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Tuesday, May 31, 2011
New Zealand prisons trial carrot sticks ahead of smoking ban
As New Zealand prisons prepare to become smoke free from July 1, some units have already made the move and are trialling a healthy initiative to help prisoners kick the habit – carrot sticks. In an Invercargill Prison internal communication, Corrections Inmate Employment is said to be supporting a national directive to supply two carrot sticks a day to each prisoner as part of the smoking cessation policy.
The costings and size had been trialled, the memo said, with one jumbo carrot providing 16 carrot sticks, which would be cut into uniform sizes "to the best of our ability". A Department of Corrections spokeswoman confirmed Invercargill Prison and the Otago Corrections Facility were among prisons that had already started giving out the healthy snack to help with smoking withdrawal.
Corrections Association of New Zealand president Beven Hanlon said when he first heard about giving prisoners carrot sticks as a replacement for cigarettes he thought it was a joke. While the prison memo says the carrots are to be trialled for about a month, Mr Hanlon said he would be surprised if it was still going in a couple of weeks.
"I don't think it is one of [the Department of Corrections'] best ideas but it is worth a try," he said. The reasoning behind carrot sticks, he said, was they were healthier than other options, such as hard lollies, and should take the prisoners' minds off smoking. "It's the whole oral thing ... if they have got something in their mouth, they won't be looking for a cigarette to put in it."
The costings and size had been trialled, the memo said, with one jumbo carrot providing 16 carrot sticks, which would be cut into uniform sizes "to the best of our ability". A Department of Corrections spokeswoman confirmed Invercargill Prison and the Otago Corrections Facility were among prisons that had already started giving out the healthy snack to help with smoking withdrawal.
Corrections Association of New Zealand president Beven Hanlon said when he first heard about giving prisoners carrot sticks as a replacement for cigarettes he thought it was a joke. While the prison memo says the carrots are to be trialled for about a month, Mr Hanlon said he would be surprised if it was still going in a couple of weeks.
"I don't think it is one of [the Department of Corrections'] best ideas but it is worth a try," he said. The reasoning behind carrot sticks, he said, was they were healthier than other options, such as hard lollies, and should take the prisoners' minds off smoking. "It's the whole oral thing ... if they have got something in their mouth, they won't be looking for a cigarette to put in it."
Nuns on the run rob bank
Wearing nun masks and habits, an armed man and woman staged a brazen bank robbery on Sunday at TCF Bank in Chicago.
Forcing a bank employee into the vault with a pistol aimed at her head, the robbers made off with a duffel bag full of cash.
No one was injured in the robbery. The robbers drove away in a silver, four-door Chevrolet.
Palos Heights are looking for a black man, about 5 feet, 7 inches tall, wearing black-and-white gym shoes, black-coloured gloves and armed with a revolver and a black woman, about 5 feet, 5 inches tall, wearing black boots, white gloves and armed with a semi-automatic pistol.
Forcing a bank employee into the vault with a pistol aimed at her head, the robbers made off with a duffel bag full of cash.
No one was injured in the robbery. The robbers drove away in a silver, four-door Chevrolet.
Palos Heights are looking for a black man, about 5 feet, 7 inches tall, wearing black-and-white gym shoes, black-coloured gloves and armed with a revolver and a black woman, about 5 feet, 5 inches tall, wearing black boots, white gloves and armed with a semi-automatic pistol.
Man shot parked plane
A gunman opened fire on a private airplane parked at the Deer Valley Airport, Arizona, early on Sunday morning, according to Phoenix police. No one was on board and no one was hurt.
Two Phoenix police officers were on routine patrol near the airport when they heard shots fired at around 1:30 a.m. The officers spotted a vehicle speeding away, but the driver refused to stop when officers attempted to pull him over.
Shell casings were found at the scene along with a small airplane that was damaged by gunfire. Investigators said they found two weapons believed to be used during the shooting.
YouTube link.
Randon Reid, 26, was arrested at his home a short time later, and charged with aggravated DUI, two outstanding warrants and felony flight. A motive has yet to be determined.
Two Phoenix police officers were on routine patrol near the airport when they heard shots fired at around 1:30 a.m. The officers spotted a vehicle speeding away, but the driver refused to stop when officers attempted to pull him over.
Shell casings were found at the scene along with a small airplane that was damaged by gunfire. Investigators said they found two weapons believed to be used during the shooting.
YouTube link.
Randon Reid, 26, was arrested at his home a short time later, and charged with aggravated DUI, two outstanding warrants and felony flight. A motive has yet to be determined.
Female flasher avoids prosecution as police can't prove she gets sexually aroused
German police are powerless to prosecute a female flasher because local laws say it is only possible to take legal action against those that expose themselves "for sexual satisfaction." Annette Kaiser, 34, who works as a civil servant in the capital's main tax office, has been spotted naked or wearing just suspenders and a fur coat on the streets of Berlin.
But police who were alerted to the naked exhibitionism said the law only allowed them to punish someone who they could prove was sexually aroused by the act. A spokesman said: "If a man drops his trousers he could be prosecuted for exhibitionism if there was a sexual motive - which with a man is usually easy to see.
"If he is clearly not excited then it is regarded as simply expressing a personal preference for nudity that is not illegal. For a woman of course that is not possible top prove - so we can't really do anything unless she is actually caught in a sex act. Effectively it means we can only prosecute male flashers - who will get a fine of around €1,150 (£1,000)."
Kaiser said: "I like to show off my body - I am rather proud of it - I prefer being either completely naked or in underwear, it's a kick. I used to go to nudists beaches but it is more fun to be naked in Berlin streets and parks." She added: "I don't walk around naked all the time - I strip off and let men get an eyeful - they usually act stunned - and then I'm quickly gone again before they get any ideas."
But police who were alerted to the naked exhibitionism said the law only allowed them to punish someone who they could prove was sexually aroused by the act. A spokesman said: "If a man drops his trousers he could be prosecuted for exhibitionism if there was a sexual motive - which with a man is usually easy to see.
"If he is clearly not excited then it is regarded as simply expressing a personal preference for nudity that is not illegal. For a woman of course that is not possible top prove - so we can't really do anything unless she is actually caught in a sex act. Effectively it means we can only prosecute male flashers - who will get a fine of around €1,150 (£1,000)."
Kaiser said: "I like to show off my body - I am rather proud of it - I prefer being either completely naked or in underwear, it's a kick. I used to go to nudists beaches but it is more fun to be naked in Berlin streets and parks." She added: "I don't walk around naked all the time - I strip off and let men get an eyeful - they usually act stunned - and then I'm quickly gone again before they get any ideas."
Man charged with assault by forklift on girlfriend
Springfield Police have arrested a man who they say lifted his girlfriend’s car with a forklift and dropped it while she was still inside.
Police Sergeant John Delaney said that Brian Hurley, 41, of Springfield, was arguing with his girlfriend after she had dropped him off at his workplace on Saturday morning. The two were reportedly arguing over financial issues, when Hurley slapped the woman across the face, got out of the car, and began kicking it.
Delaney says Hurley then got into a forklift, drove it toward her car, and picked it up while she was still inside. Using the forklift, he moved the car several feet away before putting it down and running away.
Officers found him hours later after receiving a report that he was banging on the door of his Dayton Street residence. Hurley has been charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (the forklift), assault and battery (open hand slap), and malicious damage to a motor vehicle.
Police Sergeant John Delaney said that Brian Hurley, 41, of Springfield, was arguing with his girlfriend after she had dropped him off at his workplace on Saturday morning. The two were reportedly arguing over financial issues, when Hurley slapped the woman across the face, got out of the car, and began kicking it.
Delaney says Hurley then got into a forklift, drove it toward her car, and picked it up while she was still inside. Using the forklift, he moved the car several feet away before putting it down and running away.
Officers found him hours later after receiving a report that he was banging on the door of his Dayton Street residence. Hurley has been charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (the forklift), assault and battery (open hand slap), and malicious damage to a motor vehicle.
Artist faces prosecution for painting beer cans
Artist Michał Ogiński has been warned he could prosecuted after painting cans of beer. Police in Cieszyn, Poland, have seized canvasses claiming they breach the country's tough alcohol advertising laws and could encourage young people to take up drinking.
Photo from here.
The 25-year-old said: "I was told by police that my work corrupts youth and promotes alcoholism. But it’s just paintings of some beer cans. It’s part of a series of paintings depicting supermarket products. I’ve got others of washing powder and sugar. There’s nothing sinister or corrupting about it."
His lawyer Beata Lejman said: "This is absurd and I’ve never heard of such a ridiculous law. Are they going to confiscate Rembrandt’s pictures which show casks of wine?"
Now officials are waiting for prosecutors to say if Ogiński has a case to answer. Local police chief Kazmierz Plus said: "I don’t make up the law - I just uphold it. And these paintings break the Act of Upbringing in Sobriety and Couteracting Alcoholism law, which is universally binding."
There's a news video in Polish here.
Photo from here.
The 25-year-old said: "I was told by police that my work corrupts youth and promotes alcoholism. But it’s just paintings of some beer cans. It’s part of a series of paintings depicting supermarket products. I’ve got others of washing powder and sugar. There’s nothing sinister or corrupting about it."
His lawyer Beata Lejman said: "This is absurd and I’ve never heard of such a ridiculous law. Are they going to confiscate Rembrandt’s pictures which show casks of wine?"
Now officials are waiting for prosecutors to say if Ogiński has a case to answer. Local police chief Kazmierz Plus said: "I don’t make up the law - I just uphold it. And these paintings break the Act of Upbringing in Sobriety and Couteracting Alcoholism law, which is universally binding."
There's a news video in Polish here.
Safe 'stolen under woman's skirt'
Police in Doncaster are appealing for information after an alleged burglary at an off licence on Bentley Road, Doncaster on Sunday, 10 May.
A group of around four women and two men entered the shop around 3.30pm. Some of the group began distracting the shop assistants whilst one of the women entered the private residential area at the back of the shop.
She is seen on CCTV going into the area wearing trousers but returns a short while later wearing a long skirt and looks to be struggling to walk.
It is later discovered that a safe containing a large amount of Indian jewellery and cash has been stolen. It is believed that the woman may have had the safe between her legs under the skirt.
A group of around four women and two men entered the shop around 3.30pm. Some of the group began distracting the shop assistants whilst one of the women entered the private residential area at the back of the shop.
She is seen on CCTV going into the area wearing trousers but returns a short while later wearing a long skirt and looks to be struggling to walk.
It is later discovered that a safe containing a large amount of Indian jewellery and cash has been stolen. It is believed that the woman may have had the safe between her legs under the skirt.
National Trust introduce talking benches
Benches that can 'talk' are being set up at eight beauty spots across the UK, voiced by celebrities including Stephen Fry and Miranda Hart.
The National Trust project will give listeners the chance to hear five-minute monologues inspired by nature. Other famous names involved include broadcaster John Sergeant, philosopher Alain de Botton, cricket commentator David Gower, and presenter Claudia Winkleman.
The benches have taken more than six months to make and each one is engraved with three words their celebrity has used to describe their setting.
YouTube link.
The talking benches will be at Felbrigg Hall in Norfolk, Castle Ward in County Down, Craigside, Northumberland, Quarry Mill Bank in Cheshire, Petworth House and Park, West Sussex, Cotehele, Cornwall, Derbyshire's Calke Abbey and Dinefwr Park and Castle, Carmarthenshire.
The National Trust project will give listeners the chance to hear five-minute monologues inspired by nature. Other famous names involved include broadcaster John Sergeant, philosopher Alain de Botton, cricket commentator David Gower, and presenter Claudia Winkleman.
The benches have taken more than six months to make and each one is engraved with three words their celebrity has used to describe their setting.
YouTube link.
The talking benches will be at Felbrigg Hall in Norfolk, Castle Ward in County Down, Craigside, Northumberland, Quarry Mill Bank in Cheshire, Petworth House and Park, West Sussex, Cotehele, Cornwall, Derbyshire's Calke Abbey and Dinefwr Park and Castle, Carmarthenshire.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Mexican teacher calms small children during gunfight
A kindergarten teacher sang along with her young pupils to keep them calm last week, while outside the Colonia Nueva Estanzuela school in Monterrey, a gunfight raged as an armed group aboard seven trucks murdered five taxi drivers accused of spying for an organized crime gang.
While filming the incident on her phone, the teacher gently asks her class to keep their heads on the floor, as gunshots ring out in the background. She reassures the children that everything is okay and that they'll be safe in the classroom, reminding them to keep their heads down.
YouTube link.
To distract them, she starts singing the Raindrop Song from the Barney show in Spanish. The song is about if raindrops were chocolates and how you'd open your mouth wide to catch them all.
By getting the children to sing the song she managed not only to keep them calm but also to keep their heads on the floor, as she prompts them to turn over and look up to the sky with their mouths wide open. The as yet unidentified teacher is being hailed a heroine.
There's a news video showing some of the aftermath outside here.
While filming the incident on her phone, the teacher gently asks her class to keep their heads on the floor, as gunshots ring out in the background. She reassures the children that everything is okay and that they'll be safe in the classroom, reminding them to keep their heads down.
YouTube link.
To distract them, she starts singing the Raindrop Song from the Barney show in Spanish. The song is about if raindrops were chocolates and how you'd open your mouth wide to catch them all.
By getting the children to sing the song she managed not only to keep them calm but also to keep their heads on the floor, as she prompts them to turn over and look up to the sky with their mouths wide open. The as yet unidentified teacher is being hailed a heroine.
There's a news video showing some of the aftermath outside here.
Rat burglary victim to get free new false teeth
It looks like there will be a happy ending to the story of an Australian woman who lost her false teeth to a cunning rat. Last week, Margaret Pidgeon, from Stonehenge in the west of Queensland, revealed a long-haired rat had taken her teeth, (audio), from a bedside shelf.
Residents in the region are coping with a rat plague due to lush conditions. The federal Member for Maranoa, Bruce Scott, says he has spoken to the Minister for Human Services Tanya Plibersek, and there is a Medicare entitlement to fund new dentures under "exceptional circumstances".
"Rats will get up to all sorts of things - they have an extraordinary capacity to carry all sorts of things to their little habitat," Mr Scott said. "That's why I'm pleased that this is a criteria under Medicare and I am just wanting to make sure that we're able to put Mrs Pidgeon in contact with somewhere where we can get these dentures replaced.
"Through chronic diseases criteria, particularly under exceptional circumstances where someone's physical health will be affected because of their dental health, there is an entitlement to receive financial support. This is an extraordinary case and I'm just wanting to make sure we can get the loose ends tied up and Mrs Pidgeon to a dentist where she can get her dentures replaced."
Residents in the region are coping with a rat plague due to lush conditions. The federal Member for Maranoa, Bruce Scott, says he has spoken to the Minister for Human Services Tanya Plibersek, and there is a Medicare entitlement to fund new dentures under "exceptional circumstances".
"Rats will get up to all sorts of things - they have an extraordinary capacity to carry all sorts of things to their little habitat," Mr Scott said. "That's why I'm pleased that this is a criteria under Medicare and I am just wanting to make sure that we're able to put Mrs Pidgeon in contact with somewhere where we can get these dentures replaced.
"Through chronic diseases criteria, particularly under exceptional circumstances where someone's physical health will be affected because of their dental health, there is an entitlement to receive financial support. This is an extraordinary case and I'm just wanting to make sure we can get the loose ends tied up and Mrs Pidgeon to a dentist where she can get her dentures replaced."
Dog survives being trapped under 45 tonnes of rock for a week
Meet Jessie the miracle Jack Russell that spent a week trapped under 45 tonnes of rock while chasing a stray cat. For seven days, four-year-old Jessie was wedged metres underground at Mt Beckworth, Victoria, Australia, between enormous rocks only able to wiggle her front paws and move her head. But the devotion of her owner, Steve Porter, never wavered as he moved the earth - literally – to save his dog.
State Emergency Service units from Maryborough were able to move a rock thought to weigh about 20 tonnes, but still Jessie was unreachable. With his dog surviving on liver that was attached to a wire and sent down into the rocks, Mr Porter set about bringing in machinery that could separate the enormous rocks. His son Tom had already started drilling through the solid granite rock, but time was running out.
A massive hydraulic ram, capable of lifting 95 tonnes, was hired from Melbourne, and Mr Porter and a team of men set about shifting the rocks. The team of four worked tirelessly, sometimes until 2am, to move the rock, inch by inch. But still Jessie could not move. Mr Porter said there were times when he considered euthanasing the dog to put her out of her misery, a decision he weighed up every night. But such was his love for the dog he continued to battle the freezing elements.
Eventually, after seven days underground, Jessie was pulled free using a dog-catcher loop that had been borrowed from a local animal welfare group. She ran straight towards Mr Porter and leapt into his arms. “I couldn’t believe she was in such good condition,” he said. “Neither could the vet.” After spending the night under observation at Eastwood Veterinary Clinic, Jessie was released in surprisingly good condition.
There's a large photo gallery here.
State Emergency Service units from Maryborough were able to move a rock thought to weigh about 20 tonnes, but still Jessie was unreachable. With his dog surviving on liver that was attached to a wire and sent down into the rocks, Mr Porter set about bringing in machinery that could separate the enormous rocks. His son Tom had already started drilling through the solid granite rock, but time was running out.
A massive hydraulic ram, capable of lifting 95 tonnes, was hired from Melbourne, and Mr Porter and a team of men set about shifting the rocks. The team of four worked tirelessly, sometimes until 2am, to move the rock, inch by inch. But still Jessie could not move. Mr Porter said there were times when he considered euthanasing the dog to put her out of her misery, a decision he weighed up every night. But such was his love for the dog he continued to battle the freezing elements.
Eventually, after seven days underground, Jessie was pulled free using a dog-catcher loop that had been borrowed from a local animal welfare group. She ran straight towards Mr Porter and leapt into his arms. “I couldn’t believe she was in such good condition,” he said. “Neither could the vet.” After spending the night under observation at Eastwood Veterinary Clinic, Jessie was released in surprisingly good condition.
There's a large photo gallery here.
Mile-high flirting goes horribly wrong
A US man who tried to flirt with a young woman on board a plane by bragging he was carrying enough poisonous gas to knock out the entire aircraft found himself arrested and banned for life from Delta Air Lines. Bryan Sisco, 40, allegedly knocked back five double whiskey-and-cokes at an airport bar in Dallas on Friday before boarding his Atlanta-bound plane, on which he took a wrong seat and found himself next to Danielle Valimont, 23.
When confronted by a flight attendant about being in the wrong seat, Sisco said he and Valimont were newlyweds. The 40-year-old then whipped out a butane lighter, sparking it near Valimont's legs, and boasted that he had a canister that contained enough gas to knock out everyone on the plane. In further attempt to impress her, Sisco also claimed he was an architect and a federal marshal, and his father was in the CIA.
Photo from here.
"We were talking, sharing M&Ms, eating chocolate, having a good time," he said. "I fabricated some truths about myself. ... I thought we were getting along pretty good." Valimont pretended she needed the bathroom and managed to alert a flight attendant. The flight was diverted to Memphis, where a baffled Sisco, who had been sleeping and oblivious to the unfolding panic, was arrested by officers who boarded the plane.
"I fell asleep, and woke up in handcuffs in Memphis with the FBI questioning me. ... I couldn't even feel my thumb, the handcuffs were put on so tight," he said. "I spent three days in a county jail and a fourth day in a federal penitentiary. I was stripped buck-naked twice." The flight continued on its way to Atlanta, while Sisco was released on a $10,000 bond. He faces charges of carrying a weapon or explosive on an aircraft.
When confronted by a flight attendant about being in the wrong seat, Sisco said he and Valimont were newlyweds. The 40-year-old then whipped out a butane lighter, sparking it near Valimont's legs, and boasted that he had a canister that contained enough gas to knock out everyone on the plane. In further attempt to impress her, Sisco also claimed he was an architect and a federal marshal, and his father was in the CIA.
Photo from here.
"We were talking, sharing M&Ms, eating chocolate, having a good time," he said. "I fabricated some truths about myself. ... I thought we were getting along pretty good." Valimont pretended she needed the bathroom and managed to alert a flight attendant. The flight was diverted to Memphis, where a baffled Sisco, who had been sleeping and oblivious to the unfolding panic, was arrested by officers who boarded the plane.
"I fell asleep, and woke up in handcuffs in Memphis with the FBI questioning me. ... I couldn't even feel my thumb, the handcuffs were put on so tight," he said. "I spent three days in a county jail and a fourth day in a federal penitentiary. I was stripped buck-naked twice." The flight continued on its way to Atlanta, while Sisco was released on a $10,000 bond. He faces charges of carrying a weapon or explosive on an aircraft.
Injured cheetah caught roaming Abu Dhabi residential district
A nine-month-old cheetah was found chasing a rooster as it roamed the streets of Karama in Abu Dhabi on Sunday morning. One of the residents who saw the cheetah with a thick chain around its neck, immediately contacted the Abu Dhabi Police and an animal activist, Raghad Auttabashi, founder and a volunteer of the Al Rahma Animal Welfare and Rescue Society.
"The cheetah's left front leg was badly injured, and it looked dehydrated, skinny and malnourished. I just hope that the cheetah's previous owner did not de-claw it, otherwise that would be highly inhumane," said Raghad. The cheetah was immediately transferred to the ADWC, where it received plenty of water, food and vitamins.
Ronel Smutts, the director of the ADWC, said that upon reaching the centre, the cheetah was dehydrated, hungry and traumatised. "The animal was obviously privately owned by one of the villa owners in Karama, and did not get enough exercise nor the proper food, calcium and vitamins it requires. When it first arrived, it couldn't put any weight on its left front leg. For now we gave the cheetah pain medication, and want it to get plenty of love and rest," said Smutts.
The injured leg could have been a result of the cheetah jumping over a fence as it tried to catch its prey (the rooster), assumed Smutts. Being an endangered species, the cheetah comes under Cites (Convention on the Illegal Trade of Endangered Species).Offenders could face fines of between Dh5,000, (£825, $1360), and Dh50,000 and a jail term of between three and six months.
"The cheetah's left front leg was badly injured, and it looked dehydrated, skinny and malnourished. I just hope that the cheetah's previous owner did not de-claw it, otherwise that would be highly inhumane," said Raghad. The cheetah was immediately transferred to the ADWC, where it received plenty of water, food and vitamins.
Ronel Smutts, the director of the ADWC, said that upon reaching the centre, the cheetah was dehydrated, hungry and traumatised. "The animal was obviously privately owned by one of the villa owners in Karama, and did not get enough exercise nor the proper food, calcium and vitamins it requires. When it first arrived, it couldn't put any weight on its left front leg. For now we gave the cheetah pain medication, and want it to get plenty of love and rest," said Smutts.
The injured leg could have been a result of the cheetah jumping over a fence as it tried to catch its prey (the rooster), assumed Smutts. Being an endangered species, the cheetah comes under Cites (Convention on the Illegal Trade of Endangered Species).Offenders could face fines of between Dh5,000, (£825, $1360), and Dh50,000 and a jail term of between three and six months.
Bangladeshi woman cuts off alleged assaulter's penis as evidence
Police in southern Bangladesh say a woman cut off a man's penis during an alleged attempt to rape her and took it to a police station as evidence. The incident took place in Mirzapur village, Jhalakathi, about 200km (124 miles) south of the capital, Dhaka.
Monju Begum, 40, a married mother of three, told police that neighbour Mozammel Haq Mazi forced his way into her shanty and started assaulting her. Mr Mazi, who denies the accusation, was admitted to a nearby hospital.
"We will arrest him once his condition gets better," police spokesman Abul Khaer said. "She said she fought back and cut off his penis and brought it to our police station in a polythene bag to prove that Mr Mazi tried to rape her," police spokesman Abul Khaer said. "She has registered a case accusing him of attempted rape," he said.
"It is quite an unusual incident. As far as I am aware, this is the first time that a woman has brought a severed penis to the police station as evidence." Prof AMSM Sharfuzzaman, a senior surgeon at the Sher-e-Bangla Medical College and Hospital in Barisal town, said it had not been possible to reattach the organ.
Monju Begum, 40, a married mother of three, told police that neighbour Mozammel Haq Mazi forced his way into her shanty and started assaulting her. Mr Mazi, who denies the accusation, was admitted to a nearby hospital.
"We will arrest him once his condition gets better," police spokesman Abul Khaer said. "She said she fought back and cut off his penis and brought it to our police station in a polythene bag to prove that Mr Mazi tried to rape her," police spokesman Abul Khaer said. "She has registered a case accusing him of attempted rape," he said.
"It is quite an unusual incident. As far as I am aware, this is the first time that a woman has brought a severed penis to the police station as evidence." Prof AMSM Sharfuzzaman, a senior surgeon at the Sher-e-Bangla Medical College and Hospital in Barisal town, said it had not been possible to reattach the organ.
Female butterflies avoid sexual harassment by closing wings
In the fleeting existence of a female small copper butterfly, sex is a one-time affair. And scientists in Japan have observed that the butterflies have a simple way to avoid the unwanted attention of persistent males; they close their wings. By folding away their bright, striking wing patterns, the females make themselves less visible to males.
Lead researcher and butterfly lover Jun-Ya Ide from the Kurume Institute of Technology in Fukuoka, had noticed that female small copper butterflies often closed their wings when other copper butterflies flew very close to them. "I also found that she closed the wings at a lower rate when other butterfly species flew nearby," said Dr Ide. And he set about trying to find out why this might be.
"Persistent mating attempts" from males can harm the delicate females, so Dr Ide thought the females might close their wings as an harassment avoidance strategy. He used a model of a male copper butterfly to trigger a reaction in the females. "When I brought the model close to a mated female, she often closed the wings," he said.
Virgin females, on the other hand, left their wings open. "So, I concluded that, since females don't need more copulations, they close their wings to conceal themselves," Dr Ide said. Whereas virgin females that want to mate "keep their wings open to be conspicuous". "The wing closing behaviour has evolved," he said, "to avoid sexual harassment."
Lead researcher and butterfly lover Jun-Ya Ide from the Kurume Institute of Technology in Fukuoka, had noticed that female small copper butterflies often closed their wings when other copper butterflies flew very close to them. "I also found that she closed the wings at a lower rate when other butterfly species flew nearby," said Dr Ide. And he set about trying to find out why this might be.
"Persistent mating attempts" from males can harm the delicate females, so Dr Ide thought the females might close their wings as an harassment avoidance strategy. He used a model of a male copper butterfly to trigger a reaction in the females. "When I brought the model close to a mated female, she often closed the wings," he said.
Virgin females, on the other hand, left their wings open. "So, I concluded that, since females don't need more copulations, they close their wings to conceal themselves," Dr Ide said. Whereas virgin females that want to mate "keep their wings open to be conspicuous". "The wing closing behaviour has evolved," he said, "to avoid sexual harassment."
Church fined $100 per branch for improper tree pruning
Every two to three years, Eddie Sales trims and prunes the crape myrtles at his church, Albemarle Road Presbyterian Church.
But this year, the city of Charlotte, North Carolina, cited the church for improperly pruning its trees. "We always keep our trees trimmed back because you don't want to worry about them hanging down in the way," said Sales, a church member.
The church was fined $100 per branch cut for excessive pruning, bringing the violation to $4,000. "I just couldn't believe it when I heard about it," Sales said. "We trim our trees back every three years all over our property, and this is the first time we have been fined."
The fine will be dropped if the church replaces each of the improperly pruned trees, said Tom Johnson, senior urban forester for city of Charlotte Land Development Division. Charlotte has had a tree ordinance since 1978, and when trees are incorrectly pruned or topped, people can be subject to fines, Johnson said.
But this year, the city of Charlotte, North Carolina, cited the church for improperly pruning its trees. "We always keep our trees trimmed back because you don't want to worry about them hanging down in the way," said Sales, a church member.
The church was fined $100 per branch cut for excessive pruning, bringing the violation to $4,000. "I just couldn't believe it when I heard about it," Sales said. "We trim our trees back every three years all over our property, and this is the first time we have been fined."
The fine will be dropped if the church replaces each of the improperly pruned trees, said Tom Johnson, senior urban forester for city of Charlotte Land Development Division. Charlotte has had a tree ordinance since 1978, and when trees are incorrectly pruned or topped, people can be subject to fines, Johnson said.
Passengers flee as dozens of deadly cobras spotted on train
Hundreds of rail passengers fled in terror when dozens of deadly snakes were found on a train travelling from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi in Vietnam. A guard and conductor were checking tickets as passengers got on in the central city of Quang Ngai on Thursday evening and spotted the live king cobras and cobras under a seat.
People fled the carriage as panic broke out, and the smuggler was able to escape in the chaos. The reptiles, which are extremely venomous and can kill a human within just 30 minutes, were being carried in four see-through cloth bags.
One passenger, Pham Van An, 20, said: "Some of the snakes were very big, and looked terrifying. Most people ran away. But some people went to look at them and the cobras rose up. Then police took the snakes off the train." Officers handed the snakes over to Quang Ngai province's wildlife protection officers for release into the wild.
Nguyen Van Han, chief of the Quang Ngai Forest Protection Department, was unable to say how many snakes were in the bags, but said they weighed a total of 45kg (99lb). Authorities believe the endangered creatures, which are protected under Vietnamese law, were to be sold to restaurants in Hanoi.
People fled the carriage as panic broke out, and the smuggler was able to escape in the chaos. The reptiles, which are extremely venomous and can kill a human within just 30 minutes, were being carried in four see-through cloth bags.
One passenger, Pham Van An, 20, said: "Some of the snakes were very big, and looked terrifying. Most people ran away. But some people went to look at them and the cobras rose up. Then police took the snakes off the train." Officers handed the snakes over to Quang Ngai province's wildlife protection officers for release into the wild.
Nguyen Van Han, chief of the Quang Ngai Forest Protection Department, was unable to say how many snakes were in the bags, but said they weighed a total of 45kg (99lb). Authorities believe the endangered creatures, which are protected under Vietnamese law, were to be sold to restaurants in Hanoi.
Company director dresses as woman to fool photographers outside court
A male company director appearing at court tried to evade the waiting media attention by dressing as a woman. Dressed in female clothing including a stripy top, black knee length skirt and high heels, Martyn Crute left Lincoln Crown Court hoping to give the cameramen the slip.
But his disguise was noticed within seconds by the waiting photographers primed to snap him as he exited. And as they gave chase, he flicked his hair across his face in a bid to hide his manly stubble and chiselled jawline.
The bid to make sure his identity remained a secret came as Crute, a director of UK Oil and Gas Ltd, appeared in court charged with trading for 15 months without being registered to gas safety body CORGI. His business was said to have put lives at risk due to the poor standard of work it carried out during the period.
Crute, from Retford, Notts, admitted a charge of breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act. He was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay £41,000 prosecutions costs and was also banned from being a company director for seven years.
But his disguise was noticed within seconds by the waiting photographers primed to snap him as he exited. And as they gave chase, he flicked his hair across his face in a bid to hide his manly stubble and chiselled jawline.
The bid to make sure his identity remained a secret came as Crute, a director of UK Oil and Gas Ltd, appeared in court charged with trading for 15 months without being registered to gas safety body CORGI. His business was said to have put lives at risk due to the poor standard of work it carried out during the period.
Crute, from Retford, Notts, admitted a charge of breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act. He was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay £41,000 prosecutions costs and was also banned from being a company director for seven years.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Fornicating couple on high diving board charged with trespass
Officials in Gainesville probably did not envision the way a high-dive board in a city park would be used early on Thursday when they approved the motto “It Starts in Parks.” According to the Gainesville Police Department, an officer spotted a couple having sex on the more than 30-foot-high diving board at the H. Spurgeon Cherry/Westside Pool.
Officer Michael Henavan said he was on an increased patrol around the pool at around 12:10 a.m. when he heard noises coming from inside the pool area, which is surrounded by a locked, chain-link fence.
The couple ceased their activities when Henavan's flashlight beam found them. After being ordered to return to the ground, the 21-year-old woman and 24-year-old man were each issued a notice to appear in court on a trespassing charge. Police said it is not illegal to have sex in a public place.
However, they said, state laws and city ordinances prohibit public exhibition of sex organs and use of public facilities after hours. The city's pool supervisor, Jeff Moffitt, said the high dive was cleaned with bleach before the pool reopened on Thursday morning.
Officer Michael Henavan said he was on an increased patrol around the pool at around 12:10 a.m. when he heard noises coming from inside the pool area, which is surrounded by a locked, chain-link fence.
The couple ceased their activities when Henavan's flashlight beam found them. After being ordered to return to the ground, the 21-year-old woman and 24-year-old man were each issued a notice to appear in court on a trespassing charge. Police said it is not illegal to have sex in a public place.
However, they said, state laws and city ordinances prohibit public exhibition of sex organs and use of public facilities after hours. The city's pool supervisor, Jeff Moffitt, said the high dive was cleaned with bleach before the pool reopened on Thursday morning.
Woman bites woman in fight over dog
A 25-year-old Florida woman was arrested on Friday morning after biting her roommate when the two were arguing about a dog. Nicole E. Levine, of Naples, was charged with battery-intentionally causing bodily harm to another.
Naples police officers arrived shortly before 2 a.m. on Friday at the apartment Levine shares with her 23-year-old roommate. Officers say they found the 23-year-old woman, who said she began arguing with her roommate. Police say they observed a bite mark on the victim's left hand.
Police determined that Levine bit her roommate on the hand and also on her arms near the bicep. Officers determined the fight was over Levine's dog. The victim became angry with the dog, which she said "always" gets in the way.
So, the victim kicked the dog, which agitated Levine. As the fighting ensued, Levine bit her roommate. Levine was determined to be the aggressor in the fight so she was arrested, police said.
Naples police officers arrived shortly before 2 a.m. on Friday at the apartment Levine shares with her 23-year-old roommate. Officers say they found the 23-year-old woman, who said she began arguing with her roommate. Police say they observed a bite mark on the victim's left hand.
Police determined that Levine bit her roommate on the hand and also on her arms near the bicep. Officers determined the fight was over Levine's dog. The victim became angry with the dog, which she said "always" gets in the way.
So, the victim kicked the dog, which agitated Levine. As the fighting ensued, Levine bit her roommate. Levine was determined to be the aggressor in the fight so she was arrested, police said.
Bernoulli Effect causes dancing manhole cover
High winds in North Olmsted, Ohio, caused this 2 inch thick, 125lb manhole cover to dance around.
Direct link. YouTube link.
Aaron Kolibar captured the action and a news crew was quickly at the scene.
YouTube link.
Direct link. YouTube link.
Aaron Kolibar captured the action and a news crew was quickly at the scene.
YouTube link.
Men and their inflatable dolls compete in swimming race
Lithuanians have been celebrating "National Men's Day" by competing in a swimming race where sex dolls were used as rafts.
Over 200 men registered for the race on the Neris river in the capital Vilnius but only 20 were chosen to take part in the event.
Liudas Pestininkas, accompanied by his inflatable doll "Vaida", was the first to cross the finish line winning the 2000 litas prize (£250).
YouTube link.
"Vaida was a very good girl, and only listens to me. She is cool. Other participants don't have dolls as cool as mine," he said.
Over 200 men registered for the race on the Neris river in the capital Vilnius but only 20 were chosen to take part in the event.
Liudas Pestininkas, accompanied by his inflatable doll "Vaida", was the first to cross the finish line winning the 2000 litas prize (£250).
YouTube link.
"Vaida was a very good girl, and only listens to me. She is cool. Other participants don't have dolls as cool as mine," he said.
Vietnamese police banned from wearing sunglasses and hiding behind trees
The Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security have issued instructions banning police in the country from wearing black sunglasses, from smoking, from reading books and from putting their hands into pockets while on duty at public places.
Under the new order, officers from the People's Police of Vietnam must keep appropriate manners and be in the right position when on duty.
This means traffic police must not hide behind trees to ambush and issue fines.
They are also prohibited from drinking alcohol during their working time and at the police station, and are not allowed to be heavily drunk at any time or any place, the ministry said. They also cannot eat at restaurants that illegally encroach onto pavements.
Under the new order, officers from the People's Police of Vietnam must keep appropriate manners and be in the right position when on duty.
This means traffic police must not hide behind trees to ambush and issue fines.
They are also prohibited from drinking alcohol during their working time and at the police station, and are not allowed to be heavily drunk at any time or any place, the ministry said. They also cannot eat at restaurants that illegally encroach onto pavements.
Police officer held in jail for using Robert Mugabe's toilet
A Zimbabwean police officer has been in detention for two weeks after he used a toilet specially reserved for President Robert Mugabe’s use. Sergeant Alois Mabhunu, a police homicide detective in Bulawayo, was on surveillance duty a fortnight ago at the annual Zimbabwe International Trade Fair when he received an urgent call of nature.
He rushed to the first toilet he could see, which happened to be a privy being guarded for Mugabe’s use during his appearance at the show. Police guards tried to block Mabhunu’s access, but he fought his way through and locked himself in. Having relieved himself, he left and resumed his duties.
But the toilet guards reported the incident to the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), which is responsible for Mugabe’s protection, and he was arrested the next day. Police spokesman Mandlenkosi Moyo refused to comment, saying it was an “internal matter”.
Human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa questioned what offence Mabhunu was being charged with. “There has to be a law saying the toilet is the president’s, but this was a public one. They will have had to issue a proclamation in the government gazette specifying it. I bet they didn’t do that.” Mabhunu is due to appear before a police disciplinary hearing.
He rushed to the first toilet he could see, which happened to be a privy being guarded for Mugabe’s use during his appearance at the show. Police guards tried to block Mabhunu’s access, but he fought his way through and locked himself in. Having relieved himself, he left and resumed his duties.
But the toilet guards reported the incident to the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), which is responsible for Mugabe’s protection, and he was arrested the next day. Police spokesman Mandlenkosi Moyo refused to comment, saying it was an “internal matter”.
Human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa questioned what offence Mabhunu was being charged with. “There has to be a law saying the toilet is the president’s, but this was a public one. They will have had to issue a proclamation in the government gazette specifying it. I bet they didn’t do that.” Mabhunu is due to appear before a police disciplinary hearing.
Man who wanted to poke friend with fork charged with theft
An Australian State Emergency Service volunteer has been charged with stealing and could have a criminal record for taking a $1 fork from a restaurant table as a prank. Police have decided to charge 19-year-old advertising student Jacob Bonser with stealing, after he grabbed a fork from a table outside a Northbridge restaurant to poke a friend while enjoying a Saturday night out in October last year.
Mr Bonser, an SES volunteer and former soldier, who has no criminal record, said he put the utensil down on the table about "three seconds" after picking it up when police approached him. He said police initially gave him a move-on order and a "talking to" which he thought was "fair enough". But he received a summons for a stealing charge for a fork valued by police at "$1.00" in their statement of material facts. Mr Bonser's father, Gary, said a conviction would wreck his son's future and waste thousands of taxpayers' dollars "just for a $1 fork".
"We were a bit tipsy but I wasn't drunk, and I picked up the fork for just a muck around with my friends. I was going to jab a friend with it," Mr Bonser said, ahead of a July 6 court appearance. "There was no intention to steal it. About three seconds later an officer grabbed me by the collar. I just heard the words, 'You're under arrest'." Mr Bonser said he was going to drop the fork back on the table after poking his friend.
But he said he was remorseful about the incident and the inconvenience he had caused to police and the restaurant. Mr Bonser's lawyer, John Hammond, said another lawyer wrote to the officer to have the matter dropped, but the officer wrote back saying it was a matter of "principle". "But there should be a principle of common sense and it's clearly not common sense to prosecute a young person with an excellent record for a $1 fork, when it will cost more than that to turn the light bulb on in the court," Mr Hammond said.
Mr Bonser, an SES volunteer and former soldier, who has no criminal record, said he put the utensil down on the table about "three seconds" after picking it up when police approached him. He said police initially gave him a move-on order and a "talking to" which he thought was "fair enough". But he received a summons for a stealing charge for a fork valued by police at "$1.00" in their statement of material facts. Mr Bonser's father, Gary, said a conviction would wreck his son's future and waste thousands of taxpayers' dollars "just for a $1 fork".
"We were a bit tipsy but I wasn't drunk, and I picked up the fork for just a muck around with my friends. I was going to jab a friend with it," Mr Bonser said, ahead of a July 6 court appearance. "There was no intention to steal it. About three seconds later an officer grabbed me by the collar. I just heard the words, 'You're under arrest'." Mr Bonser said he was going to drop the fork back on the table after poking his friend.
But he said he was remorseful about the incident and the inconvenience he had caused to police and the restaurant. Mr Bonser's lawyer, John Hammond, said another lawyer wrote to the officer to have the matter dropped, but the officer wrote back saying it was a matter of "principle". "But there should be a principle of common sense and it's clearly not common sense to prosecute a young person with an excellent record for a $1 fork, when it will cost more than that to turn the light bulb on in the court," Mr Hammond said.
Farmer covers pigs in engine oil to stop them being eaten by mice
When Australian farmer John Gregory entered his piggery he couldn't believe what he saw - mice attacking his pigs. Since he first saw them dining out on his prized stock in Wynarka, 130km east of Adelaide, the 50-year-old father of four has been at his wit's end about how to get rid of them. Now, as a desperate last resort, he's resorted to covering his pigs in engine oil to protect them from the mice, which he says are turned off by the taste.
Mr Gregory said he put engine oil on his 15 pigs to protect them from the sun about once a month. "But now I oil them every week, because the mice have run out of food and they're just eating anything, so they were climbing up on the pigs and chewing them," he said. "The oil stops them eating the pigs because they don't like the taste."
And with mouse bait so expensive, he said farmers were resorting to home recipes to kill the vermin, which had multiplied to plague proportions because of summer rain producing great crops - ideal mouse food. "Being farmers we're always trying to do things cheap," Mr Gregory, from Wynarka, said. "I mix icing sugar and cement, the icing sugar attracts the mice, they eat it and then the cement clogs them up."
Video shows mouse plague in the area south of Adelaide. Contains dead mice.
YouTube link.
There are still so many mice, that leaving buckets around buildings is proving an effective trapping method. "I have about 50 buckets around the place, they just drop into them and can't get out." He said he was catching hundreds of mice every night and that he'd never seen a plague this bad, but that the mice were starting to eat each other - which was a good indication the end of the plague was in sight.
Mr Gregory said he put engine oil on his 15 pigs to protect them from the sun about once a month. "But now I oil them every week, because the mice have run out of food and they're just eating anything, so they were climbing up on the pigs and chewing them," he said. "The oil stops them eating the pigs because they don't like the taste."
And with mouse bait so expensive, he said farmers were resorting to home recipes to kill the vermin, which had multiplied to plague proportions because of summer rain producing great crops - ideal mouse food. "Being farmers we're always trying to do things cheap," Mr Gregory, from Wynarka, said. "I mix icing sugar and cement, the icing sugar attracts the mice, they eat it and then the cement clogs them up."
Video shows mouse plague in the area south of Adelaide. Contains dead mice.
YouTube link.
There are still so many mice, that leaving buckets around buildings is proving an effective trapping method. "I have about 50 buckets around the place, they just drop into them and can't get out." He said he was catching hundreds of mice every night and that he'd never seen a plague this bad, but that the mice were starting to eat each other - which was a good indication the end of the plague was in sight.
Deer rampages through Oxford pensioner's house
A frightened deer ran rampage through an Oxford cul-de-sac, smashing ornaments and scratching furniture in a pensioner’s home.
Residents were astonished when a muntjac deer – nicknamed Asbo Bambis for their destructive sprees – sprinted into pensioner Enid Norris’ garden from Rose Hill Cemetery, before jumping through the patio door and racing around her home.
It then leapt over a six-foot fence into a neighbour’s garden before disappearing into the grounds of the Singletree sheltered housing complex. Mrs Norris, of Eleanor Close, Cowley, said: “It was about midday, and I was working in the back garden. The side gate was open and I heard a lot of commotion, then this animal came racing in.
“It ran right through the kitchen and the dining room, leaving broken ornaments and scratched furniture, and tried to jump out of the front window.” It leapt the fence into neighbour Stephen Davey’s garden. Mr Davey, 69, said: “There are quite a few of them in Rose Hill Cemetery but we’ve never seen anything like this before. It was quite a young deer and it was scared more than anything.”
Residents were astonished when a muntjac deer – nicknamed Asbo Bambis for their destructive sprees – sprinted into pensioner Enid Norris’ garden from Rose Hill Cemetery, before jumping through the patio door and racing around her home.
It then leapt over a six-foot fence into a neighbour’s garden before disappearing into the grounds of the Singletree sheltered housing complex. Mrs Norris, of Eleanor Close, Cowley, said: “It was about midday, and I was working in the back garden. The side gate was open and I heard a lot of commotion, then this animal came racing in.
“It ran right through the kitchen and the dining room, leaving broken ornaments and scratched furniture, and tried to jump out of the front window.” It leapt the fence into neighbour Stephen Davey’s garden. Mr Davey, 69, said: “There are quite a few of them in Rose Hill Cemetery but we’ve never seen anything like this before. It was quite a young deer and it was scared more than anything.”
Naomi Campbell in race row after being compared to Cadbury chocolate bar
Cadbury is facing the prospect of a black consumer boycott after it compared Naomi Campbell to a chocolate bar in a new advertising campaign. The supermodel is incensed that Cadbury used her name in the strap line to promote its new chocolate bar called Bliss, accusing the company of racism. The ad says: "Move over Naomi, there's a new diva in town."
Campbell has revealed she is considering "every option available" after Cadbury, owned by the US giant Kraft, refused to pull the ad campaign, which ran in newspapers last week: "I am shocked. It's upsetting to be described as chocolate, not just for me, but for all black women and black people. I do not find any humour in this. It is insulting and hurtful." The model's mother, Valerie Morris, backed her daughter, saying: "I'm deeply upset by this racist advert. Do these people think they can insult black people and we just take it? This is the 21st century, not the 1950s. Shame on Cadbury."
Disgust at the ad prompted members of the public to complain to the campaign group Operation Black Vote (OBV), which has called for Cadbury to apologise. OBV's Simon Woolley said that without an apology, the "only recourse black people have is not to buy its chocolate". He has written to the American civil rights activists Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson to ask them to mobilise the country's Afro-American population. Mr Woolley said that, for black people, being likened to chocolate was as bad as being called a golliwog.
"Racism in the playground starts with black children being called 'chocolate bar'. At best, this is insensitive, and at worst it demonstrates Cadbury's utter disregard for causing offence. Its lack of apology just adds insult to injury. The Eurocentric joke is not funny to black people." A spokesperson for Cadbury insisted that the campaign was "a light-hearted take on the social pretensions of Cadbury Dairy Milk Bliss". He added later, however, that the campaign was "no longer in circulation ... we have no plans to repeat the campaign."
Campbell has revealed she is considering "every option available" after Cadbury, owned by the US giant Kraft, refused to pull the ad campaign, which ran in newspapers last week: "I am shocked. It's upsetting to be described as chocolate, not just for me, but for all black women and black people. I do not find any humour in this. It is insulting and hurtful." The model's mother, Valerie Morris, backed her daughter, saying: "I'm deeply upset by this racist advert. Do these people think they can insult black people and we just take it? This is the 21st century, not the 1950s. Shame on Cadbury."
Disgust at the ad prompted members of the public to complain to the campaign group Operation Black Vote (OBV), which has called for Cadbury to apologise. OBV's Simon Woolley said that without an apology, the "only recourse black people have is not to buy its chocolate". He has written to the American civil rights activists Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson to ask them to mobilise the country's Afro-American population. Mr Woolley said that, for black people, being likened to chocolate was as bad as being called a golliwog.
"Racism in the playground starts with black children being called 'chocolate bar'. At best, this is insensitive, and at worst it demonstrates Cadbury's utter disregard for causing offence. Its lack of apology just adds insult to injury. The Eurocentric joke is not funny to black people." A spokesperson for Cadbury insisted that the campaign was "a light-hearted take on the social pretensions of Cadbury Dairy Milk Bliss". He added later, however, that the campaign was "no longer in circulation ... we have no plans to repeat the campaign."
Police confiscate starting pistol for historical race
A historic race in Bampton will go off with less of a bang this year after police confiscated the starting pistol. The Original Great Shirt Race is run between the village’s pubs and is believed to date back centuries. It involves teams of two people racing around the village, one pushing the other in a ‘chariot’.
The pair have to visit all the village’s pubs and drink half a pint of ale at each. Traditionally, it was always started by firing a 12-bore shotgun into the air, but police stopped that practice in 2000. The shotgun was replaced with a starting pistol but now Government legislation means this year’s event will start with an airhorn.
The pistol was confiscated from race starter John Buckingham over concerns it could be converted into a lethal weapon. Mr Buckingham said: “It’s taking away from the race. It’s always been started with a gun. And I think it’s going to be bad because people aren’t going to be able to hear it.”
Master of ceremonies Don Rouse said: “It’s heath and safety gone mad. When I was told we couldn’t use the starting pistol any more I couldn’t believe it. We are village people, we aren’t criminals. These events are getting harder and harder to organise, with health and safety.”
The pair have to visit all the village’s pubs and drink half a pint of ale at each. Traditionally, it was always started by firing a 12-bore shotgun into the air, but police stopped that practice in 2000. The shotgun was replaced with a starting pistol but now Government legislation means this year’s event will start with an airhorn.
The pistol was confiscated from race starter John Buckingham over concerns it could be converted into a lethal weapon. Mr Buckingham said: “It’s taking away from the race. It’s always been started with a gun. And I think it’s going to be bad because people aren’t going to be able to hear it.”
Master of ceremonies Don Rouse said: “It’s heath and safety gone mad. When I was told we couldn’t use the starting pistol any more I couldn’t believe it. We are village people, we aren’t criminals. These events are getting harder and harder to organise, with health and safety.”
Rhinoceros head stolen from museum
A rhinoceros head has been stolen by burglars from a museum in Surrey.
The valuable item was stolen from the Haslemere Educational Museum shortly before 0200 BST on Friday.
Julia Tanner, the museum's curator, said the burglars had forced an entry, setting the alarms off. The rhinoceros head was the only item stolen.
Det Con Dave Pellatt, of Surrey Police, said there had been similar thefts elsewhere in Europe where the animal heads had been found minus the horns. He suggested they had been sold on to be used in alternative medicines.
The valuable item was stolen from the Haslemere Educational Museum shortly before 0200 BST on Friday.
Julia Tanner, the museum's curator, said the burglars had forced an entry, setting the alarms off. The rhinoceros head was the only item stolen.
Det Con Dave Pellatt, of Surrey Police, said there had been similar thefts elsewhere in Europe where the animal heads had been found minus the horns. He suggested they had been sold on to be used in alternative medicines.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Authorities shut down bar's illegal mouse racing operation
Sheriffs are fighting their way through the seedy underbelly of Danville, Iowa, taking aim at the unregulated gambling world of mouse racing. Officers raided the Bucktail Lodge last week in search of code violations and shut down the popular races.
The owners said the censure is as silly as their pastime. "We don't consider it gambling at all, it's just people having fun. The money goes back to them. If you win, you win; if you lose, you lose," said Scott Beach, owner of the Bucktail Lodge.
When the mice aren't competing, they are adored as pets in the family's apartment above the bar. "It's not like they are getting ate, 'If you're a loser you die.' It's not like that," said Beach.
For now, the races are on hold, but the mice racers said they will be in court to fight for the right to their rodent-race night. They said the incident makes it clear that the local police have little to do. "There's no meth heads or makers around here, you just gotta mess with the mouse racers," said Beach.
With news video.
The owners said the censure is as silly as their pastime. "We don't consider it gambling at all, it's just people having fun. The money goes back to them. If you win, you win; if you lose, you lose," said Scott Beach, owner of the Bucktail Lodge.
When the mice aren't competing, they are adored as pets in the family's apartment above the bar. "It's not like they are getting ate, 'If you're a loser you die.' It's not like that," said Beach.
For now, the races are on hold, but the mice racers said they will be in court to fight for the right to their rodent-race night. They said the incident makes it clear that the local police have little to do. "There's no meth heads or makers around here, you just gotta mess with the mouse racers," said Beach.
With news video.
Man's backyard tigers and leopards upset neighbours
Steve Salton, 61, of Mayfield, New York, currently keeps several fully-grown tigers, leopards and jaguars in his back garden.
Salton is inspected regularly by state and federal authorities and issued licences to have the animals. He's obliged to exhibit them, which he does, by appointment.
That hardly satisfies his neighbour Rich Travis, who has no affection for the wild animals caged next door and wants them gone. "I don't think anyone in their right mind would want to live next to something like this," said Travis.
Town Supervisor Richard Argotsinger says the big cat exhibit may qualify as a home occupation or hobby, which is an allowed use. "I'm all legal and everything," Salton says.
Salton is inspected regularly by state and federal authorities and issued licences to have the animals. He's obliged to exhibit them, which he does, by appointment.
That hardly satisfies his neighbour Rich Travis, who has no affection for the wild animals caged next door and wants them gone. "I don't think anyone in their right mind would want to live next to something like this," said Travis.
Town Supervisor Richard Argotsinger says the big cat exhibit may qualify as a home occupation or hobby, which is an allowed use. "I'm all legal and everything," Salton says.
Embarrassment over Wicked cocaine tourist magazine ad
A New Zealand publishing company is hanging its head in shame after an ad by Wicked Campers went to print in a tourism magazine showing what appears to be a man snorting cocaine overlooking New Zealand's snow-capped mountains.
People Media's Arrival magazine, which is distributed at Auckland Airport, caused quite a stir by featuring the ad and are now spending thousands to individually rip the offending page out of each copy from the 100,000 copies that were due to be circulated.
Mike Taillie, managing director at People Media, said the ad went into the magazine during the last hours before publication and that the first time he saw it was after it was published.
“It’s not what I want international people seeing as a welcome to New Zealand,” says Mr Taillie. A spokesman for Wicked Campers said: “There's a s**tstorm brewing over in NZ at the moment over our latest ad.”
There's a news video here.
People Media's Arrival magazine, which is distributed at Auckland Airport, caused quite a stir by featuring the ad and are now spending thousands to individually rip the offending page out of each copy from the 100,000 copies that were due to be circulated.
Mike Taillie, managing director at People Media, said the ad went into the magazine during the last hours before publication and that the first time he saw it was after it was published.
“It’s not what I want international people seeing as a welcome to New Zealand,” says Mr Taillie. A spokesman for Wicked Campers said: “There's a s**tstorm brewing over in NZ at the moment over our latest ad.”
There's a news video here.
Slain 'Grandma Bandit' turns out to have been a man
An elderly-looking gun-toting robber nicknamed “Grandma Bandit,” blamed for a string of heists of several Atlanta-area drugstores, was actually a man. The revelation was made by police on Friday evening, hours after the suspect was fatally shot after a police chase.
“Positive identification has been made on the person involved in today’s incident on North Druid Hills. After further investigation detectives have determined the person believed to be a female suspect in fact is a male,” DeKalb County police spokeswoman Mekka Parish said. “His name is Roxanne Taylor, a 57-year-old man.”
Taylor was shot multiple times after leading police on a chase. Taylor had been pointed out by someone who noticed that he matched the description of the "Grandma Bandit." Parish said officers opened fire on the vehicle after hearing a gunshot. It was unclear if Taylor killed himself or died from police gunfire.
Filmed before 'Grandma Bandit' was revealed to be a man.
LiveLeak link.
The "Grandma Bandit" was wanted in at least four robberies of Atlanta-area drugstores in the past two weeks. The most recent hold-up was at a Rite Aid on Tuesday. Taylor had been having financial problems. The company that owned the building where he lived began the process of evicting him, saying in court papers he owed $2,133.
“Positive identification has been made on the person involved in today’s incident on North Druid Hills. After further investigation detectives have determined the person believed to be a female suspect in fact is a male,” DeKalb County police spokeswoman Mekka Parish said. “His name is Roxanne Taylor, a 57-year-old man.”
Taylor was shot multiple times after leading police on a chase. Taylor had been pointed out by someone who noticed that he matched the description of the "Grandma Bandit." Parish said officers opened fire on the vehicle after hearing a gunshot. It was unclear if Taylor killed himself or died from police gunfire.
Filmed before 'Grandma Bandit' was revealed to be a man.
LiveLeak link.
The "Grandma Bandit" was wanted in at least four robberies of Atlanta-area drugstores in the past two weeks. The most recent hold-up was at a Rite Aid on Tuesday. Taylor had been having financial problems. The company that owned the building where he lived began the process of evicting him, saying in court papers he owed $2,133.
Man's $1 million rare coin collection flies out car window
A Florida man travelling to a coin show with his $1 million rare coin collection blew a tyre on his car, causing it to flip over as many as five times and send his precious change flying across the highway.
The unidentified man initially refused to leave the scene, despite injuries and a heart condition. "He was in pain, but he was more worried about the money," Highway Patrol Trooper Darryl Haywood Jr. said.
The man contacted a network of fellow collectors in the area to help recover the coins and about eight to nine turned out with metal detectors. Police helped as well and a tow truck driver found $46,000 in bills in the trees.
However, it was not immediately clear how much of the total was recovered. The man and his wife had been en route from their home in Boca Raton to a coin show in Jacksonville when the accident occurred on Thursday night on Interstate highway 95.
With news video.
The unidentified man initially refused to leave the scene, despite injuries and a heart condition. "He was in pain, but he was more worried about the money," Highway Patrol Trooper Darryl Haywood Jr. said.
The man contacted a network of fellow collectors in the area to help recover the coins and about eight to nine turned out with metal detectors. Police helped as well and a tow truck driver found $46,000 in bills in the trees.
However, it was not immediately clear how much of the total was recovered. The man and his wife had been en route from their home in Boca Raton to a coin show in Jacksonville when the accident occurred on Thursday night on Interstate highway 95.
With news video.
Indian inventor develops clothes to heat or cool wearer
An Indian inventor is developing clothes which keep the wearer comfortable in extreme temperatures. Kranthi Kiran Vistakula started with a jacket and is now applying his idea to shoes, scarves and even dinner plates. The clothes use Peltier light-weight plastic plates with a thermo electric device.
The device is powered by rechargeable batteries which can be topped up by vehicles or even solar panels. They can last up to eight hours on one charge. A Peltier plate consists of a junction between two metals. When an electric current passes through the junction, metal on one side heats up and on the other side it cools down.
The climate-controlled jacket, which weighs a little more than 1kg, has been successfully tested by the Indian army in Siachen glacier where temperatures are as low as -40C in winter. Mr Vistakula's company, Dhama Innovations, is now developing a range of other products using the same technology.
YouTube link.
Mr Vistakula is now setting up a manufacturing facility near Hyderabad for the mass production of his products, which include jackets, shoes, scarves, gloves and ear muffs. He is even considering a special jacket for cows. "Basically when the cow is cooled, it gives more milk in summer," he explained. "So we're working on a jacket like that - a huge one."
The device is powered by rechargeable batteries which can be topped up by vehicles or even solar panels. They can last up to eight hours on one charge. A Peltier plate consists of a junction between two metals. When an electric current passes through the junction, metal on one side heats up and on the other side it cools down.
The climate-controlled jacket, which weighs a little more than 1kg, has been successfully tested by the Indian army in Siachen glacier where temperatures are as low as -40C in winter. Mr Vistakula's company, Dhama Innovations, is now developing a range of other products using the same technology.
YouTube link.
Mr Vistakula is now setting up a manufacturing facility near Hyderabad for the mass production of his products, which include jackets, shoes, scarves, gloves and ear muffs. He is even considering a special jacket for cows. "Basically when the cow is cooled, it gives more milk in summer," he explained. "So we're working on a jacket like that - a huge one."
Chef gets saucepan stuck on head during brawl in Chinese restaurant kitchen
A chef at a Chinese restaurant was left with a pan stuck on his head after a brawl broke out in the kitchen.
Shocked diners looked on as six furious kitchen workers attacked other with woks and saucepans. Manager Terence Pan tried to break them up but eventually had to call police.
Diner Clive Griggs, 41, said: “All of a sudden there was crashing and shouting. Six people burst out and started hitting each other with a variety of implements. The chef ended up with a saucepan stuck over his head and one of the guys was using a wok to defend himself.”
Three men aged between 30 and 50 were arrested at the Tai Tung restaurant in Croydon, South London, and bailed until next month. Two men were taken to hospital with head injuries.
Shocked diners looked on as six furious kitchen workers attacked other with woks and saucepans. Manager Terence Pan tried to break them up but eventually had to call police.
Diner Clive Griggs, 41, said: “All of a sudden there was crashing and shouting. Six people burst out and started hitting each other with a variety of implements. The chef ended up with a saucepan stuck over his head and one of the guys was using a wok to defend himself.”
Three men aged between 30 and 50 were arrested at the Tai Tung restaurant in Croydon, South London, and bailed until next month. Two men were taken to hospital with head injuries.
Safari park visitors warned after meerkats develop fetish for human feet
Warning signs have been put up at a new attraction where meerkats mingle with visitors after the little creatures developed a fetish for human feet.
The small mammals have taken a liking to painted toenails and colourful sandals and jump all over them given the chance.
YouTube link.
Staff at the new Jungle Kingdom enclosure at Longleat Safari Park, Wiltshire, have had to put up signs to warn female guests.
The new enclosure is the first place in Britain where people can interact directly with meerkats.
The small mammals have taken a liking to painted toenails and colourful sandals and jump all over them given the chance.
YouTube link.
Staff at the new Jungle Kingdom enclosure at Longleat Safari Park, Wiltshire, have had to put up signs to warn female guests.
The new enclosure is the first place in Britain where people can interact directly with meerkats.
Animal rescues cost UK fire services £3.5m in last three years
UK fire services spent at least £3.5m rescuing 17,000 animals in the last three years. Firefighters got a cow out of a tree, removed a snail from a wall and reunited a duckling with its mother.
Anton Phillips, animal rescue specialist at Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "If we don't rescue that animal somebody else will or will try to. I've seen people have their arms trapped in drains trying to rescue ducklings and we've actually had to dig the road up to get the person out." But others were more trivial, with ducklings rescued from a drain, a pigeon released from a tree and a squirrel up a lamppost.
The most common animals that were rescued were cats, dogs, birds and horses, but other animals involved included snakes, seals, bats, chinchillas, iguanas, a raccoon, badgers and a chameleon. Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service were called out to remove a snail stuck halfway up a wall after being contacted by a distressed elderly lady.
Jim Green, an animal rescue specialist said: "The cost attributed to sending a couple of blokes down the road to help the lady and to reassure her, that was merited, and the actual problem, the snail, might seem ridiculous but it was that lady that they were going to help."
Anton Phillips, animal rescue specialist at Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "If we don't rescue that animal somebody else will or will try to. I've seen people have their arms trapped in drains trying to rescue ducklings and we've actually had to dig the road up to get the person out." But others were more trivial, with ducklings rescued from a drain, a pigeon released from a tree and a squirrel up a lamppost.
The most common animals that were rescued were cats, dogs, birds and horses, but other animals involved included snakes, seals, bats, chinchillas, iguanas, a raccoon, badgers and a chameleon. Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service were called out to remove a snail stuck halfway up a wall after being contacted by a distressed elderly lady.
Jim Green, an animal rescue specialist said: "The cost attributed to sending a couple of blokes down the road to help the lady and to reassure her, that was merited, and the actual problem, the snail, might seem ridiculous but it was that lady that they were going to help."
Couple who kept animals crammed in filthy cellar face jail
A couple are facing jail after admitting keeping 11 dogs, nine geese, a pony, two goats and a cat in the dark, filthy cellar of their south Wales home. RSPCA inspectors said they had never previously come across the sort of stench and dirt they found at Eric and Doreen Buckley's home in High Street, Gilfach Goch, Pontypridd. When asked why he was keeping so many animals in such terrible conditions, Mr Buckley said: "Why not?"
The couple had already been banned for life from keeping animals in 1993 for earlier breaches of welfare regulations. Speaking after a brief hearing at Pontypridd magistrates court, RSPCA inspector Nicola Johnston said: "I have never seen anything like it before in my life. Even before going inside the house, you could sniff the air outside and realise something was wrong.
"Inside, it was beyond anything I have ever seen, or hope ever to see again." She said the cellar was unlit and covered in a thick layer of animal waste. "You stood there in complete blackness, squishing and squashing underfoot as you walked," she said. "To think that somebody thought it was a fit place to keep animals was incredible."
The couple, aged 56 and 46, both admitted seven charges – two for breaching previously imposed banning orders and five for causing unnecessary suffering and failing to meet welfare needs of the animals. District judge Jill Watkins said: "You should understand that I believe that this case merits a custodial sentence." The couple will be sentenced next month.
The couple had already been banned for life from keeping animals in 1993 for earlier breaches of welfare regulations. Speaking after a brief hearing at Pontypridd magistrates court, RSPCA inspector Nicola Johnston said: "I have never seen anything like it before in my life. Even before going inside the house, you could sniff the air outside and realise something was wrong.
"Inside, it was beyond anything I have ever seen, or hope ever to see again." She said the cellar was unlit and covered in a thick layer of animal waste. "You stood there in complete blackness, squishing and squashing underfoot as you walked," she said. "To think that somebody thought it was a fit place to keep animals was incredible."
The couple, aged 56 and 46, both admitted seven charges – two for breaching previously imposed banning orders and five for causing unnecessary suffering and failing to meet welfare needs of the animals. District judge Jill Watkins said: "You should understand that I believe that this case merits a custodial sentence." The couple will be sentenced next month.
School bans hugs and handshakes
A secondary school in south London has banned students from all physical contact with each other, including hugging, high-fives and handshakes. The Quest Academy in South Croydon has enforced the new policy since September last year.
The school's principal, Andy Croft, said the rules helped combat bullying. He said: "Physical contact between students is not allowed at the academy because it is often associated with poor behaviour or bullying and can lead to fighting."
Anita Chong, whose 15-year-old daughter was given a detention for hugging a friend, called the rules "crazy". Ms Chong said the school had taken its rules too far.
"We live in a society where we use touch and we use terms of endearment," she said. "My daughter is one of those that is having exams and she is being taken out of lessons for something so trivial. I find it diabolical really."
With news video.
The school's principal, Andy Croft, said the rules helped combat bullying. He said: "Physical contact between students is not allowed at the academy because it is often associated with poor behaviour or bullying and can lead to fighting."
Anita Chong, whose 15-year-old daughter was given a detention for hugging a friend, called the rules "crazy". Ms Chong said the school had taken its rules too far.
"We live in a society where we use touch and we use terms of endearment," she said. "My daughter is one of those that is having exams and she is being taken out of lessons for something so trivial. I find it diabolical really."
With news video.
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