Dandelion
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Macaque babies ape adults' facial feats
Scientists for the first time have established that for a brief period after birth, baby monkeys imitate facial movements made by people and adult monkeys. This copycat capacity, until now observed only in human and chimpanzee infants, seems to have evolved in all these primates as a way to jump-start newborns' face-to-face communication with adults, say evolutionary biologist Pier F. Ferrari of the University of Parma in Italy and his colleagues.
Between 3 and 7 days after birth, macaque babies smacked their lips and stuck out their tongues just as an experimenter did. Adult macaques make these facial gestures during friendly or cooperative interactions, such as mutual grooming.
Of 16 macaque babies tested when 3 days old, 13 copied tongue protrusions, lip smacking, or both. By day 7, imitation of the experimenter had largely disappeared except for continued mimicry of lip smacking by 4 animals. By day 14, all imitation had stopped.
You can see a video here. Link goes directly to avi file.
Isn't science great.
Between 3 and 7 days after birth, macaque babies smacked their lips and stuck out their tongues just as an experimenter did. Adult macaques make these facial gestures during friendly or cooperative interactions, such as mutual grooming.
Of 16 macaque babies tested when 3 days old, 13 copied tongue protrusions, lip smacking, or both. By day 7, imitation of the experimenter had largely disappeared except for continued mimicry of lip smacking by 4 animals. By day 14, all imitation had stopped.
You can see a video here. Link goes directly to avi file.
Isn't science great.
Slow Kylie = George Michael
The clever Rob Manuel from b3ta.com has discovered that if you slow down Kylie Minogue, she sounds like George Michael.
Auto-eroticism undoes driver
A Slovak driver who crashed into a bus shocked rescuers who found him unconscious and half naked with a vacuum pump on his penis.
Police said the 42-year-old man, driving an old Citroen in the Slovak town of Levice, had ignored a "give way" sign.
"It's very likely he had auto-sex while driving, it is a matter of investigation. After the accident he was found lying in the seat, his pants were off and it (the pump) was placed on his penis," said police officer Peter Polak.
"I've never seen anything like this, nor have my colleagues," he added.
Police said the 42-year-old man, driving an old Citroen in the Slovak town of Levice, had ignored a "give way" sign.
"It's very likely he had auto-sex while driving, it is a matter of investigation. After the accident he was found lying in the seat, his pants were off and it (the pump) was placed on his penis," said police officer Peter Polak.
"I've never seen anything like this, nor have my colleagues," he added.
Man made 'pseudo' child sex pics
A computer expert who altered pictures of naked women to make them look like children has been jailed indefinitely.
At an earlier hearing Stafford Sven Tudor-Miles, 38, from Middlesbrough, admitted five counts of making indecent pseudo-photographs of children.
Tudor-Miles, of Bankfields Road, Eston, Middlesbrough, scanned photographs of adult porn stars into his computer and manipulated the pictures using digital equipment.
He digitally reduced the breast sizes and altered the genitals to make them look like young girls. He added school uniforms to some images.
The court was told he had asked his GP for help to reduce his urges and sought psychiatric help.
At an earlier hearing Stafford Sven Tudor-Miles, 38, from Middlesbrough, admitted five counts of making indecent pseudo-photographs of children.
Tudor-Miles, of Bankfields Road, Eston, Middlesbrough, scanned photographs of adult porn stars into his computer and manipulated the pictures using digital equipment.
He digitally reduced the breast sizes and altered the genitals to make them look like young girls. He added school uniforms to some images.
The court was told he had asked his GP for help to reduce his urges and sought psychiatric help.
Talking Elephant Surprises Scientists
Staff at a South Korean amusement park says a 16-year-old male Asian elephant named Kosik can make sounds imitating up to eight Korean words, including "sit," "no," "yes," and "lie down."
The pachyderm produces human-like sounds by putting his trunk in his mouth and shaking it while exhaling - similar to how people whistle with fingers in their mouths.
It seems that the elephant is trying to create solidarity with its trainer by mimicking his words.
It is unclear if Kosik knows the meaning of the sounds he makes.
With video of Kosik.
The pachyderm produces human-like sounds by putting his trunk in his mouth and shaking it while exhaling - similar to how people whistle with fingers in their mouths.
It seems that the elephant is trying to create solidarity with its trainer by mimicking his words.
It is unclear if Kosik knows the meaning of the sounds he makes.
With video of Kosik.
Nurse, 51, kills intruder with her bare hands
A nurse returning from work discovered an intruder armed with a hammer in her home and strangled him with her bare hands.
Susan Kuhnhausen, 51, ran to a neighbour's house after the confrontation Wednesday night. Police found the body of Edward Dalton Haffey 59, a convicted felon with a long police record.
Under Oregon law people can use reasonable deadly force when defending themselves against an intruder or burglar in their homes. Kuhnhausen was treated and released for minor injuries at Providence.
"Everyone that I've talked to says 'Hurray for Susan,' said neighbour Annie Warnock, who called 911.
"You didn't need to calm her. She's an emergency room nurse. She's used to dealing with crisis."
Susan Kuhnhausen, 51, ran to a neighbour's house after the confrontation Wednesday night. Police found the body of Edward Dalton Haffey 59, a convicted felon with a long police record.
Under Oregon law people can use reasonable deadly force when defending themselves against an intruder or burglar in their homes. Kuhnhausen was treated and released for minor injuries at Providence.
"Everyone that I've talked to says 'Hurray for Susan,' said neighbour Annie Warnock, who called 911.
"You didn't need to calm her. She's an emergency room nurse. She's used to dealing with crisis."
Suicidal knifeman bloodied office
A knifeman who cut his wrists in Tory MP Sir Malcolm Rifkind's office has been found guilty of criminal damage.
Robert Corcoran, a self-described former Mensa member and top cyclist, slashed at his wrists and sprayed blood over Sir Malcolm's Chelsea office.
Corcoran, 43, was upset at being deported from the US for overstaying. He will be sentenced in six weeks.
The court had heard Corcoran had also tried to hack at his throat and cut his leg as Sir Malcolm's staff hid behind a door.
He had insisted the blood splashes caused from his protest did not amount to criminal damage.
Robert Corcoran, a self-described former Mensa member and top cyclist, slashed at his wrists and sprayed blood over Sir Malcolm's Chelsea office.
Corcoran, 43, was upset at being deported from the US for overstaying. He will be sentenced in six weeks.
The court had heard Corcoran had also tried to hack at his throat and cut his leg as Sir Malcolm's staff hid behind a door.
He had insisted the blood splashes caused from his protest did not amount to criminal damage.
Carefree Nat puts on brave face
Nat Sasuphan hums along joyously during a sing-song with a young Thai classmate — and shrugs off the rare condition that has left her face and head covered in hair.
Nat, six, of Bangkok, is one of 40 people worldwide with congenital hypertrichosis.
Nat, six, of Bangkok, is one of 40 people worldwide with congenital hypertrichosis.
Critics call on council to bounce trampoline teacher and save cash
A council has been criticised for hiring a safety official to teach children the dangers of trampolines.
John Wills, trampolining development officer for Aberdeenshire Council, tours schools and youth clubs showing young people how to bounce safely.
But critics believe the money could be better spent. Alex Johnston, Conservative MSP, said: "I find it absolutely bizarre that a council would spend money on something like this."
Mr Wills said: "I'm passionate about trampolining, but I'm also passionate about children's safety."
John Wills, trampolining development officer for Aberdeenshire Council, tours schools and youth clubs showing young people how to bounce safely.
But critics believe the money could be better spent. Alex Johnston, Conservative MSP, said: "I find it absolutely bizarre that a council would spend money on something like this."
Mr Wills said: "I'm passionate about trampolining, but I'm also passionate about children's safety."
Friday, September 08, 2006
Traumatised Weatherman
Something, possibly a cockroach, crawls on his leg. (Updated link).
He's just a tiny bit camp about it.
Many thanks to Sonya.
He's just a tiny bit camp about it.
Many thanks to Sonya.
Musical Flash Clicky Thing
After the page has loaded you can make tunes by moving your cursor around the shapes.
Clicking changes things.
Clicking changes things.
The Turd Burglar
No more heavy shovels. No more mechanical devices. No more messy smears.
The Turd Burglar, the ultimate yard stick.
The Turd Burglar, the ultimate yard stick.
The Worst Analogies Ever Written in a High School Essay
Her hair glistened in the rain like nose hair after a sneeze.
Slimming photos with HP digital cameras
They say cameras add ten pounds, but HP digital cameras can help reverse that effect. The slimming feature, available on select HP digital camera models, is a subtle effect that can instantly trim off pounds from the subjects in your photos.
I posted about this a while back.
Here is the website.
I posted about this a while back.
Here is the website.
SpongeBob ScareCrab
Deep sea fisherman Richard Rome got a fright when he netted this bizarre crab — wearing a live sponge on its head.
The beermat-size sponge crab, which uses the headgear as camouflage, usually lives in Africa, but popped up off Plymouth.
The beermat-size sponge crab, which uses the headgear as camouflage, usually lives in Africa, but popped up off Plymouth.
Search of man's pants rejected
A man convicted of possessing cocaine after a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer found drugs by shining a light down his pants should get a new trial because the search was unreasonable, the state Court of Appeals ruled.
The ruling in favour of Timothy Stone may serve as a warning to officers to more exactly describe the scope of their searches before they physically examine a suspect.
Officers said they spotted and recovered a pill bottle of crack between Stone's groin and testicles. A court sentenced him in March 2005 from roughly 10 1/2 years to 14 years in prison for drug and habitual felon convictions.
"We conclude that a reasonable person in defendant's circumstances would not have understood that he would be subjected to an inspection of his genitals," said Judge Linda McGee.
The ruling in favour of Timothy Stone may serve as a warning to officers to more exactly describe the scope of their searches before they physically examine a suspect.
Officers said they spotted and recovered a pill bottle of crack between Stone's groin and testicles. A court sentenced him in March 2005 from roughly 10 1/2 years to 14 years in prison for drug and habitual felon convictions.
"We conclude that a reasonable person in defendant's circumstances would not have understood that he would be subjected to an inspection of his genitals," said Judge Linda McGee.
Man stole shoes from disabled
A 39-year-old man from southern Sweden is suspected of stealing socks and shoes from women in wheelchairs.
The man, who is now in custody, reportedly took one handicapped woman into a building and rolled her into a closet before stealing one sock and one shoe.
In another case, the man supposedly tried to rob a wheelchair-bound woman of a sock and shoe while in an elevator. She was able to set off an alarm scaring the man away.
“The man is also suspected of stealing socks from stores,” said Torbjörn Carlson, police spokesman.
Police found hundreds of pairs of socks and many shoes at the man’s house during a search. The man in custody has confessed, saying his only goal was to collect the socks and shoes.
The man, who is now in custody, reportedly took one handicapped woman into a building and rolled her into a closet before stealing one sock and one shoe.
In another case, the man supposedly tried to rob a wheelchair-bound woman of a sock and shoe while in an elevator. She was able to set off an alarm scaring the man away.
“The man is also suspected of stealing socks from stores,” said Torbjörn Carlson, police spokesman.
Police found hundreds of pairs of socks and many shoes at the man’s house during a search. The man in custody has confessed, saying his only goal was to collect the socks and shoes.
Roasting bear causes garage fire
A Michigan man trying to roast a bear in an oven burned down his garage.
Joe Gorzynski lost not only the bear, the oven and the garage - which he built shortly after he bought his house six years ago --but his fishing equipment, his tools and some animal heads mounted on the wall.
Firefighters from three departments unsuccessfully battled the flames. The blaze was hot enough to melt some of Gorzynski's vinyl shutters and his neighbor's siding.
Steve Vandervest, chief of the Hamlin Fire Department, said the bear roast was probably what caused the fire. He told the newspaper he has seen fires caused by turkey fryers but this is his first caused by a roasting bear.
"This was a new one," he said.
Joe Gorzynski lost not only the bear, the oven and the garage - which he built shortly after he bought his house six years ago --but his fishing equipment, his tools and some animal heads mounted on the wall.
Firefighters from three departments unsuccessfully battled the flames. The blaze was hot enough to melt some of Gorzynski's vinyl shutters and his neighbor's siding.
Steve Vandervest, chief of the Hamlin Fire Department, said the bear roast was probably what caused the fire. He told the newspaper he has seen fires caused by turkey fryers but this is his first caused by a roasting bear.
"This was a new one," he said.
Man uses airport X-ray to verify antiques
An antiques collector surnamed Zeng arrived at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport with a ticket to Haikou of Hainan Province, but refused to board the plane.
The scene took place on Tuesday, when Zeng was seen to carefully put three boxes on the transport belt and then asked the security guards whether there were nails inside his boxes.
Later, Zeng told the security guards that he would not take his air journey, and had just wanted to verify his antiques using the airport's X-ray machine.
Zeng purchased three antiques last week, but was unsure whether they were real or fake. He decided to buy an air ticket to verify his antiques after he was told there were some iron nails inside fake antiques.
The scene took place on Tuesday, when Zeng was seen to carefully put three boxes on the transport belt and then asked the security guards whether there were nails inside his boxes.
Later, Zeng told the security guards that he would not take his air journey, and had just wanted to verify his antiques using the airport's X-ray machine.
Zeng purchased three antiques last week, but was unsure whether they were real or fake. He decided to buy an air ticket to verify his antiques after he was told there were some iron nails inside fake antiques.
Artist hammers out world's largest nail mosaic
Albanian artist Saimir Strati has hammered tens of thousands of nails into a wooden board over the past 24 days to create a portrait of Leonardo da Vinci and the world's biggest nail mosaic.
"I can officially confirm that we have a new record for the largest nail mosaic of eight square metres," said Guinness World Records adjudicator Scott Christie.
The mosaic stood in the main hall of Tirana's pyramid-shaped culture center, exactly where a larger-than-life sculpture of the late Albanian dictator Enver Hoxha used to stand.
Large-headed nails shone in the light falling on the sides of Da Vinci's flowing grey beard. Smaller black tapestry nails created shadow below his eyes and chin. Three rows of yellow nails framed the portrait.
"I have lost count of the nails, but I think it was around 400 kilos (880 pounds) of nails. I have used different nails. The condition was they should be industrial nails and they are," Strati said.
"I can officially confirm that we have a new record for the largest nail mosaic of eight square metres," said Guinness World Records adjudicator Scott Christie.
The mosaic stood in the main hall of Tirana's pyramid-shaped culture center, exactly where a larger-than-life sculpture of the late Albanian dictator Enver Hoxha used to stand.
Large-headed nails shone in the light falling on the sides of Da Vinci's flowing grey beard. Smaller black tapestry nails created shadow below his eyes and chin. Three rows of yellow nails framed the portrait.
"I have lost count of the nails, but I think it was around 400 kilos (880 pounds) of nails. I have used different nails. The condition was they should be industrial nails and they are," Strati said.
Woman, 103, says jury duty would interrupt nap time
A regular afternoon nap normally isn't an excuse to skip jury duty, but centenarians aren't normally summoned to court either.
Phyllis Perkins, born in 1903, wrote in the reply to her jury summons she should be excluded from serving as a juror because, "jury duty might interrupt my nap time."
Lying in her bed at a Saskatoon care facility, Perkins said she had some help filling out her reply to the sheriff's office to decline her summons.
"You get to be 103 and things aren't all there. Of course, I have trouble seeing, so the kids read (the summons) and said they'd fix it up," Perkins said. "The kids asked me how I'll reply and I said (jury duty) will just cut in to my nap time."
Citizens over 65 are automatically exempt from jury duty upon request, but can attend if they desire, Gordon Laing, sheriff for Saskatoon, said.
Phyllis Perkins, born in 1903, wrote in the reply to her jury summons she should be excluded from serving as a juror because, "jury duty might interrupt my nap time."
Lying in her bed at a Saskatoon care facility, Perkins said she had some help filling out her reply to the sheriff's office to decline her summons.
"You get to be 103 and things aren't all there. Of course, I have trouble seeing, so the kids read (the summons) and said they'd fix it up," Perkins said. "The kids asked me how I'll reply and I said (jury duty) will just cut in to my nap time."
Citizens over 65 are automatically exempt from jury duty upon request, but can attend if they desire, Gordon Laing, sheriff for Saskatoon, said.
Motorists Forced To Sleep In Cars During 14-Hour Traffic Jam
Thousands of motorists in Honolulu were stranded in their vehicles for 14-hours after a military vehicle clipped a pedestrian bridge near a major freeway overpass, forcing officials to close the road.
Officials said the traffic jam caused by the incident in the westbound lanes of the H-1 Freeway in Honolulu was the worst in Hawaii's history.
Many commuters slept in their cars overnight or just abandoned them on the freeway.
The Army issued an official apology to the people of Oahu for causing the traffic mess.
With video.
Officials said the traffic jam caused by the incident in the westbound lanes of the H-1 Freeway in Honolulu was the worst in Hawaii's history.
Many commuters slept in their cars overnight or just abandoned them on the freeway.
The Army issued an official apology to the people of Oahu for causing the traffic mess.
With video.
Man 'stalked' horse he abused
A pervert banned from every field in Britain was found lurking at the same stables where he had sex with a horse.
Twisted Mark Woollen, 33, was put on a strict curfew after he was caught in the lewd act with the horse, Molly.
He admitted a charge of intercourse with an animal. But while on bail awaiting sentence, Woollen was spotted cycling by East Benton Stables in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, where the offence took place.
Prosecutor Kevin Wardlaw said: “What on earth was he doing there at 6.45am? It is obvious he needs help.”
“Molly has lost weight because of the stress.”
Twisted Mark Woollen, 33, was put on a strict curfew after he was caught in the lewd act with the horse, Molly.
He admitted a charge of intercourse with an animal. But while on bail awaiting sentence, Woollen was spotted cycling by East Benton Stables in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, where the offence took place.
Prosecutor Kevin Wardlaw said: “What on earth was he doing there at 6.45am? It is obvious he needs help.”
“Molly has lost weight because of the stress.”
Lethal 5ft bird escapes in Kent
A 5ft bird that could, according to the RSPCA, kill a human with one strike of its 6in claws is on the loose in Kent.
Ralph, a South American rhea, fled his enclosure in Benenden on Monday after his owner introduced pigs to his pen.
RSPCA spokesman Roy Jezard said the birds would also go for people's eyes with their beak, and said their strength was "unbelievable".
He added: "People want to pat them, but I don't recommend it. If you see it, report it to the RSPCA or the police."
Ralph, a South American rhea, fled his enclosure in Benenden on Monday after his owner introduced pigs to his pen.
RSPCA spokesman Roy Jezard said the birds would also go for people's eyes with their beak, and said their strength was "unbelievable".
He added: "People want to pat them, but I don't recommend it. If you see it, report it to the RSPCA or the police."
£40m salt cellar thief is caught by a cocky text
The thief who made off with one of Benvenuto Cellini’s most valuable artworks got a trifle arrogant. He sent his police pursuers a text message: “Thank you for your efforts. We will get back to you shortly.”
It was enough to trace Robert Mang’s telephone, and yesterday the man known as a “gentleman thief” received four years in jail for stealing the 16th-century golden salt cellar sculpted by the Italian master. Known as the Saliera, it is the only fully authenticated work in gold by Cellini and is valued at about £40 million.
Tears flowed from Mang’s eyes as sentence was pronounced by Judge Walter Stockhammer. But that did not stop almost a hundred women from surging towards the convicted art thief from the public gallery of the Vienna court.
Mang, 51, the owner of a security company, has become a celebrity in Austria. More than a thousand women have sent him letters in prison, many enclosing photographs of themselves in bikinis, and fan websites have been set up.
This popularity is partly down to his bronzed good looks and smooth playboy manners, but mainly it is admiration for his audacity.
It was enough to trace Robert Mang’s telephone, and yesterday the man known as a “gentleman thief” received four years in jail for stealing the 16th-century golden salt cellar sculpted by the Italian master. Known as the Saliera, it is the only fully authenticated work in gold by Cellini and is valued at about £40 million.
Tears flowed from Mang’s eyes as sentence was pronounced by Judge Walter Stockhammer. But that did not stop almost a hundred women from surging towards the convicted art thief from the public gallery of the Vienna court.
Mang, 51, the owner of a security company, has become a celebrity in Austria. More than a thousand women have sent him letters in prison, many enclosing photographs of themselves in bikinis, and fan websites have been set up.
This popularity is partly down to his bronzed good looks and smooth playboy manners, but mainly it is admiration for his audacity.
Charity will trace 'mouse biter'
An animal welfare group has said it is hopeful of tracing a man who can be seen on a website biting the head off a live pet mouse.
About 2,000 people have viewed the incident on the YouTube site.
The incident is believed to have happened at a party in the Turf Lodge area of west Belfast.
The two-minute video shows the man, referred to as Johnny, drinking from a can of beer before biting the head off the mouse and chewing it, egged on by other party-goers.
He then spits it out saying it is impossible to swallow. The man is heavily built, in his 20s, with short hair.
Without video.
About 2,000 people have viewed the incident on the YouTube site.
The incident is believed to have happened at a party in the Turf Lodge area of west Belfast.
The two-minute video shows the man, referred to as Johnny, drinking from a can of beer before biting the head off the mouse and chewing it, egged on by other party-goers.
He then spits it out saying it is impossible to swallow. The man is heavily built, in his 20s, with short hair.
Without video.
Sheep poo paper scoops top award
Gardeners know it is ideal for making compost but now a company in Snowdonia has won an award for being even more innovative with sheep droppings.
Creative Paper Wales has produced greetings cards and gifts made from the by-products of its woolly neighbours.
Its Sheep Poo Paper products have won a £20,000 Millennium Award for "social entrepreneurship".
After the sheep droppings are collected, they are sterilised, washed and mixed with other recycled paper.
This is then turned into the finished paper and cardboard while the washing water is distributed to local growers as concentrated fertiliser.
Should you desire, you can read all about Sheep Poo Paper here.
Creative Paper Wales has produced greetings cards and gifts made from the by-products of its woolly neighbours.
Its Sheep Poo Paper products have won a £20,000 Millennium Award for "social entrepreneurship".
After the sheep droppings are collected, they are sterilised, washed and mixed with other recycled paper.
This is then turned into the finished paper and cardboard while the washing water is distributed to local growers as concentrated fertiliser.
Should you desire, you can read all about Sheep Poo Paper here.
Fish and chip lovers face fines
Customers at a seaside fish and chip restaurant could face £50 fines in a long-running dispute over queues outside, its owner said.
Ian Robson, owner of Whitby's Magpie Cafe, was told by police his customers could get fixed penalty notices if they were deemed to be obstructing the road.
The cafe, which opened in Whitby in 1939, can attract more than 1,000 customers a day at the height of the tourist season and has recently been extended to accommodate 130 customers.
A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "A fixed penalty ticket is an option available to the police, but we are working with the management of the Magpie Cafe, the local highways authority, Scarborough Borough Council and other partner agencies to achieve a more acceptable and permanent solution.
Ian Robson, owner of Whitby's Magpie Cafe, was told by police his customers could get fixed penalty notices if they were deemed to be obstructing the road.
The cafe, which opened in Whitby in 1939, can attract more than 1,000 customers a day at the height of the tourist season and has recently been extended to accommodate 130 customers.
A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "A fixed penalty ticket is an option available to the police, but we are working with the management of the Magpie Cafe, the local highways authority, Scarborough Borough Council and other partner agencies to achieve a more acceptable and permanent solution.
Artist lies down in city street
An artist is preparing to lie down for a week in the middle of a high street in Birmingham dressed as a soldier in a piece of public art about conflict.
The piece called Dead Solider will see Mark McGowan lie curled up in a ball in New Street for 10 hours each day, dressed in full army uniform.
The artist, from Peckham, south London, said the work aimed to raise questions about the horrific nature of conflict.
The performance and an exhibition has gained £4,000 of public funding.
With video.
The piece called Dead Solider will see Mark McGowan lie curled up in a ball in New Street for 10 hours each day, dressed in full army uniform.
The artist, from Peckham, south London, said the work aimed to raise questions about the horrific nature of conflict.
The performance and an exhibition has gained £4,000 of public funding.
With video.
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Wacky Ways to Lose Weight
There are these methods from American Inventor Spot.
Then there's The Power Plate, a new workout machine that looks like a doctor’s office scale on steroids.
Then there's The Power Plate, a new workout machine that looks like a doctor’s office scale on steroids.
How did the chimp cross the road?
The modern hazard of crossing the road has revealed an unprecedented chivalrous streak among wild chimpanzees, according to video footage released yesterday.
When faced with a busy road, large male chimps headed to the front of the pack to check the road was clear before leading females and their young across. Meanwhile, other males headed to the back of the group to bring up the rear. Often, a high-ranking male assumed the role of lollipop man by wandering on to the road and checking it for traffic until the entire pack had crossed safely.
Experts in animal behaviour recorded the extraordinary footage while filming a mixed group of 12 chimps in Guinea, western Africa, as they negotiated two roads that ran through their territory. One road was a simple mud track used as a path by local pedestrians, the other had recently been widened to carry trucks, cars and motorbikes.
The footage, amassed over three months, shows the pack of three adult males, five adult females, three younger chimps and one infant, crossing the roads near the small town of Bossou to reach foraging grounds on the other side.
You can see the video here. It's a link to an avi file. I had to download it to make it work. Maybe you'll fare better. Either way, it's a fascinating piece of film.
When faced with a busy road, large male chimps headed to the front of the pack to check the road was clear before leading females and their young across. Meanwhile, other males headed to the back of the group to bring up the rear. Often, a high-ranking male assumed the role of lollipop man by wandering on to the road and checking it for traffic until the entire pack had crossed safely.
Experts in animal behaviour recorded the extraordinary footage while filming a mixed group of 12 chimps in Guinea, western Africa, as they negotiated two roads that ran through their territory. One road was a simple mud track used as a path by local pedestrians, the other had recently been widened to carry trucks, cars and motorbikes.
The footage, amassed over three months, shows the pack of three adult males, five adult females, three younger chimps and one infant, crossing the roads near the small town of Bossou to reach foraging grounds on the other side.
You can see the video here. It's a link to an avi file. I had to download it to make it work. Maybe you'll fare better. Either way, it's a fascinating piece of film.
Python snacks on a sheep
This barely recognisable snake bit off more than it could chew when it snacked on a pregnant ewe.
The six-metre python weighing 90 kg was too laden to move, making it far easier for firemen to capture it in a Malaysian village.
The six-metre python weighing 90 kg was too laden to move, making it far easier for firemen to capture it in a Malaysian village.
Woman found guilty of hitting another woman with dead puppy
A Wentzville, Mo., woman was found guilty today of hitting another woman over the head with a dead Chihuahua puppy, and could now get up to 18 months in jail.
The bench trial, heard before Associate Judge Terry Cundiff, featured X-rays of the dead dog, a detective's pictures of the dog, and testimony from the woman who said she was hit over the head repeatedly with the dog.
Lisa Hopfer, 34, was found guilty of third-degree assault and trespassing, both misdemeanors, after a trial that lasted about an hour at the St. Charles County Courthouse on Wednesday afternoon. She is expected to be sentenced Sept. 25.
"She's somebody I never want to be in the presence of again," the victim, Linda Hulsey, said shakily afterward.
Hopfer, who did not have an attorney, testified that she never hit Hulsey with the dog. She did admit yelling at her and waving the dog out her sunroof window as she drove away.
"Yes, I was pissed," she testified. "But I did not hit her with the dog."
The bench trial, heard before Associate Judge Terry Cundiff, featured X-rays of the dead dog, a detective's pictures of the dog, and testimony from the woman who said she was hit over the head repeatedly with the dog.
Lisa Hopfer, 34, was found guilty of third-degree assault and trespassing, both misdemeanors, after a trial that lasted about an hour at the St. Charles County Courthouse on Wednesday afternoon. She is expected to be sentenced Sept. 25.
"She's somebody I never want to be in the presence of again," the victim, Linda Hulsey, said shakily afterward.
Hopfer, who did not have an attorney, testified that she never hit Hulsey with the dog. She did admit yelling at her and waving the dog out her sunroof window as she drove away.
"Yes, I was pissed," she testified. "But I did not hit her with the dog."
Sheriff's Deputies Make Bizarre Arrest
Santa Barbara County sheriff's deputies come across a bizarre encounter at La Purisima Mission in Lompoc.
Around midnight they found a 69-year-old Huntington beach man ... naked and covered in oats.
Deputies say the man had covered himself in olive oil, rolled around in oats and allowed the horses at the mission to lick him clean.
He apparently told deputies this has always been a fantasy of his and drove up from the Los Angeles area to play it out.
Alfred Thomas Steven was cited and released for trespassing, animal cruelty and sexually assaulting an animal.
Around midnight they found a 69-year-old Huntington beach man ... naked and covered in oats.
Deputies say the man had covered himself in olive oil, rolled around in oats and allowed the horses at the mission to lick him clean.
He apparently told deputies this has always been a fantasy of his and drove up from the Los Angeles area to play it out.
Alfred Thomas Steven was cited and released for trespassing, animal cruelty and sexually assaulting an animal.
Cell Phones Found Inside Four Prisoners
Cellular telephones were found inside four prisoners in El Salvador's maximum-security prison.
The discovery was made Tuesday at the prison in Zacatecoluca, in central El Salvador, after suspicious officials took X-rays of each of the inmates.
Capt. Juan Ramon Arevalo, director of the prison known as Zacatras, said the gang members had introduced the cell phones, wrapped in plastic bags, into their bodies through their anuses. Authorities also found nine cell phone chips and one charger.
"Each one had a cellular with a number of chips," Arevalo said, adding that one also had hidden a charger in his anal cavity.
The discovery was made Tuesday at the prison in Zacatecoluca, in central El Salvador, after suspicious officials took X-rays of each of the inmates.
Capt. Juan Ramon Arevalo, director of the prison known as Zacatras, said the gang members had introduced the cell phones, wrapped in plastic bags, into their bodies through their anuses. Authorities also found nine cell phone chips and one charger.
"Each one had a cellular with a number of chips," Arevalo said, adding that one also had hidden a charger in his anal cavity.
3 Wisconsin Men Tried To Steal Corpse
A photo that accompanied a newspaper obituary apparently led to an attempt last weekend to dig up the grave of a 20-year-old woman who was killed in a motorcycle accident Aug. 27.
Three men charged with taking part in the attempted grave robbery had no connection to Laura Tennessen, other than seeing her obituary, Grant County Sheriff Keith Govier said.
Twin brothers Alexander and Nicholas Grunke, 20, of Ridgeway, and Dustin Radke, 20, of Dodgeville, made initial appearances in Circuit Court Tuesday on charges of attempted third-degree sexual assault and attempted misdemeanor theft.
Radke said Grunke asked him to help because he wanted to dig up Tennessen's body for sex, and the three had stopped at a store on the way to the cemetery to buy condoms.
"Just when you think you've seen it all, something strange like this happens," the sheriff said.
With video and mugshots.
Three men charged with taking part in the attempted grave robbery had no connection to Laura Tennessen, other than seeing her obituary, Grant County Sheriff Keith Govier said.
Twin brothers Alexander and Nicholas Grunke, 20, of Ridgeway, and Dustin Radke, 20, of Dodgeville, made initial appearances in Circuit Court Tuesday on charges of attempted third-degree sexual assault and attempted misdemeanor theft.
Radke said Grunke asked him to help because he wanted to dig up Tennessen's body for sex, and the three had stopped at a store on the way to the cemetery to buy condoms.
"Just when you think you've seen it all, something strange like this happens," the sheriff said.
With video and mugshots.
Five human heads dumped in Mexico bar
Armed, masked men have burst into a bar in Mexico and flung five human heads onto a crowded dance floor, in an apparent warning to a rival drug gang.
An official said 20 men entered the bar in Uruapan city, Michoacan state, fired into the air, forced revellers to lie down and then "threw down five heads".
The men also left behind a note saying the act was "divine justice" carried out on behalf of "the family".
The victims have yet to be identified. Authorities have found 13 decapitated bodies in Michoacan this year.
An official said 20 men entered the bar in Uruapan city, Michoacan state, fired into the air, forced revellers to lie down and then "threw down five heads".
The men also left behind a note saying the act was "divine justice" carried out on behalf of "the family".
The victims have yet to be identified. Authorities have found 13 decapitated bodies in Michoacan this year.
Daughter Keeps Dad's Death Secret To Save Money
Bizarre actions seem to have accompanied a man’s death on an Amtrak train bound for Chicago.
Police said a woman rode with her father’s body for 23 hours before she reported in to authorities.
The Cook County medical examiner’s office said Daniel Stepanovich, 80, of Hammond, Ind., was pronounced dead of natural causes just after midnight Tuesday.
But his daughter told officials that her father died Sunday evening, just as the eastbound train was pulling into Glenwood Springs, Colorado. She said she did not tell anyone because she could not afford to ship his body home to Chicago.
A neighbour said the father, who had been diagnosed with cancer, had talked of taking "one last train ride."
Police said a woman rode with her father’s body for 23 hours before she reported in to authorities.
The Cook County medical examiner’s office said Daniel Stepanovich, 80, of Hammond, Ind., was pronounced dead of natural causes just after midnight Tuesday.
But his daughter told officials that her father died Sunday evening, just as the eastbound train was pulling into Glenwood Springs, Colorado. She said she did not tell anyone because she could not afford to ship his body home to Chicago.
A neighbour said the father, who had been diagnosed with cancer, had talked of taking "one last train ride."
Yiwu Investigation by Liu Jianhua
A little girl plays amongst an art installation by Chinese artist Liu Jianhua at Shanghai's 6th Biennial.
Liu Jianhua's recent installation Yiwu Investigation shifts from formalism to anthropological and sociological analysis The installation interprets China s commodity production by focusing on the impact China s economic development has had on the global economy. Yiwu is taken as a classic example of China s developmental model. The small goods manufactured and consolidated in Yiwu are shipped to 212 countries around the world. Each day, there are between 6,000 and 8,000 foreign businessmen conducting commerce there. Over 1,000 containers full of goods are exported daily. Yet, Yiwu cannot be considered simply as a port for wholesale production and distribution, since it actually reflects the 295 incredibly complicated and unpredictable relationship between China and the world. Although these commodities are known for their low design, usefulness, popularity, low cost and high added labour, they resonate with China s connection to the world and symbolize the transitional position of Chinese society.
Liu Jianhua's recent installation Yiwu Investigation shifts from formalism to anthropological and sociological analysis The installation interprets China s commodity production by focusing on the impact China s economic development has had on the global economy. Yiwu is taken as a classic example of China s developmental model. The small goods manufactured and consolidated in Yiwu are shipped to 212 countries around the world. Each day, there are between 6,000 and 8,000 foreign businessmen conducting commerce there. Over 1,000 containers full of goods are exported daily. Yet, Yiwu cannot be considered simply as a port for wholesale production and distribution, since it actually reflects the 295 incredibly complicated and unpredictable relationship between China and the world. Although these commodities are known for their low design, usefulness, popularity, low cost and high added labour, they resonate with China s connection to the world and symbolize the transitional position of Chinese society.
'Goat-free roads made me speed'
A Swiss man caught speeding on a Canadian highway has blamed his actions on the absence of goats on the roads.
The man was caught driving at 161 km/h (100mph) in a 100 km/h (60mph) zone.
A traffic officer's notes said the Swiss driver had said he was taking advantage "of the ability to go faster without risking hitting a goat".
Canadian police spokesman Joel Doiron said he had never found a goat on the highways of eastern Ontario in his 20 years of service.
The driver was ordered to pay a fine of C$360 ($330; £175) for speeding.
The man was caught driving at 161 km/h (100mph) in a 100 km/h (60mph) zone.
A traffic officer's notes said the Swiss driver had said he was taking advantage "of the ability to go faster without risking hitting a goat".
Canadian police spokesman Joel Doiron said he had never found a goat on the highways of eastern Ontario in his 20 years of service.
The driver was ordered to pay a fine of C$360 ($330; £175) for speeding.
Man runs over wife on toilet
A forgiving wife told yesterday how her husband accidentally ran her over while she was "answering the call of nature" in the Territory Outback.
Pat MacDonald told the Northern Territory News: "We had just pulled up for morning tea.
"I squatted down in front of the car for a call of nature and he drove right over the top of me."
While she can laugh now, Mrs Anderson suffered extensive head injuries, including having the right side of her scalp torn off. The couple used a satellite phone to alert medical staff based at Timber Creek, about 50km away.
Pat MacDonald told the Northern Territory News: "We had just pulled up for morning tea.
"I squatted down in front of the car for a call of nature and he drove right over the top of me."
While she can laugh now, Mrs Anderson suffered extensive head injuries, including having the right side of her scalp torn off. The couple used a satellite phone to alert medical staff based at Timber Creek, about 50km away.
Vanishing trick for Ireland's second homes
Removing blots from the landscape could become far easier thanks to an improbable vanishing act conjured up by a team of Irish architects: their houses simply disappear into the ground.
Tackling "bungalow blight" is a priority in an increasingly wealthy country desperate to preserve its tourist industry but littered with more and more second homes. The single-storey dwellings being developed by two County Donegal architects, Antoin and Tarla MacGabhann, could provide the solution, satisfying rural planners and environmental campaigners, as well as those who admire ever-changing coastal views.
The radical plans for the ultimate in eco-friendly, holiday homes will be unveiled at the Venice Biennale architecture exhibition this weekend, demonstrating how seaside bungalows can be lowered down and remain out of sight when not in use. Sheep might even be able to graze on their submerged, grass-topped roofs.
Tackling "bungalow blight" is a priority in an increasingly wealthy country desperate to preserve its tourist industry but littered with more and more second homes. The single-storey dwellings being developed by two County Donegal architects, Antoin and Tarla MacGabhann, could provide the solution, satisfying rural planners and environmental campaigners, as well as those who admire ever-changing coastal views.
The radical plans for the ultimate in eco-friendly, holiday homes will be unveiled at the Venice Biennale architecture exhibition this weekend, demonstrating how seaside bungalows can be lowered down and remain out of sight when not in use. Sheep might even be able to graze on their submerged, grass-topped roofs.
Bilingual Welsh sign stumps Scots
A sign on a Aberdeenshire building site left local people mystified because it was written in Welsh as well as English.
Building company David McLean, whose HQ is on Deeside, north Wales, put up the notice apologising for inconvenience during the work in the Bridge of Don.
The top half of the sign read: "Ymddirheurwn am unrhyw anghyfleustra a achosir yn ystod gwaith adnewyddu" - although for the benefit of non-Welsh speakers, it also included the English translation: "We apologise for any inconvenience caused during refurbishment works".
Building company David McLean, whose HQ is on Deeside, north Wales, put up the notice apologising for inconvenience during the work in the Bridge of Don.
The top half of the sign read: "Ymddirheurwn am unrhyw anghyfleustra a achosir yn ystod gwaith adnewyddu" - although for the benefit of non-Welsh speakers, it also included the English translation: "We apologise for any inconvenience caused during refurbishment works".
A touch of toning and woman can walk again after 17 years
A woman who has been paralysed from the waist down for 17 years is walking again after a chance two-minute session on a toning table.
Anne Bennett, 57, had consigned herself to a wheelchair after an accident carrying books caused a disc in her back to collapse and burst, crippling her with fibrosis.
But after losing weight and doing exercise, the pressure on her back from the toning table caused scar tissue to crack, allowing nerves to reconnect to her brain.
Her GP, Dr Mark Ferris, said: "Given the thickness of the fibrosis, which I saw in Anne's notes, it should never have happened. It is very rare. I have only seen it once in 25 years of doctoring."
Anne Bennett, 57, had consigned herself to a wheelchair after an accident carrying books caused a disc in her back to collapse and burst, crippling her with fibrosis.
But after losing weight and doing exercise, the pressure on her back from the toning table caused scar tissue to crack, allowing nerves to reconnect to her brain.
Her GP, Dr Mark Ferris, said: "Given the thickness of the fibrosis, which I saw in Anne's notes, it should never have happened. It is very rare. I have only seen it once in 25 years of doctoring."
Postman wins £10,000 after sacked for mourning his dog
A postman has won a five-figure compensation from the Royal Mail - after he was sacked for taking a week off work to grieve over his dead dog.
David Portman, 27, took numerous weeks off work because of a series of unfortunate 'accidents' and was absent for a total of 137 days during just five years in the job, an employment tribunal heard.
When he took yet more time off because of his pet's sad demise bosses decided enough was enough and sacked him.
David Portman, 27, took numerous weeks off work because of a series of unfortunate 'accidents' and was absent for a total of 137 days during just five years in the job, an employment tribunal heard.
When he took yet more time off because of his pet's sad demise bosses decided enough was enough and sacked him.
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
The Face Mash
You can make lots of strange faces using this oojimaflip.
There are some tips at the bottom of the page.
There are some tips at the bottom of the page.
Air Guitar UK Champion 2006
Gabriele Matzeu Gabi aka The Hoxton Creeper was announced as the winner earlier this week.
The photo shows Count Rockula, who was runner-up.
There's a small slideshow of entrants here.