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Friday, July 30, 2010
Gentleman interrupts football match in Brazil
During a recent game between Santos and São Paulo this individual put in an appearance.
Alligator feeding frenzy caught on tape
A fisherman in Georgia caught a lot more than fish on camera when he recorded hundreds of alligators in a rare "feeding frenzy."
Earlier this month, fisherman Ray Cason headed out on his boat at the Stephen C. Foster State Park in the Okefenokee Swamp for a fresh catch - but clearly, the alligators got there first.
So instead of his fishing rod, Cason grabbed his camera and caught the feeding frenzy over mudfish, also known as bowfin. A manager at the southeast Georgia park says the alligators went their separate ways eventually.
A state wildlife biologist says this kind of cooperative feeding - in which the alligators hunt together as a group - only happens once every three or four years.
Earlier this month, fisherman Ray Cason headed out on his boat at the Stephen C. Foster State Park in the Okefenokee Swamp for a fresh catch - but clearly, the alligators got there first.
So instead of his fishing rod, Cason grabbed his camera and caught the feeding frenzy over mudfish, also known as bowfin. A manager at the southeast Georgia park says the alligators went their separate ways eventually.
A state wildlife biologist says this kind of cooperative feeding - in which the alligators hunt together as a group - only happens once every three or four years.
Man listed as Tokyo’s oldest had been dead for three decades
The skeletal remains of a man who was thought to be alive at the age of 111 have been found in a residence in Tokyo's Adachi Ward - an estimated 30 years after his death. Found dead was Sogen Kato, who was born in 1899. Police said that following the death of Kato's wife six years ago, family members had received a total of about 9.45 million yen in payments for a survivor's mutual pension. Law enforcers are investigating the family's actions on suspicion of fraud and negligence as guardians resulting in death.
Kato's 53-year-old granddaughter, who had lived with him, reportedly told police that he shut himself in his room about 30 years ago, refusing to take food or water, in line with the doctrines of the Shingon sect of Buddhism. Kato had lived with his daughter, 81, son-in-law, 83, and two grandchildren, aged 49 and 53. In June this year, officials from the Adachi Ward Office approached police saying they wanted to see Kato, but family members wouldn't let them.
When a police officer visited the home on July 26 with ward officials, the 53-year-old granddaughter said, "My grandfather is well but he's refused to meet with anyone." However, two days later, one of the grandchildren visited Senju Police Station and told police, "He shut himself in a first-floor room about 30 years ago in line with his doctrines, refusing to take food or water. When we looked inside the room in March this year, we saw the skeletal remains of our grandfather."
Police later checked the room and found Kato's body. Investigators said that Kato's wife died in August 2004, and between October 2004 and July this year, about 9.45 million yen was paid out for a survivor's mutual pension. Family members are believed to have withdrawn a total of 2.7 million yen from Kato's bank account over six occasions in mid-July.
Kato's 53-year-old granddaughter, who had lived with him, reportedly told police that he shut himself in his room about 30 years ago, refusing to take food or water, in line with the doctrines of the Shingon sect of Buddhism. Kato had lived with his daughter, 81, son-in-law, 83, and two grandchildren, aged 49 and 53. In June this year, officials from the Adachi Ward Office approached police saying they wanted to see Kato, but family members wouldn't let them.
When a police officer visited the home on July 26 with ward officials, the 53-year-old granddaughter said, "My grandfather is well but he's refused to meet with anyone." However, two days later, one of the grandchildren visited Senju Police Station and told police, "He shut himself in a first-floor room about 30 years ago in line with his doctrines, refusing to take food or water. When we looked inside the room in March this year, we saw the skeletal remains of our grandfather."
Police later checked the room and found Kato's body. Investigators said that Kato's wife died in August 2004, and between October 2004 and July this year, about 9.45 million yen was paid out for a survivor's mutual pension. Family members are believed to have withdrawn a total of 2.7 million yen from Kato's bank account over six occasions in mid-July.
Now you can buy tame foxes from Siberia in the US
Tame foxes are becoming better known and desired; however, there has been no official representation of Siberian tame foxes previously.
Genuine tame foxes come from Institute of Cytology and Genetics in Novosibirsk, Russia and are officially distributed by SibFox Inc.
Foxes can live outside or inside.They need shade from excessive heat and rain. A bed or blanket is nice, but optional.
If the fox lives outside, the cage should have a bottom or the walls of the cage should be dug in deep enough so that the fox cannot dig a hole and escape. Inside your house, they will snuggle on a bed like a cat.
$5,950.
Genuine tame foxes come from Institute of Cytology and Genetics in Novosibirsk, Russia and are officially distributed by SibFox Inc.
Foxes can live outside or inside.They need shade from excessive heat and rain. A bed or blanket is nice, but optional.
If the fox lives outside, the cage should have a bottom or the walls of the cage should be dug in deep enough so that the fox cannot dig a hole and escape. Inside your house, they will snuggle on a bed like a cat.
$5,950.
Woman finds Virgin Mary and Jesus in rocks
To Stephanie Madden of Granbury, a pair of ordinary rocks are as precious as rubies. "I was just out walking on break at work one day and I saw them," she said. "I took another step, and it was like something goes 'hey, you just saw something that looks like something you've seen before'." When Madden first spotted the stones on the ground in Granbury, she didn't think much about it, but a closer look was all the confirmation she needed.
"It was like the closer I got to God the more I saw him in things," she said, "That looks like Mary holding baby Jesus to me." Madden, a born-again Christian, said the stones resemble the Madonna cloaked in a robe, holding her infant son, Jesus Christ. "You can see the little cap or shawl or whatever she covers her head with and wraps around her," she described. "You can see her face looking down at him."
The resemblance she admits could be a mere coincidence. "Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous," she explained, "In the bible it says that people who do believe, will see." It's the message she has interpreted from her find that has her speaking out now.
"I was showing them to people at church Sunday morning and one of the members said 'hey do you know in the bible it says, in Luke 19:40, 'If my people become silent that even the rocks will cry out'." She said, "That hit me as confirmation that I'm supposed to say something." Madden is now sharing that message with others. She posted pictures of the rocks online and encourages others to see beyond the surface, and to find meaning in the mundane. "Some people see it some people don't," she said, "I don't really care if people think I'm crazy."
With news video, or you can view it here.
"It was like the closer I got to God the more I saw him in things," she said, "That looks like Mary holding baby Jesus to me." Madden, a born-again Christian, said the stones resemble the Madonna cloaked in a robe, holding her infant son, Jesus Christ. "You can see the little cap or shawl or whatever she covers her head with and wraps around her," she described. "You can see her face looking down at him."
The resemblance she admits could be a mere coincidence. "Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous," she explained, "In the bible it says that people who do believe, will see." It's the message she has interpreted from her find that has her speaking out now.
"I was showing them to people at church Sunday morning and one of the members said 'hey do you know in the bible it says, in Luke 19:40, 'If my people become silent that even the rocks will cry out'." She said, "That hit me as confirmation that I'm supposed to say something." Madden is now sharing that message with others. She posted pictures of the rocks online and encourages others to see beyond the surface, and to find meaning in the mundane. "Some people see it some people don't," she said, "I don't really care if people think I'm crazy."
With news video, or you can view it here.
'Merry Umbrella Project' to send a message of peace
An event featuring 100 umbrellas with pictures of smiling children of various countries printed on them will be held in Hiroshima, Nagasaki and Okinawa next month, in an attempt to dispatch a message of peace. Dubbed the "Merry Umbrella Project," the event falls on the 65th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the Battle of Okinawa toward the end of World War II.
"No nuclear weapons should exist so that children can keep smiling. I'd like to dispatch a message about the importance of peace," said Koji Mizutani, 59, an art director from Tokyo's Minato Ward, who organized the event.
Born to a father who lost his hearing as a soldier battling in the Southern Pacific during the war, Mizutani recalls that his father was always in a bad mood. "My father didn't want to talk much about the war. He used to get upset easily, and because of that I felt his discontent and the misery of war as a child," Mizutani said.
Mizutani started designing advertising posters for big-name companies in the 1980s and was awarded an international prize. In 1999, he began taking the pictures of over 30,000 people in 26 countries and regions, wishing to "make people happy through designs." The pictures were unveiled at the 2005 Aichi Expo and the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. In May this year, he organized an event to unfold umbrellas featuring the pictures of smiling children at the Shanghai Expo and Tokyo's Shibuya district simultaneously.
During the upcoming event, the colourful umbrellas will be unfolded in front of the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima on Aug. 1, the Peace Statue in Nagasaki on Aug. 7 and the Okinawa Peace Hall in Okinawa on Aug. 14, with local residents and students participating in protest against the misery of war and nuclear weapons.
The pictures of children to be featured on the umbrellas include those taken by Mizutani in Mianyang, China, which was hit by the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, as well as in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, after the 2004 Sumatra earthquake, and in Kobe in the wake of the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake.
"No nuclear weapons should exist so that children can keep smiling. I'd like to dispatch a message about the importance of peace," said Koji Mizutani, 59, an art director from Tokyo's Minato Ward, who organized the event.
Born to a father who lost his hearing as a soldier battling in the Southern Pacific during the war, Mizutani recalls that his father was always in a bad mood. "My father didn't want to talk much about the war. He used to get upset easily, and because of that I felt his discontent and the misery of war as a child," Mizutani said.
Mizutani started designing advertising posters for big-name companies in the 1980s and was awarded an international prize. In 1999, he began taking the pictures of over 30,000 people in 26 countries and regions, wishing to "make people happy through designs." The pictures were unveiled at the 2005 Aichi Expo and the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. In May this year, he organized an event to unfold umbrellas featuring the pictures of smiling children at the Shanghai Expo and Tokyo's Shibuya district simultaneously.
During the upcoming event, the colourful umbrellas will be unfolded in front of the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima on Aug. 1, the Peace Statue in Nagasaki on Aug. 7 and the Okinawa Peace Hall in Okinawa on Aug. 14, with local residents and students participating in protest against the misery of war and nuclear weapons.
The pictures of children to be featured on the umbrellas include those taken by Mizutani in Mianyang, China, which was hit by the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, as well as in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, after the 2004 Sumatra earthquake, and in Kobe in the wake of the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake.
Bear breaks into house and steals stuffed teddy
A black bear stunned a family in New Hampshire, US, when it strolled into their house through its open door and stole a stuffed teddy.
During the bear’s break-in, it also ate a selection of fruit and drank from the family fishbowl before stealing the stuffed bear, making the most of his excursion.
Mary Beth Parkinson described her ordeal to local press and said the bear took advantage of the open outside door to get into her kitchen in Laconia, New Hampshire.
She thinks the bear fled the house after being scared off by the garage door going up. Luckily she arrived home just in time to save her fish from the bowl their intruder was drinking from.
During the bear’s break-in, it also ate a selection of fruit and drank from the family fishbowl before stealing the stuffed bear, making the most of his excursion.
Mary Beth Parkinson described her ordeal to local press and said the bear took advantage of the open outside door to get into her kitchen in Laconia, New Hampshire.
She thinks the bear fled the house after being scared off by the garage door going up. Luckily she arrived home just in time to save her fish from the bowl their intruder was drinking from.
Chinese chicken thinks he's a penguin
Meet Mumble - the chicken that thinks he's a penguin. Farmer Lu Xi said that he got the confused bird as a chick - but instead of scratching in the ground and flying up to a perch to roost at night - Mumble walks around the coop just like a penguin waddling from side to side.
Lu said: "He only has little wings as well just like a penguin which he sticks out when he walks. I guess that's why he never flies."
Local media at Jiangsu, the province in eastern China where the bird lives, nicknamed the confused chicken Mumble after the main character in the animated classic Happy Feet, about a penguin that can't sing so dances instead. Lu added: "I had not seen the film but I like the name, although my bird can't dance - and I don't think he can swim either.
But he should be happy - my family all like him and so we decided to keep him instead of putting him in the pot."
Lu said: "He only has little wings as well just like a penguin which he sticks out when he walks. I guess that's why he never flies."
Local media at Jiangsu, the province in eastern China where the bird lives, nicknamed the confused chicken Mumble after the main character in the animated classic Happy Feet, about a penguin that can't sing so dances instead. Lu added: "I had not seen the film but I like the name, although my bird can't dance - and I don't think he can swim either.
But he should be happy - my family all like him and so we decided to keep him instead of putting him in the pot."
Man says the devil told him to have sex with donkey
A man for having sex with a donkey says the devil made him do it. Stephen Kipkemoi Rono was convicted and sentenced to 14 years' jail after pleading guilty before a court in the southern town of Narok in Kenya.
The father of two was charged with having "carnal knowledge of an animal, namely a donkey, which is against the order of nature."
Rono pleaded for leniency claiming that he had been deceived by the devil. He has two weeks to appeal the sentence.
"I am sorry. I plead for leniency because it's the devil who sent me. I have been living alone since my wife left me to marry another man," he told the court.
The father of two was charged with having "carnal knowledge of an animal, namely a donkey, which is against the order of nature."
Rono pleaded for leniency claiming that he had been deceived by the devil. He has two weeks to appeal the sentence.
"I am sorry. I plead for leniency because it's the devil who sent me. I have been living alone since my wife left me to marry another man," he told the court.
Man charged with masturbating in park after senior tells police man's private part is pierced
A Belmar man was arrested in Downtown Jersey City after allegedly masturbating in front of a sharp-eyed 76-year-old woman who helped identify the man by telling police she noticed his private part was pierced, officials said.
Lionel B. Froloff, 32, was arrested in Hamilton Park at 2:26 p.m. Monday and charged with lewdness and endangering the welfare of children in a nearby playground. The woman, who was sitting with her sister, told police she saw Froloff looking at her with a strange expression on his face and then realized what he was doing to himself.
Arriving officers noticed Froloff had a pierced tongue and when the cop asked if he had any other piercings, Froloff confirmed what his victim had spotted moments earlier. At the police station Froloff told police he was looking for work and then stopped in the park for a couple of hours.
The officers said Froloff then became angry, used profanity, and insulted one female officer using a racial slur and a second female officer with a sexual suggestion. Finally, Froloff began complaining of pain in his pants and said the piercing might be infected, reports said. He was taken by ambulance to the Jersey City Medical Center for treatment.
Lionel B. Froloff, 32, was arrested in Hamilton Park at 2:26 p.m. Monday and charged with lewdness and endangering the welfare of children in a nearby playground. The woman, who was sitting with her sister, told police she saw Froloff looking at her with a strange expression on his face and then realized what he was doing to himself.
Arriving officers noticed Froloff had a pierced tongue and when the cop asked if he had any other piercings, Froloff confirmed what his victim had spotted moments earlier. At the police station Froloff told police he was looking for work and then stopped in the park for a couple of hours.
The officers said Froloff then became angry, used profanity, and insulted one female officer using a racial slur and a second female officer with a sexual suggestion. Finally, Froloff began complaining of pain in his pants and said the piercing might be infected, reports said. He was taken by ambulance to the Jersey City Medical Center for treatment.
Runty kiwi on treadmill for rehab
He may be a runt with two broken legs, but Piwi the kiwi is as tough as they come. The accident-prone brown kiwi works out regularly on the treadmill in Massey University's Wildlife Ward. He was first admitted in December after being discovered near Mt Ruapehu with a broken leg that had healed badly.
Piwi would have little chance surviving in the wild, especially as he's only half the size of a normal four-year-old kiwi. Massey veterinarians had to rebreak his leg to straighten it. In April he was sent to the Rainbow Springs Kiwi Wildlife Park near Rotorua for further rehabilitation, but broke his other leg the first night he was there.
Losing blood, Piwi was rushed back to Massey University's veterinarian centre. Fortunately another kiwi was able to provide blood for a transfusion and Piwi pulled through. But the fight wasn't over.
Palmerston North physiotherapist Fiona O'Connor prescribed a strict rehabilitation regime, including treadmill workouts, massage and physio exercises. It's the first time veterinarians have used a treadmill for a kiwi's muscle development.
Piwi didn't take to it naturally and would be grumpy when woken for his workout three times a week, Dr Argilla said. "He was particularly stubborn in true kiwi form, and just sat there [as if saying] I'm not going to do this."
He'd bite carer's hands when he got fed up with walking. But he's quite a tolerant little guy." Staff from Rainbow Springs picked Piwi up yesterday for further rehabilitation before he is released back into the wild.
Piwi would have little chance surviving in the wild, especially as he's only half the size of a normal four-year-old kiwi. Massey veterinarians had to rebreak his leg to straighten it. In April he was sent to the Rainbow Springs Kiwi Wildlife Park near Rotorua for further rehabilitation, but broke his other leg the first night he was there.
Losing blood, Piwi was rushed back to Massey University's veterinarian centre. Fortunately another kiwi was able to provide blood for a transfusion and Piwi pulled through. But the fight wasn't over.
Palmerston North physiotherapist Fiona O'Connor prescribed a strict rehabilitation regime, including treadmill workouts, massage and physio exercises. It's the first time veterinarians have used a treadmill for a kiwi's muscle development.
Piwi didn't take to it naturally and would be grumpy when woken for his workout three times a week, Dr Argilla said. "He was particularly stubborn in true kiwi form, and just sat there [as if saying] I'm not going to do this."
He'd bite carer's hands when he got fed up with walking. But he's quite a tolerant little guy." Staff from Rainbow Springs picked Piwi up yesterday for further rehabilitation before he is released back into the wild.
Miss Australia's national costume is a 'travesty'
An outlandish outfit designed to represent Australia at the Miss Universe beauty contest has been branded "a national joke" and "a travesty". The costume, which will be worn by Jesinta Campbell at the competition in Las Vegas next month, features high-heeled Ugg boots, a brown one piece swimming costume hand-painted by an Aboriginal artist and a lamb's wool shrug. The ensemble is topped off by a voluminous flamenco-inspired rainbow skirt.
While Miss Campbell, 18, has said that she thinks the costume is "incredible", the pastiche of styles has failed to win many fans in Australia, and has been called eye-catching, but for all the wrong reasons. Melbourne's Herald Sun newspaper said the costume was "a national joke" and members of the fashion industry have agreed.
Clare Maclean, fashion features editor of Australian Grazia magazine, described it as a "travesty", but admitted that bizarre costumes were part of the Miss Universe tradition. "She's bang on trend with the shrug and boots shearling is very hot right now but the skirt looks like it was made for a flamenco dancer from discount fabric bin scraps," Maclean said.
Miss Campbell, who faces having to parade on stage wearing the outfit in front of thousands of viewers has defended the look, which was created by the Sydney designer, Natasha Dwyer, saying she was proud to wear it. "Part of our Australian identity is our indigenous heritage and it was so important that it was included in the national costume," she said. "An Aboriginal artist hand-painted my swimsuit, which is the base of the outfit, which is very special. I have a little sheepskin shrug, which I think is very Australian – very Outback."
While Miss Campbell, 18, has said that she thinks the costume is "incredible", the pastiche of styles has failed to win many fans in Australia, and has been called eye-catching, but for all the wrong reasons. Melbourne's Herald Sun newspaper said the costume was "a national joke" and members of the fashion industry have agreed.
Clare Maclean, fashion features editor of Australian Grazia magazine, described it as a "travesty", but admitted that bizarre costumes were part of the Miss Universe tradition. "She's bang on trend with the shrug and boots shearling is very hot right now but the skirt looks like it was made for a flamenco dancer from discount fabric bin scraps," Maclean said.
Miss Campbell, who faces having to parade on stage wearing the outfit in front of thousands of viewers has defended the look, which was created by the Sydney designer, Natasha Dwyer, saying she was proud to wear it. "Part of our Australian identity is our indigenous heritage and it was so important that it was included in the national costume," she said. "An Aboriginal artist hand-painted my swimsuit, which is the base of the outfit, which is very special. I have a little sheepskin shrug, which I think is very Australian – very Outback."
News raider says he's doing it for fat people
Paul Yarrow, the man nicknamed the news raider after appearing in the background of several live television reports, has dedicated his appearances to the overweight. The 38-year-old care worker from south London, whose identity became the subject of feverish online speculation, said he wanted to make a statement “about the image conscious media”. “I am overweight and people like me are treated as unsightly because of the way they look,” he said.
“Here I am. I am sorry I don’t have a suit and that I am not lovely and slim. Being overweight I get ignored. The point I am making is that the more you push me aside, the more I’m going to be determined to make my presence known.” Mr Yarrow started coming to mainstream attention late last year, when comedian Russell Howard featured him on his BBC show Russell Howard's Good News, giving him the sobriquet of the "fat guy who just wants to get on TV".
“I was really quite angry because that was not what I wanted, and that is the perception – fat people are treated as humorous or not bright and I am this comedy character but that is not the statement I wanted to make," said Mr Yarrow. A website, fidgetwith.com, has been tracking his appearances and – until now – wondering who he is, and displaying screenshots of his various appearances. Mr Yarrow has attended protests outside the Israeli Embassy in Kensington over the storming of aid flotillas travelling to Gaza.
He has also been spotted on the BBC website, in a story about an unofficial ceremony marking the fifth anniversary of the 7/7 bombings, and in the background of an episode of the BBC programme Antiques Roadshow. Most of the sightings have been in London, including outside the Houses of Parliament, Peckham, Hyde Park and the Gaza protest march in May that went from Downing Street to the Israeli embassy. Mr Yarrow, who has been a carer since the age of 12, said he would be unlikely to continue making his appearances because of all the attention. He has been looking after his 80-year-old mother Stella who has suffered from breast cancer, and cared for his father Patrick who died in 2008.
“Here I am. I am sorry I don’t have a suit and that I am not lovely and slim. Being overweight I get ignored. The point I am making is that the more you push me aside, the more I’m going to be determined to make my presence known.” Mr Yarrow started coming to mainstream attention late last year, when comedian Russell Howard featured him on his BBC show Russell Howard's Good News, giving him the sobriquet of the "fat guy who just wants to get on TV".
“I was really quite angry because that was not what I wanted, and that is the perception – fat people are treated as humorous or not bright and I am this comedy character but that is not the statement I wanted to make," said Mr Yarrow. A website, fidgetwith.com, has been tracking his appearances and – until now – wondering who he is, and displaying screenshots of his various appearances. Mr Yarrow has attended protests outside the Israeli Embassy in Kensington over the storming of aid flotillas travelling to Gaza.
He has also been spotted on the BBC website, in a story about an unofficial ceremony marking the fifth anniversary of the 7/7 bombings, and in the background of an episode of the BBC programme Antiques Roadshow. Most of the sightings have been in London, including outside the Houses of Parliament, Peckham, Hyde Park and the Gaza protest march in May that went from Downing Street to the Israeli embassy. Mr Yarrow, who has been a carer since the age of 12, said he would be unlikely to continue making his appearances because of all the attention. He has been looking after his 80-year-old mother Stella who has suffered from breast cancer, and cared for his father Patrick who died in 2008.
Residents' anger over urinating taxi drivers
Angry residents have claimed taxi drivers are ruining their "quality of life" by urinating outside their homes. People living in Kenilworth Close, Slough, have put up a sign saying, "This is not a public toilet" and photographed drivers caught short. Colin Davey, who has started a campaign, said drivers were acting like animals urinating in an area where disabled and elderly people live.
One firm suspended a driver and others said behaviour would not be tolerated. Mr Davey has also gathered dozens of signatures to hand in to Slough Borough Council and Thames Valley Police to tackle the problem. "Taxi drivers come into the close, urinate and drive out again," he said.
"The problem is they just urinate in front of our homes. This is a filthy habit and one way or the other we will stop it. The majority of housing is allocated to supported housing, so many of the residents are disabled, elderly or unfortunately have terminal illnesses." He said although the problem has been reported to police, it still occurred.
"Maybe it's not important enough to them but it certainly ruins our quality of life," Mr Davey added. "If the government and the police want to keep blaming the young ones for anti-social behaviour, maybe they should look at the behaviour of the so-called adults who call themselves professional drivers yet act like animals."
One firm suspended a driver and others said behaviour would not be tolerated. Mr Davey has also gathered dozens of signatures to hand in to Slough Borough Council and Thames Valley Police to tackle the problem. "Taxi drivers come into the close, urinate and drive out again," he said.
"The problem is they just urinate in front of our homes. This is a filthy habit and one way or the other we will stop it. The majority of housing is allocated to supported housing, so many of the residents are disabled, elderly or unfortunately have terminal illnesses." He said although the problem has been reported to police, it still occurred.
"Maybe it's not important enough to them but it certainly ruins our quality of life," Mr Davey added. "If the government and the police want to keep blaming the young ones for anti-social behaviour, maybe they should look at the behaviour of the so-called adults who call themselves professional drivers yet act like animals."
Squirrel meat flies off supermarket's shelves
The owner of a local Budgens supermarket has defended selling squirrel meat as a sustainable way of feeding people and says it has a "lovely" taste. Andrew Thornton, started selling the meat about five months ago after requests from customers at his Budgens store in Crouch End, north London. "There are too many squirrels around, we might as well eat them rather than cull them and dispose of them," he said. Thornton sells up to 15 squirrels a week when they are in stock.
The animal welfare group Viva accused Budgens of profiting from a "wildlife massacre". Its founder and director, Juliet Gellatley, said: "If this store is attempting to stand out from the crowd by selling squirrel, the only message they are giving out is that they are happy to have the blood of a beautiful wild animal on their hands for the sake of a few quid." Thornton rejected the claim: "That's not the case at all. If we are selling 10 or 15 a week I don't think that falls into the definition of a massacre."
He predicted more people would eat squirrel in the future. "I think it's lovely. It's bit like rabbit. I think there will be a lot of fuss about this now, but in a few years it will become accepted practice that we eat squirrels. People don't bat an eyelid now about eating rabbit," he said. Thornton buys the meat from a game supplier in Suffolk, the Wild Meat Company, but said he hadn't stocked it for several weeks because the firm had run out of squirrel while it focused on other game products. "We would like to get it back on shelves as soon as we can. We are a mainstream supermarket but we take a very strong sustainability stance," he said.
"We got into it because we had requests from customers. There are a lot of people who understand sustainability issues around here." Thornton claimed that squirrel meat is more sustainable than beef. "It takes about 15 tonnes of grain to produce one tonne of beef, which is not sustainable. "Squirrels will be culled anyway. You have two choices. Either you dispose of them or you eat them."
With audio interview. There are some squirrel recipes here.
The animal welfare group Viva accused Budgens of profiting from a "wildlife massacre". Its founder and director, Juliet Gellatley, said: "If this store is attempting to stand out from the crowd by selling squirrel, the only message they are giving out is that they are happy to have the blood of a beautiful wild animal on their hands for the sake of a few quid." Thornton rejected the claim: "That's not the case at all. If we are selling 10 or 15 a week I don't think that falls into the definition of a massacre."
He predicted more people would eat squirrel in the future. "I think it's lovely. It's bit like rabbit. I think there will be a lot of fuss about this now, but in a few years it will become accepted practice that we eat squirrels. People don't bat an eyelid now about eating rabbit," he said. Thornton buys the meat from a game supplier in Suffolk, the Wild Meat Company, but said he hadn't stocked it for several weeks because the firm had run out of squirrel while it focused on other game products. "We would like to get it back on shelves as soon as we can. We are a mainstream supermarket but we take a very strong sustainability stance," he said.
"We got into it because we had requests from customers. There are a lot of people who understand sustainability issues around here." Thornton claimed that squirrel meat is more sustainable than beef. "It takes about 15 tonnes of grain to produce one tonne of beef, which is not sustainable. "Squirrels will be culled anyway. You have two choices. Either you dispose of them or you eat them."
With audio interview. There are some squirrel recipes here.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Man and mother bear rescue cub from fishing net
For Alaska homeowners like Dane Havard, who lives on the Anchorage Hillside, it's not uncommon to see animals in the backyard, but on Monday Havard was witness to an unusual rescue and he caught it on video.
His neighbour helped free a baby black bear that was wrapped up in a dip net. "John, my neighbour, decided to try to pull the truck up, throw out a tow strap with a hook on the end, and try to grab the net without getting out of the truck obviously," Havard said.
The plan was to drag the baby bear back into the yard and cut a hole in the net so the cub could get out out safely, but the mother black bear wasn't interested in being helped. The young black bear was then quickly freed after its mother ripped through the net.
The mother bear then took hold of the cub, giving it a true bear hug. "It's almost as if she's saying, 'Wait until I get you home, I told you not to go up there,' kind of like I do my own kids," Havard said.
His neighbour helped free a baby black bear that was wrapped up in a dip net. "John, my neighbour, decided to try to pull the truck up, throw out a tow strap with a hook on the end, and try to grab the net without getting out of the truck obviously," Havard said.
The plan was to drag the baby bear back into the yard and cut a hole in the net so the cub could get out out safely, but the mother black bear wasn't interested in being helped. The young black bear was then quickly freed after its mother ripped through the net.
The mother bear then took hold of the cub, giving it a true bear hug. "It's almost as if she's saying, 'Wait until I get you home, I told you not to go up there,' kind of like I do my own kids," Havard said.
Fight over half a sandwich leads to assault charges
Police in Chatham, Ontario, have charged 27-year-old Ashley Stowe with assault after an alleged argument over a sandwich. Chatham-Kent police were dispatched to a home on the city’s Queen St. on Monday following a complaint of domestic violence.
Officials say just after 2 p.m., Stowe’s boyfriend made her a sandwich, and when she only ate half, he asked if he could eat the other half. She gave him permission. But according to police, a short time later Stowe became infuriated that the sandwich was eaten and allegedly punched her boyfriend in the face.
The police visit to the house just after 10 p.m. Monday night was prompted after a second dispute erupted - apparently unrelated to the sandwich - which resulted in the woman punching the man in the chest. She was arrested and charged with two counts of assault. Const. Michael Pearce, public information officer with the Chatham-Kent police, said he doesn’t recall police responding to other incidents regarding sandwiches.
Pearce said he did not know what type of sandwich the man had made that was worth fighting over. Stowe was granted $500 bail.
Officials say just after 2 p.m., Stowe’s boyfriend made her a sandwich, and when she only ate half, he asked if he could eat the other half. She gave him permission. But according to police, a short time later Stowe became infuriated that the sandwich was eaten and allegedly punched her boyfriend in the face.
The police visit to the house just after 10 p.m. Monday night was prompted after a second dispute erupted - apparently unrelated to the sandwich - which resulted in the woman punching the man in the chest. She was arrested and charged with two counts of assault. Const. Michael Pearce, public information officer with the Chatham-Kent police, said he doesn’t recall police responding to other incidents regarding sandwiches.
Pearce said he did not know what type of sandwich the man had made that was worth fighting over. Stowe was granted $500 bail.
Marijuana critic paid to get stoned
A Denver man gets paid to smoke pot and write about it as one of the first medical marijuana critics in the US. A decade after medical marijuana was legalized in Colorado, it's estimated about 2 percent of residents - or more than 100,000 people - have applied for medical marijuana licences.
According to one Harvard economist, roughly $18 billion is spent on pot every year in the U.S. Denver's Westword newspaper has capitalized on those numbers - hiring the man known as "William Breathes" to review pot dispensaries and the quality of the medical marijuana they sell. "He has his journalism degree," a Westword editor said. "He was a good writer, and he could also punctuate and he could spell, which was very different than a lot of people who applied for the job."
Breathes has been smoking marijuana for 15 years to ease chronic stomach pains. Now his medicine is paying his mortgage. "Load up a little bit and taste it," he said as he tested a joint he bought at a local dispensary. "Try and taste the smoke as it comes out. It has a really woody finish, almost like a mesquite finish to it. After a few hits, try to see what kind of buzz it is."
Breathes says his job can definitely be fun sometimes, and he still can't get over that he gets paid to take bong hits. But he also believes in the power of marijuana as medicine. "When I'm battling throwing up, pot really helps me the most - it's truly medical," he said.
According to one Harvard economist, roughly $18 billion is spent on pot every year in the U.S. Denver's Westword newspaper has capitalized on those numbers - hiring the man known as "William Breathes" to review pot dispensaries and the quality of the medical marijuana they sell. "He has his journalism degree," a Westword editor said. "He was a good writer, and he could also punctuate and he could spell, which was very different than a lot of people who applied for the job."
Breathes has been smoking marijuana for 15 years to ease chronic stomach pains. Now his medicine is paying his mortgage. "Load up a little bit and taste it," he said as he tested a joint he bought at a local dispensary. "Try and taste the smoke as it comes out. It has a really woody finish, almost like a mesquite finish to it. After a few hits, try to see what kind of buzz it is."
Breathes says his job can definitely be fun sometimes, and he still can't get over that he gets paid to take bong hits. But he also believes in the power of marijuana as medicine. "When I'm battling throwing up, pot really helps me the most - it's truly medical," he said.
Town officials consider introducing violation for eye-rolling
Elmhurst officials are considering creating a "disturbance and disorderly conduct" violation after a resident accused of rolling her eyes and sighing was ejected from a public meeting. City Attorney Don Storino has been directed by the city’s finance and council affairs committee to look at various sources including “Robert’s Rules of Order,” Illinois state statutes and policies adopted by other municipalities for a legal definition of disorderly conduct and disruptive behaviour.
Ald. Stephen Hipskind said Darlene Heslop rolled her eyes and sighed while attending a June 14 committee meeting. Heslop, who was asked to leave the meeting, said she favours adding a definition of disorderly conduct to the municipal code. “I’d like for them (city officials) to have a better understanding of the open meetings act and its meaning and to understand what disorderly conduct is,” she said.
Under state law, disorderly conduct is “an act in such unreasonable manner as to alarm or disturb another, or to provoke a breach of the peace.” Heslop, who was asked to leave the meeting during discussion of a proposal for the city to hire a state lobbyist, which she opposes, said she hopes adding the definition will help city officials better understand “what the public is entitled to” when attending a city meeting or conducting city business.
Storino said the issues of conduct or behaviour during a city meeting are not usually criminal matters. "It's not in any way a punishable offence by a fine," he said. "It's a matter of decorum."
Ald. Stephen Hipskind said Darlene Heslop rolled her eyes and sighed while attending a June 14 committee meeting. Heslop, who was asked to leave the meeting, said she favours adding a definition of disorderly conduct to the municipal code. “I’d like for them (city officials) to have a better understanding of the open meetings act and its meaning and to understand what disorderly conduct is,” she said.
Under state law, disorderly conduct is “an act in such unreasonable manner as to alarm or disturb another, or to provoke a breach of the peace.” Heslop, who was asked to leave the meeting during discussion of a proposal for the city to hire a state lobbyist, which she opposes, said she hopes adding the definition will help city officials better understand “what the public is entitled to” when attending a city meeting or conducting city business.
Storino said the issues of conduct or behaviour during a city meeting are not usually criminal matters. "It's not in any way a punishable offence by a fine," he said. "It's a matter of decorum."
Dog died after being forced to wear condom
A Sri Lankan immigrant living in Canada has pleaded guilty to animal cruelty after a bizarre sexual assault on the animal.
Two-year-old Labrador-cross Tyson was found in immense pain, unable to walk and with a blackened and bloody, grotesquely withered penis. The dog had had a condom placed over it’s penis and tied tightly, vets sedated Tyson and removed the condom but he was eventually euthanized for humanitarian reasons.
Tyson’s owner, 51-year-old Anjalo Abeywickrema was arrested in May after police tracked him using fingerprints taken from the dog’s prophylactic. Abeywickrema, who fled to Canada from his home in Sri Lanka after Tamil Tigers allegedly murdered his family was known to the police as he had a previous conviction for manslaughter.
In the time immediately after Tyson was discovered wearing the rubber sheath and suffering from damaged genitals speculation began that he was the victim of vile bestiality, but appearing in court yesterday Abeywickrema denies any animal sex and claims he fitted the condom to prevent the dog from urinating in his apartment.
Two-year-old Labrador-cross Tyson was found in immense pain, unable to walk and with a blackened and bloody, grotesquely withered penis. The dog had had a condom placed over it’s penis and tied tightly, vets sedated Tyson and removed the condom but he was eventually euthanized for humanitarian reasons.
Tyson’s owner, 51-year-old Anjalo Abeywickrema was arrested in May after police tracked him using fingerprints taken from the dog’s prophylactic. Abeywickrema, who fled to Canada from his home in Sri Lanka after Tamil Tigers allegedly murdered his family was known to the police as he had a previous conviction for manslaughter.
In the time immediately after Tyson was discovered wearing the rubber sheath and suffering from damaged genitals speculation began that he was the victim of vile bestiality, but appearing in court yesterday Abeywickrema denies any animal sex and claims he fitted the condom to prevent the dog from urinating in his apartment.
Spectacular truck crash during race in Brazil
A spectacular crash interrupted a race of Brazil's Formula Truck series.
A driver lost control of his Ford and tore off the entire cockpit of his competitor's truck.
Bruno Junqueira lost his brakes after making a turn at the Interlagos race track and crashed into Diumar Bueno's truck at high speed in the fourth lap.
Bueno walked out of his truck cab unharmed, but Junqueira became trapped in his truck rig and had to be removed by rescue crews. He was later taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
A driver lost control of his Ford and tore off the entire cockpit of his competitor's truck.
Bruno Junqueira lost his brakes after making a turn at the Interlagos race track and crashed into Diumar Bueno's truck at high speed in the fourth lap.
Bueno walked out of his truck cab unharmed, but Junqueira became trapped in his truck rig and had to be removed by rescue crews. He was later taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
Job applicant can now add 'shoplifting' to her resume
Don't leave your resume behind at the scene of the crime. Barrie, Ontario, police didn't have to look too hard for an alleged shoplifter who was hunting for a job at the same time over the weekend.
The 40-year-old woman was at a Bayfield St. store for a job interview but after meeting the store manager and handing over her resume, the woman was spotted on store security cameras allegedly lifted several items, police said. She bolted with the items and the store manager, who was in the backroom at the time, called the cops.
Police attended the store and, as they say in their press release, "easily identified the thief using her resume." Investigators sifting through security footage also found the woman had been in the store the previous day.
Police allege she is on video stealing the clothing that she wore for her job interview. The unidentified woman has been charged with two counts of theft under $5,000. "It is unlikely that she will be getting an interview in the near future," police concluded.
The 40-year-old woman was at a Bayfield St. store for a job interview but after meeting the store manager and handing over her resume, the woman was spotted on store security cameras allegedly lifted several items, police said. She bolted with the items and the store manager, who was in the backroom at the time, called the cops.
Police attended the store and, as they say in their press release, "easily identified the thief using her resume." Investigators sifting through security footage also found the woman had been in the store the previous day.
Police allege she is on video stealing the clothing that she wore for her job interview. The unidentified woman has been charged with two counts of theft under $5,000. "It is unlikely that she will be getting an interview in the near future," police concluded.
Filipino inmates have teeth pulled out with pliers
Seeing the dentist can be a painful experience - and for these men there really is no escaping the agony. Inmates at a Manila jail grimace as they have their teeth pulled.
And no wonder ... there is no anaesthetic, no privacy, not even a chair for the prisoners in the regulation yellow T-shirts of Quezon City jail in the Philippines. At least the men had no extra pain in the pocket, the dental care is offered for free.
And no wonder ... there is no anaesthetic, no privacy, not even a chair for the prisoners in the regulation yellow T-shirts of Quezon City jail in the Philippines. At least the men had no extra pain in the pocket, the dental care is offered for free.
Zedonk born at US wildlife centre
In all his years running the Chestatee Wildlife Preserve, C.W. Wathen has never seen it happen. But five days ago, a zedonk was born.
“The animals have been running (in the fields) together for more than 40 years, but this is the first time that this has happened here,” said Wathen, the preserve’s founder and general manager. “We never suspected that they (had mated), so it was quite a surprise when the zedonk was born.”
The animal is a mix between a zebra and donkey. With black stripes prominently displayed on her legs and face, her zebra heritage is readily apparent, but her slender face and spindly legs are more donkeylike.
“White tigers are more of our calling card, but this is one of the most unique animals that has ever been born here,” Wathen said. While she was born to a donkey mother, the baby zedonk’s instincts are all zebra.
“Usually, a foal will lay over on its side, sunning itself,” Wathen said. “But the zedonk sits up at all time — like she’s on alert looking out for predators. She’s still got some of her wild instincts.”
Although it’s uncommon for donkeys and zebras to mate, it isn’t unheard of. In 2005, a zebra gave birth to a zedonk in Barbados. And in the 1970s, three zedonks were born at a European zoo to a donkey mother.
With photo gallery.
“The animals have been running (in the fields) together for more than 40 years, but this is the first time that this has happened here,” said Wathen, the preserve’s founder and general manager. “We never suspected that they (had mated), so it was quite a surprise when the zedonk was born.”
The animal is a mix between a zebra and donkey. With black stripes prominently displayed on her legs and face, her zebra heritage is readily apparent, but her slender face and spindly legs are more donkeylike.
“White tigers are more of our calling card, but this is one of the most unique animals that has ever been born here,” Wathen said. While she was born to a donkey mother, the baby zedonk’s instincts are all zebra.
“Usually, a foal will lay over on its side, sunning itself,” Wathen said. “But the zedonk sits up at all time — like she’s on alert looking out for predators. She’s still got some of her wild instincts.”
Although it’s uncommon for donkeys and zebras to mate, it isn’t unheard of. In 2005, a zebra gave birth to a zedonk in Barbados. And in the 1970s, three zedonks were born at a European zoo to a donkey mother.
With photo gallery.
Disabled man eaten to death by maggots
A disabled Austrian man was eaten to death by maggots in his bed while his partner slept beside him.
The 61-year-old retiree died in an ambulance on his way to hospital in Vienna on Tuesday with the maggots having partly devoured his back.
Paramedics notified police after discovering the shocking state of hygiene in the man's home, and his 34-year-old partner was questioned over his condition. "The man had not wanted to be washed for a long time," a police spokesman said.
According to police, the couple had been together for around a decade, and the victim's partner had slept in the same bed right up until his death. The dead man had been paralysed for several years following a stroke.
The 61-year-old retiree died in an ambulance on his way to hospital in Vienna on Tuesday with the maggots having partly devoured his back.
Paramedics notified police after discovering the shocking state of hygiene in the man's home, and his 34-year-old partner was questioned over his condition. "The man had not wanted to be washed for a long time," a police spokesman said.
According to police, the couple had been together for around a decade, and the victim's partner had slept in the same bed right up until his death. The dead man had been paralysed for several years following a stroke.
Nepalese "Buddha boy" admits to beating up locals for disturbing his meditation
A Nepalese man popularly known as "Buddha boy" is being investigated by police amid reports he beat a group of locals for disturbing his meditation. Ram Bahadur Bomjan has admitted to assaulting some of the local villagers in Bara district on Thursday. Mr Bomjan is famed for spending months in the forest without eating.
His devotees believe he is the reincarnation of the Buddha, and he says he has not eaten since 2005. When he started his fast, he pledged he would meditate for six years, until he gained enlightenment.
Manoj Neupane, superintendent of police for Bara district, said police were sent to investigate after 17 people lodged complaints. Those who had been injured were sent for medical checks, he said. The villagers claimed they had been looking for wild fruit and vegetables.
Mr Bomjan said he had slapped them "two or three times" after they came onto his platform and mimicked him, while the villagers allege they were assaulted more seriously. "They disturbed me while I was meditating... tried to manhandle me," Mr Bomjan said. "I was therefore forced to beat them."
His devotees believe he is the reincarnation of the Buddha, and he says he has not eaten since 2005. When he started his fast, he pledged he would meditate for six years, until he gained enlightenment.
Manoj Neupane, superintendent of police for Bara district, said police were sent to investigate after 17 people lodged complaints. Those who had been injured were sent for medical checks, he said. The villagers claimed they had been looking for wild fruit and vegetables.
Mr Bomjan said he had slapped them "two or three times" after they came onto his platform and mimicked him, while the villagers allege they were assaulted more seriously. "They disturbed me while I was meditating... tried to manhandle me," Mr Bomjan said. "I was therefore forced to beat them."
Plastic Bertrand admits Ça n'etait pas moi
Belgian artist Plastic Bertrand has admitted he did not sing his 1977 song Ça Plane Pour Moi, which become a worldwide hit. He claims to have been manipulated by his producer. “I admit it wasn’t my voice,” says a bitter Plastic Bertrand in an interview with the Belgian daily Le Soir, “but it must be said that the whole deception was set up by Lou Deprijck.” Plastic Bertrand made the admission a day after an expert linguist concluded that the voice on the song, which sold over 900,000 copies, belonged to Deprijck.
The expert commissioned by a Belgian judge spent three months comparing the original 1977 recording to a version released by Plastic Bertrand’s producer in 2006 and concluded the same person was singing. “Given the end of sentences on the recording, it is clear the voice belongs to a Ch’ti (northern Frenchman) or a Picard,” says the expert. Therefore the true performer of the song was not Plastic Bertrand, who was born in Brussels, but Lou Deprijck, who was from south-west Belgium, where the accent is similar to the northern French accent.
However, Plastic Bertrand, whose real name is Roger Jouret, was quick to deny he was behind the deception and claims he was manipulated by his producer. “He banned me from going to the studio. I was stuck. I was in the shit. And the day I left [record label] RKM to be free, he smeared me,” he told Le Soir, “So I took him to court for slander but I lost because I accused him of being a crook. But now, I’ve had enough. I’ll sue him again for slander.”
Plastic Bertrand says Lou Deprijck asked him to “shut up” in exchange for 0.5 per cent of the rights, and promised to record a new version of the song with Plastic Bertrand’s voice. “But of course he never did.” Deprijck also claims he sang Plastic Bertrand’s first four albums, released from 1977 to 1981, and that the record company preferred to have a punk figure perform them. According to Le Soir, it was “an open secret” in Belgium that Deprijck, who wrote and produced the song Ça Plane Pour Moi, also sung it.
The expert commissioned by a Belgian judge spent three months comparing the original 1977 recording to a version released by Plastic Bertrand’s producer in 2006 and concluded the same person was singing. “Given the end of sentences on the recording, it is clear the voice belongs to a Ch’ti (northern Frenchman) or a Picard,” says the expert. Therefore the true performer of the song was not Plastic Bertrand, who was born in Brussels, but Lou Deprijck, who was from south-west Belgium, where the accent is similar to the northern French accent.
However, Plastic Bertrand, whose real name is Roger Jouret, was quick to deny he was behind the deception and claims he was manipulated by his producer. “He banned me from going to the studio. I was stuck. I was in the shit. And the day I left [record label] RKM to be free, he smeared me,” he told Le Soir, “So I took him to court for slander but I lost because I accused him of being a crook. But now, I’ve had enough. I’ll sue him again for slander.”
Plastic Bertrand says Lou Deprijck asked him to “shut up” in exchange for 0.5 per cent of the rights, and promised to record a new version of the song with Plastic Bertrand’s voice. “But of course he never did.” Deprijck also claims he sang Plastic Bertrand’s first four albums, released from 1977 to 1981, and that the record company preferred to have a punk figure perform them. According to Le Soir, it was “an open secret” in Belgium that Deprijck, who wrote and produced the song Ça Plane Pour Moi, also sung it.
Ex-pupil dressed as The Joker set fire to school
A former school pupil dressed up as 'Batman' character 'The Joker 'and set fire to the building causing more than €1m worth of damage, a court heard yesterday. Christopher Clancy (19) of Cherrywood Grove, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to arson at Colaiste Chillian on the Old Nangor Road on May 10, 2009. Clancy, who will be sentenced later, told gardai when he was arrested at the scene that he burnt the school down "because it is run by hypocrites and I didn't like the way they treated my friends". Garda Liam Ganny told the court that Clancy, who had left the school the previous November, filled six large jerry cans with petrol and cut his way through a wire-mesh fence to access the school grounds.
He smashed in a glass door and proceeded to spill the contents of one can along the corridor. He then lit the petrol and escaped from the school. When gardai arrived at the scene they noticed a man dressed "in a purple suit, with green hair, a white face and red painted lips". "He was dressed up as The Joker from 'Batman'," said Gda Ganny. "He then told us to go around the corner and we would see what he had done." Clancy had video-recorded the burning building on his mobile phone and had planned to send the video clip to his friends.
He told gardai he had left the school five months previous to the arson attack and "that's when I planned the attack". He purchased the jerry cans over a five-week period and hid them in the bushes near the school. He bought 100 litres of petrol from a nearby petrol station.He told gardai: "I am glad I did it because the people will realise they can't treat students as sub-human." The school was closed down for five days following the fire and Leaving Certificate students had to be accommodated at another school to sit their exams.
Seamus Clarke, defending, said: "The fire was contained to the back of the school and Mr Clancy did not attempt to flee the scene. He was 17 at the time of the offence and is an introspective and reserved person. He left school to attend Youth Reach," said Mr Clarke. He is now with the Tower Project and plans to attend Dun Laoghaire College of Art and Design in September. Judge Patricia Ryan said the offence "seems to be a one-off incident" and "the difficulty for the accused is that he hasn't really addressed the depressive episode". She ordered that he attends his GP for a medical report and adjourned sentencing until October.
He smashed in a glass door and proceeded to spill the contents of one can along the corridor. He then lit the petrol and escaped from the school. When gardai arrived at the scene they noticed a man dressed "in a purple suit, with green hair, a white face and red painted lips". "He was dressed up as The Joker from 'Batman'," said Gda Ganny. "He then told us to go around the corner and we would see what he had done." Clancy had video-recorded the burning building on his mobile phone and had planned to send the video clip to his friends.
He told gardai he had left the school five months previous to the arson attack and "that's when I planned the attack". He purchased the jerry cans over a five-week period and hid them in the bushes near the school. He bought 100 litres of petrol from a nearby petrol station.He told gardai: "I am glad I did it because the people will realise they can't treat students as sub-human." The school was closed down for five days following the fire and Leaving Certificate students had to be accommodated at another school to sit their exams.
Seamus Clarke, defending, said: "The fire was contained to the back of the school and Mr Clancy did not attempt to flee the scene. He was 17 at the time of the offence and is an introspective and reserved person. He left school to attend Youth Reach," said Mr Clarke. He is now with the Tower Project and plans to attend Dun Laoghaire College of Art and Design in September. Judge Patricia Ryan said the offence "seems to be a one-off incident" and "the difficulty for the accused is that he hasn't really addressed the depressive episode". She ordered that he attends his GP for a medical report and adjourned sentencing until October.
Boy, 5, wins £6,000 in supermarket defamation case
A five-year-old Irish boy who was wrongly accused of stealing a bag of crisps has won 7,500 euros (£6,300) damages for defamation of character. The case concerned Tadhg Mooney from Balbriggan in County Dublin. The court heard he was in a local branch of Lidl with his mother in June 2009 when a shop assistant grabbed his arm and made the accusation.
His barrister told the court her client had suffered injury to his reputation. She added that, Tadhg, now aged six, had also been caused to suffer distress and inconvenience. The Circuit Civil Court also heard that the action of the shop assistant in grabbing the boy's arm amounted to false imprisonment and assault.
The barrister told the judge, Mr Justice Matthew Deery, that she was recommending acceptance by the court of a settlement offer of 7,500 euros and costs by Lidl Ireland Ltd. Mr Justice Deery approved the offer.
On Wednesday, the family's lawyer Dermot McNamara said that Tadhg's mother had shown a receipt for the bag of crisps to the store. However, he said the shop manager failed to take her concerns seriously, causing her to take legal proceedings against the firm for slander, for false imprisonment, assault and negligence. "We managed to settle it over negotiations lasting for a month or two," Mr McNamara said.
His barrister told the court her client had suffered injury to his reputation. She added that, Tadhg, now aged six, had also been caused to suffer distress and inconvenience. The Circuit Civil Court also heard that the action of the shop assistant in grabbing the boy's arm amounted to false imprisonment and assault.
The barrister told the judge, Mr Justice Matthew Deery, that she was recommending acceptance by the court of a settlement offer of 7,500 euros and costs by Lidl Ireland Ltd. Mr Justice Deery approved the offer.
On Wednesday, the family's lawyer Dermot McNamara said that Tadhg's mother had shown a receipt for the bag of crisps to the store. However, he said the shop manager failed to take her concerns seriously, causing her to take legal proceedings against the firm for slander, for false imprisonment, assault and negligence. "We managed to settle it over negotiations lasting for a month or two," Mr McNamara said.
Litter-picking dog amazes onlookers
An eco-friendly dog is amazing walkers after his owner trained him to pick up litter and drop it into the nearest bin. Lucky, a three-year-old Kelpie-Doberman cross, has been taught to identify different types of rubbish by owner William Keating, 55.
He collects cans, crisp packets and plastic bottles from parks near his home in Gloucester before jumping up onto his hind legs to place them into bins. However, if Lucky, who responds to sign language style commands, finds a glass bottle he barks twice so that William can check for broken shards.
Former builder William, who collects rubbish with Lucky for at least two hours every day, revealed the dog ”cheers up” local residents. He said: ”I only showed him how to do it twice and that was it. He has done it ever since. He does lots of tricks, families love him.
”He is pretty well known in Gloucester now but he is best known for collecting rubbish. You just need a lot of patience in the training, it’s about how you do it. He knows the location of all the bins in our local parks so whenever I point to a piece of rubbish he picks it up and goes straight to the nearest dustbin.
”There’s so much litter in the world that maybe it doesn’t make a huge difference but it cheers people up to see Lucky doing his bit in the local area. I don’t understand why people throw litter away because if a dog can put it into a bin then so can they.”
William has raised Lucky, who is a cross between a Kelpie, an Australian sheepdog, and a Doberman, from a puppy. Over the last three years he has taught him a variety of commands using complicated hand signals similar to sign language.
With large photo gallery.
He collects cans, crisp packets and plastic bottles from parks near his home in Gloucester before jumping up onto his hind legs to place them into bins. However, if Lucky, who responds to sign language style commands, finds a glass bottle he barks twice so that William can check for broken shards.
Former builder William, who collects rubbish with Lucky for at least two hours every day, revealed the dog ”cheers up” local residents. He said: ”I only showed him how to do it twice and that was it. He has done it ever since. He does lots of tricks, families love him.
”He is pretty well known in Gloucester now but he is best known for collecting rubbish. You just need a lot of patience in the training, it’s about how you do it. He knows the location of all the bins in our local parks so whenever I point to a piece of rubbish he picks it up and goes straight to the nearest dustbin.
”There’s so much litter in the world that maybe it doesn’t make a huge difference but it cheers people up to see Lucky doing his bit in the local area. I don’t understand why people throw litter away because if a dog can put it into a bin then so can they.”
William has raised Lucky, who is a cross between a Kelpie, an Australian sheepdog, and a Doberman, from a puppy. Over the last three years he has taught him a variety of commands using complicated hand signals similar to sign language.
With large photo gallery.
Woman who went to Lourdes to cure cerebral palsy returned with two broken legs
A cerebral palsy sufferer took a pilgrimage to Lourdes in the hope it would help her condition returned home with two broken legs after falling from a hoist.
The family of wheelchair-bound Patricia Mitchell are taking legal action against the organisers of the trip.
Ms Mitchell survived the 4ft fall, but her family claim, she never fully recovered and died earlier this year aged 63.
Photo from here.
She was diagnosed with a left leg broken in three places and her right leg was broken once on her return to the UK.
Now sisters Pauline Scarr and Terry Featherstone are suing for tens of thousands of pounds.
Mrs Featherstone, 60, said: "You go to Lourdes to get cured and she came back with two broken legs. It's unbelievable." Mrs Scarr, 62, said: "We want justice now for Patricia. I want answers."
The family of wheelchair-bound Patricia Mitchell are taking legal action against the organisers of the trip.
Ms Mitchell survived the 4ft fall, but her family claim, she never fully recovered and died earlier this year aged 63.
Photo from here.
She was diagnosed with a left leg broken in three places and her right leg was broken once on her return to the UK.
Now sisters Pauline Scarr and Terry Featherstone are suing for tens of thousands of pounds.
Mrs Featherstone, 60, said: "You go to Lourdes to get cured and she came back with two broken legs. It's unbelievable." Mrs Scarr, 62, said: "We want justice now for Patricia. I want answers."
Drunk dad didn't notice his car full of children was on fire
A father was so drunk driving his three children around he failed to spot his car was on fire. Adam Whitehead, 36, had his kids aged just nine, seven and five in the car with him when he was five times the drink-drive limit. A court heard how a woman driving behind Whitehead's car noticed black smoke billowing from his Fiat and sounded her horn.
Whitehead failed to stop but when he eventually got caught up in traffic, the worried motorist got out of her car and banged on his window. When he then still failed to act, she and her mother pulled the children out of the car and on to the pavement. Even then, a court heard, Whitehead failed to notice his missing kids and carried on driving - leaving them stranded by the side of the road.
He eventually stopped 70 yards away and was breathalysed by police who discovered he was five times the limit. He told them he had drunk a bottle of vodka the night before. Huddersfield magistrates spared him jail and sentenced him to 16 weeks in prison, suspended for two years. Chairman Mary Hirst told Whitehead: "Your driving ability was so impaired that you didn't even realise the clutch had burnt out and the car was on fire."
The court heard that one of his children was in the passenger seat with two in the back as he drove to a friend's house in Huddersfield, West Yorks, last month. When he was arrested by police he said he had stayed up drinking alone until the early hours to celebrate a job offer after three months out of work. He had driven a mile. The court heard he had previously lost a "high paid" job and was depressed after splitting from his wife who was in France. The pair still lived in the same house together because of financial constraints. Whitehead pleaded guilty to driving over the limit. He was banned for three years and told he must complete an alcohol treatment course. The dad was also told to do 60 hours' unpaid work and pay £85 court costs.
Whitehead failed to stop but when he eventually got caught up in traffic, the worried motorist got out of her car and banged on his window. When he then still failed to act, she and her mother pulled the children out of the car and on to the pavement. Even then, a court heard, Whitehead failed to notice his missing kids and carried on driving - leaving them stranded by the side of the road.
He eventually stopped 70 yards away and was breathalysed by police who discovered he was five times the limit. He told them he had drunk a bottle of vodka the night before. Huddersfield magistrates spared him jail and sentenced him to 16 weeks in prison, suspended for two years. Chairman Mary Hirst told Whitehead: "Your driving ability was so impaired that you didn't even realise the clutch had burnt out and the car was on fire."
The court heard that one of his children was in the passenger seat with two in the back as he drove to a friend's house in Huddersfield, West Yorks, last month. When he was arrested by police he said he had stayed up drinking alone until the early hours to celebrate a job offer after three months out of work. He had driven a mile. The court heard he had previously lost a "high paid" job and was depressed after splitting from his wife who was in France. The pair still lived in the same house together because of financial constraints. Whitehead pleaded guilty to driving over the limit. He was banned for three years and told he must complete an alcohol treatment course. The dad was also told to do 60 hours' unpaid work and pay £85 court costs.
Windbreak falls foul of overzealous council officials
A Bristol family found themselves on the wrong side of the law – for putting up a windbreak so they could have a picnic on the Downs. When the Hacker family headed to Clifton for a picnic they were looking forward to a pleasant day out in the sunshine. But little did they know their harmless windbreak would soon send the authorities racing to the scene. A pair of "strict" council officers ordered them to take down their protection from the elements as it contravened the byelaws of Clifton and Durdham Downs. Their crime: "Erecting a semi-permanent structure". At about 12.30pm on a breezy Sunday, Jon and Claire Hacker, their daughters Sophie, 11, and Emily, eight, drove from their home in Knowle Park to the popular green space.
Sophie's friend Erika, 11, who was visiting from Spain, was also looking forward to a nice game of cricket and a picnic. They set up their pitch, put up the windbreak and had a little game. But after about an hour, a council vehicle pulled up and two council officers stepped out. Mr Hacker said: "One of them asked who had erected the 'semi-permanent structure'. "'Are you on about the windbreak?' I said. He said that windbreaks weren't allowed due to the byelaws on the Downs. One of them gave me a leaflet about the byelaws and it said you weren't allowed to put up tents or a gazebo, but it didn't say anything about windbreaks.
Photo from SWNS.
"Both my family and I were shocked to be informed that we were breaking the law. I think they were being very strict." Mr Hacker, 41, of Melbury Road, was told what made the windbreak "semi-permanent" was the fact that stakes had been driven into the ground to secure it. So the family did as they were told and took it down. The Downs has been managed by the Downs Committee since the 1861 Clifton and Durdham Downs (Bristol) Act. Committee members are appointed in equal numbers from the city council and the Society of Merchant Venturers and byelaws have been made "to preserve the quality of the site and its landscape". Article 5 of the byelaws, headed "erection of structures", states: "No person shall on the Downs, without the consent of the Downs Committee, erect any post, rail, fence, pole, tent, booth, stand, building or other structure."
Anyone contravening the byelaws, which also ban driving cars on the grass and lighting fires, could get a fixed penalty or a maximum fine of £500 if the case goes to court. On seeing the byelaws in full, Mr Hacker said: "What a totally rubbish byelaw. What if I want to put up a sun shade to protect my kids from the sun? I was only trying to get the kids out and about, as the council wants." A city council spokesman said: "We apologise to the gentleman and his family. Clearly there needs to be discretion when enforcing the byelaws of the Downs. They are designed to prevent tents and gazebos being put up on the Downs, but there should be flexibility to allow families to use windbreaks – we shall instruct our enforcement officers and rangers on this basis."
Sophie's friend Erika, 11, who was visiting from Spain, was also looking forward to a nice game of cricket and a picnic. They set up their pitch, put up the windbreak and had a little game. But after about an hour, a council vehicle pulled up and two council officers stepped out. Mr Hacker said: "One of them asked who had erected the 'semi-permanent structure'. "'Are you on about the windbreak?' I said. He said that windbreaks weren't allowed due to the byelaws on the Downs. One of them gave me a leaflet about the byelaws and it said you weren't allowed to put up tents or a gazebo, but it didn't say anything about windbreaks.
Photo from SWNS.
"Both my family and I were shocked to be informed that we were breaking the law. I think they were being very strict." Mr Hacker, 41, of Melbury Road, was told what made the windbreak "semi-permanent" was the fact that stakes had been driven into the ground to secure it. So the family did as they were told and took it down. The Downs has been managed by the Downs Committee since the 1861 Clifton and Durdham Downs (Bristol) Act. Committee members are appointed in equal numbers from the city council and the Society of Merchant Venturers and byelaws have been made "to preserve the quality of the site and its landscape". Article 5 of the byelaws, headed "erection of structures", states: "No person shall on the Downs, without the consent of the Downs Committee, erect any post, rail, fence, pole, tent, booth, stand, building or other structure."
Anyone contravening the byelaws, which also ban driving cars on the grass and lighting fires, could get a fixed penalty or a maximum fine of £500 if the case goes to court. On seeing the byelaws in full, Mr Hacker said: "What a totally rubbish byelaw. What if I want to put up a sun shade to protect my kids from the sun? I was only trying to get the kids out and about, as the council wants." A city council spokesman said: "We apologise to the gentleman and his family. Clearly there needs to be discretion when enforcing the byelaws of the Downs. They are designed to prevent tents and gazebos being put up on the Downs, but there should be flexibility to allow families to use windbreaks – we shall instruct our enforcement officers and rangers on this basis."
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Baby 'drowned by priest during baptism'
A priest in eastern Europe has been accused of drowning a baby boy as he baptised him. Police are investigating Father Valentin for accidential homicide after witnesses at the ceremony said the priest did not cover the baby's mouth during the ritual.
Father Valentin had denied being responsible for the baby's death during the baptism in Moldova. The six-week-old baby died on the way to hospital and an autopsy found he had drowned, the baby's dad Dumitru Gaidau said.
Mr Gaidau, 36, said his son was clearly in distress during the ceremony. "He couldn't inhale, his face turned blue and he was foaming at the mouth. He [the priest] said we should not interrupt this their ritual," he said.
"We couldn't believe it that he just put his hand over his belly and over the head and submerged him three times in the water." Water was found in the baby's lungs.
The baby's godmother, Aliona Vacarciuc, said the baby had been crying as the priest submerged him in the water. "We couldn't believe it but we thought the priest must know what he's doing, but he didn't. When we got him back there was nothing that could be done anymore," she said.
When the baby's angry relatives confronted the priest, he told them he knew what he was doing and was experienced at baptisms, Ms Vacarciuc said. If found guilty of accidental homicide, Father Valentin could spend three years in jail.
Father Valentin had denied being responsible for the baby's death during the baptism in Moldova. The six-week-old baby died on the way to hospital and an autopsy found he had drowned, the baby's dad Dumitru Gaidau said.
Mr Gaidau, 36, said his son was clearly in distress during the ceremony. "He couldn't inhale, his face turned blue and he was foaming at the mouth. He [the priest] said we should not interrupt this their ritual," he said.
"We couldn't believe it that he just put his hand over his belly and over the head and submerged him three times in the water." Water was found in the baby's lungs.
The baby's godmother, Aliona Vacarciuc, said the baby had been crying as the priest submerged him in the water. "We couldn't believe it but we thought the priest must know what he's doing, but he didn't. When we got him back there was nothing that could be done anymore," she said.
When the baby's angry relatives confronted the priest, he told them he knew what he was doing and was experienced at baptisms, Ms Vacarciuc said. If found guilty of accidental homicide, Father Valentin could spend three years in jail.
Wedding photographer shot dead after he asked bride and groom to pose with guns
A wedding photographer was accidentally shot dead after he asked the happy couple to pose with guns as part of the big day celebrations, Italian police have revealed. Calogero Scimea, 45, was hit in the head after one of the guns went off. He died in front of horrified bride Valentina Anitra, 22, and groom Ignazio Licodia, 25, as well as their parents. Police said the tragedy happened just before the couple, who are teenage sweethearts, set off for their local church at Altofonte near Palermo on the island of Sicily.
Police were yesterday questioning them as well as their relatives. Prosecutors said the groom's parents rail worker Mario, 56, and his wife Rita, face possible charges of negligence leading to manslaughter, as the tragedy happened at their house. Officers said the bride's parents, who live nearby, were also asked if they had any guns and went home to bring one of their own. All the firearms were legally held. Ballistics experts have also been called in to examine the weapons, which were hunting rifles kept for shooting mainly wild boar in the nearby hills and countryside.
Palermo police spokesman Colonel Teo Luzi said: 'From what we have been able to establish the photographer had asked the parents of the bride and groom if they had any guns to use as props in a picture and one went off hitting him in the head killing him. He was only there as a favour for the wedding photographer who had been originally been booked but had to pull out as he was ill. The bride and groom were distraught and the wedding was immediately cancelled. The prosecutor is looking at bringing charges against the groom's parents as this is where the death took place but we need to examine the ballistics report first as the bride's parents also brought a weapon.'
He added: 'The firearms were legally held but in the interests of safety they should all be kept safe and not be handled by people who are not used to them and have no experience. What we are trying to establish is if the gun went off as it was being handled by the photographer or if it went off as it was handed to him but no-one is being very talkative.' In southern Italy and especially Sicily it is common for guns to be fired at family events or festivals as part of the celebrations and in the past this has led to numerous deaths and injuries especially around New Year. Altofonte's deputy mayor Angela Busellini said: 'No-one can believe it. Everybody is in a state of shock. It's such a tragic accident. The bride and groom are devastated.'
Police were yesterday questioning them as well as their relatives. Prosecutors said the groom's parents rail worker Mario, 56, and his wife Rita, face possible charges of negligence leading to manslaughter, as the tragedy happened at their house. Officers said the bride's parents, who live nearby, were also asked if they had any guns and went home to bring one of their own. All the firearms were legally held. Ballistics experts have also been called in to examine the weapons, which were hunting rifles kept for shooting mainly wild boar in the nearby hills and countryside.
Palermo police spokesman Colonel Teo Luzi said: 'From what we have been able to establish the photographer had asked the parents of the bride and groom if they had any guns to use as props in a picture and one went off hitting him in the head killing him. He was only there as a favour for the wedding photographer who had been originally been booked but had to pull out as he was ill. The bride and groom were distraught and the wedding was immediately cancelled. The prosecutor is looking at bringing charges against the groom's parents as this is where the death took place but we need to examine the ballistics report first as the bride's parents also brought a weapon.'
He added: 'The firearms were legally held but in the interests of safety they should all be kept safe and not be handled by people who are not used to them and have no experience. What we are trying to establish is if the gun went off as it was being handled by the photographer or if it went off as it was handed to him but no-one is being very talkative.' In southern Italy and especially Sicily it is common for guns to be fired at family events or festivals as part of the celebrations and in the past this has led to numerous deaths and injuries especially around New Year. Altofonte's deputy mayor Angela Busellini said: 'No-one can believe it. Everybody is in a state of shock. It's such a tragic accident. The bride and groom are devastated.'
Indian woman fined for 'defaming husband's manhood'
An Indian court has slapped a hefty fine on a woman who cited her husband's sexual impotence as grounds for divorce finding she had defamed his manhood.
A judge in central Madhya Pradesh state ordered Vandana Gurjar to pay 200,000 rupees (£2,747) to her estranged husband Hemant Chhalotre.
Mr Chhalotre had complained the impotence accusation "rendered him unmarriageable and sullied his prestige". The amount of the fine far exceeds the annual income of millions living in India.
Miss Gurjar married Mr Chhalotre nine years ago but left him after just three months, and later sought a divorce, which was granted by the courts, on the grounds that she "could not have conjugal bliss with Mr Chhalotre as he was impotent". Mr Chhalotre then sued his wife for defaming his manhood.
A judge in central Madhya Pradesh state ordered Vandana Gurjar to pay 200,000 rupees (£2,747) to her estranged husband Hemant Chhalotre.
Mr Chhalotre had complained the impotence accusation "rendered him unmarriageable and sullied his prestige". The amount of the fine far exceeds the annual income of millions living in India.
Miss Gurjar married Mr Chhalotre nine years ago but left him after just three months, and later sought a divorce, which was granted by the courts, on the grounds that she "could not have conjugal bliss with Mr Chhalotre as he was impotent". Mr Chhalotre then sued his wife for defaming his manhood.
Australian witch drags policeman 200m at high speed after claiming Earth laws don't apply
A self-proclaimed Geelong witch told a traffic cop she was not subject to earthly laws as she was "a being from another world". "Your laws and penalties don't apply to me. I'm not accepting them, I'm sorry, I must go, thank you," Eilish De Avalon said, driving off with the officer's arm caught in her driver's side door. The alien defence was played out in Geelong Magistrates' Court yesterday when De Avalon, who had also told police she "had a universal name that is not recognised here", pleaded guilty to recklessly causing serious injury, dangerous driving and driving while suspended, using a mobile phone while driving and failing to stop on police request on February 23. "De Avalon was a suspended driver and that is why she took off," Leading Senior Constable Geoff Lamb said.
The court heard that the policeman had feared for his life when De Avalon drove off with his right arm pinned in her car window. Senior Constable Geoff Lamb said De Avalon ignored repeated calls to stop and instead accelerated, reaching up to 60km/h as she dragged Leading Senior Constable Andrew Logan 190m along busy Moorabool St. De Avalon had only stopped after being forced to slow in traffic and the officer grabbed the keys from her ignition. De Avalon, 40, a marriage celebrant, of Victory Way, Highton, had initially been stopped after she was seen using a mobile phone while driving about 10.40am.
"When asked to produce her driver's licence, De Avalon replied that she did not have one," Sen-Constable Lamb said. "When asked why not, she said, 'I'm a being from another world and don't require one.' When asked to state her name and address De Avalon replied, 'I have a universal name that is not recognised here'." Sen-Constable Lamb said that when asked for ID, De Avalon said, "Your laws and penalties don't apply to me. I'm not accepting them, I'm sorry, I must go, thank you."
De Avalon began to wind her window up and Sen-Const Logan reached through in an attempt to remove the keys from her ignition. She continued to wind the window up pinning the officer's right arm to the door frame. "She then drove off dragging him along with her."
Sen-Constable Lamb said Sen-Constable Logan clung to the window with his left hand to prevent his body being dragged along and his legs from going under the wheels. The policeman suffered serious injuries to his right arm, shoulder and chest and is expected to undergo further surgery to repair torn ligaments in his shoulder. David Hone, for De Avalon, told the court his client had panicked that day. He described her behavior as the result of an instinctive reaction and being in some sort of "metaphysical state". The prosecutor called for an immediate custodial sentence saying De Avalon was lucky not to be in a higher court or the Coroner's Court. Magistrate Stephen Myall adjourned the matter for sentencing on August 6.
The court heard that the policeman had feared for his life when De Avalon drove off with his right arm pinned in her car window. Senior Constable Geoff Lamb said De Avalon ignored repeated calls to stop and instead accelerated, reaching up to 60km/h as she dragged Leading Senior Constable Andrew Logan 190m along busy Moorabool St. De Avalon had only stopped after being forced to slow in traffic and the officer grabbed the keys from her ignition. De Avalon, 40, a marriage celebrant, of Victory Way, Highton, had initially been stopped after she was seen using a mobile phone while driving about 10.40am.
"When asked to produce her driver's licence, De Avalon replied that she did not have one," Sen-Constable Lamb said. "When asked why not, she said, 'I'm a being from another world and don't require one.' When asked to state her name and address De Avalon replied, 'I have a universal name that is not recognised here'." Sen-Constable Lamb said that when asked for ID, De Avalon said, "Your laws and penalties don't apply to me. I'm not accepting them, I'm sorry, I must go, thank you."
De Avalon began to wind her window up and Sen-Const Logan reached through in an attempt to remove the keys from her ignition. She continued to wind the window up pinning the officer's right arm to the door frame. "She then drove off dragging him along with her."
Sen-Constable Lamb said Sen-Constable Logan clung to the window with his left hand to prevent his body being dragged along and his legs from going under the wheels. The policeman suffered serious injuries to his right arm, shoulder and chest and is expected to undergo further surgery to repair torn ligaments in his shoulder. David Hone, for De Avalon, told the court his client had panicked that day. He described her behavior as the result of an instinctive reaction and being in some sort of "metaphysical state". The prosecutor called for an immediate custodial sentence saying De Avalon was lucky not to be in a higher court or the Coroner's Court. Magistrate Stephen Myall adjourned the matter for sentencing on August 6.
Man claims his mother put faeces on toothbrush
A long-overdue bathroom cleaning has led to a toothbrush tampering accusation in Lower Saucon Township, police said.
Investigators say Deborah Woist, 52, decided on July 18 to tidy up a bathroom inside her Springtown Hill Road because it hadn't been cleaned in two months. The problem, police said, is that she used her son's toothbrush for the job and later returned it to its holder.
The son, 26-year-old Justin Novack, called police claiming his mother applied faeces to his tooth brush.
When police arrived at the home, Woist admitted she used the brush for cleaning and then put it back on the holder, police said. Woist was cited for harassment, police said.
Investigators say Deborah Woist, 52, decided on July 18 to tidy up a bathroom inside her Springtown Hill Road because it hadn't been cleaned in two months. The problem, police said, is that she used her son's toothbrush for the job and later returned it to its holder.
The son, 26-year-old Justin Novack, called police claiming his mother applied faeces to his tooth brush.
When police arrived at the home, Woist admitted she used the brush for cleaning and then put it back on the holder, police said. Woist was cited for harassment, police said.
Pet tiger escapes in South Africa on trip to vet
A tiger which was being kept as a pet in South Africa has escaped from the back of a truck and is running loose. A search is on to find the animal, called Panjo, after it escaped on the trip between Johannesburg, its home, and Springs, where it was being taken to a vet clinic for a check-up.
The authorities urged people to stay away from the animal. But its owner said was it was used to humans and told anyone who came across Panjo to treat it "like a dog".
Owner Rose Fernandes told local radio that all people had to do was pick up a stick and say "No" in a loud voice.
Brenda Santon, national wildlife manager for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), said SPCA teams were working to locate the escaped tiger and warned people not approach it. "We believe it is wrong to keep tigers as pets. The animal must be left to live in the jungle. They remain dangerous," she said.
The authorities urged people to stay away from the animal. But its owner said was it was used to humans and told anyone who came across Panjo to treat it "like a dog".
Owner Rose Fernandes told local radio that all people had to do was pick up a stick and say "No" in a loud voice.
Brenda Santon, national wildlife manager for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), said SPCA teams were working to locate the escaped tiger and warned people not approach it. "We believe it is wrong to keep tigers as pets. The animal must be left to live in the jungle. They remain dangerous," she said.
Chinese zoo accidentally gasses giant panda to death
A Chinese zoo accidentally killed one of its giant pandas after a faulty ventilation system pumped toxic gas into its enclosure. Quan Quan, a 21-year-old panda at Jinan Zoo in Shandong province, in eastern China, died after inhaling a mixture of chlorine, chlorine hydride and carbon monoxide, according to a spokesman.
The panda, which had given birth to seven cubs, arrived on loan at the zoo in 2007 from the Wolong panda reserve in Sichuan province. Quan Quan was one of the zoo's star attractions, helping to boost visitor numbers to around 30,000 a day. Workers had been disinfecting an air raid shelter inside the zoo when the gases leaked through the ventilation system into the panda house.
"The ventilation system was built in 1995," said a spokesman. "It was used to keep the panda house cool, but it fed large amounts of smoke into the panda enclosure." At 21, Quan Quan was the equivalent of more than 70-years-old in human terms, according to Chen Lihua, the head of the animal-breeding department at Shanghai zoo. Most pandas live to between 20 years and 25 years.
"The zoo must give a full explanation for the death of the panda on Thursday as soon as possible. Without the panda, the zoo will lose the top attraction for its visitors," said Wang Jingjing, a 27-year-old interior designer in Jinan. "She was quite healthy when I visited her last time," she added.
The panda, which had given birth to seven cubs, arrived on loan at the zoo in 2007 from the Wolong panda reserve in Sichuan province. Quan Quan was one of the zoo's star attractions, helping to boost visitor numbers to around 30,000 a day. Workers had been disinfecting an air raid shelter inside the zoo when the gases leaked through the ventilation system into the panda house.
"The ventilation system was built in 1995," said a spokesman. "It was used to keep the panda house cool, but it fed large amounts of smoke into the panda enclosure." At 21, Quan Quan was the equivalent of more than 70-years-old in human terms, according to Chen Lihua, the head of the animal-breeding department at Shanghai zoo. Most pandas live to between 20 years and 25 years.
"The zoo must give a full explanation for the death of the panda on Thursday as soon as possible. Without the panda, the zoo will lose the top attraction for its visitors," said Wang Jingjing, a 27-year-old interior designer in Jinan. "She was quite healthy when I visited her last time," she added.
Teen known as 'Deer Magnet' after hitting 5 in a year
A 17-year-old from Conrad, Iowa, is convinced she is approaching a painful record. In the last 12 months, she said she has hit five deer while driving her family's vehicles. Kacee Larson said her string of bad luck began around 11 p.m. one night last July when she was driving home from her work at a local ice cream shop. "Then I saw the deer and I was just like boom," said Kacee. The girl, who normally wears a full chest brace because of scoliosis, was fine. Her minivan was damaged but drivable.
Kacee's second encounter with deer happened just a few months later, while she was driving to church on a Sunday morning. "It just kind of was there," Kacee laughed. "It flipped up over the vehicle and I killed it. I had my sister with me and she screamed." This time, she hit the deer with her mom's van, busting up another grill. Kacee said her third encounter with a deer happened a few months later, just miles from her home north of Conrad, while taking a cross country teammate home from practice. The 17-year-old thought she saw a cat in the ditch. "Well, instead of it being a cat, it's a deer, pops up, pretty much just nicks the van and goes back down," said Kacee.
This spring, Kacee's string of bad luck continued. She was on her way to her baby-sitting job at 5:30 a.m. one morning when she spotted deer and slowed down. "I was driving along and it came off the side and rammed right into me and then - pulled over and looked at the damage and like, 'Crap. Another one,'" Kacee said. "I was told by my pastor's wife to start praying before I get in a vehicle and I started doing that and I did that all the way to work this morning until I hit the deer and so I don't know what happened today," she said on Friday, just hours after hitting her fifth deer in 12 months. Last Friday, she was on her way to work as a baby sitter on County Road S-75, when she hit the fifth deer head on, deploying her airbag. "Then all the sudden there's one in front of me and I'm like, 'Dang it,'" she said. "I hit dead centre."
Kacee's mother Ronda was woken up with a phone call around 3:45 a.m. A Grundy County deputy responded since Kacee had bruises from the airbag up and down her arms. The crash totalled Kacee's minivan. Law enforcement officers often use the phrase 'don't veer for deer,' explaining that drivers who quickly attempt to avoid deer crashes often roll their vehicle or veer into oncoming traffic. Kacee has been following that advice, but asks, "Why does it happen to me? Why me? Why pick me?" Considering the seriousness of the five crashes, Kacee and her mother are keeping their sense of humour, referring to the teenager as a deer magnet. Kacee's mother jokingly said, "Let's find a 50 dollar car and put a steel plate in the front. That way, if she hits a deer it's just going to bounce off."
Kacee's second encounter with deer happened just a few months later, while she was driving to church on a Sunday morning. "It just kind of was there," Kacee laughed. "It flipped up over the vehicle and I killed it. I had my sister with me and she screamed." This time, she hit the deer with her mom's van, busting up another grill. Kacee said her third encounter with a deer happened a few months later, just miles from her home north of Conrad, while taking a cross country teammate home from practice. The 17-year-old thought she saw a cat in the ditch. "Well, instead of it being a cat, it's a deer, pops up, pretty much just nicks the van and goes back down," said Kacee.
This spring, Kacee's string of bad luck continued. She was on her way to her baby-sitting job at 5:30 a.m. one morning when she spotted deer and slowed down. "I was driving along and it came off the side and rammed right into me and then - pulled over and looked at the damage and like, 'Crap. Another one,'" Kacee said. "I was told by my pastor's wife to start praying before I get in a vehicle and I started doing that and I did that all the way to work this morning until I hit the deer and so I don't know what happened today," she said on Friday, just hours after hitting her fifth deer in 12 months. Last Friday, she was on her way to work as a baby sitter on County Road S-75, when she hit the fifth deer head on, deploying her airbag. "Then all the sudden there's one in front of me and I'm like, 'Dang it,'" she said. "I hit dead centre."
Kacee's mother Ronda was woken up with a phone call around 3:45 a.m. A Grundy County deputy responded since Kacee had bruises from the airbag up and down her arms. The crash totalled Kacee's minivan. Law enforcement officers often use the phrase 'don't veer for deer,' explaining that drivers who quickly attempt to avoid deer crashes often roll their vehicle or veer into oncoming traffic. Kacee has been following that advice, but asks, "Why does it happen to me? Why me? Why pick me?" Considering the seriousness of the five crashes, Kacee and her mother are keeping their sense of humour, referring to the teenager as a deer magnet. Kacee's mother jokingly said, "Let's find a 50 dollar car and put a steel plate in the front. That way, if she hits a deer it's just going to bounce off."
Six kangaroos found in van in Austria
Traffic police who stopped a driver for looking jumpy opened the back of his van - and found six kangaroos inside.
Andreai Branimir, 42, was arrested in Nickelsdorf, Austria, as he tried to smuggle more than 60 animals and birds back to his Bulgarian homeland. The animal trafficker told police he'd bought the animals from a broke wildlife park in Holland and was driving them home across Europe.
Officers found dozens of parrots, peacocks, birds of paradise and small mammals crammed in with the six kangaroos.
Branimir is facing five years in jail for animal trafficking, while the animals are now being cared for at local wildlife centres. One police officer added: "They were being kept in appalling conditions with nothing to eat or drink. It was heartbreaking."
Andreai Branimir, 42, was arrested in Nickelsdorf, Austria, as he tried to smuggle more than 60 animals and birds back to his Bulgarian homeland. The animal trafficker told police he'd bought the animals from a broke wildlife park in Holland and was driving them home across Europe.
Officers found dozens of parrots, peacocks, birds of paradise and small mammals crammed in with the six kangaroos.
Branimir is facing five years in jail for animal trafficking, while the animals are now being cared for at local wildlife centres. One police officer added: "They were being kept in appalling conditions with nothing to eat or drink. It was heartbreaking."
Mouthwash imbiber banned from supermarket
A Georgia man was barred from Kroger supermarket after he was found drinking mouthwash while sitting in a patio swing display at the store.
The Athens man, who was not named, was spotted trying to use a knife to crack open a bottle of Kroger brand mouthwash while in the store last week.
Athens-Clarke police said the man told them in slurred speech that he had a “couple of beers” and was not drinking the mouthwash but using the two bottles in his possession for “oral hygiene.”
The man has had previous brushes with the law, including an arrest in November when he brandished a knife at Kroger employees who caught him shoplifting. He was barred from the supermarket for two years.
The Athens man, who was not named, was spotted trying to use a knife to crack open a bottle of Kroger brand mouthwash while in the store last week.
Athens-Clarke police said the man told them in slurred speech that he had a “couple of beers” and was not drinking the mouthwash but using the two bottles in his possession for “oral hygiene.”
The man has had previous brushes with the law, including an arrest in November when he brandished a knife at Kroger employees who caught him shoplifting. He was barred from the supermarket for two years.
50c robbery cracks up bank staff in New Zealand
Hamilton bank staff were left laughing after a bare-chested man demanded 50 cents from them, before crouching down then running away yesterday.
TSB manager Sandra Makein said it was definitely one of the more unusual attempted robberies she had heard of. "If you can call it a robbery," she said.
Police said the man, in his early 20s, entered the Victoria St bank with a bandana over his lower face and demanded $10. When the teller said she didn't have any money he asked for 50c before crouching into the starting race position and running out of the bank.
A passing policeman gave chase and the man was caught in Ward St. He was later assessed by medical and mental health staff.
TSB manager Sandra Makein said it was definitely one of the more unusual attempted robberies she had heard of. "If you can call it a robbery," she said.
Police said the man, in his early 20s, entered the Victoria St bank with a bandana over his lower face and demanded $10. When the teller said she didn't have any money he asked for 50c before crouching into the starting race position and running out of the bank.
A passing policeman gave chase and the man was caught in Ward St. He was later assessed by medical and mental health staff.
Mystery as 'ghost' appears in two separate photos
Staff at one of Edinburgh’s spookiest tourist attractions have been left mystified after a ghostly figure showed up in the photographs of two separate tourists. Bosses at Mary King’s Close say the blond haired woman who appeared in images from two different tours was definitely not a customer.
Both photos appear to show one person more than expected and staff believe that on close inspection, the ghostly figure appears to be the same woman. Staff were first alerted to their unexpected visitor last October, when a member of the public queried their souvenir photograph. A few weeks later, the same thing happened with a different tourist, and staff say they have been trying to figure out what is going on ever since. They have now introduced later night tours for the month of August in a bid to get to the bottom of the mystery. And they have asked anyone who sees a strange apparition in their pictures to allow them to be examined.
Lisa Robshaw, spokesperson for The Real Mary King’s Close, insisted the images had not been doctored by staff, adding: “We have spent a long time studying these photographs and cannot come to a satisfactory conclusion. In both these images there appears to be a blurry ghostly image of a blond haired lady which we cannot explain, and we hope that by making the images public that someone might be able to help.
“If there are people in the images who can explain who the lady is we would love to hear from them. We’ve tested the static camera that we use and it appears to be working normally so we really do not have an explanation. We just want to try and understand what has happened.”
Both photos appear to show one person more than expected and staff believe that on close inspection, the ghostly figure appears to be the same woman. Staff were first alerted to their unexpected visitor last October, when a member of the public queried their souvenir photograph. A few weeks later, the same thing happened with a different tourist, and staff say they have been trying to figure out what is going on ever since. They have now introduced later night tours for the month of August in a bid to get to the bottom of the mystery. And they have asked anyone who sees a strange apparition in their pictures to allow them to be examined.
Lisa Robshaw, spokesperson for The Real Mary King’s Close, insisted the images had not been doctored by staff, adding: “We have spent a long time studying these photographs and cannot come to a satisfactory conclusion. In both these images there appears to be a blurry ghostly image of a blond haired lady which we cannot explain, and we hope that by making the images public that someone might be able to help.
“If there are people in the images who can explain who the lady is we would love to hear from them. We’ve tested the static camera that we use and it appears to be working normally so we really do not have an explanation. We just want to try and understand what has happened.”
Police raid greenhouse on drugs tip and find tomato plants
Terrified father-of-two James Diamond awoke to find police swarming all over his home in Bream after mistakenly believing it was a cannabis factory. Around 15 officers armed with a search warrant burst into his house yesterday morning but all they found were three tomato plants. James and his three-year-old son Syrus were asleep upstairs, having just returned from a family holiday in Turkey, when police raided the house. James, 34, said: "It was very frightening. I woke up to see a huge policeman standing in my bedroom and he said: 'We are here to take your cannabis factory apart.'
"There were officers all over the house and in the back garden and they said that no one was allowed to leave the house. It was scary for Syrus, who got quite upset when he saw police everywhere. " The officers were let into James' house at around 10.30am by electricians who were carrying out re-wiring.
James said he has never been in trouble with the police and his only crime was being a keen gardener. James lives at Maple Stone House with his fiancee Debbie Baker, who is an NHS chiropodist, Syrus and their daughter Amiena. He said he could not believe officers were able to raid his home without any evidence. He said: "It's shocking to me that someone can just ring up the police and that justifies them getting a warrant and searching your home."
James said he is concerned at what the neighbours will think after seeing police swarm all over the house. Forest Inspector Chris Thorley said: "We executed a search warrant at an address in Bream as a result of information received from the local neighbourhood. We are happy to report that no drugs were found but would like to stress that we take such action because we know that concerns about drug crime is something people like us to address swiftly."
"There were officers all over the house and in the back garden and they said that no one was allowed to leave the house. It was scary for Syrus, who got quite upset when he saw police everywhere. " The officers were let into James' house at around 10.30am by electricians who were carrying out re-wiring.
James said he has never been in trouble with the police and his only crime was being a keen gardener. James lives at Maple Stone House with his fiancee Debbie Baker, who is an NHS chiropodist, Syrus and their daughter Amiena. He said he could not believe officers were able to raid his home without any evidence. He said: "It's shocking to me that someone can just ring up the police and that justifies them getting a warrant and searching your home."
James said he is concerned at what the neighbours will think after seeing police swarm all over the house. Forest Inspector Chris Thorley said: "We executed a search warrant at an address in Bream as a result of information received from the local neighbourhood. We are happy to report that no drugs were found but would like to stress that we take such action because we know that concerns about drug crime is something people like us to address swiftly."
Couple are reunited with beloved dog after discovering picture pinned to pet shop noticeboard four years later
A couple have been reunited with their dog four-and-a-half years after she went missing. Dennis and Kath Tyler, of Eagle, had never given up hope of finding Labrador cross Holly. They scoured fields and posted messages on the internet in a long-running and exhaustive search. Now, after seeing a picture of their beloved pooch on a notice board in a pet shop, their dreams have come true.
It turns out Holly, now 14, became a stray and ended up in the Doncaster dog pound. She was on death row until she was taken in by Halfway Home Dog Rescue in Collingham, fostered and then claimed by the Tylers. Apart from Holly's slightly patchy fur and her back legs being a little wobbly, she is in good health. And on her first night back home in Harby Lane, it was as if she had never left. "We brought her home and she went straight to her room where she used to sleep," said Mr Tyler, 53, a farm manager.
"When we got inside the house she went through the kitchen and the lounge and was at the door of the room where she used to sleep in a basket on a bed. We never stopped looking. If we saw a black Labrador on our travels we'd always ask ourselves if it was her. I cannot go anywhere on my own now – she just sticks to me. We are delighted to have her back, but it was a real surprise.
"We were in Pets At Home getting something for our ferrets and our other dogs and I saw a poster on the wall from Halfway Home Dog Rescue. I said to the wife: 'Who's that?' and she said: 'Holly'." Mrs Tyler said: "We're over the moon to have her back. We don't know what happened to her during the time when she was missing, but it's great to have her back."
It turns out Holly, now 14, became a stray and ended up in the Doncaster dog pound. She was on death row until she was taken in by Halfway Home Dog Rescue in Collingham, fostered and then claimed by the Tylers. Apart from Holly's slightly patchy fur and her back legs being a little wobbly, she is in good health. And on her first night back home in Harby Lane, it was as if she had never left. "We brought her home and she went straight to her room where she used to sleep," said Mr Tyler, 53, a farm manager.
"When we got inside the house she went through the kitchen and the lounge and was at the door of the room where she used to sleep in a basket on a bed. We never stopped looking. If we saw a black Labrador on our travels we'd always ask ourselves if it was her. I cannot go anywhere on my own now – she just sticks to me. We are delighted to have her back, but it was a real surprise.
"We were in Pets At Home getting something for our ferrets and our other dogs and I saw a poster on the wall from Halfway Home Dog Rescue. I said to the wife: 'Who's that?' and she said: 'Holly'." Mrs Tyler said: "We're over the moon to have her back. We don't know what happened to her during the time when she was missing, but it's great to have her back."
Chinese restaurant shut after mouse is found swimming in the sweet and sour sauce
Health inspectors saw a mouse swimming in a portion of sweet and sour sauce about to be served to customers during an inspection of a Chinese restaurant. They photographed the rodent as it jumped out of the bowl and scampered along a draining pipe in the kitchen of the Kam Tong restaurant.
But there were more shocks in store for them in the Kam Tong and two other restaurants, the Hung Tao and Kiasu, all owned by Ronald Lim in Queensway, Bayswater. They were crawling with cockroaches whose eggs were found in the dim sum and baskets of prawn crackers. Mice droppings were found all over the kitchens including inside the fridges and on crockery, soy sauce containers and a chopping board next to some meat.
The hygiene was so appalling that the ventilation canopy in one of the restaurants was “oozing with grease”, Southwark crown court heard. Lim was arrested and admitted 17 counts of breaching food hygiene regulations. Judge Geoffrey Rivlin, QC, said the conditions that environmental officers from Westminster council found were “disgraceful” and branded them an “appalling risk” to the safety of customers.
He said: “Thankfully there is no evidence before me of actual illness being suffered by your customers.” Lim, of Barnet, was given an eight-month jail term suspended for two years. He was also ordered to pay fines totalling £30,000 plus £18,131 costs. The judge said if he had not pleaded guilty he would have gone to prison immediately.
But there were more shocks in store for them in the Kam Tong and two other restaurants, the Hung Tao and Kiasu, all owned by Ronald Lim in Queensway, Bayswater. They were crawling with cockroaches whose eggs were found in the dim sum and baskets of prawn crackers. Mice droppings were found all over the kitchens including inside the fridges and on crockery, soy sauce containers and a chopping board next to some meat.
The hygiene was so appalling that the ventilation canopy in one of the restaurants was “oozing with grease”, Southwark crown court heard. Lim was arrested and admitted 17 counts of breaching food hygiene regulations. Judge Geoffrey Rivlin, QC, said the conditions that environmental officers from Westminster council found were “disgraceful” and branded them an “appalling risk” to the safety of customers.
He said: “Thankfully there is no evidence before me of actual illness being suffered by your customers.” Lim, of Barnet, was given an eight-month jail term suspended for two years. He was also ordered to pay fines totalling £30,000 plus £18,131 costs. The judge said if he had not pleaded guilty he would have gone to prison immediately.