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Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Indian baby elephant rescue drama
Locals residents have rescued a baby elephant after it accidentally fell into a ditch on a tea plantation near Bokakhat in India's north eastern state of Assam.
The male calf, aged four or five years old, fell in the ditch when crossing a tea estate with with the rest of its herd.
The mother of the calf and other elephants are reported to have made several failed attempts to rescue the calf. Local people, forest rangers and an animal welfare volunteer then stepped it to rescue it with the help of an excavator.
Anil Deka, from the International Fund for Animal Welfare, said that the elephant had suffered only minor injuries. Once on its feet, the calf was reunited with its mother.
The male calf, aged four or five years old, fell in the ditch when crossing a tea estate with with the rest of its herd.
The mother of the calf and other elephants are reported to have made several failed attempts to rescue the calf. Local people, forest rangers and an animal welfare volunteer then stepped it to rescue it with the help of an excavator.
Anil Deka, from the International Fund for Animal Welfare, said that the elephant had suffered only minor injuries. Once on its feet, the calf was reunited with its mother.
Picasso's electrician reveals secret trove of 271 works by the artist
A 71-year-old retired electrician is at the centre of a legal battle after coming forward with more than 200 hitherto unknown paintings by Pablo Picasso. Experts who have examined the collection have estimated it could be worth some 60 million euros ((£50.6m, $80m). Pierre Le Guennec wrote to Claude Picasso, the artist's son and the administrator of his estate, in a bid to get the canvases authenticated, and the two finally met in September.
Le Guennec said he had worked installing alarm sytems at a number of Picasso's residences, including a villa in Cannes in the south of France, during the last three years of Picasso's life - he died in 1973. He said he had had been given the works as presents, either by Picasso's wife or from the artist himself. The collection included 271 works. Once experts had authenticated the works however, Picasso's heirs filed a complaint alleging receipt of stolen goods.
Photo from here.
Claude Picasso dismissed Le Guennec's claim that he could have received the paintings as gifts, saying that his father would not have given such a quantity of works to anyone. "That doesn't stand up," he insisted. "It was a part of his life. After Picasso's heirs filed the complaint in September, officers from the Central Office for the Fight against Traffic in Cultural Goods (OCBC) seized the works from the couple's home on the Cote d'Azur in southeast France.
Le Guennec himself was at one point taken into custody. A spokesman from the OCBC, part of France's interior ministry, confirmed the seizure of the paintings. The haul ranges from notebooks to drawings and completed paintings, including nine cubist works which alone are worth some 40 million euros, according to experts. Also in the collection was an aquarelle from Picasso's blue period, portraits of his first wife Olga, as well as a number of gouaches and lithographs.
Le Guennec said he had worked installing alarm sytems at a number of Picasso's residences, including a villa in Cannes in the south of France, during the last three years of Picasso's life - he died in 1973. He said he had had been given the works as presents, either by Picasso's wife or from the artist himself. The collection included 271 works. Once experts had authenticated the works however, Picasso's heirs filed a complaint alleging receipt of stolen goods.
Photo from here.
Claude Picasso dismissed Le Guennec's claim that he could have received the paintings as gifts, saying that his father would not have given such a quantity of works to anyone. "That doesn't stand up," he insisted. "It was a part of his life. After Picasso's heirs filed the complaint in September, officers from the Central Office for the Fight against Traffic in Cultural Goods (OCBC) seized the works from the couple's home on the Cote d'Azur in southeast France.
Le Guennec himself was at one point taken into custody. A spokesman from the OCBC, part of France's interior ministry, confirmed the seizure of the paintings. The haul ranges from notebooks to drawings and completed paintings, including nine cubist works which alone are worth some 40 million euros, according to experts. Also in the collection was an aquarelle from Picasso's blue period, portraits of his first wife Olga, as well as a number of gouaches and lithographs.
Half-naked woman's death ruled accidental
The death a woman found lying in her yard was caused by an accident, according to the Paulding County Coroner's Office. A neighbouring couple found the 63-year-old victim unconscious, half-naked and bleeding, lying face-down in her front yard.
"She looked like she wasn't breathing. She looked like she'd been there for a while. She looked like she'd been rolling around in the mud for a while," said neighbour Randy Brown.
Brown said he found the victim's pants and underwear nearby. An overturned plate of Thanksgiving food was on the stairs leading up to her home on William Drive, just outside of Dallas, Ga. When police arrived, they said there were no signs of forced entry to the home, but the woman had a gash on her head.
Investigators originally said they were investigating the incident as a homicide by assault, but after an autopsy, a representative from the coroner's office said the woman fell down her front steps and died.
With news video.
"She looked like she wasn't breathing. She looked like she'd been there for a while. She looked like she'd been rolling around in the mud for a while," said neighbour Randy Brown.
Brown said he found the victim's pants and underwear nearby. An overturned plate of Thanksgiving food was on the stairs leading up to her home on William Drive, just outside of Dallas, Ga. When police arrived, they said there were no signs of forced entry to the home, but the woman had a gash on her head.
Investigators originally said they were investigating the incident as a homicide by assault, but after an autopsy, a representative from the coroner's office said the woman fell down her front steps and died.
With news video.
Chinese woman adopts 1,500 stray dogs
A Chinese woman has given up her job, her home and her car to adopt more than 1,500 stray dogs. Ha Wenjin gave up her business career and sold her house, car and jewellery to set up her unofficial dog rescue centre in Tangquan County, Nanjing.
"At first I did this in my spare time, but as I gathered more and more abandoned pets, I had to work full time for them," she said. She has taken on 10 workers to help her look after the dogs - and another two to help care for 200 adopted cats at a second centre she has set up nearby.
But her project was put at risk when local government officials, who don't recognise her work, reclaimed the land for redevelopment. "I had to find a new place which was deserted and not close to any human habitat, as 1,500 dogs are not quiet," she said. "And the place had to be very cheap to rent, as most of our income comes from donations."
Finances are so tight that she partly relies on volunteer days when people bring hundreds of 'pork buns' to feed the dogs. Ha eventually found a site, in Houyu village, Pukou County, but desperately needs funds to get the new animal rescue centre up and running. And she is hoping more volunteers will turn out help her move the dogs on four buses on 4 December - and to clean the vehicles afterwards.
"At first I did this in my spare time, but as I gathered more and more abandoned pets, I had to work full time for them," she said. She has taken on 10 workers to help her look after the dogs - and another two to help care for 200 adopted cats at a second centre she has set up nearby.
But her project was put at risk when local government officials, who don't recognise her work, reclaimed the land for redevelopment. "I had to find a new place which was deserted and not close to any human habitat, as 1,500 dogs are not quiet," she said. "And the place had to be very cheap to rent, as most of our income comes from donations."
Finances are so tight that she partly relies on volunteer days when people bring hundreds of 'pork buns' to feed the dogs. Ha eventually found a site, in Houyu village, Pukou County, but desperately needs funds to get the new animal rescue centre up and running. And she is hoping more volunteers will turn out help her move the dogs on four buses on 4 December - and to clean the vehicles afterwards.
Man combines boat and lawnmower to create amphibious 'Shortcutter'
Amateur inventor John Hinton has launched an amphibious assault on the misery of the morning rush hour - with a vehicle that can swap traffic queues for river cruises. John’s ‘Shortcutter’, made from a sit-on lawnmower and an old boat, can chug along the roads at a ‘relaxing’ 9kph (6mph), then take to the water at the first sign of a snarl-up.
Of course, with a top speed that could cause more traffic jams than it solves and a propeller that spins wildly behind it on dry land, the four-wheeler is still very much a work in progress. But Mr Hinton hopes future models could revolutionise the way we travel. The 76-year-old said: ‘In theory, you could go anywhere on it – it would be just as good as a normal car.
‘You could go and get your shopping on it or go to work in it and, if you had to cross a lake or river or even part of the sea to get there, that would be fine. If it was big enough you could probably get all the way to France, drive on to land, pick up some cheese and wine and bring it all back without leaving the boat.’ And the retired insurance broker, of Horsham in West Sussex, has even been in touch with Honda about mass production of his vehicle.
He added: ‘It’s about time the car and marine industries combined.’ Mr Hinton spent two years and £1,000 making the prototype with late friend Laurie Mayhead. Wife Pat said: ‘Everyone needs something to do when they retire. This is just one of his many projects. I was quite happy to get him out of the house, to be honest.’
Of course, with a top speed that could cause more traffic jams than it solves and a propeller that spins wildly behind it on dry land, the four-wheeler is still very much a work in progress. But Mr Hinton hopes future models could revolutionise the way we travel. The 76-year-old said: ‘In theory, you could go anywhere on it – it would be just as good as a normal car.
‘You could go and get your shopping on it or go to work in it and, if you had to cross a lake or river or even part of the sea to get there, that would be fine. If it was big enough you could probably get all the way to France, drive on to land, pick up some cheese and wine and bring it all back without leaving the boat.’ And the retired insurance broker, of Horsham in West Sussex, has even been in touch with Honda about mass production of his vehicle.
He added: ‘It’s about time the car and marine industries combined.’ Mr Hinton spent two years and £1,000 making the prototype with late friend Laurie Mayhead. Wife Pat said: ‘Everyone needs something to do when they retire. This is just one of his many projects. I was quite happy to get him out of the house, to be honest.’
Panicky pilot caused Indian passenger jet plunge
A co-pilot sent an international passenger jet flying from Dubai to India into a terrifying nosedive when he adjusted his seat and accidentally pushed the control column forward. The officer then panicked and was unable to let the captain, who had gone on a toilet break, back into the cockpit as the plane plunged 2,000 metres. The captain only saved the Boeing 737 aircraft after using an emergency code to get through the cockpit door and take the controls back from the co-pilot, the report by India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said.
The 25-year-old co-pilot told the inquiry he had "got in a panic situation couldn’t control the aircraft, neither open the cockpit door and answer the cabin call." When the captain, 39, got back into the cockpit, he shouted "What are you doing?" as cabin crew ordered the 113 terrified passengers to fasten their seatbelts. The report said there was "complete commotion" in the cabin and that passengers were "very much scared and were shouting loudly" as the plane dived steeply and boxes and liquor bottles fell into the aisle.
The Air India Express flight was flying at 37,000 feet from Dubai to Pune airport, in western India, on May 26 when the near-disaster occurred. No one was injured. According to the report, the nosedive was "due to the copilot adjusting his seat forward and inadvertently pressing the control column forward." The plane fell 2,000 feet before the captain got back into the cockpit – and another 5,000 feet as he struggled with the panicking co-pilot.
"There was application of opposite force by pilot and copilot on control column," the report said. It added that the co-pilot "probably had no clue to tackle this kind of emergency." "Appropriate action shall be taken against the involved crew," it concluded. After the incident, the captain tried to calm passengers by telling them that the aircraft had hit an air pocket.
The 25-year-old co-pilot told the inquiry he had "got in a panic situation couldn’t control the aircraft, neither open the cockpit door and answer the cabin call." When the captain, 39, got back into the cockpit, he shouted "What are you doing?" as cabin crew ordered the 113 terrified passengers to fasten their seatbelts. The report said there was "complete commotion" in the cabin and that passengers were "very much scared and were shouting loudly" as the plane dived steeply and boxes and liquor bottles fell into the aisle.
The Air India Express flight was flying at 37,000 feet from Dubai to Pune airport, in western India, on May 26 when the near-disaster occurred. No one was injured. According to the report, the nosedive was "due to the copilot adjusting his seat forward and inadvertently pressing the control column forward." The plane fell 2,000 feet before the captain got back into the cockpit – and another 5,000 feet as he struggled with the panicking co-pilot.
"There was application of opposite force by pilot and copilot on control column," the report said. It added that the co-pilot "probably had no clue to tackle this kind of emergency." "Appropriate action shall be taken against the involved crew," it concluded. After the incident, the captain tried to calm passengers by telling them that the aircraft had hit an air pocket.
Meerkats and monkeys on sale in Blackburn pet store
Monkeys and meerkats have gone on sale at East Lancashire's largest pet store — prompting a storm of protest from animal rights campaigners. One animal protection group said selling the wild animals was 'cruel' and another group said it deplored the actions of Blackburn-based Aquamania. Craig Redmond, of the Captive Animals Protection Society said: "They are such social animals and have specialist needs." And he added that meerkats were burrowing creatures and were likely to 'trash your sofa and carpet'.
Aquamania bosses said they had received threats and were planning to make a complaint to police. They insisted the animals would only be sold once any potential buyer had been thoroughly researched. Boss Ashley Cook said they spent £10,000 building an enclosure to house two pairs of meerkats and four marmoset monkeys. He said that each animal would cost £2,500 when bought with the appropriate enclosures. The marmosets are all nine-months-old and will grow to around 12 inches tall. The meerkats are 14 months old and are fully grown.
Mr Cook, 42, said: "We will not sell them to anyone who just walks through the door. We will take a long time, including making home visits, before a sale is completed. So far we have not sold any of the animals but we could have done so 10 times over, such has been the level of interest. The monkeys and meerkats need indoor and outdoor enclosures and require a lot of attention." Mr Cook said he bought the animals from one of his 'trusted suppliers' and that they did 'a lot of research' before making a decision to put them on sale.
He said: "The monkeys are tame and can be fed by the hand. The meerkats are quiet tame and curious. We have worked to give them the best environment that we can in the shop. Both animals are mischievous and should not be given the run of the house. We wanted to offer something different. The reaction from shoppers so far has been amazing. The vast majority are chuffed to bits to see them." Mr Cook said he had been taken aback by the level of some of the criticism. He said: "There have been threats coming in to the building which are completely out of order and we will be informing the police. But I am open to any constructive advice."
Aquamania bosses said they had received threats and were planning to make a complaint to police. They insisted the animals would only be sold once any potential buyer had been thoroughly researched. Boss Ashley Cook said they spent £10,000 building an enclosure to house two pairs of meerkats and four marmoset monkeys. He said that each animal would cost £2,500 when bought with the appropriate enclosures. The marmosets are all nine-months-old and will grow to around 12 inches tall. The meerkats are 14 months old and are fully grown.
Mr Cook, 42, said: "We will not sell them to anyone who just walks through the door. We will take a long time, including making home visits, before a sale is completed. So far we have not sold any of the animals but we could have done so 10 times over, such has been the level of interest. The monkeys and meerkats need indoor and outdoor enclosures and require a lot of attention." Mr Cook said he bought the animals from one of his 'trusted suppliers' and that they did 'a lot of research' before making a decision to put them on sale.
He said: "The monkeys are tame and can be fed by the hand. The meerkats are quiet tame and curious. We have worked to give them the best environment that we can in the shop. Both animals are mischievous and should not be given the run of the house. We wanted to offer something different. The reaction from shoppers so far has been amazing. The vast majority are chuffed to bits to see them." Mr Cook said he had been taken aback by the level of some of the criticism. He said: "There have been threats coming in to the building which are completely out of order and we will be informing the police. But I am open to any constructive advice."
Churches anger at plan to turn Christmas into Sexmas
Church leaders have slammed a cheeky festive health guide - for branding Christmas "Sexmas". The campaign - fronted by two Santa hat-wearing "sexperts" - aims to stop revellers' risky behaviour. But furious religious leaders claim the Sexmas Survival Guide is offensive to Christians. Rev Alan Falconer, of Aberdeen's St Machar's Cathedral, said: "This detracts from the festival."
And John Deighan, parliamentary officer for the Catholic Church, said: "They don't show enough respect. "This sort of approach trivialises sex and turns it into another pastime. The more you trivialise sex, the more reckless people become."
The guide is part of a £100,000 campaign by Government agency Sexual Health Scotland. It advises festive partygoers to "slip a few condoms into your bag or pocket". And it includes a section on "the end of the night ride" which adds: "Stop tittering. We're talking about how you're going to get home."
The safe-sex campaign saw its budget slashed from £627,000 to £100,000 because of the recession. And last night a Government spokesman defended the saucy advice guide - which has the word "Sexplicit" stamped on the front. He said: "There was no campaign called Sexmas. "The word was used in one image as part of public health information to drive down rates of sexually transmitted diseases in Scotland, and absolutely no offence was intended."
And John Deighan, parliamentary officer for the Catholic Church, said: "They don't show enough respect. "This sort of approach trivialises sex and turns it into another pastime. The more you trivialise sex, the more reckless people become."
The guide is part of a £100,000 campaign by Government agency Sexual Health Scotland. It advises festive partygoers to "slip a few condoms into your bag or pocket". And it includes a section on "the end of the night ride" which adds: "Stop tittering. We're talking about how you're going to get home."
The safe-sex campaign saw its budget slashed from £627,000 to £100,000 because of the recession. And last night a Government spokesman defended the saucy advice guide - which has the word "Sexplicit" stamped on the front. He said: "There was no campaign called Sexmas. "The word was used in one image as part of public health information to drive down rates of sexually transmitted diseases in Scotland, and absolutely no offence was intended."
Chicken sore after laying 4 inch egg
A chicken was left shell-shocked after laying an enormous four inch tall egg, with her surprised owner describing the poor hen as 'bow-legged.'
The monster egg measures a whopping 9cm by 5.7cm (2.2ins) and is more than twice the size of a normal egg. It was laid by Bolt, a 20-week-old chicken from Christchurch, Dorset, who has only been laying for three weeks.
Owner Denise Sloan, a 52-year-old gardener, said she has never seen such a large egg despite owning chickens for 15 years. The egg, which has not been fertilised, is now destined for the dinner plate.
She said of Bolt’s impressive achievement: ‘I don't know what the world record is, but all I can say is she is pretty bow-legged now. It's enormous, bigger than a duck egg.’
The monster egg measures a whopping 9cm by 5.7cm (2.2ins) and is more than twice the size of a normal egg. It was laid by Bolt, a 20-week-old chicken from Christchurch, Dorset, who has only been laying for three weeks.
Owner Denise Sloan, a 52-year-old gardener, said she has never seen such a large egg despite owning chickens for 15 years. The egg, which has not been fertilised, is now destined for the dinner plate.
She said of Bolt’s impressive achievement: ‘I don't know what the world record is, but all I can say is she is pretty bow-legged now. It's enormous, bigger than a duck egg.’
Pensioner wins £1m on lottery draw and posts winning ticket
A pensioner who has won £1million faces an agonising wait after posting his winning lotto ticket to Camelot. Bernard McHugh, 77, only recently realised he was one of 10 EuroMillions millionaires from a draw on November 12. Instead of phoning to register his claim, he wrote his name and address on the back of his ticket, popped it in an envelope and asked his sister Pat to post it for him.
Later housebound Bernard, of Blackburn, Lancs, told his family what he had done. He said: "I thought that is what you were supposed to do. I saw the address on the back of the ticket and it said winners should contact them so that's what I did. "My family couldn't believe it when I told them I'd won. When they asked where the ticket was and I told them I'd posted it they were shocked." He added: "It will get there. I'm not worried yet."
A relative said: "Bernard is very old-fashioned and doesn't have a mobile phone or internet. Posting your winning lottery ticket would seem a very bizarre thing to do to most people, but not Bernard. He just saw the address on the back of the ticket and thought that was how he claimed his money. He doesn't like speaking to people on the phone so thought notifying Camelot by post was the best thing to do. We have our fingers crossed that the ticket gets there. He's never had much money and this would be life-changing."
A spokesman for Camelot Group, who run the lotteries, said staff at the company's Watford HQ were on the alert to find Bernard's posted ticket. Even if the ticket is lost, Bernard could still scoop his £1million. Camelot can pay winners who lose their tickets if the prize is unclaimed 180 days after the draw date. The spokesman added: "Anyone who has lost a ticket needs to give as much information as possible about where and when they bought it and we can check it against our systems."
Later housebound Bernard, of Blackburn, Lancs, told his family what he had done. He said: "I thought that is what you were supposed to do. I saw the address on the back of the ticket and it said winners should contact them so that's what I did. "My family couldn't believe it when I told them I'd won. When they asked where the ticket was and I told them I'd posted it they were shocked." He added: "It will get there. I'm not worried yet."
A relative said: "Bernard is very old-fashioned and doesn't have a mobile phone or internet. Posting your winning lottery ticket would seem a very bizarre thing to do to most people, but not Bernard. He just saw the address on the back of the ticket and thought that was how he claimed his money. He doesn't like speaking to people on the phone so thought notifying Camelot by post was the best thing to do. We have our fingers crossed that the ticket gets there. He's never had much money and this would be life-changing."
A spokesman for Camelot Group, who run the lotteries, said staff at the company's Watford HQ were on the alert to find Bernard's posted ticket. Even if the ticket is lost, Bernard could still scoop his £1million. Camelot can pay winners who lose their tickets if the prize is unclaimed 180 days after the draw date. The spokesman added: "Anyone who has lost a ticket needs to give as much information as possible about where and when they bought it and we can check it against our systems."
Parkinson’s medication turned man into sex-crazed transvestite
A man has told how he became a sex-crazed transvestite and ran up £400,000 debts on flash cars and holidays after suffering bizarre side-effects from a drug prescribed by his doctor. Town councillor Pete Shepherd, 60, was given a new drug called Cabergoline by his GP after he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. The pills relieved the symptoms of the debilitating illness but turned Pete into a high-living, violent, attention-seeking, sex-addicted gambler with delusions of grandeur. He maxed-out 15 credit cards, exceeded two bank overdraft limits, ran up £400,000 debts and lost his wife, £50,000-a-year IT job and home.
Pete claims he was sent ”mad” by the drugs which twisted his mind so badly he suffered ”compulsions” which made him a sex-addicted gambler. Cabergoline is a new form of drug called Dopamine Agent (DA) and can also be used to increase sex drive. Peter, from Hull, Yorks., said: ”I started to develop a range of strange obsessions, compulsions and interests. I became obsessed with gambling, spending, sexual excess and various fetishes. I suffered from delusions of grandeur, exhibitionism, paranoia and hallucinations and became violent and suicidal. I was out day and night at racecourses, betting shops, casinos and brothels. I developed a transvestite tendency and spent tens of thousands of pounds on ladies’ clothing for myself.
”None of this high-living, gambling, hypersexuality, fetishism, violence or attention-seeking made any sense at the time. I knew I was behaving oddly but I was totally driven down these paths and unable to control the compulsions whatsoever.” Peter was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2001 but believes he may have suffered from the disease since 1970. Over the next seven years he ran up £400,000 debts living the high-life including enormous credit card bills at casinos, horse racing, brothels, sex lines and porn websites. He posed as millionaire on a Caribbean cruise on the QEII and travelled to luxury resorts in New York, Florida, Tenerife, Tunisia, Morocco and Dominican Republic.
Pete hired a helicopter to go to the Grand Canyon and rented Bentleys, Ferraris, Porsches, TVRs and Jaguars and toured Scotland staying in luxury hotels for Hogmanay. He bought flash cars with personalised number plates got tickets to boxing matches, concerts, Wimbledon tennis finals, and owned executive boxes at two football clubs. During one week in Las Vegas Pete blew £10,000 on gambling, hotels and flights. Pete also developed a transvestite tendancy and dressed up in stilettos and tights and hung out in car parks looking for sex. He finally discovered a link between his compulsions and Cabergoline after searching the internet his life went back to normal when he stopped taking the drugs. Pete now takes different medication to treat his Parkinson’s Disease and has no savings or house.
Pete claims he was sent ”mad” by the drugs which twisted his mind so badly he suffered ”compulsions” which made him a sex-addicted gambler. Cabergoline is a new form of drug called Dopamine Agent (DA) and can also be used to increase sex drive. Peter, from Hull, Yorks., said: ”I started to develop a range of strange obsessions, compulsions and interests. I became obsessed with gambling, spending, sexual excess and various fetishes. I suffered from delusions of grandeur, exhibitionism, paranoia and hallucinations and became violent and suicidal. I was out day and night at racecourses, betting shops, casinos and brothels. I developed a transvestite tendency and spent tens of thousands of pounds on ladies’ clothing for myself.
”None of this high-living, gambling, hypersexuality, fetishism, violence or attention-seeking made any sense at the time. I knew I was behaving oddly but I was totally driven down these paths and unable to control the compulsions whatsoever.” Peter was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2001 but believes he may have suffered from the disease since 1970. Over the next seven years he ran up £400,000 debts living the high-life including enormous credit card bills at casinos, horse racing, brothels, sex lines and porn websites. He posed as millionaire on a Caribbean cruise on the QEII and travelled to luxury resorts in New York, Florida, Tenerife, Tunisia, Morocco and Dominican Republic.
Pete hired a helicopter to go to the Grand Canyon and rented Bentleys, Ferraris, Porsches, TVRs and Jaguars and toured Scotland staying in luxury hotels for Hogmanay. He bought flash cars with personalised number plates got tickets to boxing matches, concerts, Wimbledon tennis finals, and owned executive boxes at two football clubs. During one week in Las Vegas Pete blew £10,000 on gambling, hotels and flights. Pete also developed a transvestite tendancy and dressed up in stilettos and tights and hung out in car parks looking for sex. He finally discovered a link between his compulsions and Cabergoline after searching the internet his life went back to normal when he stopped taking the drugs. Pete now takes different medication to treat his Parkinson’s Disease and has no savings or house.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Men in Indian female-only carriage forced to do sit-ups
A group of male passengers travelling in a female-only carriage on New Delhi's new metro system were ordered to do sit-ups on the platform by the furious women. At least one carriage is reserved for women on every metro train in the Indian capital, where female residents and tourists have complained about sexual harassment on public transport for decades.
The metro has also become severely congested with the lines expanding into the suburbs over the last year and most regular carriages packed to capacity. Police led a crackdown at a station in Gurgaon, a booming satellite development on the outskirts of Delhi, after a series of complaints - and women passengers joined in the action.
"Not only were the unruly commuters made to shell out a fine of 250 rupees (5.40 dollars), angry women slapped some of them and forced them to do sit-ups". Gurgaon police commissioner S. Deswal, who led the raid, said: "We found many male passengers in the women's coach. The moment the women saw us, they got the courage to teach the men a lesson."
"We want our young girls and women to feel confident and safe while travelling in the Metro," he said. Some of the men in the women's carriage "had to bear the ignominy of doing sit-ups in public" when they were caught on at the Guru Dronacharya station.
The metro has also become severely congested with the lines expanding into the suburbs over the last year and most regular carriages packed to capacity. Police led a crackdown at a station in Gurgaon, a booming satellite development on the outskirts of Delhi, after a series of complaints - and women passengers joined in the action.
"Not only were the unruly commuters made to shell out a fine of 250 rupees (5.40 dollars), angry women slapped some of them and forced them to do sit-ups". Gurgaon police commissioner S. Deswal, who led the raid, said: "We found many male passengers in the women's coach. The moment the women saw us, they got the courage to teach the men a lesson."
"We want our young girls and women to feel confident and safe while travelling in the Metro," he said. Some of the men in the women's carriage "had to bear the ignominy of doing sit-ups in public" when they were caught on at the Guru Dronacharya station.
Adaptable dog learns to live without tongue
He's the Amazing Caine, the dog who lost three inches of his tongue in an electric paper shredder and lived to bark about it. When Caine, a boxer/Rhodesian ridgeback, was injured in January, one vet suggested that he be put to sleep.
But Caine's owner, Ashley Taylor, of Park Forest, never gave up. Today, at a healthy 64 pounds, Caine has learned to live without most of his tongue.
"He is doing great," said Taylor, an elementary school teacher in Glenwood. Taylor spoonfeeds Caine and has taught him to gulp down the food.
Because he doesn't have a tongue to scoop up water, he drinks from a fountain. And because dogs rely on their tongues to sweat, Taylor is careful not to let Caine out too much in the summer. "But he still gets into trouble chasing kitties," Taylor said.
Full story with news video here.
But Caine's owner, Ashley Taylor, of Park Forest, never gave up. Today, at a healthy 64 pounds, Caine has learned to live without most of his tongue.
"He is doing great," said Taylor, an elementary school teacher in Glenwood. Taylor spoonfeeds Caine and has taught him to gulp down the food.
Because he doesn't have a tongue to scoop up water, he drinks from a fountain. And because dogs rely on their tongues to sweat, Taylor is careful not to let Caine out too much in the summer. "But he still gets into trouble chasing kitties," Taylor said.
Full story with news video here.
Swedish man broadcasts music from his stomach
A Swedish man broadcast music from his stomach for several hours via a mini audio system, but said he was disappointed by the sound quality.
The sound was "bad, bad. It was a very bad sound. But that was not the important thing, I just wanted to show that it worked," said Fredrik Hjelmqvist, 45, owner of a hi-fi equipment shop in Stockholm. "It was a success, we were the first in the world to do this," said Hjelmqvist, who hopes to sell his invention for around 12,800 euros (17,000 dollars).
The plastic capsule containing the device is about three centimetres long (1.2 inches) and 1.5 centimetres (0.6 inches) in diameter and contains a miniature battery-powered audio device. The music was heard by using a stethoscope connected to an amplifier.
After about three hours, however, the muted strains of Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" and the Village People's "YMCA" faded and could no longer be heard. "The operation shouldn't in any case last beyond this weekend, for natural reasons," Hjelmqvist added.
You may, or may not get to see the device in action here.
The sound was "bad, bad. It was a very bad sound. But that was not the important thing, I just wanted to show that it worked," said Fredrik Hjelmqvist, 45, owner of a hi-fi equipment shop in Stockholm. "It was a success, we were the first in the world to do this," said Hjelmqvist, who hopes to sell his invention for around 12,800 euros (17,000 dollars).
The plastic capsule containing the device is about three centimetres long (1.2 inches) and 1.5 centimetres (0.6 inches) in diameter and contains a miniature battery-powered audio device. The music was heard by using a stethoscope connected to an amplifier.
After about three hours, however, the muted strains of Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" and the Village People's "YMCA" faded and could no longer be heard. "The operation shouldn't in any case last beyond this weekend, for natural reasons," Hjelmqvist added.
You may, or may not get to see the device in action here.
School retracts ban on pencils
It is business as usual again in the sixth-grade classrooms at the North Brookfield Elementary School. Some students used traditional yellow No. 2 pencils, while others used pens and mechanical pencils – returning them to their desk or shirt pocket when they were finished.
Last week, Wendy Scott, one of two sixth-grade teachers, sent a letter home to the parents of all sixth-graders announcing that she and Susan LaFlamme were instituting a new rule barring students from carrying any writing implements on their person, in a backpack, or on the school bus. The memo explained that students would be issued a pencil for use in class that would be collected at the end of the school day. The memo cited behaviour problems and said any student found in possession of a pen or mechanical pencil would be assumed to have the implement “to build weapons,” or to have stolen it from the classroom art supply basket.
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Offending students would be sent to the principal's office for disciplinary measures, the memo stated. Interim Superintendent Gordon L. Noseworthy later explained that the memo was sent home only on the authority of the teacher who penned it, stating it had not been reviewed or approved by either Principal Deborah Peterson or the superintendent. Police Chief Aram Thomasian Jr. said he was approached by parents of one student who had been suspended for having a pen that had been altered to fire a rolled-up piece of paper.
“The student showed me how it worked. I'd be surprised if the spitball travelled 4 feet. And at that, I'm not even sure it had any spit on it,” he said. Mr. Noseworthy added: “This was an attempt to by a fairly new sixth-grade teacher to make changes that were not warranted. The student who was found with an altered pen was suspended and as far as administrators were concerned, the matter was put to rest.”
Last week, Wendy Scott, one of two sixth-grade teachers, sent a letter home to the parents of all sixth-graders announcing that she and Susan LaFlamme were instituting a new rule barring students from carrying any writing implements on their person, in a backpack, or on the school bus. The memo explained that students would be issued a pencil for use in class that would be collected at the end of the school day. The memo cited behaviour problems and said any student found in possession of a pen or mechanical pencil would be assumed to have the implement “to build weapons,” or to have stolen it from the classroom art supply basket.
Click for bigger.
Offending students would be sent to the principal's office for disciplinary measures, the memo stated. Interim Superintendent Gordon L. Noseworthy later explained that the memo was sent home only on the authority of the teacher who penned it, stating it had not been reviewed or approved by either Principal Deborah Peterson or the superintendent. Police Chief Aram Thomasian Jr. said he was approached by parents of one student who had been suspended for having a pen that had been altered to fire a rolled-up piece of paper.
“The student showed me how it worked. I'd be surprised if the spitball travelled 4 feet. And at that, I'm not even sure it had any spit on it,” he said. Mr. Noseworthy added: “This was an attempt to by a fairly new sixth-grade teacher to make changes that were not warranted. The student who was found with an altered pen was suspended and as far as administrators were concerned, the matter was put to rest.”
Burglar bakes, surfs and leaves
It was certainly not the Thanksgiving morning Kyle Davis expected. He noticed a neighbour's garage door on Braddock Road was open even though he knew the family was out of town for the holiday. When Davis went to investigate, he came face-to-face with a burglar holding a gun.
"All I know is I saw the barrel pointed right at me," said Davis. He didn't stay long. Davis said he ducked behind a wall and then started running, heading out the back door and eventually, back across the street to his home. From there, Davis called police.
When authorities showed up, the burglar was gone, but the remnants of his night were still there. Police reports said the burglar spent the night in the bed, baked brownies, drank some orange juice, even looked at some adult websites on the home computer.
Reports said police also found a bag full of stolen alcohol in the homeowner's truck outside. Police said the gun was also the homeowner's. While Davis received quite a scare, he's just happy he walked away unharmed, especially since his wife is about to have their third child.
With news video.
"All I know is I saw the barrel pointed right at me," said Davis. He didn't stay long. Davis said he ducked behind a wall and then started running, heading out the back door and eventually, back across the street to his home. From there, Davis called police.
When authorities showed up, the burglar was gone, but the remnants of his night were still there. Police reports said the burglar spent the night in the bed, baked brownies, drank some orange juice, even looked at some adult websites on the home computer.
Reports said police also found a bag full of stolen alcohol in the homeowner's truck outside. Police said the gun was also the homeowner's. While Davis received quite a scare, he's just happy he walked away unharmed, especially since his wife is about to have their third child.
With news video.
Woman set house on fire after being locked out
A woman has been charged with arson after Pittsburgh police said she set her house on fire after locking herself out.
Investigators said the woman was locked out of the house and couldn't get in, so she intentionally set her rear awning on fire and called 911.
Firefighters arrived at the home in the 5200 block of Holmes Street in Pittsburgh's Lawrenceville neighbourhood at about 5 p.m. on Saturday. Police said the woman asked them to let her into her house.
Instead, she was arrested and is charged with arson. Her name wasn't immediately released.
Investigators said the woman was locked out of the house and couldn't get in, so she intentionally set her rear awning on fire and called 911.
Firefighters arrived at the home in the 5200 block of Holmes Street in Pittsburgh's Lawrenceville neighbourhood at about 5 p.m. on Saturday. Police said the woman asked them to let her into her house.
Instead, she was arrested and is charged with arson. Her name wasn't immediately released.
Kenyan woman married to four wives
After 10 years of marriage without a child in the 1960s, she did what would sound crazy in the eyes of many. Elizabeth Chemesunde Olekima, 87, divorced her husband and sought fellow women to start a new family. The Nandi culture allows a barren woman to marry another woman to sire children with her husband or another man of her choice — a form of surrogacy.
In early 1970s, she started looking for a wife, got one, paid dowry and started living with her. Her desire to have many children saw her negotiate and pay dowry for other three wives, a rare feat but elders approved the marriage. Chemesunde grew up at Kapkoi in Uasin Gishu and in Nandi and got married and settled in Kilgoris. When she couldn’t bear any children, she returned to Nandi where her relatives and elders approved her intentions to marry.
"I wanted to marry so that I can have children to maintain our family lineage," she says. Chemesunde says she met her first wife and negotiated with her parents and later paid seven cows. "The same was done for my second, third and fourth wives. I paid their parents, five and seven cows respectively," she said. A man, she recalls, eloped with her first wife, while the second passed on some years back. She is now left with two wives and eight children. The women respect and love her as their ‘husband.’
Due to the role she took upon herself, Chemesunde is expected to be the family’s breadwinner, a role she says she has done well through farming. She stays with one of the wives, Esther Olekima at Kapsundei village in Kilgoris where she has bought two acres of land and two cows. The second stays in a four-acre land in Tinderet, Nandi East District. According to the Nandi customs, Chemesunde can choose men for her wives. In this kind of arrangement, a woman is also allowed to look out for ‘suitable’ men to sire children with. This means a woman married under this arrangement can have children with different men. The men cannot lay claim to the children as they belong to the ‘husband’ who married the women.
In early 1970s, she started looking for a wife, got one, paid dowry and started living with her. Her desire to have many children saw her negotiate and pay dowry for other three wives, a rare feat but elders approved the marriage. Chemesunde grew up at Kapkoi in Uasin Gishu and in Nandi and got married and settled in Kilgoris. When she couldn’t bear any children, she returned to Nandi where her relatives and elders approved her intentions to marry.
"I wanted to marry so that I can have children to maintain our family lineage," she says. Chemesunde says she met her first wife and negotiated with her parents and later paid seven cows. "The same was done for my second, third and fourth wives. I paid their parents, five and seven cows respectively," she said. A man, she recalls, eloped with her first wife, while the second passed on some years back. She is now left with two wives and eight children. The women respect and love her as their ‘husband.’
Due to the role she took upon herself, Chemesunde is expected to be the family’s breadwinner, a role she says she has done well through farming. She stays with one of the wives, Esther Olekima at Kapsundei village in Kilgoris where she has bought two acres of land and two cows. The second stays in a four-acre land in Tinderet, Nandi East District. According to the Nandi customs, Chemesunde can choose men for her wives. In this kind of arrangement, a woman is also allowed to look out for ‘suitable’ men to sire children with. This means a woman married under this arrangement can have children with different men. The men cannot lay claim to the children as they belong to the ‘husband’ who married the women.
New photos emerge of the Loch Ness monster
The legend of Nessie has resurfaced with a new sighting and pictures of the Loch Ness monster. Richard Preston, a landscape designer, has been the latest person to spot a mysterious shape that might be the Loch Ness monster and capture a series of images on camera.
While working on Aldourie Castle gardens on the banks of the Loch Ness, 27-year-old Mr Preston spotted a shape on the loch's surface out of the corner of his eye. He said: “I was just walking through the castle gardens and I spotted something in the distance. When I looked closer I could clearly see the four hump-like features. I thought I’d take a picture of it, to see if there was anything in it, to see what others thought.
“I was surprised that it stayed there as long as it did. I took various shots of it before it suddenly disappeared. I literally just turned my back and it was gone.” He showed one of his friends who was also convinced there was certainly some mystery in the pictures.
When asked whether or not he believed in the monster, Mr Preston said: “Well there’s definitely something in the myth.There were no ripples in the water, no boats, nothing around. I have no idea what it was, but it undoubtedly looks like Nessie.” The latest sighting has brought hope to monster enthusiasts, as it had been a relatively quiet spell for spotting any activity in the Loch. Fears had been mounting that Nessie might be dead since reports of any sightings had been diminishing.
While working on Aldourie Castle gardens on the banks of the Loch Ness, 27-year-old Mr Preston spotted a shape on the loch's surface out of the corner of his eye. He said: “I was just walking through the castle gardens and I spotted something in the distance. When I looked closer I could clearly see the four hump-like features. I thought I’d take a picture of it, to see if there was anything in it, to see what others thought.
“I was surprised that it stayed there as long as it did. I took various shots of it before it suddenly disappeared. I literally just turned my back and it was gone.” He showed one of his friends who was also convinced there was certainly some mystery in the pictures.
When asked whether or not he believed in the monster, Mr Preston said: “Well there’s definitely something in the myth.There were no ripples in the water, no boats, nothing around. I have no idea what it was, but it undoubtedly looks like Nessie.” The latest sighting has brought hope to monster enthusiasts, as it had been a relatively quiet spell for spotting any activity in the Loch. Fears had been mounting that Nessie might be dead since reports of any sightings had been diminishing.
Donkeys rescued from manure pile at farm
Two donkeys had to be rescued by firefighters when they became trapped neck-high in a pile of manure at a Dorset farm.
The farmer called for help when his American rare breed animals got stuck on Saturday morning at his farm in the East Orchard area of Shaftesbury.
Crews used ropes lines and machinery to pull the first donkey free after about 40 minutes and the other soon after.
Neither animal suffered any harm during the incident.
The farmer called for help when his American rare breed animals got stuck on Saturday morning at his farm in the East Orchard area of Shaftesbury.
Crews used ropes lines and machinery to pull the first donkey free after about 40 minutes and the other soon after.
Neither animal suffered any harm during the incident.
Children will be given shopping vouchers for walking to school
Children will be given shopping vouchers for walking to school under a radical Government plan to combat obesity. Under the scheme, which will be part of a public health white paper to be announced on Tuesday, children will receive Topshop vouchers and cinema tickets for travelling to school on foot.
Every school in the country will be offered access to technology which would allow children to use swipe cards to track their journeys, so that points can be swapped for consumer rewards. Under a pilot scheme under way in Wimbledon, south London, teenage girls receive a £5 Topshop voucher if they walk to school eight times, and an Odeon cinema ticket for five journeys, in a certain period.
The controversial initiative is one of several schemes endorsed in a strategy which will urge councils and businesses to find more "creative" ways to improve the nation's health. Ministers say their approach is a departure from Labour's "nanny state" tactics which attempted to lecture people into changing their ways.
Instead, attempts to improve Britain's health will be based on a "nudge" theory, devised by two US economists, who say incentives and peer pressure are the best ways to prompt people out of bad habits. Since the Coalition was formed, the Cabinet Office has set up a "behavioural insight team" – dubbed "the Nudge team".
Every school in the country will be offered access to technology which would allow children to use swipe cards to track their journeys, so that points can be swapped for consumer rewards. Under a pilot scheme under way in Wimbledon, south London, teenage girls receive a £5 Topshop voucher if they walk to school eight times, and an Odeon cinema ticket for five journeys, in a certain period.
The controversial initiative is one of several schemes endorsed in a strategy which will urge councils and businesses to find more "creative" ways to improve the nation's health. Ministers say their approach is a departure from Labour's "nanny state" tactics which attempted to lecture people into changing their ways.
Instead, attempts to improve Britain's health will be based on a "nudge" theory, devised by two US economists, who say incentives and peer pressure are the best ways to prompt people out of bad habits. Since the Coalition was formed, the Cabinet Office has set up a "behavioural insight team" – dubbed "the Nudge team".
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Aggressive otter running around biting people in Florida
A third person in west Boca Raton has been bitten by an otter that authorities say could have rabies. The latest attack was caught on video. The victim, a 19-year-old college student, was videotaping the otter with his camera phone Wednesday afternoon as it swam in a lake behind his house in the Southwind Lakes neighbourhood.
The otter appears harmless enough as it's swimming around out there. And William Gibbons had not heard about the reports of an otter attacking two other people and a dog. But the otter starts heading for shore and the victim in his backyard realizes maybe the otter could be a threat.
Within a few seconds, the otter is coming after him and it bites him on the left leg near the ankle. He screams and the camera moves wildly as he runs away after being bitten.
"I was scared, to say it simple. It was a cute little otter, I didn't expect it to do anything. And right when it bit me, I was like wow! I wasn't expecting this, so then it just took off," he said. Gibbons has had several rabies shots, and will need several more.
The otter appears harmless enough as it's swimming around out there. And William Gibbons had not heard about the reports of an otter attacking two other people and a dog. But the otter starts heading for shore and the victim in his backyard realizes maybe the otter could be a threat.
Within a few seconds, the otter is coming after him and it bites him on the left leg near the ankle. He screams and the camera moves wildly as he runs away after being bitten.
"I was scared, to say it simple. It was a cute little otter, I didn't expect it to do anything. And right when it bit me, I was like wow! I wasn't expecting this, so then it just took off," he said. Gibbons has had several rabies shots, and will need several more.
Pegasus flies in for a quick visit
This bizarre beast looks like it's stepped out of a Greek myth. But the extraordinary mutation of antelope and bird is actually a one-off optical illusion. The amusing picture was snapped as the animal was being chased by the tallest flying bird in the world — the Indian sarus crane.
The antelope had stumbled upon the bird's nest and had quickly been shooed away by the protective mum at Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan, India. The spectacle was caught on camera by photographer Jagdeep Rajput, who said people had compared the mutation to Pegasus, a mythical winged horse.
The 49-year-old, from Delhi, added: "The crane had laid a single egg and when the bull got close she chased it away. I was hoping to get a picture of the interaction between the two animals but I never expected I'd get anything like this.
"When I show people the photograph their first reaction is that it must be photoshopped. Others say it looks like some new species of mammal or a bovine version of Pegasus." Pegasus is a mystical horse-god creature from Greek mythology.
The antelope had stumbled upon the bird's nest and had quickly been shooed away by the protective mum at Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan, India. The spectacle was caught on camera by photographer Jagdeep Rajput, who said people had compared the mutation to Pegasus, a mythical winged horse.
The 49-year-old, from Delhi, added: "The crane had laid a single egg and when the bull got close she chased it away. I was hoping to get a picture of the interaction between the two animals but I never expected I'd get anything like this.
"When I show people the photograph their first reaction is that it must be photoshopped. Others say it looks like some new species of mammal or a bovine version of Pegasus." Pegasus is a mystical horse-god creature from Greek mythology.
Cat hailed a hero for saving building from fire
One of an Oklahoma City cat's nine lives was surely used up when, his owner said, his feline friend saved their building from going up in flames. Mr. Murphy, a therapeutic cat, helps with therapy exercises at East Main Place transitional facility, a transitional house for the homeless.
Last week, burglars trashed the place and put Mr. Murphy in the oven, along with combustibles, in hopes of setting the building on fire, according to investigators. “They went into our kitchen and they turned the oven on, and they poured a bottle of charcoal starter fluid in the oven. Then we found out later from the sheriff that they put the cat in the oven,” said Ginny Corson, with East Main Place.
Police arrested two men on charges of burglary, arson and cruelty to an animal. Cleveland County deputies arrested Brandon Reed and Michael Ketcham. Police said the suspects confessed to a burglary at East Main Place.
Somehow, police said, Mr. Murphy opened the oven and escaped, which broke the seal of the oven and stopped the building from turning into rubble. Police found Mr. Murphy with his paws burnt, but Mr. Murphy is expected to make a full recovery.
There's a news video here.
Last week, burglars trashed the place and put Mr. Murphy in the oven, along with combustibles, in hopes of setting the building on fire, according to investigators. “They went into our kitchen and they turned the oven on, and they poured a bottle of charcoal starter fluid in the oven. Then we found out later from the sheriff that they put the cat in the oven,” said Ginny Corson, with East Main Place.
Police arrested two men on charges of burglary, arson and cruelty to an animal. Cleveland County deputies arrested Brandon Reed and Michael Ketcham. Police said the suspects confessed to a burglary at East Main Place.
Somehow, police said, Mr. Murphy opened the oven and escaped, which broke the seal of the oven and stopped the building from turning into rubble. Police found Mr. Murphy with his paws burnt, but Mr. Murphy is expected to make a full recovery.
There's a news video here.
Following spiritual advice, woman leaves gun on grave
Spartanburg County sheriff's deputies confiscated a gun left on a grave after a woman's spiritual adviser told her to “return something that was given to her.” According to a sheriff's office incident report, a deputy responded to a call about the recovery of a gun at Good Shepherd Memorial Gardens on Highway 9.
The officer found a box containing a gun on a grave site. The officer spoke to a 28-year-old woman, who said that she hadn't been feeling well.
The woman said she went to a “shawoman,” according to her religion, and the shawoman advised her that to clear her spirits, she needed to return something that was given to her. The woman said the man who was buried at the site where the gun was recovered had given her the gun about 12 years ago, and she wanted to return it and hopefully feel better.
She told the officer that she wanted the gun destroyed. The officer took the gun, a .45-caliber Cobray, and placed it into evidence at the sheriff's office. No charges were filed.
The officer found a box containing a gun on a grave site. The officer spoke to a 28-year-old woman, who said that she hadn't been feeling well.
The woman said she went to a “shawoman,” according to her religion, and the shawoman advised her that to clear her spirits, she needed to return something that was given to her. The woman said the man who was buried at the site where the gun was recovered had given her the gun about 12 years ago, and she wanted to return it and hopefully feel better.
She told the officer that she wanted the gun destroyed. The officer took the gun, a .45-caliber Cobray, and placed it into evidence at the sheriff's office. No charges were filed.
Dog bowl sells at auction for $27,450
A California auction house said a sale featuring designer dog bowls was topped by a $27,450 doggie dish created by Los Angeles artist Ed Ruscha.
Bonhams auction house said the sale, on Tuesday, in Los Angeles and San Francisco, featured Ruscha's "Untitled (Fido) 2010" as the top bid-getter.
David Hockney's bowl sold for $6,710, a bowl by artist Kenny Scharf sold for $4,575, a dish made by Ross Bleckner sold for $2,074 and a Chuck Arnoldi work sold for $1,220.
The dog bowls were sold to benefit PAWS/LA, a non-profit aimed at benefiting low-income and elderly pet owners.
You can see the other dog bowls here.
Bonhams auction house said the sale, on Tuesday, in Los Angeles and San Francisco, featured Ruscha's "Untitled (Fido) 2010" as the top bid-getter.
David Hockney's bowl sold for $6,710, a bowl by artist Kenny Scharf sold for $4,575, a dish made by Ross Bleckner sold for $2,074 and a Chuck Arnoldi work sold for $1,220.
The dog bowls were sold to benefit PAWS/LA, a non-profit aimed at benefiting low-income and elderly pet owners.
You can see the other dog bowls here.
British family live with 80 exotic creatures
Animal mad Alan and Heather Hewitt share their home with an amazing menagerie of 80 exotic creatures. Rooms in the detached house are packed with 20 snakes, 15 reptiles, 25 mammals - plus assorted birds and invertebrates.
The couple run a sanctuary for rescued weird pets and now have a collection comprising 35 different species. They include two monitor lizards, six bearded dragons, four boa constrictors, two pythons, two giant tortoises, a cane toad, four tarantula spiders, various rodents, an African grey parrot, two meerkats, two racoons and a skunk.
They also find room for children, Abigail, 17, Grace, 15, and Edward, ten, in Morley, near Leeds. Alan, 44, said: "Living with 80 animals is a tremendous experience. "Many end up here due to neglect and people not knowing how to look after them. Or they've outgrown the owner, who becomes frightened.
"We get animals from the police, RSPCA and the public. We have to separate prey and predator. And I'm always on my guard. I'm forever being bitten by tarantulas and snakes or stung by scorpions." The £20,000-a-year cost of the Morley Exotic Animal Rescue is met by fundraising and they are applying for charitable status.
With news video.
The couple run a sanctuary for rescued weird pets and now have a collection comprising 35 different species. They include two monitor lizards, six bearded dragons, four boa constrictors, two pythons, two giant tortoises, a cane toad, four tarantula spiders, various rodents, an African grey parrot, two meerkats, two racoons and a skunk.
They also find room for children, Abigail, 17, Grace, 15, and Edward, ten, in Morley, near Leeds. Alan, 44, said: "Living with 80 animals is a tremendous experience. "Many end up here due to neglect and people not knowing how to look after them. Or they've outgrown the owner, who becomes frightened.
"We get animals from the police, RSPCA and the public. We have to separate prey and predator. And I'm always on my guard. I'm forever being bitten by tarantulas and snakes or stung by scorpions." The £20,000-a-year cost of the Morley Exotic Animal Rescue is met by fundraising and they are applying for charitable status.
With news video.
Bono accused of insensitivity towards dead New Zealand mine workers
Irish band U2 have angered fans at a gig in New Zealand. They were slammed for singing 'I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For' immediately after Bono had paid tribute to the 29 men who died in the recent mine disaster.
And not before he'd introduced the band, who obviously, no one has heard of before.
Fans were shocked by the “insensitive” choice given that the bodies have not yet been recovered. There were looks of disbelief when the band then went into their 1987 hit.
One fan said: “Bono made two mentions of the miners, but it was a really awkward moment for the first. I don’t think I was the only one who thought it was more than a little insensitive. People were looking round at each other.”
And not before he'd introduced the band, who obviously, no one has heard of before.
Fans were shocked by the “insensitive” choice given that the bodies have not yet been recovered. There were looks of disbelief when the band then went into their 1987 hit.
One fan said: “Bono made two mentions of the miners, but it was a really awkward moment for the first. I don’t think I was the only one who thought it was more than a little insensitive. People were looking round at each other.”
Parent's anger as school blacks out pupils' eyes in photos
Their eyes crudely blacked out to disguise their identities, these little girls look as if they might be the victims – or perhaps perpetrators – of a crime. But this disturbing image was actually issued in a school yearbook. It is the result of the bizarre ‘photography policy’ of headmistress Vicky Parsey, who bans parents from taking pictures in school for fear children’s faces will be superimposed on obscene internet images. Now two mothers of pupils at the school are stepping up their campaign against the ban in the hope they will be able to take photographs of the school’s nativity play.
Local MP Grant Shapps said the ‘absurd’ ban created a ‘climate of fear’ that effectively branded all parents paedophiles. Housewife and part-time exam invigilator Natasha Stannard, 39, and husband George, 42, have two children among the 450 pupils aged three to 11 at Applecroft primary school in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire. They used to enjoy sending photographs of school pantomimes and sports days to grandparents in South Africa – but three years ago Mrs Parsey declared it had to stop.Mrs Stannard said: ‘I was looking forward to taking photographs at the school’s annual Christmas performance. ‘We were told in a newsletter “We will no longer permit the use of videos, photographs or mobile phone camera pictures of any children by parents/carers/visitors during performances and school events”.’
Mrs Stannard and her friend Caroline Baynes, 44, a project manager whose two children also attend Applecroft school, began lobbying the school to relent. Instead, the school produced a 17-page ‘photography policy’ , (pdf doc.), which states: ‘The proliferation of internet web pages and social networking sites has given rise to increased concerns that images will be misused and that a child’s face or body could be used to represent matters wholly contrary to the wishes of their parents.’ The photographs of children with eyes blacked out were issued in ‘yearbooks’ given to the parents of four-year-olds in the school nursery. Photographs of classroom activities were enclosed, but teachers had blacked out the eyes of all children other than the parents’ own. In effect, each parent got a customised yearbook.
Mrs Baynes said: ‘This “photography policy” has created an unnatural situation where you can’t take a photo of your own child. It’s the nanny state gone mad.’ Mr Shapps, a Conservative, said he had taken up the issue with the school with no effect. He said the blacking out of eyes was ‘creepy’, adding: ‘This is absurd – these pictures look like the kids have been taken prisoner. They have created a climate of fear, suggesting that every parent is a paedophile.’ Mrs Stannard and Mrs Baynes are surveying all parents’ attitudes to the draconian policy. They are being supported by campaign group the Manifesto Club, which warns there is a national problem with schools imposing such restrictions.
Local MP Grant Shapps said the ‘absurd’ ban created a ‘climate of fear’ that effectively branded all parents paedophiles. Housewife and part-time exam invigilator Natasha Stannard, 39, and husband George, 42, have two children among the 450 pupils aged three to 11 at Applecroft primary school in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire. They used to enjoy sending photographs of school pantomimes and sports days to grandparents in South Africa – but three years ago Mrs Parsey declared it had to stop.Mrs Stannard said: ‘I was looking forward to taking photographs at the school’s annual Christmas performance. ‘We were told in a newsletter “We will no longer permit the use of videos, photographs or mobile phone camera pictures of any children by parents/carers/visitors during performances and school events”.’
Mrs Stannard and her friend Caroline Baynes, 44, a project manager whose two children also attend Applecroft school, began lobbying the school to relent. Instead, the school produced a 17-page ‘photography policy’ , (pdf doc.), which states: ‘The proliferation of internet web pages and social networking sites has given rise to increased concerns that images will be misused and that a child’s face or body could be used to represent matters wholly contrary to the wishes of their parents.’ The photographs of children with eyes blacked out were issued in ‘yearbooks’ given to the parents of four-year-olds in the school nursery. Photographs of classroom activities were enclosed, but teachers had blacked out the eyes of all children other than the parents’ own. In effect, each parent got a customised yearbook.
Mrs Baynes said: ‘This “photography policy” has created an unnatural situation where you can’t take a photo of your own child. It’s the nanny state gone mad.’ Mr Shapps, a Conservative, said he had taken up the issue with the school with no effect. He said the blacking out of eyes was ‘creepy’, adding: ‘This is absurd – these pictures look like the kids have been taken prisoner. They have created a climate of fear, suggesting that every parent is a paedophile.’ Mrs Stannard and Mrs Baynes are surveying all parents’ attitudes to the draconian policy. They are being supported by campaign group the Manifesto Club, which warns there is a national problem with schools imposing such restrictions.
No mourners at funeral of Elvis Aaron Presley
Elvis Presley has died ... at the age of 70 in Birmingham. The King's biggest fan, who changed his name by deed poll so many years ago that no one knows his real name, died in hospital of heart problems and his funeral took place at an empty crematorium.
Photo from here.
Yesterday a hand-written note at his terraced house - called Gracelands - said: "No post please, Elvis has died."
Helen Edwards, 54, a neighbour in Handsworth, Birmingham, said: "He was a massive fan and changed his name a long time ago. We only ever knew him as Elvis.
Photos from here.
"His family fell out with him and he's been on his own for a long time. We think he's got three children but no one here has ever met them."
Photo from here.
Yesterday a hand-written note at his terraced house - called Gracelands - said: "No post please, Elvis has died."
Helen Edwards, 54, a neighbour in Handsworth, Birmingham, said: "He was a massive fan and changed his name a long time ago. We only ever knew him as Elvis.
Photos from here.
"His family fell out with him and he's been on his own for a long time. We think he's got three children but no one here has ever met them."
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Spanish woman claims ownership of the sun
A Spanish woman says she now owns the sun after she filed papers with lawyers at her home at Vigo Galicia in Spain. Angela Duran, 41, said: "International law forbids anyone to claim a planet, but nobody ever said anything about stars and the sun is a star.
"I checked and found that despite all the people buying stars no-one had purchesed the Sun in our solar system and, as it was free, I decided to take it. My lawyer laughed when I filed my claim but he checked with the officials that register such things and discovered it was possible.
"I now have a certificate that says I am the owner of the sun, described as a star of spectral type G2, located in the centre of the solar system, located at an average distance from earth of about 149,600,000 miles ...'."
"I am trying to have it recognised internationally. Then I plan to make a tax for solar power users." She added: "I will use 50 per cent for a sun state budget, 20 per cent for solar pensioners, another 20 per cent for research and health and 10 per cent to end hunger on earth."
"I checked and found that despite all the people buying stars no-one had purchesed the Sun in our solar system and, as it was free, I decided to take it. My lawyer laughed when I filed my claim but he checked with the officials that register such things and discovered it was possible.
"I now have a certificate that says I am the owner of the sun, described as a star of spectral type G2, located in the centre of the solar system, located at an average distance from earth of about 149,600,000 miles ...'."
"I am trying to have it recognised internationally. Then I plan to make a tax for solar power users." She added: "I will use 50 per cent for a sun state budget, 20 per cent for solar pensioners, another 20 per cent for research and health and 10 per cent to end hunger on earth."
Pregnant Filipino woman survives 24 stab wounds
A pregnant woman miraculously survived after being stabbed, shot and dumped in a ravine by 3 men, including 2 police officers, in the Laguna province of The Philippines. Grace "Gleng-Gleng" Capistrano, 22, is now recuperating from 24 stab wounds and a gunshot wound in the thigh. Doctors said her unborn baby is safe. A radio report said Capistrano is apparently a witness in a robbery-extortion case filed against 2 of the suspects, identified as Police Officer 1 Antennor Mariquit and Police Officer 2 Mario Natividad. Capistrano said the suspects took her from her home in Angono town in Rizal province last November 23. She said they boarded a white Mitsubishi Lancer, and upon reaching Baras town, the suspected started tying her up.
She said that when they arrived in Pagsanjan, Laguna at around 9 p.m., the suspects stabbed her repeatedly in different parts of her body. The suspects then pushed her down a ravine, shot her and then left, thinking she was already dead. When the suspects left, Capistrano crawled her way up and eventually reached the edge of the 10-foot ravine after 5 hours of climbing. She called for help and was luckily spotted by a driver of a passing vehicle, Mariano Pelayo, who brought her to the Pagsanjan police station.
Policemen rushed her to the Laguna Provincial Hospital, where she is now confined. Senior Inspector Luis Perez, Pagsanjan police chief, said Capistrano positively identified Natividad and Mariquit as her attackers. The 2 were arrested in follow-up operations and were immediately placed under the custody of the Laguna Provincial Police Office. Manhunt operations have been launched for the policemen's companion identified only as alias Toto.
The Laguna provincial police office said the 2 policemen are also involved in a murder case. Police have filed complaints of frustrated murder. They are also facing administrative investigations and possible dismissal from the police service. Pagdilao said he has ordered the Laguna provincial police to conduct thorough forensic examination of the crime scene and the white car because the 2 policemen have refused to talk during interrogations. “Duct tapes nakita din doon at yung tsinelas na pagmamay-ari ng biktima at yung basyo nandoon din sa crime scene," said Senior Superintendent Gilbert Cruz, Provincial Director of Laguna.
She said that when they arrived in Pagsanjan, Laguna at around 9 p.m., the suspects stabbed her repeatedly in different parts of her body. The suspects then pushed her down a ravine, shot her and then left, thinking she was already dead. When the suspects left, Capistrano crawled her way up and eventually reached the edge of the 10-foot ravine after 5 hours of climbing. She called for help and was luckily spotted by a driver of a passing vehicle, Mariano Pelayo, who brought her to the Pagsanjan police station.
Policemen rushed her to the Laguna Provincial Hospital, where she is now confined. Senior Inspector Luis Perez, Pagsanjan police chief, said Capistrano positively identified Natividad and Mariquit as her attackers. The 2 were arrested in follow-up operations and were immediately placed under the custody of the Laguna Provincial Police Office. Manhunt operations have been launched for the policemen's companion identified only as alias Toto.
The Laguna provincial police office said the 2 policemen are also involved in a murder case. Police have filed complaints of frustrated murder. They are also facing administrative investigations and possible dismissal from the police service. Pagdilao said he has ordered the Laguna provincial police to conduct thorough forensic examination of the crime scene and the white car because the 2 policemen have refused to talk during interrogations. “Duct tapes nakita din doon at yung tsinelas na pagmamay-ari ng biktima at yung basyo nandoon din sa crime scene," said Senior Superintendent Gilbert Cruz, Provincial Director of Laguna.
Indian man accused of marrying and selling 60 women
A man suspected of tricking at least 60 women into marrying him before selling them into prostitution has been charged by police in India. The 27-year-old apparently charmed his victims over a five-year period by pretending to be a well-paid soldier in the military.
The suspect was detained in Darjeeling, a tea-growing district of the eastern state of West Bengal, and has been charged with several offences, including human trafficking. Police claimed the man, named as Vikky Biswarkarma, had married the girls and then sold them to brothels in the cities of Mumbai and Pune for 70,000-100,000 rupees (£973-£1,390).
At least nine of his alleged victims have been traced. District police chief Debendra Prasad Singh said: "He used to pose as an army man who had come home on holiday and wanted to get married before returning to work.
"He used to change bases frequently to lure girls from poor families in tea gardens and villages." Police were tipped off about Biswarkarma's alleged crimes by a non-government organisation in Darjeeling, a popular mountainous resort known for its tea plantations.
The suspect was detained in Darjeeling, a tea-growing district of the eastern state of West Bengal, and has been charged with several offences, including human trafficking. Police claimed the man, named as Vikky Biswarkarma, had married the girls and then sold them to brothels in the cities of Mumbai and Pune for 70,000-100,000 rupees (£973-£1,390).
At least nine of his alleged victims have been traced. District police chief Debendra Prasad Singh said: "He used to pose as an army man who had come home on holiday and wanted to get married before returning to work.
"He used to change bases frequently to lure girls from poor families in tea gardens and villages." Police were tipped off about Biswarkarma's alleged crimes by a non-government organisation in Darjeeling, a popular mountainous resort known for its tea plantations.
Man accused of striking police officer with wet towel
Salinas police arrested a 41-year-old man who they say stole a cell phone and struck an officer with a wet towel. Police said Kenny Barba hit the officer at about 3:15 p.m. on Tuesday after police met with him to recover a stolen cell phone that officials believed he had. Barba was booked into the Monterey County Jail on suspicion of possession of stolen property and battery on a police officer. His bail is set at $10,000.
Police said the arrest came a day after someone broke into a car outside a Mi Pueblo Grocery Store on East Alisal and swiped a cell phone. When the victim discovered the break-in the following morning, he asked several people in the area, including Barba, a street sweeper, if they had seen anything. They all said "no," police said. Using GPS technology, officials said, the victim found that his cell phone "pinged" closest to an apartment complex on the 600 block of Archer Street.
Photo from here.
When he knocked on a door, officials said, Barba opened it and denied having the phone. The victim told him, police said, that all he wanted was the sim card and would pay $50 for it. Barba told him to come back later. Accompanied by officers, the man returned to Barba's apartment at about 3 p.m. on Tuesday, police said. Barba told officers the cell phone was in an apartment downstairs.
As one of the officers went to check, Barba struck another officer on the arm with a wet towel that he held in his hand. Police said Barba had told them he got scared. After a search of Barba's apartment, officers found the cell phone under his bed, they said.
Police said the arrest came a day after someone broke into a car outside a Mi Pueblo Grocery Store on East Alisal and swiped a cell phone. When the victim discovered the break-in the following morning, he asked several people in the area, including Barba, a street sweeper, if they had seen anything. They all said "no," police said. Using GPS technology, officials said, the victim found that his cell phone "pinged" closest to an apartment complex on the 600 block of Archer Street.
Photo from here.
When he knocked on a door, officials said, Barba opened it and denied having the phone. The victim told him, police said, that all he wanted was the sim card and would pay $50 for it. Barba told him to come back later. Accompanied by officers, the man returned to Barba's apartment at about 3 p.m. on Tuesday, police said. Barba told officers the cell phone was in an apartment downstairs.
As one of the officers went to check, Barba struck another officer on the arm with a wet towel that he held in his hand. Police said Barba had told them he got scared. After a search of Barba's apartment, officers found the cell phone under his bed, they said.
Robber used female accomplice's bare breasts as distraction
A Kansas City man allegedly used a novel ploy to distract the victims he intended to rob.
He enlisted the help of a female accomplice to show her breasts to clerks working at a service station. Then he pulled out what he said was a BB gun and demanded money. The clerks reported than an armed man took $500 in the Nov. 2 robbery in the 3300 block of E. Linwood Boulevard.
On Tuesday night, the same clerks called police when a man they identified as the robber entered the store, according to court records.
Police arrested Laron Pearson, 21, of Kansas City. Prosecutors charged him in Jackson County Circuit Court with first-degree robbery. According to the court documents, Pearson told detectives that he only got $20 in the robbery, which he said he did because he was homeless and had no money for food.
He enlisted the help of a female accomplice to show her breasts to clerks working at a service station. Then he pulled out what he said was a BB gun and demanded money. The clerks reported than an armed man took $500 in the Nov. 2 robbery in the 3300 block of E. Linwood Boulevard.
On Tuesday night, the same clerks called police when a man they identified as the robber entered the store, according to court records.
Police arrested Laron Pearson, 21, of Kansas City. Prosecutors charged him in Jackson County Circuit Court with first-degree robbery. According to the court documents, Pearson told detectives that he only got $20 in the robbery, which he said he did because he was homeless and had no money for food.
Indian elephant is cured after five years of tusk ache
Dentists in the Indian state of Kerala say they have successfully repaired a working elephant's cracked tusk in the first operation of its kind. They performed the procedure on Devidasan, a 27-year-old bull elephant, by filling the 50cm (19.6in) long, 4cm (1.5in) deep crack with special resin. Forty-seven tubes of the resin were needed to fill the gap, which was causing the animal some discomfort.
Devidasan was not tranquilised during the two-and-a-half-hour operation. The dentist who carried out the operation, CV Pradeep, said that the elephant was fully co-operative and appeared much happier once it was all over. Dr Pradeep said that he was able to do the operation after discovering that the crack in the tusk could be tackled using the same method for dealing with cracks in human teeth.
The resin he used was specially designed to bond the crack together. "It was literally an elephantine task, because we had to find specialist equipment and modify it," Dr Pradeep said. "The main difference between this and a similar operation carried out on humans is that we were not able to use X-ray screening, because none of our mobile X-ray units was large enough to suit the elephant's needs."
Dr Pradeep, a professor at the PSM dental college in the town of Trichur, said that if the crack remained untreated dirt would have gathered inside it and potentially caused a deadly infection. He said it was difficult to say how long the crack would remain sealed because no operation like this had been carried out before. But he said that he expected the seal to last several years as long as the tusk did not grow too much in the meantime.
Devidasan was not tranquilised during the two-and-a-half-hour operation. The dentist who carried out the operation, CV Pradeep, said that the elephant was fully co-operative and appeared much happier once it was all over. Dr Pradeep said that he was able to do the operation after discovering that the crack in the tusk could be tackled using the same method for dealing with cracks in human teeth.
The resin he used was specially designed to bond the crack together. "It was literally an elephantine task, because we had to find specialist equipment and modify it," Dr Pradeep said. "The main difference between this and a similar operation carried out on humans is that we were not able to use X-ray screening, because none of our mobile X-ray units was large enough to suit the elephant's needs."
Dr Pradeep, a professor at the PSM dental college in the town of Trichur, said that if the crack remained untreated dirt would have gathered inside it and potentially caused a deadly infection. He said it was difficult to say how long the crack would remain sealed because no operation like this had been carried out before. But he said that he expected the seal to last several years as long as the tusk did not grow too much in the meantime.
New Zealand ukulele talent plays with his teeth
It wasn't enough for Siuta Veaila to learn how to play the ukulele with his fingers. He also had to learn how to do it with his teeth.
The 14-year-old from Otara recently won Ukequest – New Zealand's first search for teen ukulele talent – when he blew away the judges with a rendition of Pokarekare Ana played with his pearly whites. The Tangaroa College student started ukulele lessons with legendary player Sione Aleki when he was nine.
Mr Aleki was famous for playing with his teeth and that inspired Siuta to give it a go too. It's pretty easy, he reckons. You play two strings with your top teeth and the other two with your bottom row. But he admits his talent is "quite unusual" and can shock his audience.
"When I start playing with my teeth they're surprised," he says. The teenager doesn't read sheet music and plays by ear instead. He can learn almost any song just by listening to it and spends a lot of time on Youtube searching for new tunes to play.
The 14-year-old from Otara recently won Ukequest – New Zealand's first search for teen ukulele talent – when he blew away the judges with a rendition of Pokarekare Ana played with his pearly whites. The Tangaroa College student started ukulele lessons with legendary player Sione Aleki when he was nine.
Mr Aleki was famous for playing with his teeth and that inspired Siuta to give it a go too. It's pretty easy, he reckons. You play two strings with your top teeth and the other two with your bottom row. But he admits his talent is "quite unusual" and can shock his audience.
"When I start playing with my teeth they're surprised," he says. The teenager doesn't read sheet music and plays by ear instead. He can learn almost any song just by listening to it and spends a lot of time on Youtube searching for new tunes to play.
Ghana bans second-hand knickers
Market traders in Ghana will be banned from selling second-hand underwear from next February, trade regulators say. According to the Ghana Standards Board, used pants - and other second-hand goods like handkerchiefs and mattresses - are unhygienic and could pose a health hazard. The importation of these items was banned in 1994 but never implemented. Some traders in a market in the capital, Accra, said they were unhappy the move might affect business.
There is a lot of consumer demand for second-hand clothing, often imported from Europe, as it is cheaper than locally produced items. It is the same in many African countries. "Ghana is a third world country; we've been doing this all along, so why are they talking about a ban now?" Millicent, a trader in Kantamanto Market in central Accra, said. "The authorities should think again because our livelihoods are at stake."
Cynthia, another market trader, defended the business. "Second-hand underwear and other clothes we sell here at Kantamanto Market are better quality than new undies in the stores," she said. She admitted that some of the imported underwear was stained but said customers rummage through the piles and inspect goods before buying. "No matter how poor the person is, they will not chose stained ones and we throw them away," she said. One trader insisted that all the goods she sold had been disinfected.
Second-hand clothing is often referred to as "obroni wewu", which literally translates as "white man's deads". Some customers also seemed dismayed by the news of the forthcoming ban, he says. "I've been wearing 'obroni wewu' all my life from infancy - all the clothes you see on me today from up to down are 'obroni wewu' - and I never fell sick because of used clothes," says Doris, a shopper at Kantamanto Market. The Ghana Standards Board has re-iterated that it is not all used clothes that are banned.
There is a lot of consumer demand for second-hand clothing, often imported from Europe, as it is cheaper than locally produced items. It is the same in many African countries. "Ghana is a third world country; we've been doing this all along, so why are they talking about a ban now?" Millicent, a trader in Kantamanto Market in central Accra, said. "The authorities should think again because our livelihoods are at stake."
Cynthia, another market trader, defended the business. "Second-hand underwear and other clothes we sell here at Kantamanto Market are better quality than new undies in the stores," she said. She admitted that some of the imported underwear was stained but said customers rummage through the piles and inspect goods before buying. "No matter how poor the person is, they will not chose stained ones and we throw them away," she said. One trader insisted that all the goods she sold had been disinfected.
Second-hand clothing is often referred to as "obroni wewu", which literally translates as "white man's deads". Some customers also seemed dismayed by the news of the forthcoming ban, he says. "I've been wearing 'obroni wewu' all my life from infancy - all the clothes you see on me today from up to down are 'obroni wewu' - and I never fell sick because of used clothes," says Doris, a shopper at Kantamanto Market. The Ghana Standards Board has re-iterated that it is not all used clothes that are banned.
US flautist admits theft of 299 rare bird skins to buy new flute
A musician has admitted stealing rare bird skins from the Natural History Museum at Tring in Hertfordshire to raise money for a new flute. The 299 brightly-coloured skins were taken from a collections area of the Akeman Street museum on 24 June 2009 during a break-in. US citizen Edwin Rist, 22, appeared at Hemel Hempstead Magistrates' Court and admitted burglary and money-laundering. He will be sentenced at St Albans Crown Court on 14 January.
Hertfordshire Police said most of the birds had been recovered. Rist, a student at The Royal Academy of Music, was described as a very talented flautist and a James Bond fantasist by defence solicitor Andrew Harman. Mr Harman said some of the money from the sale of the bird skins was going to be used to buy a new flute. The museum's director of science, Professor Richard Lane, said at the time of the break-in that the birds formed part of a collection assembled over the past 350 years.
He said the items were of scientific interest, and many were irreplaceable and "literally priceless". There are about 750,000 bird skins, representing 95% of known living species, held at the museum. The court heard how Rist, of High Street, Willesden Green, London, visited the museum before the burglary, telling staff he was a photographic student taking pictures on behalf of an ornithologist from Oxford University.
They allowed him to photograph the birds, which were not on display but were in a separate locked room. Police found the photographs along with pictures of the museum layout, prosecutor Jan Brooks said. The court heard Rist used a brick to smash a window at the museum to get in. He spent the night at Tring railway station with the stolen birds, after missing the last train home.
Hertfordshire Police said most of the birds had been recovered. Rist, a student at The Royal Academy of Music, was described as a very talented flautist and a James Bond fantasist by defence solicitor Andrew Harman. Mr Harman said some of the money from the sale of the bird skins was going to be used to buy a new flute. The museum's director of science, Professor Richard Lane, said at the time of the break-in that the birds formed part of a collection assembled over the past 350 years.
He said the items were of scientific interest, and many were irreplaceable and "literally priceless". There are about 750,000 bird skins, representing 95% of known living species, held at the museum. The court heard how Rist, of High Street, Willesden Green, London, visited the museum before the burglary, telling staff he was a photographic student taking pictures on behalf of an ornithologist from Oxford University.
They allowed him to photograph the birds, which were not on display but were in a separate locked room. Police found the photographs along with pictures of the museum layout, prosecutor Jan Brooks said. The court heard Rist used a brick to smash a window at the museum to get in. He spent the night at Tring railway station with the stolen birds, after missing the last train home.
Video shows mounted police charging London student protesters
Video footage has emerged showing mounted police charging a crowd of protesters during this week's tuition fees demonstrations, the day after the Metropolitan police said tactics "did not involve charging the crowd".
Tens of thousands of school and college pupils and university students demonstrated in largely peaceful protests across the country against government plans to increase tuition fees and scrap the education maintenance allowance, but there were violent scenes at the central London protests.
Contains NSFW language.
Hundreds of protesters were corralled or "kettled" by police, and later advanced upon by mounted officers. Many who were in the crowd complained of being charged by police on horseback.
Police have denied that mounted officers charged at protesters; however, a five-minute video posted on YouTube shows a number of officers on horseback advancing at speed through a crowd of people.
Tens of thousands of school and college pupils and university students demonstrated in largely peaceful protests across the country against government plans to increase tuition fees and scrap the education maintenance allowance, but there were violent scenes at the central London protests.
Contains NSFW language.
Hundreds of protesters were corralled or "kettled" by police, and later advanced upon by mounted officers. Many who were in the crowd complained of being charged by police on horseback.
Police have denied that mounted officers charged at protesters; however, a five-minute video posted on YouTube shows a number of officers on horseback advancing at speed through a crowd of people.
Girl, 7, runs up £250 bill on Facebook virtual pet game
A seven-year-old girl racked up a £250 bill in under an hour after playing a game on Facebook. Megan Fox, from Birmingham, spent the money while sitting next to her parents on 'Petville' which allows users to purchase virtual clothes and furniture for a make-believe pet. On returning from school, Megan had asked her parents if she could play the game. As her parents don't allow her to have her own Facebook account, her father Mathew, 35, let her log in to his account so he could supervise her.
He said: 'She was sat next to me playing the game, asking me and her mum which dresses we preferred. We played along, suggesting which ones to buy, not realising that she was actually spending money.' Mathew had forgotten to log off his stored Paypal payment details on the computer before she started playing - which meant that she ran up a bill without even realising. It was only an hour after Megan had finished playing when Mathew checked his e-mails that he realised what had happened. He found four receipts on his iPad, one for almost U.S. $170.
'I got all these receipts from Paypal. I opened the e-mails and added them all up. I found that she'd spent $400 dollars,' he said. Staff at the social networking site and Paypal, who process the online transactions, have so far refused to refund the money. In e-mails to the couple, they said that, because the payment was made by someone within the Fox household, the rules for unauthorised transactions do not apply. Dawn, 33, and Mathew said that they were 'shocked' when the receipts came through. Mathew said: 'We couldn't believe that she'd spent all that money in such a short time, but we thought that something could be done about it.
'But both Facebook and Paypal have replied basically saying tough, she's in your household so its authorised.' Under the site's rules, if someone in the account holder's household, or somebody known to them makes an unauthorised online purchase, they are not eligible for a refund. Megan's mother Dawn said: 'I think it's outrageous that, not once in four transactions, were we asked to confirm any details. If something had come up she'd have asked her dad and he would've clocked on. It was only because of the e-mails that we realised. If we hadn't got the e-mails my bank account would be completely empty.' The pair called for more security measures to ensure that children can't accidentally spend their parents' money.
He said: 'She was sat next to me playing the game, asking me and her mum which dresses we preferred. We played along, suggesting which ones to buy, not realising that she was actually spending money.' Mathew had forgotten to log off his stored Paypal payment details on the computer before she started playing - which meant that she ran up a bill without even realising. It was only an hour after Megan had finished playing when Mathew checked his e-mails that he realised what had happened. He found four receipts on his iPad, one for almost U.S. $170.
'I got all these receipts from Paypal. I opened the e-mails and added them all up. I found that she'd spent $400 dollars,' he said. Staff at the social networking site and Paypal, who process the online transactions, have so far refused to refund the money. In e-mails to the couple, they said that, because the payment was made by someone within the Fox household, the rules for unauthorised transactions do not apply. Dawn, 33, and Mathew said that they were 'shocked' when the receipts came through. Mathew said: 'We couldn't believe that she'd spent all that money in such a short time, but we thought that something could be done about it.
'But both Facebook and Paypal have replied basically saying tough, she's in your household so its authorised.' Under the site's rules, if someone in the account holder's household, or somebody known to them makes an unauthorised online purchase, they are not eligible for a refund. Megan's mother Dawn said: 'I think it's outrageous that, not once in four transactions, were we asked to confirm any details. If something had come up she'd have asked her dad and he would've clocked on. It was only because of the e-mails that we realised. If we hadn't got the e-mails my bank account would be completely empty.' The pair called for more security measures to ensure that children can't accidentally spend their parents' money.
Bogus Big Issue vendor sells pensioner's dog for £20 while she shops
A distraught pensioner said a man selling the Big Issue sold her dog for £20 as she shopped in Tesco. Sherry Sourena left her 12-year-old dog Tetley outside a store in The Triangle in Bournemouth town centre. She came out to find the man – who was not an authorised seller – had sold her Lurcher Saluki cross to a stranger.
“What he did was evil and calculated,” said Mrs Sourena, 60, a retired nurse living in Bournemouth town centre. “He’s ruined my life. I’ll never risk leaving Tetley alone again. He’s all I’ve got.” Until the incident Sherry regularly walked her dog in town and he has became well known. Tetley is so well behaved and placid he just sits outside and waits for her.
She saw two men stroking him while she queued for shopping but at the time thought nothing of it. “A lot of people stroke him,” she said. “He’s a beautiful dog. When I came out he wasn’t there – I felt like my heart could stop.” Two girls told her they had seen the second man walk off with Tetley. She chased after the man with her bags of shopping and a broken shoulder and became “hysterical” when she confronted him.
“I was screaming at him,” she said. “He told me – and I believe him – that the man outside Tesco sold Tetley to him for £20. Tetley wagged his tail and came over to me and wouldn’t leave. It was obvious he was mine.” The man who sold the dog was not wearing an official Big Issue seller’s jacket. Her vet, Henry Feilden, said: “This shows people should make sure their dogs are microchipped and be careful about leaving them outside because people will steal them.”
“What he did was evil and calculated,” said Mrs Sourena, 60, a retired nurse living in Bournemouth town centre. “He’s ruined my life. I’ll never risk leaving Tetley alone again. He’s all I’ve got.” Until the incident Sherry regularly walked her dog in town and he has became well known. Tetley is so well behaved and placid he just sits outside and waits for her.
She saw two men stroking him while she queued for shopping but at the time thought nothing of it. “A lot of people stroke him,” she said. “He’s a beautiful dog. When I came out he wasn’t there – I felt like my heart could stop.” Two girls told her they had seen the second man walk off with Tetley. She chased after the man with her bags of shopping and a broken shoulder and became “hysterical” when she confronted him.
“I was screaming at him,” she said. “He told me – and I believe him – that the man outside Tesco sold Tetley to him for £20. Tetley wagged his tail and came over to me and wouldn’t leave. It was obvious he was mine.” The man who sold the dog was not wearing an official Big Issue seller’s jacket. Her vet, Henry Feilden, said: “This shows people should make sure their dogs are microchipped and be careful about leaving them outside because people will steal them.”
Friday, November 26, 2010
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