between $337,000 (£211,747) and $674,000 (£423,485) - have been recovered, police said. Once doctors confirmed the presence of stones in his body, the man was fed laxatives and bananas to eject them.
Senior police officer in Madras SR Jangid told a press conference he received a call about the man on Tuesday morning from a "reliable informant". The man had successfully cleared the customs and immigration and a search of his bags did not yield anything, police said.
"Even during questioning, he could not sit comfortably and when questioned, he told the police that he was suffering from piles," Mr Jangid said. "The police grew suspicious and took him to Chromepet Government Hospital. When doctors examined him, they found the stones lodged in his gut." Mr Jangid said the stones were stored in 42 condoms and it took the police six hours to retrieve them.
Enraged woman bites and scratches veterinary clinic worker
A Lee County woman is under arrest for allegedly biting a worker at a clinic. Ironically, the attack happened at a veterinary care clinic. Officials at the Affordable Animal Care Clinic on Palm Beach Boulevard in Fort Myers said it was quite the bizarre brawl. They say Kathleen Minneker dropped off her dogs almost an hour late and was mad when they weren't ready in time. So, deputies say, she started biting. The owner of the clinic, Gina Brashear, is covered in bites, bruises and scratches. She just got out of the hospital Wednesday morning.
"She bit me, clawed me and was on top of me just biting me," Brashear described. "She's a biter." Lee County deputies say it all began when Minneker dropped of her two shitzus at the clinic to be groomed. Brashear says she came in late and that it was already close to closing time. "It takes an hour and 15 minutes per dog, so she knew we weren't going to be done until 6," she said. She also explained that dogs' fur was matted, so it took a little longer. And Brashear says Minneker, who showed up early, was not happy they weren't finished.
"We hear this bang, bang, bang on the door and I'm like, ‘Oh god,'" she said. Deputies say Minneker began screaming, ‘Where are my dogs?' That's when they say she attacked the groomer. Brashear said she got in the way to stop the attack. "I ran down the hall, opened my arms up and got between them," she said. She says Minneker pushed her to the ground, cracking her tail bone and biting her everywhere.
"A chunk is gone off my finger and a chunk off my toe - a chunk here," she said. Deputies rushed to the scene and arrested Minneker. Brashear is on seven different medications to stop the infection from human bites. Even though she runs a veterinarian clinic, she says she never expected to be bitten this bad - at least not by a customer. "No, never a human - this is a first," she said. Brashear added that the clinic has had problems with Minneker in the past, but nothing like this.
With news video.
"She bit me, clawed me and was on top of me just biting me," Brashear described. "She's a biter." Lee County deputies say it all began when Minneker dropped of her two shitzus at the clinic to be groomed. Brashear says she came in late and that it was already close to closing time. "It takes an hour and 15 minutes per dog, so she knew we weren't going to be done until 6," she said. She also explained that dogs' fur was matted, so it took a little longer. And Brashear says Minneker, who showed up early, was not happy they weren't finished.
"We hear this bang, bang, bang on the door and I'm like, ‘Oh god,'" she said. Deputies say Minneker began screaming, ‘Where are my dogs?' That's when they say she attacked the groomer. Brashear said she got in the way to stop the attack. "I ran down the hall, opened my arms up and got between them," she said. She says Minneker pushed her to the ground, cracking her tail bone and biting her everywhere.
"A chunk is gone off my finger and a chunk off my toe - a chunk here," she said. Deputies rushed to the scene and arrested Minneker. Brashear is on seven different medications to stop the infection from human bites. Even though she runs a veterinarian clinic, she says she never expected to be bitten this bad - at least not by a customer. "No, never a human - this is a first," she said. Brashear added that the clinic has had problems with Minneker in the past, but nothing like this.
With news video.
Grizzly bear cub can't sleep without company from keeper
Having a sleeping companion is a bare necessity for this grizzly cub.
The juvenile brown bear, which lives at a predator centre in Finland, can't go to sleep without his keeper.
In order for Juuso to hibernate during the winter, the keeper beds down in a small hut nearby.
In the wild, a cub would normally have his mother around to hibernate with.
The juvenile brown bear, which lives at a predator centre in Finland, can't go to sleep without his keeper.
In order for Juuso to hibernate during the winter, the keeper beds down in a small hut nearby.
In the wild, a cub would normally have his mother around to hibernate with.
Judge tells McDonald's to pay $17,500 for making employee fat
A former manager of a McDonald’s franchise in Porto Allegre, Brazil, sued the hamburger chain for making him gain 65 pounds while he worked with them for over a dozen years. McDonald’s must pay him $17,500 as recompense for his weight gain, a Brazilian court ruled on Tuesday. The 32-year-old man, whose identity wasn’t disclosed, complained that the company's policy of mandatory food sampling caused him to balloon from about 155 lbs. to 231 lbs. while working at their restaurant in southern Brazil.
The man said that he felt forced to taste everything on the menu to ensure the quality of the food because McDonald's hired undercover customers to randomly visit restaurants and report back on quality. Also, he blamed the free lunches consisting of burgers, fries and ice cream, which contributed to his excessive weight gain during the course of employment.
Judge Joao Filho agreed with the man, and issued a ruling against the company, ordering them to pay $17,500 to the ex-employee. "We're disappointed with this preliminary court ruling, as it's not an accurate representation of our highly regarded work environment and culture." said a McDonald’s spokesman.
McDonald’s countered the manager’s claims, noting that several healthy options are available for the employees. “The chain offers a large variety of options and balanced menus to cater (to) the daily dietary needs of its employees,” it said. “We're disappointed with this preliminary court ruling, as it's not an accurate representation of our highly regarded work environment and culture,” McDonald's said in a statement. “This case is still a pending legal matter and it would be premature to draw conclusions at this time.”
The man said that he felt forced to taste everything on the menu to ensure the quality of the food because McDonald's hired undercover customers to randomly visit restaurants and report back on quality. Also, he blamed the free lunches consisting of burgers, fries and ice cream, which contributed to his excessive weight gain during the course of employment.
Judge Joao Filho agreed with the man, and issued a ruling against the company, ordering them to pay $17,500 to the ex-employee. "We're disappointed with this preliminary court ruling, as it's not an accurate representation of our highly regarded work environment and culture." said a McDonald’s spokesman.
McDonald’s countered the manager’s claims, noting that several healthy options are available for the employees. “The chain offers a large variety of options and balanced menus to cater (to) the daily dietary needs of its employees,” it said. “We're disappointed with this preliminary court ruling, as it's not an accurate representation of our highly regarded work environment and culture,” McDonald's said in a statement. “This case is still a pending legal matter and it would be premature to draw conclusions at this time.”
Insomniac escapes death as car crashes into bedroom
An Australian man has had a narrow escape after a car crashed into his bedroom wall, destroying the bed he had been lying on minutes before.
Demitrios Bisbelis, 31, got out of bed at 2am to work on his computer late at night shortly before a speeding car ploughed into his house in Melbourne and landed on his bed.
Police said that the car had hit something on the road, become airborne, and rammed through the house fence and its front wall. Two 52-year-old men, who were in the car at the time, suffered minor injuries.
Full story here.
Demitrios Bisbelis, 31, got out of bed at 2am to work on his computer late at night shortly before a speeding car ploughed into his house in Melbourne and landed on his bed.
Police said that the car had hit something on the road, become airborne, and rammed through the house fence and its front wall. Two 52-year-old men, who were in the car at the time, suffered minor injuries.
Full story here.
Cheeseburger Cocktail contains beef stock
A cheeseburger in a glass is just one of the protein-rich drinks concocted by mixologists with an eye toward meaty ingredients. When the makers of Flor de Cana rum asked beverage experts around the country to come up with some cocktails in honor of National Sandwich Day on November 3, the Cheeseburger emerged as, well, the beefiest.
"Carniverous cocktails are becoming the meat lover's libation," says Trevor Burnett, of Tipicular Fixin's, a cocktail consultancy in Toronto and the creator of the Cheeseburger Cocktail."It's like a meal in a glass."
He makes his drink with a beef stock reduction layered with muddled Roma tomatoes and fresh iceberg lettuce water. It's garnished with an aged cheddar frico (a type of cheese crisp) and kosher dill pickle, and it is "one of the more creative attempts that addresses the growing demand of those looking to satisfy their umami, or savoury, taste receptors," Burnett notes.
It's a little bit laborious for a bar to undertake, since it would take 20 minutes to make. If you do it at home, "You can pair it with something else meat based," Burnett says. "It's one of those cocktails you would indulge in if you were eating steak and fries."
With recipe and instructions.
"Carniverous cocktails are becoming the meat lover's libation," says Trevor Burnett, of Tipicular Fixin's, a cocktail consultancy in Toronto and the creator of the Cheeseburger Cocktail."It's like a meal in a glass."
He makes his drink with a beef stock reduction layered with muddled Roma tomatoes and fresh iceberg lettuce water. It's garnished with an aged cheddar frico (a type of cheese crisp) and kosher dill pickle, and it is "one of the more creative attempts that addresses the growing demand of those looking to satisfy their umami, or savoury, taste receptors," Burnett notes.
It's a little bit laborious for a bar to undertake, since it would take 20 minutes to make. If you do it at home, "You can pair it with something else meat based," Burnett says. "It's one of those cocktails you would indulge in if you were eating steak and fries."
With recipe and instructions.
Tablecloth turns spilt wine into art
Knocking a glass of red wine over your host's pristine white tablecloth is usually considered a major embarrassment. But no longer with a new tablecloth that promises to transform any spill into pretty pattern.
At first glance, this tablecloth, designed by Amandine Alessandra and called In Vino Veritas, appears to be a plain white tablecloth. However once stained with red wine, different patterns appear, revealing an intricate damask design, for instance, or a modern star pattern.
The tablecloth is akin to the drawings children do with white wax candles on white paper – only after ink has been poured over the paper does the work appear.
Click for bigger.
The tablecloth, which the department store Selfridges is selling for £69, does have one downside, however. To guarantee it returns to a pristine white condition, the manufacturer recommends that people put it on a cold wash with 1kg of salt, a substantial volume of salt.
The department store said that it was confident the cloth was more than just a gimmick and would sell well because other formal dining accessories had taken off, with a sales increase of 20 per cent for items such as napkin rings, table cloths and place name holders.
Louise Sellwood, the cookshop & dining buying manager at Selfridges, said: “The days of the ultimate dinner party faux pas are over. The new In Vino Veritas tablecloth means that spilling a glass of red wine can be an artistic event rather than the cause of red faces.”
At first glance, this tablecloth, designed by Amandine Alessandra and called In Vino Veritas, appears to be a plain white tablecloth. However once stained with red wine, different patterns appear, revealing an intricate damask design, for instance, or a modern star pattern.
The tablecloth is akin to the drawings children do with white wax candles on white paper – only after ink has been poured over the paper does the work appear.
Click for bigger.
The tablecloth, which the department store Selfridges is selling for £69, does have one downside, however. To guarantee it returns to a pristine white condition, the manufacturer recommends that people put it on a cold wash with 1kg of salt, a substantial volume of salt.
The department store said that it was confident the cloth was more than just a gimmick and would sell well because other formal dining accessories had taken off, with a sales increase of 20 per cent for items such as napkin rings, table cloths and place name holders.
Louise Sellwood, the cookshop & dining buying manager at Selfridges, said: “The days of the ultimate dinner party faux pas are over. The new In Vino Veritas tablecloth means that spilling a glass of red wine can be an artistic event rather than the cause of red faces.”
Man starved in his hotel room after leaving 'Do Not Disturb' sign on door for two weeks
A hotel guest starved to death after ordering staff not to disturb him - two weeks before his body was found in his room by a maid. Kieran Toman booked himself a room at the plush Hyde Park Towers Hotel in Bayswater, north London, on July 9 this year and told staff he did not want them to enter his room without permission. The 115-room hotel - where a double room costs £160-a-night - shot to fame in the 60s when legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix lived there between November 1966 and February 1967.
An inquest into 39-year-old Mr Toman's death heard how he was discovered in an 'emaciated' state on July 23 - 14 days after he checked in after a maid noticed an unpleasant smell from his room. Giving evidence at Westminster Coroner's Court last week, Pc Emily-Jane Wells - who was called to the scene - said Mr Toman was found dead in his en-suite bathroom. She said: 'The housekeeper said she was told by a cleaner there was quite a smell coming from the room. 'She had gone to bang on the door, but there was no reply and when she opened the door she found him lying dead in the bathroom.'
The inquest heard how Mr Toman had booked the room for a five-month period before his body was found just a fortnight into his stay. Assistant deputy coroner Dr William Dolman said toxicology reports had 'not found anything of note'. Dr Dolman added: 'A solitary man books into a hotel and two weeks later his dead body with signs of decomposition is found in a basement room. He himself had asked not to be disturbed but the head housekeeper had realised something was amiss and had got into the room and the rest of the evidence speaks for itself.'
The dead man had 'all of his wordly goods' with him, including a notebook filled with 'spidery writing', the inquest was told. Dr Dolman said the writing was 'all in capitals' and was 'in some way paranoid' in content. He added: 'He was one of many men who come to London without any links to anyone else. There are lots of unanswered questions.' Dr Dolman recorded an open verdict. The cause of death was recorded as 'emaciation'.
An inquest into 39-year-old Mr Toman's death heard how he was discovered in an 'emaciated' state on July 23 - 14 days after he checked in after a maid noticed an unpleasant smell from his room. Giving evidence at Westminster Coroner's Court last week, Pc Emily-Jane Wells - who was called to the scene - said Mr Toman was found dead in his en-suite bathroom. She said: 'The housekeeper said she was told by a cleaner there was quite a smell coming from the room. 'She had gone to bang on the door, but there was no reply and when she opened the door she found him lying dead in the bathroom.'
The inquest heard how Mr Toman had booked the room for a five-month period before his body was found just a fortnight into his stay. Assistant deputy coroner Dr William Dolman said toxicology reports had 'not found anything of note'. Dr Dolman added: 'A solitary man books into a hotel and two weeks later his dead body with signs of decomposition is found in a basement room. He himself had asked not to be disturbed but the head housekeeper had realised something was amiss and had got into the room and the rest of the evidence speaks for itself.'
The dead man had 'all of his wordly goods' with him, including a notebook filled with 'spidery writing', the inquest was told. Dr Dolman said the writing was 'all in capitals' and was 'in some way paranoid' in content. He added: 'He was one of many men who come to London without any links to anyone else. There are lots of unanswered questions.' Dr Dolman recorded an open verdict. The cause of death was recorded as 'emaciation'.
Dog with no eyes learns echolocation to find his way round
A dog born without eyes is finding his way in life after teaching himself to ‘see’ like a bat – using echolocation. Rowan, a German Spitz, barks and then listens to the echoes to help him tell where he is in relation to his surroundings. Owner Sam Orchard, 41, was shocked when a congenital defect caused Rowan to be born without eyes. But the 18-month-old is now almost indistinguishable from a sighted dog after learning to navigate using his barks.
Sam, who breeds dogs and runs a boarding kennel at her home in Potton, near Biggleswade, Beds., was stunned when she realised that Rowan was using echolocation. She said: ”When he first started going out there were no leaves on the trees but when the leaves grew there was the rustling and we noticed the change in his behaviour. ”He barks to judge the lay of the land and then when I call his name he knows exactly where I am and comes running.
”People who meet Rowan can’t tell that he’s blind at first – they usually just ask why he’s got his eyes shut. He’s just amazing. He’s so independent and he has a really good life. He’s just like one of the other dogs.” Rowan was born in a litter of two in April last year and Sam became concerned when he had not opened his eyes after ten days. She took him to a vet who told her that the meeting of Rowan’s father’s bloodline with his mother’s had created a polygene which meant he was born with no eyes.
Sam added: ”It was a real surprise when he told me that not only would they not be opening, they didn’t exist – he was born without eyes. People told me that I should think about putting him to sleep but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. I was shocked but I decided that I would just do the best I could for him and now he is just like the others. He an incredible chap.” Rowan has even completed a Good Citizen Bronze award for obedience, although he cannot compete in dog shows because of his appearance.
Sam, who breeds dogs and runs a boarding kennel at her home in Potton, near Biggleswade, Beds., was stunned when she realised that Rowan was using echolocation. She said: ”When he first started going out there were no leaves on the trees but when the leaves grew there was the rustling and we noticed the change in his behaviour. ”He barks to judge the lay of the land and then when I call his name he knows exactly where I am and comes running.
”People who meet Rowan can’t tell that he’s blind at first – they usually just ask why he’s got his eyes shut. He’s just amazing. He’s so independent and he has a really good life. He’s just like one of the other dogs.” Rowan was born in a litter of two in April last year and Sam became concerned when he had not opened his eyes after ten days. She took him to a vet who told her that the meeting of Rowan’s father’s bloodline with his mother’s had created a polygene which meant he was born with no eyes.
Sam added: ”It was a real surprise when he told me that not only would they not be opening, they didn’t exist – he was born without eyes. People told me that I should think about putting him to sleep but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. I was shocked but I decided that I would just do the best I could for him and now he is just like the others. He an incredible chap.” Rowan has even completed a Good Citizen Bronze award for obedience, although he cannot compete in dog shows because of his appearance.
Man, 82, grows new tooth after having none for over 50 years
All pensioner John Giblin wants for Christmas is to get rid of his new front tooth. After more than 50 years without any teeth the 82-year-old was amazed when he discovered he had grown a new one at the front of his mouth. Retired postman Mr Giblin moved from London to Sommerville Close in Faversham two years ago for a quieter life. After eating too many sweets, all his teeth fell out in his 20s and he was fitted with dentures.
But a new tooth was lying in wait, and several months ago it decided to put in an appearance. "My dentures became incredibly uncomfortable, and started to cause me quite a bit of pain," said the poetry enthusiast. "Then I felt my gum and discovered something sharp. At first I thought it was a bit of my jaw bone poking through, never did I imagine it would be a new tooth."
A visit to the dentist and an X-ray later Mr Giblin was told he was the proud owner of a new incisor but is now due to have it removed. He said: "I'm still waiting for the damn thing to be taken out. It is all a bit embarrassing, especially as it is in the dead centre front of my mouth. I've never heard of anything like this before, I didn't even know it was possible.
"When I lost my teeth all that time ago, I certainly didn't think I would be growing a new one 50 years later. My family have joked that I'm going through my second childhood. The whole situation is extraordinary and the sooner it is removed the better. When I look in the mirror it is just there staring at me. If it isn't taken out soon I'll knock it out myself."
But a new tooth was lying in wait, and several months ago it decided to put in an appearance. "My dentures became incredibly uncomfortable, and started to cause me quite a bit of pain," said the poetry enthusiast. "Then I felt my gum and discovered something sharp. At first I thought it was a bit of my jaw bone poking through, never did I imagine it would be a new tooth."
A visit to the dentist and an X-ray later Mr Giblin was told he was the proud owner of a new incisor but is now due to have it removed. He said: "I'm still waiting for the damn thing to be taken out. It is all a bit embarrassing, especially as it is in the dead centre front of my mouth. I've never heard of anything like this before, I didn't even know it was possible.
"When I lost my teeth all that time ago, I certainly didn't think I would be growing a new one 50 years later. My family have joked that I'm going through my second childhood. The whole situation is extraordinary and the sooner it is removed the better. When I look in the mirror it is just there staring at me. If it isn't taken out soon I'll knock it out myself."
Jack the sheepdog was so good no one knew he was blind
It's only fair to make allowances for a newcomer. So when their new sheepdog missed rounding up the occasional ewe, farmers Barry and Liz Edwards put it down to inexperience and gave him a bit of extra training. After all, their new recruit was a willing learner, had settled well into the farm and won the hearts of the family.
Unknown to them, it was amazing that Jack was doing any work at all. The four-year-old sheepdog was blind – a fact the Edwards only discovered when he ran straight into a wooden peg sticking out of the ground. A check-up with the vet confirmed Jack had lost vision in both eyes. It changed their view of him from a trainee with a few teething problems to undisputed superdog. ‘He is such an inspiration,’ said Mrs Edwards, who has 150 breeding ewes and 100 cows on the family’s farm at Warmington, Cheshire.
‘This dog goes blind and yet he has carried on as if nothing has happened. He must have had our farm mapped out in his head. He knows exactly where everything is.’ The Edwards bought Jack for £1,250 from a farmer and sheepdog trainer in March last year. In hindsight, they believe he was probably going blind when he was being trained. Certainly the trainer had no idea he had problems with his vision. Jack is believed to have lost his eyesight because of a disease he picked up from something he ate. When he arrived on the farm at lambing time he wasn’t required to herd sheep immediately and was ‘given time to settle in’.
There were a few incidents, such as when he failed to move out the way of a flailing cow and injured his back leg. But the family thought nothing of them. Now Jack, who is taking part in the Drontal pet competition, has been retired and is being kept simply as a pet. ‘He has a great quality of life,’ Mrs Edwards said. ‘He can chase and fetch a ball, as long as it makes a noise and he still occasionally rounds the sheep up. He really is incredible.’
Unknown to them, it was amazing that Jack was doing any work at all. The four-year-old sheepdog was blind – a fact the Edwards only discovered when he ran straight into a wooden peg sticking out of the ground. A check-up with the vet confirmed Jack had lost vision in both eyes. It changed their view of him from a trainee with a few teething problems to undisputed superdog. ‘He is such an inspiration,’ said Mrs Edwards, who has 150 breeding ewes and 100 cows on the family’s farm at Warmington, Cheshire.
‘This dog goes blind and yet he has carried on as if nothing has happened. He must have had our farm mapped out in his head. He knows exactly where everything is.’ The Edwards bought Jack for £1,250 from a farmer and sheepdog trainer in March last year. In hindsight, they believe he was probably going blind when he was being trained. Certainly the trainer had no idea he had problems with his vision. Jack is believed to have lost his eyesight because of a disease he picked up from something he ate. When he arrived on the farm at lambing time he wasn’t required to herd sheep immediately and was ‘given time to settle in’.
There were a few incidents, such as when he failed to move out the way of a flailing cow and injured his back leg. But the family thought nothing of them. Now Jack, who is taking part in the Drontal pet competition, has been retired and is being kept simply as a pet. ‘He has a great quality of life,’ Mrs Edwards said. ‘He can chase and fetch a ball, as long as it makes a noise and he still occasionally rounds the sheep up. He really is incredible.’
Friday, October 29, 2010
Torrent of abuse unleashed on unsuspecting wedding couple
For many couples looking to tie the knot somewhere more exotic than the local register office, the turquoise seas and golden sands of the Maldives hold a particular allure. But an important lesson can be gleaned from the experience of one unfortunate pair who renewed their vows there recently: always make sure you know exactly what you're saying "I do" to.
A luxury hotel in the island nation was forced to apologise today after a couple who thought they were being blessed at an idyllic beach ceremony were in fact being roundly abused in the local tongue. The Vilu Reef hotel said police were investigating after a staff member conducting the renewal of marriage vows instead read out a series of extreme sexual and religious slurs in the Dhivehi language spoken in the Maldives. A public relations disaster unfolded after a video surfaced showing the ceremony supervisor mocking and insulting the hapless couple, calling them "swine" and "infidels" amid a string of bizarre insults.
Video has subtitles.
"Before buggering a chicken, check if the hole is clean. That is because the people of the countries that you are from are familiar with the taste of the arseholes of chicken," he chants. He later says: "You are swine. The children that you bear from this marriage will all be bastard swine. Your marriage is not a valid one. You are not the kind of people who can have a valid marriage. One of you is an infidel. The other, too, is an infidel – and we have reason to believe – an atheist, who does not even believe in an infidel religion."
According to the Maldives News Service Minivan News, the video of the ceremony was uploaded on YouTube on Sunday by a member of staff. Vilu Reef's manager, Mohamed Rasheed, said that the staff member who uploaded the video did it as "a joke", without "realising the seriousness of the potential consequences". Sun Investments PVT, which operates the resort, issued a statement saying: "The corporate management of the resort is deeply saddened by this humiliating event and expresses its serious concerns over the incident, including the content shown in the video and the unforgivable conduct displayed by the staff involved in the incident."
A luxury hotel in the island nation was forced to apologise today after a couple who thought they were being blessed at an idyllic beach ceremony were in fact being roundly abused in the local tongue. The Vilu Reef hotel said police were investigating after a staff member conducting the renewal of marriage vows instead read out a series of extreme sexual and religious slurs in the Dhivehi language spoken in the Maldives. A public relations disaster unfolded after a video surfaced showing the ceremony supervisor mocking and insulting the hapless couple, calling them "swine" and "infidels" amid a string of bizarre insults.
Video has subtitles.
"Before buggering a chicken, check if the hole is clean. That is because the people of the countries that you are from are familiar with the taste of the arseholes of chicken," he chants. He later says: "You are swine. The children that you bear from this marriage will all be bastard swine. Your marriage is not a valid one. You are not the kind of people who can have a valid marriage. One of you is an infidel. The other, too, is an infidel – and we have reason to believe – an atheist, who does not even believe in an infidel religion."
According to the Maldives News Service Minivan News, the video of the ceremony was uploaded on YouTube on Sunday by a member of staff. Vilu Reef's manager, Mohamed Rasheed, said that the staff member who uploaded the video did it as "a joke", without "realising the seriousness of the potential consequences". Sun Investments PVT, which operates the resort, issued a statement saying: "The corporate management of the resort is deeply saddened by this humiliating event and expresses its serious concerns over the incident, including the content shown in the video and the unforgivable conduct displayed by the staff involved in the incident."
Man shoots self in knee while sleepwalking
Officers called to a report of a shooting at Mineola Court have determined that a man accidentally shot himself in the knee while he was sleepwalking, Boulder police said.
The victim told police on Monday he was sleeping and woke up to a "bang," around 2 a.m., according to the Boulder Police report. He had a gun in his hand and his left knee was wounded, Boulder police Sgt. Larry Mason said.
63-year-old Sanford Rothman did not have a clear recollection of the incident and was transported to Boulder Community Hospital, where he was treated and released. "Investigation at the scene and interviews with the victim determined that the wound was inadvertent and most likely he was sleepwalking when it occurred," Mason said.
The man told police that he sleeps with a 9 mm handgun in his bed. He also told police that he had taken prescription pain medication just before he went to sleep, but it was not clear what kind of medication it was, Mason said. No one else was hurt.
The victim told police on Monday he was sleeping and woke up to a "bang," around 2 a.m., according to the Boulder Police report. He had a gun in his hand and his left knee was wounded, Boulder police Sgt. Larry Mason said.
63-year-old Sanford Rothman did not have a clear recollection of the incident and was transported to Boulder Community Hospital, where he was treated and released. "Investigation at the scene and interviews with the victim determined that the wound was inadvertent and most likely he was sleepwalking when it occurred," Mason said.
The man told police that he sleeps with a 9 mm handgun in his bed. He also told police that he had taken prescription pain medication just before he went to sleep, but it was not clear what kind of medication it was, Mason said. No one else was hurt.
Diver films as shark tries to eat camera
A scuba diver who was attacked by a shark while swimming off the coast off Maine in the United States used his video camera to fend off the predator.
Scott MacNichol, 30, was uninjured after a porbeagle shark apparently mistook his camera equipment for food while he was diving near the coastal town of Eastport. He estimated the shark was eight feet long and weighed about 21 stone.
Mr MacNichol saw the shark swimming above him while he was filming the ocean floor under empty salmon pens as part of an environmental assessment. The animal then came at him, jabbing at the camera with its snout. In the video, its sharp teeth fill the frame before it swims off.
"He took a couple of bites at the camera. When he did that I was pretty much petrified," Mr MacNichol said. "If you watch the video,
you can hear me screaming underwater." Porbeagles are cold water sharks that have a similar body shape and tail to mako and great white sharks. Their diet is primarily herring, mackerel and other bony fish.
Scott MacNichol, 30, was uninjured after a porbeagle shark apparently mistook his camera equipment for food while he was diving near the coastal town of Eastport. He estimated the shark was eight feet long and weighed about 21 stone.
Mr MacNichol saw the shark swimming above him while he was filming the ocean floor under empty salmon pens as part of an environmental assessment. The animal then came at him, jabbing at the camera with its snout. In the video, its sharp teeth fill the frame before it swims off.
"He took a couple of bites at the camera. When he did that I was pretty much petrified," Mr MacNichol said. "If you watch the video,
you can hear me screaming underwater." Porbeagles are cold water sharks that have a similar body shape and tail to mako and great white sharks. Their diet is primarily herring, mackerel and other bony fish.
Canadian police break up brothers' violent fight over size of steak
It was bizarre case of sibling rivalry on Monday night, when Victoria B.C. police had to break up two brothers fighting over who got the bigger piece of steak.
At around 11 p.m. that night, the 17-year-old brother “went berserk” and began smashing things in their Craigflower Road apartment with a hockey stick because, despite him doing the cooking, his 22-year-old brother got the larger piece of steak for dinner, according to deputy police chief John Ducker, writing on the VicPD operations blog.
“The call came in as a youth ‘going crazy’” from the building manager who heard the loud banging on the apartment walls, Ducker said. When police arrived, they saw the younger brother had punched out some of the drywall as well as a computer monitor. The brother had also taken a toaster into the bathroom and threatened to kill himself by throwing it into a bathtub full of water.
Police finally found the younger brother outside the apartment and managed to calm him down, Ducker said. He was taken to hospital for an assessment and officers brought the young man home once he had regained his composure. “He promised to go straight to bed,” Ducker wrote. Police will not pursue charges.
At around 11 p.m. that night, the 17-year-old brother “went berserk” and began smashing things in their Craigflower Road apartment with a hockey stick because, despite him doing the cooking, his 22-year-old brother got the larger piece of steak for dinner, according to deputy police chief John Ducker, writing on the VicPD operations blog.
“The call came in as a youth ‘going crazy’” from the building manager who heard the loud banging on the apartment walls, Ducker said. When police arrived, they saw the younger brother had punched out some of the drywall as well as a computer monitor. The brother had also taken a toaster into the bathroom and threatened to kill himself by throwing it into a bathtub full of water.
Police finally found the younger brother outside the apartment and managed to calm him down, Ducker said. He was taken to hospital for an assessment and officers brought the young man home once he had regained his composure. “He promised to go straight to bed,” Ducker wrote. Police will not pursue charges.
Outrage over elephant calf's slaughter in India
Indian environmentalists voiced outrage on Wednesday over the slaughter of an elephant calf in the northeastern state of Assam. Villagers armed with sticks speared the baby elephant to death on Tuesday after it strayed into a paddy farm in the state's Morigaon district, some 60 kilometres (37 miles) from Guwahati, Assam's largest city.
The attack occurred in the presence of police and a forest warden, video footage of the killing broadcast on television showed. "This is an outrageous incident, purely barbaric, to find villagers literally torturing the helpless elephant to death and that too in front of two security people," said wildlife conservationist Kushal Konwar Sarma.
"This was an inhuman act and needs to be condemned in the strongest possible terms," said Bibhab Talukdar, secretary general of Aaranyak, a wildlife conservation group in the northeast. He called for an official probe into the incident.
Man-elephant conflicts are on the rise in India as villagers and farmers encroach on the natural habitats of pachyderms. There are some 5,500 elephants in Assam, more than half of India's total of 10,000, according to official figures.
The attack occurred in the presence of police and a forest warden, video footage of the killing broadcast on television showed. "This is an outrageous incident, purely barbaric, to find villagers literally torturing the helpless elephant to death and that too in front of two security people," said wildlife conservationist Kushal Konwar Sarma.
"This was an inhuman act and needs to be condemned in the strongest possible terms," said Bibhab Talukdar, secretary general of Aaranyak, a wildlife conservation group in the northeast. He called for an official probe into the incident.
Man-elephant conflicts are on the rise in India as villagers and farmers encroach on the natural habitats of pachyderms. There are some 5,500 elephants in Assam, more than half of India's total of 10,000, according to official figures.
Man arrested For allegedly ejaculating on woman in school library
A man was arrested on Tuesday after he allegedly ejaculated on a woman and exposed himself to her as she was reading in a school library. The incident happened on October 9 at the Montgomery College Library in Takoma Park, Maryland.
Police say the female was sitting in the library when a man walked past her and ejaculated on her arm. When the female turned to the subject, he was standing behind her with his genitals exposed. The male fled the library, returned briefly, and fled again as the woman was reporting the incident to police.
Campus security chased the man but he was able to flee in a car. DNA evidence was obtained from the woman. She did not know the man but was able to provide a description of him to police.
Officers used the victim’s description and surveillance video to identify the suspect as 29-year-old Oritse Ayu of Baltimore, Maryland. Ayu was arrested and is facing charges of 2nd degree assault and indecent exposure.
Police say the female was sitting in the library when a man walked past her and ejaculated on her arm. When the female turned to the subject, he was standing behind her with his genitals exposed. The male fled the library, returned briefly, and fled again as the woman was reporting the incident to police.
Campus security chased the man but he was able to flee in a car. DNA evidence was obtained from the woman. She did not know the man but was able to provide a description of him to police.
Officers used the victim’s description and surveillance video to identify the suspect as 29-year-old Oritse Ayu of Baltimore, Maryland. Ayu was arrested and is facing charges of 2nd degree assault and indecent exposure.
Hells Angels sue Alexander McQueen over trademark infringement
The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club is suing the Alexander McQueen fashion house claiming it infringed the club's trademark. It is also suing Saks Fifth Avenue, the luxury store, and online retailer Zappos for selling what the Hells Angels regard as offending merchandise.
According to Fritz Clapp, an intellectual property lawyer for the Hells Angels, the items in question included a four finger ring that used the club's winged skull logo. He said the phrase "Hells Angels" was also used on a pashmina scarf.
Other items with Hells Angels motifs included a $2,329 handbag and a $1,595 dress, the club claimed. Its legal complaint said trademarks associated with the Hells Angels had "great commercial value" and the fashion house and stores were trying to "exploit that value for their own gain." The motorcycle club is seeking the removal of the items from sale immediately. Representatives for the fashion house and Saks Fifth Avenue did not comment.
The fashion house was founded by British designer Alexander McQueen who committed suicide in February. In 2006 the Hells Angels sued a division of Walt Disney Buena Vista Motion Pictures, claiming its trademark was being infringed in the making of a comedy film called "Wild Hogs" about middle-aged bikers.
According to Fritz Clapp, an intellectual property lawyer for the Hells Angels, the items in question included a four finger ring that used the club's winged skull logo. He said the phrase "Hells Angels" was also used on a pashmina scarf.
Other items with Hells Angels motifs included a $2,329 handbag and a $1,595 dress, the club claimed. Its legal complaint said trademarks associated with the Hells Angels had "great commercial value" and the fashion house and stores were trying to "exploit that value for their own gain." The motorcycle club is seeking the removal of the items from sale immediately. Representatives for the fashion house and Saks Fifth Avenue did not comment.
The fashion house was founded by British designer Alexander McQueen who committed suicide in February. In 2006 the Hells Angels sued a division of Walt Disney Buena Vista Motion Pictures, claiming its trademark was being infringed in the making of a comedy film called "Wild Hogs" about middle-aged bikers.
‘Ugly’ dating agency celebrates first engagement
Britain’s first dating agency for ugly people was celebrating an unlikely milestone yesterday – its first engagement. Self-confessed ”great personalities” Tom Clifford and Janine Walker plan to marry in December following a whirlwind online romance. The couple met less than a month ago on www.theuglybugball.com – a dating website for the ”aesthetically challenged”. But after four dates – and a mutual love of junk food and TV dinners – they got engaged this week. Now the pair are planning a winter wedding near their respective homes in Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire.
Tom, 36, a carpet fitter who has a ”face that makes children cry”, said: ”I’ve been a joke to women for years because of the way I look. I always thought that I was too ugly to meet Mrs Right but my life changed when I met Janine. She’s beautiful and I love her in every possible way. I still can’t believe this happening.” Tom, who has been single since 1998, spotted Janine, 31, on the site in late August. His cover email read: ”Dear Janine, Just seen your beautiful face on The Ugly Bug Ball and would love to meet up. You live near me, so this shouldn’t be a problem.
”I’ve got a face that makes children cry but, as they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder – and I think you’ll love me too.” Incredibly, Janine, a shop assistant who lives with her parents, agreed. ”The rest, as they say, is history,” she said. The pair are now planning an intimate wedding for friends and family, and have already begun writing their own vows. They have also received a free honeymoon to Borth in Wales, courtesy of The Ugly Bug Ball.
Janine said: ”I appreciate that Tom isn’t Brad Pitt, but then I’m no Angelina Jolie either. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and to me Tom’s the perfect, handsome prince. I’m just so pleased to have been able to meet him, and I’m head-over-heels in love.” A spokesman for the site said: ”This is our first engagement, and we are obviously delighted for them both. We offered them the trip to Borth because we have a company caravan there and wish them every success in the future.”
Tom, 36, a carpet fitter who has a ”face that makes children cry”, said: ”I’ve been a joke to women for years because of the way I look. I always thought that I was too ugly to meet Mrs Right but my life changed when I met Janine. She’s beautiful and I love her in every possible way. I still can’t believe this happening.” Tom, who has been single since 1998, spotted Janine, 31, on the site in late August. His cover email read: ”Dear Janine, Just seen your beautiful face on The Ugly Bug Ball and would love to meet up. You live near me, so this shouldn’t be a problem.
”I’ve got a face that makes children cry but, as they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder – and I think you’ll love me too.” Incredibly, Janine, a shop assistant who lives with her parents, agreed. ”The rest, as they say, is history,” she said. The pair are now planning an intimate wedding for friends and family, and have already begun writing their own vows. They have also received a free honeymoon to Borth in Wales, courtesy of The Ugly Bug Ball.
Janine said: ”I appreciate that Tom isn’t Brad Pitt, but then I’m no Angelina Jolie either. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and to me Tom’s the perfect, handsome prince. I’m just so pleased to have been able to meet him, and I’m head-over-heels in love.” A spokesman for the site said: ”This is our first engagement, and we are obviously delighted for them both. We offered them the trip to Borth because we have a company caravan there and wish them every success in the future.”
Ruth Langsford sorry for "f***" on 'This Morning'
ITV bosses had to apologise yesterday after Ruth Langsford swore live on air. This Morning host Ruth, 50, tripped over a cable off camera as she walked from the sofa area.
Her microphone picked up her exclamation of "f***!". One furious viewer said: "It could clearly be heard. She didn't say sorry afterwards. The kids are home from school this week so lots of them will have listened. It was not on and I will be speaking to ITV."
A spokesman for the channel said: "We apologise for any offence caused." A show source said Ruth, who was about to introduce a group of singing soldiers, was mortified that her swear word went on on-air.
The source added: "It was her natural instinct because she was in pain." Ruth later wrote on Twitter: "Really sorry for that slip This Morning - I stubbed my toe and unfortunately my mic was still on."
Her microphone picked up her exclamation of "f***!". One furious viewer said: "It could clearly be heard. She didn't say sorry afterwards. The kids are home from school this week so lots of them will have listened. It was not on and I will be speaking to ITV."
A spokesman for the channel said: "We apologise for any offence caused." A show source said Ruth, who was about to introduce a group of singing soldiers, was mortified that her swear word went on on-air.
The source added: "It was her natural instinct because she was in pain." Ruth later wrote on Twitter: "Really sorry for that slip This Morning - I stubbed my toe and unfortunately my mic was still on."
Man exposed himself while driving a cement mixer
A man indecently exposed himself to a 19-year-old woman as he drove past her in a cement mixer, police have said.
The woman was walking along Broughty Ferry Road in Dundee at about 0920 BST on Tuesday when the incident happened.
Tayside Police said the yellow cement lorry slowed as the woman crossed the road and the man then indecently exposed himself.
The vehicle continued west towards Eastport roundabout then turned round, passing the woman again. Police have appealed for witnesses to contact them. They said the man responsible was wearing a red top.
The woman was walking along Broughty Ferry Road in Dundee at about 0920 BST on Tuesday when the incident happened.
Tayside Police said the yellow cement lorry slowed as the woman crossed the road and the man then indecently exposed himself.
The vehicle continued west towards Eastport roundabout then turned round, passing the woman again. Police have appealed for witnesses to contact them. They said the man responsible was wearing a red top.
Couple caught having sex in Pizza Express
A couple in Manchester had sex at a brightly lit pizza joint, completely oblivious to the fact that a crowd of onlookers had gathered outside gawking at them. The pair were so involved that they forgot they could be seen through the window of the brightly-lit Pizza Express restaurant.
People crowded around the window and many took photographs on their camera phones. One witness grinned: "We just assumed it was a couple of the staff who'd got carried away.
"We popped into a club, then later walked past the same restaurant. Things had hotted up. The fella had his trousers round his ankles. Everyone was gobsmacked.
"The whole place was brightly lit and we had a great view. There was an empty bottle of wine and two glasses on a table." A Pizza Express spokesman said: 'We are obviously taking this seriously and looking into the matter immediately.'
People crowded around the window and many took photographs on their camera phones. One witness grinned: "We just assumed it was a couple of the staff who'd got carried away.
"We popped into a club, then later walked past the same restaurant. Things had hotted up. The fella had his trousers round his ankles. Everyone was gobsmacked.
"The whole place was brightly lit and we had a great view. There was an empty bottle of wine and two glasses on a table." A Pizza Express spokesman said: 'We are obviously taking this seriously and looking into the matter immediately.'
Angel of the North's breasts hijacked by CoppaFeel! cancer charity
As part of a nationwide campaign organised by youth cancer charity CoppaFeel!, a boob hijack sticker was placed on the famous Anthony Gormley sculpture's breasts. The campaign awareness stickers have also been cropping up on magazine fronts, shop mannequins and even real women as special Boob Teams were sent around the country.
It is hoped that the initiative will educate young women about the importance of regularly checking their breasts for lumps. Kris Hallenga, who set up the charity in 2009 after she was diagnosed with breast cancer, said: 'We hope to reach more young women than ever before with the unique and targeted approach of this campaign.
'I want everyone to know that cancer doesn't conform to the over-40s rule we try to impose on it; and that getting to know your boobs from a young age, and making checking them regularly a habit of a lifetime you could save your life one day.'
Today (October 29th), marks the official CoppaFeel! Day, and will see campaigners taking to the streets of London to hijack any boobs in the area.
It is hoped that the initiative will educate young women about the importance of regularly checking their breasts for lumps. Kris Hallenga, who set up the charity in 2009 after she was diagnosed with breast cancer, said: 'We hope to reach more young women than ever before with the unique and targeted approach of this campaign.
'I want everyone to know that cancer doesn't conform to the over-40s rule we try to impose on it; and that getting to know your boobs from a young age, and making checking them regularly a habit of a lifetime you could save your life one day.'
Today (October 29th), marks the official CoppaFeel! Day, and will see campaigners taking to the streets of London to hijack any boobs in the area.
Firefighters frees snake trapped in woman's bracelet
Firefighters got a shock when a 40-year-old mum wandered into their Amersham station with a 4ft royal python stuck in her bracelet. Crew manager Kieron Hall managed to release the snake using a ring-cutter and said: "The first question I asked was, is the snake venomous? The answer was no. I also asked if he was likely to bite me, and again the answer was no."
Samantha Brooks, of Hundred Acres Lane, had been showing her pet snake, called Prince, to her nephew and niece when he got caught in her silver bangles on her wrist. She said: “He got himself well and truly wedged. I wasn't scared but it was getting tighter and tighter and my hand started going numb and blue.
“I knew the fire station would have some bolt cutters and it was only about three minutes drive away. My friend gave me a lift to the fire station and we just walked straight in. I think we made the man jump a bit, but fortunately he didn't have a fear of snakes.” Miss Brooks lives with son Connor, seven, and daughter Kaitlyn, 11.
The family have had Prince for about four years and Miss Brooks added: “He's usually very lovely and placid and doesn't tend to do a lot”. Prince, who was unharmed, was stuck for about 40 minutes in total, though firefighter Hall took just two minutes to free him. He added: "I was very pleased that both the snake and its owner were unscathed."
Samantha Brooks, of Hundred Acres Lane, had been showing her pet snake, called Prince, to her nephew and niece when he got caught in her silver bangles on her wrist. She said: “He got himself well and truly wedged. I wasn't scared but it was getting tighter and tighter and my hand started going numb and blue.
“I knew the fire station would have some bolt cutters and it was only about three minutes drive away. My friend gave me a lift to the fire station and we just walked straight in. I think we made the man jump a bit, but fortunately he didn't have a fear of snakes.” Miss Brooks lives with son Connor, seven, and daughter Kaitlyn, 11.
The family have had Prince for about four years and Miss Brooks added: “He's usually very lovely and placid and doesn't tend to do a lot”. Prince, who was unharmed, was stuck for about 40 minutes in total, though firefighter Hall took just two minutes to free him. He added: "I was very pleased that both the snake and its owner were unscathed."
Mermaid (or man) wanted. Tail supplied. Must like fish
An aquarium claims to have been flooded with applications after advertising for a "real life" mermaid - male or female. The SeaQuarium in Rhyl, Denbighshire, wants someone to swim with sharks, rays and eels in its tank wearing a costume.
It will not all be glamour however, as the successful candidate should also be prepared to clean the aquarium's tanks. Paul Tyson, the displays manager, said: "We'd like some more male applicants though, as we don't mind if it's a mer-man or a mer-girl that gets the job".
He said there had been a worldwide response to the ad since it was placed a month ago with of closing date for initial enquiries of 5 November. He said: "So far we've had interest from all sorts of people - students, marine biologists, professional divers, paintball marshals, the lot.
"And we've not just had people from all over the UK apply but from all over the world. It's not all going to be about sitting around looking good. As a qualified diver our mermaid will have to help out with cleaning some of the 50 sq m of glass that make-up the inside of our ocean eco-system tank."
It will not all be glamour however, as the successful candidate should also be prepared to clean the aquarium's tanks. Paul Tyson, the displays manager, said: "We'd like some more male applicants though, as we don't mind if it's a mer-man or a mer-girl that gets the job".
He said there had been a worldwide response to the ad since it was placed a month ago with of closing date for initial enquiries of 5 November. He said: "So far we've had interest from all sorts of people - students, marine biologists, professional divers, paintball marshals, the lot.
"And we've not just had people from all over the UK apply but from all over the world. It's not all going to be about sitting around looking good. As a qualified diver our mermaid will have to help out with cleaning some of the 50 sq m of glass that make-up the inside of our ocean eco-system tank."
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Dog enjoys a long soak in the tub
Apparently this little dog will regularly stand in the bathtub for up to fifteen minutes at a time.
New species of monkey sneezes when it rains
A new species of snub-nosed monkey that sneezes when it rains has been discovered in the remote Himalayan forests of Burma. The monkey, measuring almost two feet high with a tail even longer than its body size, has an extraordinary upturned nose and full lips. It is the largest snub-nosed monkey species in the world.
Little is known about the habits of the black monkey with a white beard, but locals say it is easy to find the animals because it sneezes when it rains. To avoid getting rainwater in their noses they spend rainy days sitting with their heads tucked between their knees, according to locals.
Rhinopithecus Strykeri, that is known in the local dialect as monkey with an upturned face, was found by scientists from Flora and Fauna International investigating gibbons populations in forests up to 10,000ft above sea level. Villagers talked about a monkey that was well known for making a lot of noise when it rained and showed the researchers bodies hunted for meat.
Further investigation revealed an estimated population of 260-330 individuals, meaning that it is classified as critically endangered by the United Nations. The area where the monkeys were found has been closed to the world for decades, which is why the monkey has not been discovered. It is under threat from illegal logging, as well as hunting for food and Chinese medicines.
Little is known about the habits of the black monkey with a white beard, but locals say it is easy to find the animals because it sneezes when it rains. To avoid getting rainwater in their noses they spend rainy days sitting with their heads tucked between their knees, according to locals.
Rhinopithecus Strykeri, that is known in the local dialect as monkey with an upturned face, was found by scientists from Flora and Fauna International investigating gibbons populations in forests up to 10,000ft above sea level. Villagers talked about a monkey that was well known for making a lot of noise when it rained and showed the researchers bodies hunted for meat.
Further investigation revealed an estimated population of 260-330 individuals, meaning that it is classified as critically endangered by the United Nations. The area where the monkeys were found has been closed to the world for decades, which is why the monkey has not been discovered. It is under threat from illegal logging, as well as hunting for food and Chinese medicines.
Man with widest mouth in the world enters record books
Measuring over six and a half inches across, Francisco Domingo Joaquim officially has the widest mouth in the world.
The 20-year-old from Sambizanga in Angola has the unusual ability to fit an entire 330ml can of soda in his mouth, sideways.
Joaquim, also known as "Chiquinho", recently appeared on an Italian TV show where he amazed crowds by placing and removing a can of coke from his mouth 14 times in under a minute.
After finding out that he would feature in the Book of Guinness World Records 2011, Chiquinho said that it was "a dream come true."
The 20-year-old from Sambizanga in Angola has the unusual ability to fit an entire 330ml can of soda in his mouth, sideways.
Joaquim, also known as "Chiquinho", recently appeared on an Italian TV show where he amazed crowds by placing and removing a can of coke from his mouth 14 times in under a minute.
After finding out that he would feature in the Book of Guinness World Records 2011, Chiquinho said that it was "a dream come true."
Russian bears treat graveyards as 'giant refrigerators'
From a distance it resembled a rather large man in a fur coat, leaning tenderly over the grave of a loved one. But when the two women in the Russian village of Vezhnya Tchova came closer they realised there was a bear in the cemetery eating a body. Russian bears have grown so desperate after a scorching summer they have started digging up and eating corpses in municipal cemetries, alarmed officials have said. Bears' traditional food – mushrooms, berries and the odd frog – has disappeared, they added.
The Vezhnya Tchova incident took place on Saturday in the northern republic of Komi, near the Arctic Circle. The shocked women cried in panic, frightening the bear back into the woods, before they discovered a ghoulish scene with the clothes of the bear's already-dead victim chucked over adjacent tombstones, the Russian newspaper Moskovsky Komsomelets reported. Local people said that bears had resorted to scavenging in towns and villages - rummaging through bins, stealing garden carrots and raiding tips. A young man had been mauled in the centre of Syktyvkar, Komi's capital. "They are really hungry this year. It's a big problem. Many of them are not going to survive," said Simion Razmislov, the vice-president of Komi's hunting and fishing society.
World Wildlife Fund Russia said there had been a similar case two years ago in the town of Kandalaksha, in the northern Karelia republic. "You have to remember that bears are natural scavengers. In the US and Canada you can't leave any food in tents in national parks," said Masha Vorontsova, Director of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) in Russia. "In Karelia one bear learned how to do it [open a coffin]. He then taught the others," she added, suggesting: "They are pretty quick learners."
The only way to get rid of the bears would be to frighten them with something noisy like a firework or shoot them, she said. According to Vorontsova, the omnivorous bears had "plenty to eat" this autumn, with foods such as fish and ants at normal levels. The bears raided graveyards because they offered a supply of easy food, she said, a bit like a giant refrigerator. "The story is horrible. Nobody wants to think about having a much loved member of their family eaten by a bear."
The Vezhnya Tchova incident took place on Saturday in the northern republic of Komi, near the Arctic Circle. The shocked women cried in panic, frightening the bear back into the woods, before they discovered a ghoulish scene with the clothes of the bear's already-dead victim chucked over adjacent tombstones, the Russian newspaper Moskovsky Komsomelets reported. Local people said that bears had resorted to scavenging in towns and villages - rummaging through bins, stealing garden carrots and raiding tips. A young man had been mauled in the centre of Syktyvkar, Komi's capital. "They are really hungry this year. It's a big problem. Many of them are not going to survive," said Simion Razmislov, the vice-president of Komi's hunting and fishing society.
World Wildlife Fund Russia said there had been a similar case two years ago in the town of Kandalaksha, in the northern Karelia republic. "You have to remember that bears are natural scavengers. In the US and Canada you can't leave any food in tents in national parks," said Masha Vorontsova, Director of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) in Russia. "In Karelia one bear learned how to do it [open a coffin]. He then taught the others," she added, suggesting: "They are pretty quick learners."
The only way to get rid of the bears would be to frighten them with something noisy like a firework or shoot them, she said. According to Vorontsova, the omnivorous bears had "plenty to eat" this autumn, with foods such as fish and ants at normal levels. The bears raided graveyards because they offered a supply of easy food, she said, a bit like a giant refrigerator. "The story is horrible. Nobody wants to think about having a much loved member of their family eaten by a bear."
Bassett hound swallows 31 rusty nails
A Colorado Springs dog owner took her Basset Hound to the vets for a stomach ache, only to find out the dog had eaten 31 roofing nails, her rabies tag, and siding from their house. Carla Borck’s Basset Hound Sophie wasn’t feeling well, so she brought her in to an emergency veterinary clinic to be seen. Expecting just a stomach ache, she and the veterinarian there decided to take an x-ray, just to be sure. What they discovered looked like a clump of about ten nails in Sophie’s belly.
The dog went in for surgery, and when it was all said and done, turns out Sophie had consumed 31 roofing nails, her rabies tag, and siding from their house. The goods were removed, and the dog was considered lucky to not have any internal bleeding or perforations in her intestines from the jagged, rusted nails.
Borck and her husband later figured out, their black Labrador puppy has done the digging work, and Sophie, the eating in their dog run in the side yard over time. The nails turned out to be from when the home got a new roof in the years before the two bought the house, and Sophie’s taste for metal was something she’d done a good job of keeping from her owners.
Sophie is recovering well, but the house has since had to be “puppy-proofed” and the yard scoured for any remaining metals or pieces. The veterinarian that treated Sophie warned the Borcks, once a dog has a taste of metal and gets the feeling of it on their teeth and likes it, they’ll go back for more, time and again.
Video.
The dog went in for surgery, and when it was all said and done, turns out Sophie had consumed 31 roofing nails, her rabies tag, and siding from their house. The goods were removed, and the dog was considered lucky to not have any internal bleeding or perforations in her intestines from the jagged, rusted nails.
Borck and her husband later figured out, their black Labrador puppy has done the digging work, and Sophie, the eating in their dog run in the side yard over time. The nails turned out to be from when the home got a new roof in the years before the two bought the house, and Sophie’s taste for metal was something she’d done a good job of keeping from her owners.
Sophie is recovering well, but the house has since had to be “puppy-proofed” and the yard scoured for any remaining metals or pieces. The veterinarian that treated Sophie warned the Borcks, once a dog has a taste of metal and gets the feeling of it on their teeth and likes it, they’ll go back for more, time and again.
Video.
'Balloon Boy' dad invents back scratcher
A little more than a year after the Colorado "Balloon Boy" saga that gripped much of the world, the man behind the hoax is selling a homemade back scratcher.
Richard Heene, who served 28 days jail time for his part in an elaborate hoax involving one of his sons and a helium balloon, moved his family to Bradenton, Fla., last August.
Now, Richard Heene is using the Internet to sell a $20 "Bear Scratch" back scratcher, which consists of a 36-inch length of tree branch with holders that attach to a wall.
"You ever walk in the woods and see a bear break off a branch and scratch his back?" Heene asks in his promotional video. "No, he uses the entire tree."
Richard Heene, who served 28 days jail time for his part in an elaborate hoax involving one of his sons and a helium balloon, moved his family to Bradenton, Fla., last August.
Now, Richard Heene is using the Internet to sell a $20 "Bear Scratch" back scratcher, which consists of a 36-inch length of tree branch with holders that attach to a wall.
"You ever walk in the woods and see a bear break off a branch and scratch his back?" Heene asks in his promotional video. "No, he uses the entire tree."
Man charged with indecent exposure argues his genitals not big enough to warrant a charge
An Australian man who exposed his genitals in a pub told police he shouldn't be charged because "he only had a small appendage".
Toowoomba man Timothy Scott Clark dropped his pants in view of patrons of the Southern Hotel on the night of September 9. Several people took photographs, Toowoomba Magistrates was told on Tuesday.
But when police arrived to arrest him he told them he didn’t think he would be charged in the circumstances “as he only had a small appendage”, police prosecutor Sergeant Greg Lewis told the court, according to reports.
Regardless, Clark was charged with drunk and disordely behaviour and, perhaps fearing his evidence wouldn't stand up in court, he failed to appear yesterday. He was fined $300 and no conviction was recorded.
Toowoomba man Timothy Scott Clark dropped his pants in view of patrons of the Southern Hotel on the night of September 9. Several people took photographs, Toowoomba Magistrates was told on Tuesday.
But when police arrived to arrest him he told them he didn’t think he would be charged in the circumstances “as he only had a small appendage”, police prosecutor Sergeant Greg Lewis told the court, according to reports.
Regardless, Clark was charged with drunk and disordely behaviour and, perhaps fearing his evidence wouldn't stand up in court, he failed to appear yesterday. He was fined $300 and no conviction was recorded.
Boy George throws tantrum and drink at charity gig
Boy George left a woman in tears after tipping a drink over her because she was chatting during his act at a charity gig.
The ex-Culture Club star, 49, yelled: "Why don't you shut the f*** up, you rude ****!" before pouring the glassful on her from the stage.
Disgusted fans left the gig in aid of The Meningitis Trust at the Embassy club in London's Mayfair.
A club source said: "He wasn't playing his hits and people were losing interest. It was a shocking lapse of judgment because people had paid to support the Trust." A fan added: "The girl looked so upset."
The ex-Culture Club star, 49, yelled: "Why don't you shut the f*** up, you rude ****!" before pouring the glassful on her from the stage.
Disgusted fans left the gig in aid of The Meningitis Trust at the Embassy club in London's Mayfair.
A club source said: "He wasn't playing his hits and people were losing interest. It was a shocking lapse of judgment because people had paid to support the Trust." A fan added: "The girl looked so upset."
Man's 21st birthday bridge fall death 'accidental'
A man fell to his death from a bridge after getting drunk while celebrating his 21st birthday , an inquest has heard.
Jamie Bruce, of Exeter, had been drinking lager, cider and shots during a night out in the city. He climbed the railings of a bridge over the inner Exeter bypass when he fell on 20 June 2009.
His younger brother, Darren said: "He was drunk but I've seen him worse." The inquest was told Mr Bruce had fallen from a second-floor balcony three years previously after celebrating his 18th birthday.
Exeter Coroner Dr Elizabeth Earland recorded a verdict of accidental death.
Jamie Bruce, of Exeter, had been drinking lager, cider and shots during a night out in the city. He climbed the railings of a bridge over the inner Exeter bypass when he fell on 20 June 2009.
His younger brother, Darren said: "He was drunk but I've seen him worse." The inquest was told Mr Bruce had fallen from a second-floor balcony three years previously after celebrating his 18th birthday.
Exeter Coroner Dr Elizabeth Earland recorded a verdict of accidental death.
Naked show set for UK debut
Sadler's Wells is to stretch the boundaries of taste with a production in which the dancers are completely naked.
Canadian choreographer Dave St-Pierre is bringing his infamous show 'Un Peu de Tendresse Bordel de Merde' to Britain for the first time. Those of a nervous disposition should be warned: the audience participation segment involves naked men in blond wigs dispensing hugs to startled theatregoers.
The dancers also perform some eye-wateringly explicit acts and the show will carry a strict 18+ age restriction when it opens in June next year.
Alistair Spalding, Sadler's Wells artistic director, said the production was "audacious" and not for the faint-hearted. "Dance still has the power to shock occasionally. Dave St-Pierre's performances will require all the warnings we can muster before you enter the theatre. But it is a remarkable piece of work," he said.
NSFW.
"It's a very light-hearted piece. It deals with tenderness but it is very funny. He does try to do things which take performance to the limits."
Mr Spalding invited St-Pierre to Britain after seeing the show in France last year. He said: "When I saw the piece I was breathless - I couldn't believe what was happening. It was like a jet plane taking off over you. It's not that I'm interested in shocking people. People will enjoy it. You need that fizz sometimes in a theatre.
Canadian choreographer Dave St-Pierre is bringing his infamous show 'Un Peu de Tendresse Bordel de Merde' to Britain for the first time. Those of a nervous disposition should be warned: the audience participation segment involves naked men in blond wigs dispensing hugs to startled theatregoers.
The dancers also perform some eye-wateringly explicit acts and the show will carry a strict 18+ age restriction when it opens in June next year.
Alistair Spalding, Sadler's Wells artistic director, said the production was "audacious" and not for the faint-hearted. "Dance still has the power to shock occasionally. Dave St-Pierre's performances will require all the warnings we can muster before you enter the theatre. But it is a remarkable piece of work," he said.
NSFW.
"It's a very light-hearted piece. It deals with tenderness but it is very funny. He does try to do things which take performance to the limits."
Mr Spalding invited St-Pierre to Britain after seeing the show in France last year. He said: "When I saw the piece I was breathless - I couldn't believe what was happening. It was like a jet plane taking off over you. It's not that I'm interested in shocking people. People will enjoy it. You need that fizz sometimes in a theatre.
Red-carded footballer drove onto pitch and tried to run over referee
An enraged amateur footballer drove on to the pitch and tried to run over the referee after being sent off. Joseph Rimmer, 28, attempted to plough into referee David Harkness after being shown the red card while playing for Southport and District Sunday league team Lonsdale. The club were playing against rivals Harrington at council football pitches in Portland Street, Southport, on Valentine’s Day when trouble flared.
Liverpool crown court heard how after being sent off by Mr Harkness, Rimmer ran off the pitch and got into a car. He then drove his vehicle on to the pitches aiming for Mr Harkness. The referee was able to get out the way of the oncoming car and was not harmed in the incident.
But it is understood Rimmer then got out his car and shouted threats at him before driving away. Wearing a shirt and tie, shaven-headed Rimmer yesterday appeared for trial at Liverpool Crown Court charged with affray and dangerous driving on February 14.
Philip Tully, defending, told the court Rimmer would admit the offence of affray and prosecutors had been already been told it would be a guilty plea rather than a trial. Mr Tully told the court Rimmer’s intention was to get the game called off. Judge Adrian Lyon agreed to adjourn sentencing until November 19. He further granted Rimmer bail on the conditions he is not to go to any Southport and District league games as a player or a spectator and is banned from contacting Mr Harkness.
Liverpool crown court heard how after being sent off by Mr Harkness, Rimmer ran off the pitch and got into a car. He then drove his vehicle on to the pitches aiming for Mr Harkness. The referee was able to get out the way of the oncoming car and was not harmed in the incident.
But it is understood Rimmer then got out his car and shouted threats at him before driving away. Wearing a shirt and tie, shaven-headed Rimmer yesterday appeared for trial at Liverpool Crown Court charged with affray and dangerous driving on February 14.
Philip Tully, defending, told the court Rimmer would admit the offence of affray and prosecutors had been already been told it would be a guilty plea rather than a trial. Mr Tully told the court Rimmer’s intention was to get the game called off. Judge Adrian Lyon agreed to adjourn sentencing until November 19. He further granted Rimmer bail on the conditions he is not to go to any Southport and District league games as a player or a spectator and is banned from contacting Mr Harkness.
Students being taught to cook roadkill for dinner to stave off debts
With university fees set to rocket, even humble beans on toast might be a stretch for hard-up students. Perhaps one group of young scholars has the answer – roadkill.
As part of a degree course, they are scraping up the remains of pheasants, rabbits and even, in one case, a deer, off the roads and learning how to butcher them. What’s left over, they take home to eat. A staff member who has worked at their university for almost ten years said: ‘The group would find all sorts of animals at the side of the road.
‘They were used for class demonstrations to show how butchering methods have developed throughout history. But, after the lesson, we’d be left with piles of meat – so we’d have a barbecue.’ Students at Bournemouth University said the sessions left them scrambling to find more roadkill in their own time.
One, a 23-year-old studying forensic archaeology, said: ‘After a few bites, I forgot I was eating an animal that had its brains smashed in by a car.’ Steve Stone, environmental health officer for the New Forest District Council, said anyone eating roadkill should make sure they were aware of the risks they were taking, adding: ‘I don’t think it’s something that people should experiment with unless they are aware of the health of the animal and the condition of it.’
As part of a degree course, they are scraping up the remains of pheasants, rabbits and even, in one case, a deer, off the roads and learning how to butcher them. What’s left over, they take home to eat. A staff member who has worked at their university for almost ten years said: ‘The group would find all sorts of animals at the side of the road.
‘They were used for class demonstrations to show how butchering methods have developed throughout history. But, after the lesson, we’d be left with piles of meat – so we’d have a barbecue.’ Students at Bournemouth University said the sessions left them scrambling to find more roadkill in their own time.
One, a 23-year-old studying forensic archaeology, said: ‘After a few bites, I forgot I was eating an animal that had its brains smashed in by a car.’ Steve Stone, environmental health officer for the New Forest District Council, said anyone eating roadkill should make sure they were aware of the risks they were taking, adding: ‘I don’t think it’s something that people should experiment with unless they are aware of the health of the animal and the condition of it.’
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