Fight
Saturday, November 25, 2006
The Babykeeper
The Babykeeper is a patent pending infant carrier style seat, that hangs from the stall wall in most public restrooms, and can also be used in many public fitting rooms.
New Insight into People Who Taste Words
For most of us, the boundaries between our bodily senses are clear-cut and rigid. But for a few rare individuals, the demarcation between vision and hearing, or between taste and touch, are less solid, with one bleeding into the other.
These people have a condition called "synesthesia," in which two or more of the senses are crossed. Some see colours when listening to music, while others associate tastes with shapes or words with colors.
A very small number of synesthetes can "taste" words.
A new study finds that individuals with this last form of synesthesia - called "lexical-gustatory" synesthesia - can taste a word before they ever speak it, and that the word's meaning, not its sound or spelling, is what triggers this taste sensation.
These people have a condition called "synesthesia," in which two or more of the senses are crossed. Some see colours when listening to music, while others associate tastes with shapes or words with colors.
A very small number of synesthetes can "taste" words.
A new study finds that individuals with this last form of synesthesia - called "lexical-gustatory" synesthesia - can taste a word before they ever speak it, and that the word's meaning, not its sound or spelling, is what triggers this taste sensation.
Baby takes first steps and locks mum out of flat
A young mum was stranded on her balcony after her eight-month old baby took his first steps - and locked her out.
Christina Meier, 19, spent two hours on her balcony in Augsburg, Bavaria, before her calls for help were answered and firemen arrived to rescue her.
Meier told local media: "My son Karl is not yet a year old and could not walk so I thought it was safe to pop outside for a quick cigarette. Suddenly I heard these footsteps and I saw him walking towards me through the glass.
I was so proud I didn't even think about the self-locking door. And then he just shut it."
Christina Meier, 19, spent two hours on her balcony in Augsburg, Bavaria, before her calls for help were answered and firemen arrived to rescue her.
Meier told local media: "My son Karl is not yet a year old and could not walk so I thought it was safe to pop outside for a quick cigarette. Suddenly I heard these footsteps and I saw him walking towards me through the glass.
I was so proud I didn't even think about the self-locking door. And then he just shut it."
How Smart Is your Dog IQ test
When did you last see your dog actually complete the crossword? Do you keep finding unfinished Sudoku's in his basket? Isn't it time you found out once and for all if he's really all there in the brain department. Well now you can with the Doggy IQ Test, a self-scoring intelligence test for dogs by Dr Stanley Coren, Professor of Psychology at the University of British Columbia. Author of a number of books about dogs, such as the seminal works "How to Speak Dog" and "The Intelligence of Dogs", he's a prize-winning dog trainer and authority on dog behaviour and intelligence. Behind those doey pleading eyes (your dog's, not Dr Coren's) could be the razor sharp mind of a canine genius, a possible contender for Master Mutt even.
With 12 carefully designed and researched tests you'll learn how to determine the Canine Intelligence Quotient (CIQ) of your pet. Five of the tests cover problem solving, while the other seven deal with learning ability and memory. With a test book, score and result guide, and a stopwatch for timing the results, the Doggy IQ Test has everything you need to silence those detractors who keep telling you your dog's stupid. The only thing to watch out for is the worrying possibility that your dog might end up with a higher IQ score than you do.
Suitable for dogs of 10 weeks+.
With 12 carefully designed and researched tests you'll learn how to determine the Canine Intelligence Quotient (CIQ) of your pet. Five of the tests cover problem solving, while the other seven deal with learning ability and memory. With a test book, score and result guide, and a stopwatch for timing the results, the Doggy IQ Test has everything you need to silence those detractors who keep telling you your dog's stupid. The only thing to watch out for is the worrying possibility that your dog might end up with a higher IQ score than you do.
Suitable for dogs of 10 weeks+.
Canadian man on trial for putting baby in freezer
A Canadian man who could not figure out how to deal with his girlfriend's feverish 10-month-old daughter put the baby into a freezer to cool her down.
Derrick Hardy faces charges of criminal negligence and assaulting the infant, who was rescued when her mother came home, the Charlottetown Guardian said.
The Canadian Broadcasting Corp. said the mother found the girl crammed into the freezer alongside ice cubes and hamburger meat. Hardy said he had left the door ajar but the mother said it had been closed when she returned.
Hardy, 21, who admitted to police that he had no real parenting skills to deal with a sick child, said he had noticed the girl was very hot and put a cool cloth on her face, but this had no effect.
He then carried the girl outside into the night air but, frustrated that this also did not work and worried she might drown if placed in a cold bath, he put the baby into the kitchen freezer. She was wearing only an undershirt.
A local doctor said the mother had described her baby as "crying, sobbing and terrified." The child spent several days in hospital to recover from first- and second-degree freezer burns on her head and torso.
Derrick Hardy faces charges of criminal negligence and assaulting the infant, who was rescued when her mother came home, the Charlottetown Guardian said.
The Canadian Broadcasting Corp. said the mother found the girl crammed into the freezer alongside ice cubes and hamburger meat. Hardy said he had left the door ajar but the mother said it had been closed when she returned.
Hardy, 21, who admitted to police that he had no real parenting skills to deal with a sick child, said he had noticed the girl was very hot and put a cool cloth on her face, but this had no effect.
He then carried the girl outside into the night air but, frustrated that this also did not work and worried she might drown if placed in a cold bath, he put the baby into the kitchen freezer. She was wearing only an undershirt.
A local doctor said the mother had described her baby as "crying, sobbing and terrified." The child spent several days in hospital to recover from first- and second-degree freezer burns on her head and torso.
Cats
Lots of photos. Some NSFW captions.
Also, Caption my kitten. Similarly, some NSFW captions.
And even more here.
Burned cat in a pan of veggies perplexes police
A car dealer found a charred cat in a pan of rice and vegetables outside of his business, authorities said.
The cat was found Wednesday outside Roy's Cars and RVs in Ogden, about 31 miles north of Salt Lake City.
"There were green bell peppers and sliced onions, all on a bed of rice," said Ogden Police Lt. David Tarran. "It looked just like the cat had been cooked."
Police did not know whether the incident was a prank or was directed at someone at the car dealership. Investigators also are trying to determine whether the cat was alive or dead when it was mutilated. That will determine if charges can be pursued.
The cat was found Wednesday outside Roy's Cars and RVs in Ogden, about 31 miles north of Salt Lake City.
"There were green bell peppers and sliced onions, all on a bed of rice," said Ogden Police Lt. David Tarran. "It looked just like the cat had been cooked."
Police did not know whether the incident was a prank or was directed at someone at the car dealership. Investigators also are trying to determine whether the cat was alive or dead when it was mutilated. That will determine if charges can be pursued.
Britain's unluckiest man falls down manhole
Some people might describe John Lyne as unlucky. But as far as he is concerned, is the luckiest man alive. Or perhaps that should just be lucky to be alive.
In his 54 years he has had a terrifying array of 16 accidents or near misses.
He has been struck by lightning, been run over by a delivery van, hit by a bus and nearly drowned. Then there was the time a stone, propelled by a catapult, hit him in the mouth smashing eight teeth.
And that's just a taster of calamity John's mishaps.
The grandfather-of-three is currently is currently nursing a badly damaged back and leg and knees after plummeting down a manhole cover.
In his 54 years he has had a terrifying array of 16 accidents or near misses.
He has been struck by lightning, been run over by a delivery van, hit by a bus and nearly drowned. Then there was the time a stone, propelled by a catapult, hit him in the mouth smashing eight teeth.
And that's just a taster of calamity John's mishaps.
The grandfather-of-three is currently is currently nursing a badly damaged back and leg and knees after plummeting down a manhole cover.
A rather unpleasant pheasant
Delivering mail to the dozen homes of the hamlet of Lowesby should be a simple task.
But Jackie Chadwick's round has turned into a running battle thanks to a very fiery pheasant.
Each morning he attacks the hapless postwoman and sometimes her van too.
Known to locals as Freddie, the pheasant pursues her from door to door pecking her when he can get close enough. He enjoys his sport so much that he has taken to waiting next to Lowesby's post box for Mrs Chadwick to arrive.
But Jackie Chadwick's round has turned into a running battle thanks to a very fiery pheasant.
Each morning he attacks the hapless postwoman and sometimes her van too.
Known to locals as Freddie, the pheasant pursues her from door to door pecking her when he can get close enough. He enjoys his sport so much that he has taken to waiting next to Lowesby's post box for Mrs Chadwick to arrive.
Honeymoon in cell for smoking
A bridegroom spent his wedding night in a police cell — after breaching a smoking ban at the reception.
Mark Phillips, 35, was told to stub out his cigarette after lighting up at a posh non-smoking golf club.
But he refused, saying: “I’ve paid £2,500 for this place, I can do what I like.” Staff called police after a scuffle broke out when he lit up a second cigarette.
He was arrested and locked up for the night.
Phillips, from Timsbury, Somerset, admitted threatening chef James Morrison and was fined £200 with £60 costs by Bath JPs.
The postman interrupted his honeymoon to appear in court.
Mark Phillips, 35, was told to stub out his cigarette after lighting up at a posh non-smoking golf club.
But he refused, saying: “I’ve paid £2,500 for this place, I can do what I like.” Staff called police after a scuffle broke out when he lit up a second cigarette.
He was arrested and locked up for the night.
Phillips, from Timsbury, Somerset, admitted threatening chef James Morrison and was fined £200 with £60 costs by Bath JPs.
The postman interrupted his honeymoon to appear in court.
Friday, November 24, 2006
Jones Soda Thanksgiving Holiday Pack Review
I while back I posted about this pack, and regular visitor Deraser and his family very kindly roadtested the products yesterday.
Here is their review:
We tried the jones soda thanksgiving pack by splitting everything in tiny Dixie cups because the thought of drinking entire bottles of this swill was too much to contemplate. It was utterly hideous.
1. turkey and gravy…imagine sweet, salty CARBONATED turkey. That’s it.
2. dinner roll…slightly sweet, vaguely buttery salt water.
3. pea soda ..smelled like old urine. Very old. We all thought it tasted just as bad as pee might.
4. sweet potato. Actually tasted like sweet potato. I don’t like yams, so this was still gross to me.
5. egg nog..not in the set, but we thought it would be fun to add. Tastes pretty much like real egg nog, but thinner…and carbonated.
6.antacid. Tasted just like pepto, which we needed after we were done.
All in all, a terrible idea, poorly executed. But we got a great laugh out of it.
Thanks again D and the rest of the clan, I'm glad you all lived to tell the tale!
Here is their review:
We tried the jones soda thanksgiving pack by splitting everything in tiny Dixie cups because the thought of drinking entire bottles of this swill was too much to contemplate. It was utterly hideous.
1. turkey and gravy…imagine sweet, salty CARBONATED turkey. That’s it.
2. dinner roll…slightly sweet, vaguely buttery salt water.
3. pea soda ..smelled like old urine. Very old. We all thought it tasted just as bad as pee might.
4. sweet potato. Actually tasted like sweet potato. I don’t like yams, so this was still gross to me.
5. egg nog..not in the set, but we thought it would be fun to add. Tastes pretty much like real egg nog, but thinner…and carbonated.
6.antacid. Tasted just like pepto, which we needed after we were done.
All in all, a terrible idea, poorly executed. But we got a great laugh out of it.
Thanks again D and the rest of the clan, I'm glad you all lived to tell the tale!
Musicovery interactive webRadio
I first posted about this site ages ago. Not long after, I assume as a result of bandwidth issues, it closed down.
Anyway, it's back.
And very good it is too.
Anyway, it's back.
And very good it is too.
Amar Sen and Sabyasachi Sen's HandShadowGraphy
Amar Sen and Sabyasachi Sen are two exclusive artists of India in the field of hand shadowgraphy. Amar and Sabyasachi have introduced to the cultural scene this unique art form which is a combination of their hands and fingers against a blank screen telling you a million stories with complete audio visual effect which may be called cinema in silhouette".
This is a peculiar website and I think the video is supposed to start playing on the first page. But it doesn't, so you have to drag the pages like a book to get to the final page when the video eventually starts.
This is a peculiar website and I think the video is supposed to start playing on the first page. But it doesn't, so you have to drag the pages like a book to get to the final page when the video eventually starts.
Myer's Christmas peep show
Eyebrows were raised outside the Myer Christmas windows in Melbourne when a platypus appeared to be intimately involved with a wombat.
A malfunction was the cause of the accidental and unfortunate positioning of the two characters in this year's Christmas windows titled Wombat Devine.
The video depicts one koala bent over with some sort of robe or sheet covering its head with the other koala positioned behind it:
But window watchers in attendance did not know about the mistake for some time and many were quite surprised by what they saw.
"I don't know what to think," said a mother of four.
"They look like they are... involved."
A malfunction was the cause of the accidental and unfortunate positioning of the two characters in this year's Christmas windows titled Wombat Devine.
The video depicts one koala bent over with some sort of robe or sheet covering its head with the other koala positioned behind it:
But window watchers in attendance did not know about the mistake for some time and many were quite surprised by what they saw.
"I don't know what to think," said a mother of four.
"They look like they are... involved."
Plastic paper to 'cut' emissions
Toshiba has developed a printer that uses plastic "paper" that can be re-used hundreds of times.
The electronics firm said the printer could help companies reduce carbon emissions as it helped to cut the amount of paper they consume.
Toshiba said the machine was designed for businesses and could find a home in many niche applications where permanent copies of documents were not needed.
Industry experts said firms might find it hard to adjust to re-useable paper.
The electronics firm said the printer could help companies reduce carbon emissions as it helped to cut the amount of paper they consume.
Toshiba said the machine was designed for businesses and could find a home in many niche applications where permanent copies of documents were not needed.
Industry experts said firms might find it hard to adjust to re-useable paper.
This is your captain speaking ... I'm just raising the cash to get us home
An airline pilot was cheered by passengers after he raided the takings of the bar and used his own money to pay the fees demanded by Senegal airport officials before they would allow the jet to fly home.
Captain John Lawrence was told to find two million francs (almost £2,000) by Dakar airport officials before the First Choice Airways jet was permitted to take off.
Flight FCA713 had landed at Dakar to refuel for its journey to Bristol after it had been unable to find supplies before leaving Banjul airport in Gambia. After the refuelling was complete officials at the airport made unexpected demands for a number of airport fees.
Mr Lawrence said yesterday: “I went to the cash machine in the terminal but it would not allow me to use my card. So I pulled together the cash float that we always carry together with my cash and travellers cheques and I asked the first officer for all the money he had.”
After cashing all the travellers’ cheques he went to pay the fees only to discover that the airport would accept only the local currency. He then had to return to the airport terminal to have the money converted.
Three hours later he was back aboard the Boeing 757. However, by then it was dusk and the airport authorities demanded a further £200 to switch on the runway lights.
Captain John Lawrence was told to find two million francs (almost £2,000) by Dakar airport officials before the First Choice Airways jet was permitted to take off.
Flight FCA713 had landed at Dakar to refuel for its journey to Bristol after it had been unable to find supplies before leaving Banjul airport in Gambia. After the refuelling was complete officials at the airport made unexpected demands for a number of airport fees.
Mr Lawrence said yesterday: “I went to the cash machine in the terminal but it would not allow me to use my card. So I pulled together the cash float that we always carry together with my cash and travellers cheques and I asked the first officer for all the money he had.”
After cashing all the travellers’ cheques he went to pay the fees only to discover that the airport would accept only the local currency. He then had to return to the airport terminal to have the money converted.
Three hours later he was back aboard the Boeing 757. However, by then it was dusk and the airport authorities demanded a further £200 to switch on the runway lights.
Monkey family jets off to Germany
A family of rare moustachioed monkeys from a Devon zoo is on its way to a new home in Germany.
The Emperor Tamarins left Heathrow on Thursday morning and will soon take up residence at Hoyswerda Zoo.
The group from Exmoor Zoo are going to Germany as part of a European breeding programme as the zoo's two families have both bred this year.
The zoo's Steve Eddy said it was fitting that the family - consisting of mother, father and son - was going to Germany as they got their name from a Swiss zoologist who joked their moustaches resembled that of Germany's Emperor Wilhelm II.
"Taxidermists used to tweak their moustaches so they looked like the German emperor," said Mr Eddy.
The Emperor Tamarins left Heathrow on Thursday morning and will soon take up residence at Hoyswerda Zoo.
The group from Exmoor Zoo are going to Germany as part of a European breeding programme as the zoo's two families have both bred this year.
The zoo's Steve Eddy said it was fitting that the family - consisting of mother, father and son - was going to Germany as they got their name from a Swiss zoologist who joked their moustaches resembled that of Germany's Emperor Wilhelm II.
"Taxidermists used to tweak their moustaches so they looked like the German emperor," said Mr Eddy.
Nursery rhymes get naughty
Britain's best-loved nursery rhymes have been given a 21st century facelift – and the new versions are hardly suitable for children.
The likes of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Jack and Jill and Baa Baa Black Sheep have been updated by a cheeky poet to include references to ASBOs, sex and drugs.
The spoofs are printed in a tongue-in-cheek new book by author Felix Dennis, entitled When Jack Sued Jill: Nursery Rhymes for Modern Times.
Dennis said the age-old kids' songs made the perfect vehicle to joke about the darker side of today's Britain.
With audio.
The likes of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Jack and Jill and Baa Baa Black Sheep have been updated by a cheeky poet to include references to ASBOs, sex and drugs.
The spoofs are printed in a tongue-in-cheek new book by author Felix Dennis, entitled When Jack Sued Jill: Nursery Rhymes for Modern Times.
Dennis said the age-old kids' songs made the perfect vehicle to joke about the darker side of today's Britain.
With audio.
Traditional fibs still popular
British parents are as happy as ever to fib about Father Christmas. A poll for Reader’s Digest found that almost nine out of ten parents have passed on untruths.
The Top Ten white lies are:
1. Father Christmas
2. The Tooth Fairy
3. Crusts give you curly hair
4. Carrots help night vision
5. If the wind changes, your face will stay like that
6. The Easter Bunny
7. Babies are found under gooseberry bushes (or similar)
8. If you eat apple pips, they will grow in your tummy
9. Picking your nose causes your head to cave in or your nose to fall off
10. Lying does something unpleasant to your tongue.
The Top Ten white lies are:
1. Father Christmas
2. The Tooth Fairy
3. Crusts give you curly hair
4. Carrots help night vision
5. If the wind changes, your face will stay like that
6. The Easter Bunny
7. Babies are found under gooseberry bushes (or similar)
8. If you eat apple pips, they will grow in your tummy
9. Picking your nose causes your head to cave in or your nose to fall off
10. Lying does something unpleasant to your tongue.
Knifepoint robbery at cathedral
A man was robbed at knifepoint in Bristol cathedral during a Sunday service, police said.
The 23-year-old victim was robbed of his wallet by two men who approached him in a toilet.
A spokesman for the city centre cathedral called it "depressing" and branded the robbers a "disgrace".
It is believed to be the first time a worshipper has been targeted during a service at the cathedral.
The 23-year-old victim was robbed of his wallet by two men who approached him in a toilet.
A spokesman for the city centre cathedral called it "depressing" and branded the robbers a "disgrace".
It is believed to be the first time a worshipper has been targeted during a service at the cathedral.
Pie-eating championship goes slimline
The World Pie Eating Championship - not previously known for its adherence to the principles of healthy eating - has been rocked by new rules designed to help the fight against obesity.
In a break with tradition, contestants in the Wigan-based competition will no longer have to eat as many meat and potato pies as possible in three minutes.
Instead, they will compete to eat just one pie in the fastest time And for those health-conscious professional pie-eaters, the competition will include a vegetarian option for the first time.
Organisers of the annual event say the changes have been made in the light of the government's healthy eating advice.
In a break with tradition, contestants in the Wigan-based competition will no longer have to eat as many meat and potato pies as possible in three minutes.
Instead, they will compete to eat just one pie in the fastest time And for those health-conscious professional pie-eaters, the competition will include a vegetarian option for the first time.
Organisers of the annual event say the changes have been made in the light of the government's healthy eating advice.
Scheme hopes to make London nice
Londoners are not known for their senseless compassion or random acts of kindness, but a new scheme hopes to change all that.
The Niceties project aims to break down gruff exteriors by giving "Niceties Tokens" when they are polite.
Liz Akers, 28, came up with the idea after becoming sick of rudeness on her commute to work.
A person who is seen being "nice" will get one of 130 tokens as a reward, which they can then pass on to others.
Each token has an individual name and set of markings, and the recipient can log on to a website to record how, where, and why they got it, and read about who has had it before them.
Asked if she thought the scheme might change the face of London, Ms Akers said: "That's a bit ambitious isn't it? But yeah! Why not?"
The Niceties project aims to break down gruff exteriors by giving "Niceties Tokens" when they are polite.
Liz Akers, 28, came up with the idea after becoming sick of rudeness on her commute to work.
A person who is seen being "nice" will get one of 130 tokens as a reward, which they can then pass on to others.
Each token has an individual name and set of markings, and the recipient can log on to a website to record how, where, and why they got it, and read about who has had it before them.
Asked if she thought the scheme might change the face of London, Ms Akers said: "That's a bit ambitious isn't it? But yeah! Why not?"
The garden kickabout that cost the taxpayer £50,000
Taxpayers will pick up the estimated £50,000 bill for a “ridiculous” legal battle in which a City banker was taken to court by his neighbour for playing football in a communal garden with his five-year-old son.
No less than a top QC, two High Court judges and two sittings of the West London Magistrates’ Court were required to deal with the case of Christopher Fleming-Brown, who was privately prosecuted by his neighbour, Paula Lawton, under the Town Gardens Protection Act 1863.
Ms Lawton, of Notting Hill, West London, had accused Mr Fleming-Brown, 46, of breaking by-laws relating to a communal space, the Arundel and Elgin Ornamental Gardens, when he indulged in a game of football with his young son.
But magistrates kicked Ms Lawton’s case into touch in November last year, ruling that such a small kickabout did not constitute a game of football, as defined by the Oxford English Dictionary.
They ruled that, as Mr Fleming-Brown and his son were not “teams” of footballers, they could not be guilty of breaching the bylaw on at least two occasions in October 2004 and March last year when Ms Lawton saw them playing. The magistrates also ruled that the activities of father and son did not constitute acts that might damage trees, shrubs and flowers, contrary to a separate bylaw.
More here.
No less than a top QC, two High Court judges and two sittings of the West London Magistrates’ Court were required to deal with the case of Christopher Fleming-Brown, who was privately prosecuted by his neighbour, Paula Lawton, under the Town Gardens Protection Act 1863.
Ms Lawton, of Notting Hill, West London, had accused Mr Fleming-Brown, 46, of breaking by-laws relating to a communal space, the Arundel and Elgin Ornamental Gardens, when he indulged in a game of football with his young son.
But magistrates kicked Ms Lawton’s case into touch in November last year, ruling that such a small kickabout did not constitute a game of football, as defined by the Oxford English Dictionary.
They ruled that, as Mr Fleming-Brown and his son were not “teams” of footballers, they could not be guilty of breaching the bylaw on at least two occasions in October 2004 and March last year when Ms Lawton saw them playing. The magistrates also ruled that the activities of father and son did not constitute acts that might damage trees, shrubs and flowers, contrary to a separate bylaw.
More here.
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Yay For Fluff
This little animation was produced by some clever person on the b3ta board.
If you click on the kitten things they giggle.
Taiwan wife gets protection order over bedtime stories
A domestic dispute in Taiwan has taken a spooky twist that seems more bizarre than true.
According to Apple Daily Taiwan, a Taiwanese woman has just taken a personal protection order (PPO) against her husband for telling her ghost stories.
The paper reported that the distressed woman, identified only as Mrs Chen, filed a complaint with the Taichung police, claiming that her husband was giving her constant nightmares with his insistence on telling her ghost stories at bedtime.
In her complaint, Mrs Chen claimed that her husband often returned home in the dead of the night in a drunken stupor, and would start yelling for no reason.
He would then go on to tell her ghost stories for at least an hour. Her repeated pleas for him to stop fell on deaf ears.
In his defence, Mr Chen claimed that he was only sharing work stories with his wife.
According to Apple Daily Taiwan, a Taiwanese woman has just taken a personal protection order (PPO) against her husband for telling her ghost stories.
The paper reported that the distressed woman, identified only as Mrs Chen, filed a complaint with the Taichung police, claiming that her husband was giving her constant nightmares with his insistence on telling her ghost stories at bedtime.
In her complaint, Mrs Chen claimed that her husband often returned home in the dead of the night in a drunken stupor, and would start yelling for no reason.
He would then go on to tell her ghost stories for at least an hour. Her repeated pleas for him to stop fell on deaf ears.
In his defence, Mr Chen claimed that he was only sharing work stories with his wife.
Lesbian singer is voted 'coolest' person in rock
A 15-stone lesbian activist from Arkansas is now the coolest figure in rock, according to the annual list published by NME.
The “rock goddess” is back, declared the weekly publication after revealing its annual Cool List, compiled at the discretion of its editorial team.
The NME Cool Icon is Beth Ditto, a larger-than-life punk feminist who fronts the Gossip, an American band. Her vocals have been compared to Janis Joplin’s.
Ditto provoked controversy after saying that she was not surprised by shootings among pupils in US schools because depressed teenagers did not get the help they needed from the authorities.
The NME Cool List Top Ten:
1 Beth Ditto, The Gossip
2 Faris Rotter, The Horrors
3 Lily Allen
4 Jarvis Cocker
5 Karen O, Yeah Yeah Yeahs
6 Kieren Webster, The View
7 Kate Jackson, The Long Blondes
8 Gerard Way, My Chemical Romance
9 Thom Yorke, Radiohead
10 Lovefoxxx, CSS
The NME Cool List Top 50.
The “rock goddess” is back, declared the weekly publication after revealing its annual Cool List, compiled at the discretion of its editorial team.
The NME Cool Icon is Beth Ditto, a larger-than-life punk feminist who fronts the Gossip, an American band. Her vocals have been compared to Janis Joplin’s.
Ditto provoked controversy after saying that she was not surprised by shootings among pupils in US schools because depressed teenagers did not get the help they needed from the authorities.
The NME Cool List Top Ten:
1 Beth Ditto, The Gossip
2 Faris Rotter, The Horrors
3 Lily Allen
4 Jarvis Cocker
5 Karen O, Yeah Yeah Yeahs
6 Kieren Webster, The View
7 Kate Jackson, The Long Blondes
8 Gerard Way, My Chemical Romance
9 Thom Yorke, Radiohead
10 Lovefoxxx, CSS
The NME Cool List Top 50.
Mom Kept Dad's Corpse Under Covers
A man hoping to reconcile with his parents made a grisly find in their New York apartment, police said: His mother may have been living with his father's corpse for three years.
Police said Paul Iversen went to his parents' Brooklyn apartment on Tuesday to make amends after years of strangement. When he arrived, his mother, Joanne, told him his father, Frank, had died, police said.
Then she showed her son the skeletal remains of an adult man, stored under bed covers in her bedroom, according to police.
The medical examiner was to conduct tests to confirm the identity of the remains. No charges have been filed.
Neighbours at the Iversens' building on Bay Ridge Parkway said Joanne Iversen had told them her husband was simply away.
Police said Paul Iversen went to his parents' Brooklyn apartment on Tuesday to make amends after years of strangement. When he arrived, his mother, Joanne, told him his father, Frank, had died, police said.
Then she showed her son the skeletal remains of an adult man, stored under bed covers in her bedroom, according to police.
The medical examiner was to conduct tests to confirm the identity of the remains. No charges have been filed.
Neighbours at the Iversens' building on Bay Ridge Parkway said Joanne Iversen had told them her husband was simply away.
Backyard Toilet Fence Upsets Neighbours
Some people use scarecrows to chase away birds, or garlic to block vampires. Rick Froebe uses toilets to repel golfers. Froebe has erected a backyard "fence" made of seven old toilets, a few used bathtubs and some broken-down water heaters, all designed to prevent golfers from the adjacent Lakeview Golf & Country Club from approaching his yard.
While critics say Froebe is acting out in a dispute with the golf course and other neighbours, the plumber insists his fence is not meant to be offensive.
"It's plumber art", Froebe, 52, said.
On Monday, three scarecrow-like dummies sat on toilets and looked on as golfers finished their putts on the 354-yard, par-4 first hole. The old commodes, bathtubs and water heaters first appeared on Halloween.
Froebe, co-owner of Coulee Dam/Ephrata Plumbing, used to belong to the golf club, but resigned in May in a dispute with other members.
While critics say Froebe is acting out in a dispute with the golf course and other neighbours, the plumber insists his fence is not meant to be offensive.
"It's plumber art", Froebe, 52, said.
On Monday, three scarecrow-like dummies sat on toilets and looked on as golfers finished their putts on the 354-yard, par-4 first hole. The old commodes, bathtubs and water heaters first appeared on Halloween.
Froebe, co-owner of Coulee Dam/Ephrata Plumbing, used to belong to the golf club, but resigned in May in a dispute with other members.
Drunken bus driver asks to continue school run
A bus driver who was 13 times over the legal alcohol limit while driving a bus load of schoolchildren had a simple request for police who arrested him for drunken driving, an Australian court heard yesterday.
"Can I finish my run, at least to drop these kids off?"
A country court in New South Wales state was told 50-year old David Stack had a blood alcohol level of 0.26, which is 13 times the legal limit for a bus driver, when he was stopped on November 7.
Stack, who pleaded guilty to the drunk driving charge, said he regretted his actions and had apologized to the children on the bus at the time.
"Can I finish my run, at least to drop these kids off?"
A country court in New South Wales state was told 50-year old David Stack had a blood alcohol level of 0.26, which is 13 times the legal limit for a bus driver, when he was stopped on November 7.
Stack, who pleaded guilty to the drunk driving charge, said he regretted his actions and had apologized to the children on the bus at the time.
Turkeys Try to Catch Train Out of N.J.
Some wild turkeys, it appears, were trying to get out of New Jersey before Thanksgiving Day. A spokesman for the NJ Transit said train officials reported a dozen or so wild turkeys waiting on a station platform in Ramsey, about 20 miles northwest of New York City, on Wednesday afternoon. The line travels to Suffern, N.Y.
"For a moment, it looked like the turkeys were waiting for the next outbound train", said Dan Stessel, a spokesman for NJ Transit. "Clearly, they're trying to catch a train and escape their fate."
Transit workers followed the bird's movements on surveillance cameras. "I have no idea how they got there," Stessel said.
A Ramsey police dispatcher said the department had received three calls about the traveling turkeys who also were blamed for causing morning rush hour traffic problems on a roadway.
Update: Video footage here.
"For a moment, it looked like the turkeys were waiting for the next outbound train", said Dan Stessel, a spokesman for NJ Transit. "Clearly, they're trying to catch a train and escape their fate."
Transit workers followed the bird's movements on surveillance cameras. "I have no idea how they got there," Stessel said.
A Ramsey police dispatcher said the department had received three calls about the traveling turkeys who also were blamed for causing morning rush hour traffic problems on a roadway.
Update: Video footage here.
Atlanta Police Shoot, Kill 92-Year-Old Woman
A 92-year-old woman was shot to death after she fired at three narcotics officers trying to serve a warrant at her house, officials said.
Neighbours and relatives said it must have been a case of mistaken identity. Police said they had the right address.
Police said the woman, identified as Kathryn Johnson, was the only person home at the time, and had lived there for about 17 years.
Sarah Dozier, identified as a niece of the woman, said that there were never any drugs at the house.
"My aunt was in good health. I'm sure she panicked when they kicked that door down," Dozier said. "There was no reason they had to go in there and shoot her down like a dog."
Neighbours and relatives said it must have been a case of mistaken identity. Police said they had the right address.
Police said the woman, identified as Kathryn Johnson, was the only person home at the time, and had lived there for about 17 years.
Sarah Dozier, identified as a niece of the woman, said that there were never any drugs at the house.
"My aunt was in good health. I'm sure she panicked when they kicked that door down," Dozier said. "There was no reason they had to go in there and shoot her down like a dog."
The first remarkable close-up pictures of animals in the womb
Using an array of technology, the images reveal what until now has been a secret - exactly how animals develop in the womb. They were created by the same team who in 2004 showed how human embryos "walk in the womb".
Using a combination of three-dimensional ultrasound scans, computer graphics and tiny cameras, the team were able to show the entire process from conception to birth.
Researchers used scans to track elephant calves developing for almost two years in the womb - the longest gestation period of all mammals.
It shows at 16 weeks the elephant foetus starting to look more like an elephant as the trunk develops.
At almost a year, the trunk is longer than the legs, and by 14 months, the characteristic elephant ears are visible. They will eventually grow to almost two feet across to help regulate the body temperature of the fullymature-elephant. At birth, he will weigh nearly 260lb and be able to take his first steps in minutes.
There are galleries of photos here, here and here.
Using a combination of three-dimensional ultrasound scans, computer graphics and tiny cameras, the team were able to show the entire process from conception to birth.
Researchers used scans to track elephant calves developing for almost two years in the womb - the longest gestation period of all mammals.
It shows at 16 weeks the elephant foetus starting to look more like an elephant as the trunk develops.
At almost a year, the trunk is longer than the legs, and by 14 months, the characteristic elephant ears are visible. They will eventually grow to almost two feet across to help regulate the body temperature of the fullymature-elephant. At birth, he will weigh nearly 260lb and be able to take his first steps in minutes.
There are galleries of photos here, here and here.
Drink-drivers may be tested by cars
Convicted drink-drivers in America may soon have to fit a device that requires them to pass an in-car breath test before the engine will start and disables the ignition if it detects alcohol.
The scheme has been in force in New Mexico for first-time and repeat offenders over the past year, during which time there has been an 11.3 per cent decrease in alcohol-linked road deaths.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) called this week for similar changes in traffic laws in America’s other 49 states, some of which already use the so-called ignition interlocks, but only for drivers with multiple convictions. But these devices can be easily circumvented by the driver getting a sober friend to blow into the tube instead.
So car manufacturers and the federal government are reported to be backing research into a new generation of technology for detecting alcohol in a driver’s body. Saab is already testing a device that attaches to a key chain, while other transdermal sensors may be able to read alcohol content when a driver’s palm touches the steering wheel or the gear stick.
Even more advanced versions can detect when a car is weaving down the road while being driven by an impaired driver.
The scheme has been in force in New Mexico for first-time and repeat offenders over the past year, during which time there has been an 11.3 per cent decrease in alcohol-linked road deaths.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) called this week for similar changes in traffic laws in America’s other 49 states, some of which already use the so-called ignition interlocks, but only for drivers with multiple convictions. But these devices can be easily circumvented by the driver getting a sober friend to blow into the tube instead.
So car manufacturers and the federal government are reported to be backing research into a new generation of technology for detecting alcohol in a driver’s body. Saab is already testing a device that attaches to a key chain, while other transdermal sensors may be able to read alcohol content when a driver’s palm touches the steering wheel or the gear stick.
Even more advanced versions can detect when a car is weaving down the road while being driven by an impaired driver.
Pollution turns Yellow River red
A stretch of China's Yellow River turned red for the second time in a month because of pollution, media says.
Waste water from a heating station near the city of Lanzhou contaminated 1km of the river, the country's second longest, according to Xinhua.
Local environmental officials said the red plume of water "very possibly" came from a station that provides heating for Lanzhou residents.
The plant had added a red dye to its water to prevent people from siphoning off the hot water from the pipes it used, officials were quoted by Chinese media as saying.
Tests found the dye was not toxic, and the spill lasted for around an hour.
Waste water from a heating station near the city of Lanzhou contaminated 1km of the river, the country's second longest, according to Xinhua.
Local environmental officials said the red plume of water "very possibly" came from a station that provides heating for Lanzhou residents.
The plant had added a red dye to its water to prevent people from siphoning off the hot water from the pipes it used, officials were quoted by Chinese media as saying.
Tests found the dye was not toxic, and the spill lasted for around an hour.
Amnesty: hand in your pit bull and we'll kill it
Combat knives and unwanted firearms are the common currency of police amnesties. Ballymena council, however, is preparing to recover a different sort of illegal weapon: pit bull terriers.
Starting in January, the Northern Ireland authority will hold what is believed to be the UK's first "pit bull amnesty". In return for handing in the dangerous dogs, owners will escape prosecution.
The proposal, backed by Ballymena's environmental services committee this week, follows a spate of pit bull attacks across the province. Police officers have had to shoot enraged dogs dead four times this year. In west Belfast, the police had to put eight bullets into an animal to stop it. On another occasion a bus was abandoned after an unaccompanied pit bull terrorised passengers. In the most recent attack, a family walking near Randalstown, County Antrim, were attacked by a pit bull; the children were saved by their pet labrador, which was savaged to death.
This summer the city of Kansas experimented with a similar amnesty, sparking opposition from some US dog owners. Northern Ireland's dangerous dogs order is slightly different from the law in England: the regulations are enforced by council dog wardens rather than the police and magistrates do not have any discretion to stop a pit bull being put down.
Starting in January, the Northern Ireland authority will hold what is believed to be the UK's first "pit bull amnesty". In return for handing in the dangerous dogs, owners will escape prosecution.
The proposal, backed by Ballymena's environmental services committee this week, follows a spate of pit bull attacks across the province. Police officers have had to shoot enraged dogs dead four times this year. In west Belfast, the police had to put eight bullets into an animal to stop it. On another occasion a bus was abandoned after an unaccompanied pit bull terrorised passengers. In the most recent attack, a family walking near Randalstown, County Antrim, were attacked by a pit bull; the children were saved by their pet labrador, which was savaged to death.
This summer the city of Kansas experimented with a similar amnesty, sparking opposition from some US dog owners. Northern Ireland's dangerous dogs order is slightly different from the law in England: the regulations are enforced by council dog wardens rather than the police and magistrates do not have any discretion to stop a pit bull being put down.
Boxing orangutans welcomed home
Forty-eight orangutans who have spent much of their lives performing boxing matches in a Thai zoo have finally been returned to their native Indonesia.
The wife of the Indonesian president was at the airport to welcome the animals, who were confiscated from Bangkok's Safari World two years ago.
They are now heading to a jungle reserve on the island of Borneo, where they will undergo medical tests.
Experts estimate that there are only 60,000 of the animals left in the wild on Borneo and Sumatra.
There are more photos here.
The wife of the Indonesian president was at the airport to welcome the animals, who were confiscated from Bangkok's Safari World two years ago.
They are now heading to a jungle reserve on the island of Borneo, where they will undergo medical tests.
Experts estimate that there are only 60,000 of the animals left in the wild on Borneo and Sumatra.
There are more photos here.
Jail for thug who let terrier rip cat apart - Update
A teenager who dropped a neighbour's cat into the jaws of his aggressive dog and watched as it was ripped to shreds has been jailed for four months.
Callum Myers, 18, was caught on CCTV grinning as he plucked the cat from a fence after it had run to safety from his Staffordshire bull terrier, Gypsy.
He then watched as Gypsy savaged the cat in a frenzied attack, snapping its ribs in its powerful jaws.
Myers, of Huddersfield, pleaded guilty to failing to protect the cat from injury. But he denied intentionally hurting the animal, claiminghe was trying to save Tigger from his dog when he grabbed it from the fence. He said he was intending to take it away and put it in a tree when he dropped it.
Callum Myers, 18, was caught on CCTV grinning as he plucked the cat from a fence after it had run to safety from his Staffordshire bull terrier, Gypsy.
He then watched as Gypsy savaged the cat in a frenzied attack, snapping its ribs in its powerful jaws.
Myers, of Huddersfield, pleaded guilty to failing to protect the cat from injury. But he denied intentionally hurting the animal, claiminghe was trying to save Tigger from his dog when he grabbed it from the fence. He said he was intending to take it away and put it in a tree when he dropped it.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Freya's Love Puppy
I honestly don't know what to say about this.
If you have a spare five minutes, then this is also worth a listen.
"I am in lurve with a pie", not just any pie, but a chicken pot pie.
If you have a spare five minutes, then this is also worth a listen.
"I am in lurve with a pie", not just any pie, but a chicken pot pie.
Accidents
This guy on a motorbike filmed himself with two cameras being pursued by the police. Watch it right until the end.
Here you have an ambulance parked with all its lights flashing, a police car behind and another car parked across the road. Somehow, someone failed to notice all of this.
Here you have an ambulance parked with all its lights flashing, a police car behind and another car parked across the road. Somehow, someone failed to notice all of this.
Kirstie Alley's Bikini Shock
I don't really know much about Kirstie Alley, but she recently appeared on the Oprah Show.
Check out the reaction of the audience.
Check out the reaction of the audience.
Dominatrix alleges bizarre sexual encounter with cop
In X-rated testimony as graphic as a pornographic film, a dominatrix today described a bizarre sexual encounter in the woods she claims to have had with a town police officer.
"He wanted to go to a motel in the Bronx where I would defecate on him, but I told him I was uncomfortable going to the Bronx," testified the dominatrix, Gina Pane, 31, buttoned up in an olive-gray suit with her black hair pulled back in a bun. "I suggested that we go into a woody area. He was very excited."
The officer, she testified, performed a sexual act after she was finished.
The explicit testimony by Pane marked the start of the criminal trial for police officer Erik Ward, who was arrested in March on a misdemeanor charge of official misconduct. Ward also faces an administrative hearing before the Town Board that could result in his dismissal.
Ward's lawyer said the officer did nothing sexual or inappropriate in the woods, but was recruiting the dominatrix to be a confidential source for narcotics investigations.
"He wanted to go to a motel in the Bronx where I would defecate on him, but I told him I was uncomfortable going to the Bronx," testified the dominatrix, Gina Pane, 31, buttoned up in an olive-gray suit with her black hair pulled back in a bun. "I suggested that we go into a woody area. He was very excited."
The officer, she testified, performed a sexual act after she was finished.
The explicit testimony by Pane marked the start of the criminal trial for police officer Erik Ward, who was arrested in March on a misdemeanor charge of official misconduct. Ward also faces an administrative hearing before the Town Board that could result in his dismissal.
Ward's lawyer said the officer did nothing sexual or inappropriate in the woods, but was recruiting the dominatrix to be a confidential source for narcotics investigations.
Child labour poster girl still working
Eight-year-old Chunam Kumari's face is plastered all over the northern Indian state of Bihar in posters campaigning against child labour.
Nothing surprising about that - Chunam was picked by the United Nation's Children's Fund (Unicef) to be their poster girl in an awareness campaign about child labour in this impoverished state.
What is surprising is that Chunam continues to work 12 hours a day at her father's ramshackle roadside food stall in the capital, Patna, cleaning creaky wooden tables, washing utensils and serving up cheap meals.
Last month, a new law came into force nationwide banning children under 14 from working as domestic servants or on food stalls. It also prevents children from working in teashops, restaurants, spas, hotels, resorts and other recreational centres.
Chunam's father, Baleshwar Das, says nobody took his consent for using his daughter's photograph for the campaign.
Nothing surprising about that - Chunam was picked by the United Nation's Children's Fund (Unicef) to be their poster girl in an awareness campaign about child labour in this impoverished state.
What is surprising is that Chunam continues to work 12 hours a day at her father's ramshackle roadside food stall in the capital, Patna, cleaning creaky wooden tables, washing utensils and serving up cheap meals.
Last month, a new law came into force nationwide banning children under 14 from working as domestic servants or on food stalls. It also prevents children from working in teashops, restaurants, spas, hotels, resorts and other recreational centres.
Chunam's father, Baleshwar Das, says nobody took his consent for using his daughter's photograph for the campaign.
Travellers vote US 'most unfriendly country'
Rude immigration officials and long delays in processing visas have turned the US into the world's most unfriendly country for international travellers, according to a global survey released today.
The survey showed the US was ranked "the worst" in terms of visas and immigration procedures by twice the percentage of travellers as the next destination regarded as unfriendly - the Middle East and the Asian subcontinent.
The survey, of 2011 international travellers in 16 countries, was conducted by the polling firm RT Strategies for the Discover America Partnership, a business-backed group launched in September to promote travel to the US and improve the country's image abroad.
More than half of the travellers surveyed said US immigration officials were rude and two-thirds said they feared they would be detained on arriving in the US for a simple mistake in their paper work or for saying the wrong thing to an immigration official.
Geoff Freeman, executive director of the Discover America Partnership said "The survey shows there is more fear of our immigration officials than of terrorism or crime."
The survey showed the US was ranked "the worst" in terms of visas and immigration procedures by twice the percentage of travellers as the next destination regarded as unfriendly - the Middle East and the Asian subcontinent.
The survey, of 2011 international travellers in 16 countries, was conducted by the polling firm RT Strategies for the Discover America Partnership, a business-backed group launched in September to promote travel to the US and improve the country's image abroad.
More than half of the travellers surveyed said US immigration officials were rude and two-thirds said they feared they would be detained on arriving in the US for a simple mistake in their paper work or for saying the wrong thing to an immigration official.
Geoff Freeman, executive director of the Discover America Partnership said "The survey shows there is more fear of our immigration officials than of terrorism or crime."
'Dude Cigarette' Pleads Guilty to Bigamy
A man who dresses up as a giant cigarette and uses hip-hop music to encourage children in Lynchburg and beyond to avoid smoking pleaded guilty Tuesday to bigamy. Phillip Dale Williams, 37, had as many as four wives at the same time, Chuck Felmlee, deputy commonwealth's attorney, said.
Williams was known locally for playing "Douglas 'Dude' Cigarette", a character he created in 1996. He has performed in about a dozen states.
Williams faces up to 10 years in prison when he is sentenced.
Williams was known locally for playing "Douglas 'Dude' Cigarette", a character he created in 1996. He has performed in about a dozen states.
Williams faces up to 10 years in prison when he is sentenced.
For those about to rock, Kim Jong-il salutes you
Step aside Glastonbury, move over Lollapalooza - there's a new music festival vying for space on the international tour calendar. Rock For Peace, which takes place next May in North Korea's capital, Pyongyang, "will be the 2007 version of Woodstock rock festival in 1969 but in a different location and with different goals".
Though not a place historically associated with free love and hippy wig-outs, all that is about to change, with organisers embracing "capitalist popular music" for the first time. And, in keeping with the laissez-faire spirit of rock festivals, there are few restrictions: "Lyrics should not contain admirations on war, sex, violence, murder, drug, rape, non-governmental society, imperialism, colonialism, racism, anti-DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea), and anti-socialism."
The event, organised by DPRK's Ministry of Culture and National Tourism, has been advertised on a website run by UK-based Voice of Korea (Vok), a mouthpiece for the DPRK. Jean-Baptiste Kim, the organisation's leader, explains: "Vok manages the event in London because it is practically impossible for foreigners to contact the concerned authorities neither by email nor by telephone."
The line-up for Rock For Peace is yet to be announced, but the organisers claim interest from 49 acts in 20 countries. Bands are invited from any western country, "even though you are from USA".
Though not a place historically associated with free love and hippy wig-outs, all that is about to change, with organisers embracing "capitalist popular music" for the first time. And, in keeping with the laissez-faire spirit of rock festivals, there are few restrictions: "Lyrics should not contain admirations on war, sex, violence, murder, drug, rape, non-governmental society, imperialism, colonialism, racism, anti-DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea), and anti-socialism."
The event, organised by DPRK's Ministry of Culture and National Tourism, has been advertised on a website run by UK-based Voice of Korea (Vok), a mouthpiece for the DPRK. Jean-Baptiste Kim, the organisation's leader, explains: "Vok manages the event in London because it is practically impossible for foreigners to contact the concerned authorities neither by email nor by telephone."
The line-up for Rock For Peace is yet to be announced, but the organisers claim interest from 49 acts in 20 countries. Bands are invited from any western country, "even though you are from USA".
Rare zoo lion cubs poisoned
Rare Abyssinian lion cubs are being poisoned at a zoo in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, and their bodies are then sold on to be stuffed.
The zoo, founded by Ethiopia's former Emperor Haile Selassie, says it poisons a number of cubs each year because it does not have the space or money to look after them.
"We can send them to the forest and to some governmental palaces but most of the time we send them to the taxidermists," said the Lion Zoo administrator Muhedin Abdulaziz.
He said the taxidermists pay about $175 (£90) for each cub and they are then sold for $400 (£210).
Emperor Haile Selassie started the Lion Zoo 57 years ago.
It collected lions from across the country and was a symbol of his reign.
The zoo, founded by Ethiopia's former Emperor Haile Selassie, says it poisons a number of cubs each year because it does not have the space or money to look after them.
"We can send them to the forest and to some governmental palaces but most of the time we send them to the taxidermists," said the Lion Zoo administrator Muhedin Abdulaziz.
He said the taxidermists pay about $175 (£90) for each cub and they are then sold for $400 (£210).
Emperor Haile Selassie started the Lion Zoo 57 years ago.
It collected lions from across the country and was a symbol of his reign.