Sunday, December 03, 2006
Journalist attacks presenter at an Australian awards show
A journalist was abused and shoved off the stage and the culprit hauled away by security guards to show rivalry was alive and well at Australia's premier journalism awards dinner Nov 30. The ballroom at the Melbourne Crown Casino erupted with cheers when high-profile News Ltd political columnist Glenn Milne stormed the stage as internet journalist Stephen Mayne prepared to present an award.
Mr Milne was apparently outraged at Mr Mayne's unsubstantiated claims on the popular media critique website Crikey.com.
Mr Milne was apparently outraged at Mr Mayne's unsubstantiated claims on the popular media critique website Crikey.com.
Luciferous Logolepsy
A collection of over 9,000 obscure English words. Though the definition of an "English" word might seem to be straightforward, it is not. There exist so many adopted, derivative, archaic or abandoned words in what we loosely define as the "English Language", that a clear-cut definition seems impossible. For the purposes of this project though, words are included that may stretch any basic definitions. Particular attention has been paid to archaic words, as they tend to be more evocative - as if their very age lends additional meaning or overtones.
Gayle Chong Kwan
Edinburgh-born Gayle Chong Kwan creates mythical landscape masterpieces made entirely from food.
Twelve photos of Gayle’s culinary creations are on show at Southwark Underground station, London, until the end of April.
There are several examples of Gayle's work here.
Twelve photos of Gayle’s culinary creations are on show at Southwark Underground station, London, until the end of April.
There are several examples of Gayle's work here.
Examiners pass polar bear howler
A new science textbook for schools claims that polar bears eat penguins, even though they live in separate hemispheres.
The book, authorised by one of England's three exam boards, contains other errors, including that African elephants get drunk on rotten fruit, a theory dismissed by academics.
The howlers were found in GCSE books and computer resources produced by the educational publishers Nelson Thornes and endorsed by the AQA board. Teaching packs cost schools £1,700 each.
Peter Cotgreave, the chairman of the Campaign for Science and Engineering, a pressure group lobbying to improve science standards, said: "It is inevitable that mistakes are going to creep in but to say that polar bears and penguins live together is astonishing. It reflects a loss of respect for science."
The book, authorised by one of England's three exam boards, contains other errors, including that African elephants get drunk on rotten fruit, a theory dismissed by academics.
The howlers were found in GCSE books and computer resources produced by the educational publishers Nelson Thornes and endorsed by the AQA board. Teaching packs cost schools £1,700 each.
Peter Cotgreave, the chairman of the Campaign for Science and Engineering, a pressure group lobbying to improve science standards, said: "It is inevitable that mistakes are going to creep in but to say that polar bears and penguins live together is astonishing. It reflects a loss of respect for science."
Anti-microbial 'paint' kills flu, bacteria
A new "antimicrobial paint" developed at MIT can kill influenza viruses that land on surfaces coated with it, potentially offering a new weapon in the battle against a disease that kills nearly 40,000 Americans per year.
If applied to doorknobs or other surfaces where germs tend to accumulate, the new substance could help fight the spread of the flu, says Jianzhu Chen, MIT professor of biology.
Influenza is spread when viruses released by an infected person accumulate on surfaces, where other people pick them up. Stopping the viruses before they infect people could prevent some flu cases, says Chen.
The new substance can do just that, by killing influenza viruses before they infect new hosts. The "antimicrobial paint," which can be sprayed or brushed onto surfaces, consists of spiky polymers that poke holes in the membranes that surround influenza viruses.
If applied to doorknobs or other surfaces where germs tend to accumulate, the new substance could help fight the spread of the flu, says Jianzhu Chen, MIT professor of biology.
Influenza is spread when viruses released by an infected person accumulate on surfaces, where other people pick them up. Stopping the viruses before they infect people could prevent some flu cases, says Chen.
The new substance can do just that, by killing influenza viruses before they infect new hosts. The "antimicrobial paint," which can be sprayed or brushed onto surfaces, consists of spiky polymers that poke holes in the membranes that surround influenza viruses.
Generation Next: A young world
The number of young people in the world has never been higher. In all, there are about one billion 12 to 18-year-olds. Almost nine out of 10 live in the developing world.
The proportion of young people per country is highest in Africa and lowest in Europe. In Uganda 57% of people are under 18. In Italy, Greece and Spain the figure is 17%.
A quarter of young people live on less than US$1 a day.
The proportion of young people per country is highest in Africa and lowest in Europe. In Uganda 57% of people are under 18. In Italy, Greece and Spain the figure is 17%.
A quarter of young people live on less than US$1 a day.
Move house ... but thou shalt not take thy dead relatives
When people move house they often take with them every fixture and fitting bar the kitchen sink. And sometimes even that too. But a new trend is dismaying bishops in the Church of England.
Increasing numbers are asking whether they can dig up their dead relatives and take them to another churchyard near their new home.
The trend has emerged in two judgments from separate dioceses in the Church of England.
Two chancellors — Church judges — have issued grieving relatives with a warning that, once buried, their dear departed must be allowed to rest in peace.
Increasing numbers are asking whether they can dig up their dead relatives and take them to another churchyard near their new home.
The trend has emerged in two judgments from separate dioceses in the Church of England.
Two chancellors — Church judges — have issued grieving relatives with a warning that, once buried, their dear departed must be allowed to rest in peace.
Bride died 10 minutes before her wedding
A bride lost her battle with cancer just minutes before she was due to get married.
Suzanne Donlan closed her eyes as devoted boyfriend, Alan Dennison, held her hand and said: "I love you, I can't wait to be your husband."
The couple had been due to marry at their home in Little Hulton.
But Suzanne, aged 36, who had given birth to the couple's first child just eight weeks earlier, died 10 minutes before guests and the registrar were due to arrive.
Yesterday, Miss Donlan was laid to rest wearing the gold wedding ring that she had never had the chance to put on in life.
Suzanne Donlan closed her eyes as devoted boyfriend, Alan Dennison, held her hand and said: "I love you, I can't wait to be your husband."
The couple had been due to marry at their home in Little Hulton.
But Suzanne, aged 36, who had given birth to the couple's first child just eight weeks earlier, died 10 minutes before guests and the registrar were due to arrive.
Yesterday, Miss Donlan was laid to rest wearing the gold wedding ring that she had never had the chance to put on in life.
Bite kills Malaysia 'Snake King'
A snake charmer who made a name for himself as Malaysia's Snake King has died after being bitten by a king cobra.
Ali Khan Samsudin, 48, had entered the record books for locking himself in small spaces with hundreds of snakes or scorpions for days at a time.
The old adage "once bitten twice shy" simply did not apply to Mr Ali Khan.
According to local press reports, he had his first altercation with a king cobra 27 years ago.
So when, on Tuesday, one of his subjects inflicted what was just the latest of many bites, he had not been unduly worried.
However, two days later, his condition worsened suddenly and his family rushed him to hospital. He died before he could receive treatment.
Ali Khan Samsudin, 48, had entered the record books for locking himself in small spaces with hundreds of snakes or scorpions for days at a time.
The old adage "once bitten twice shy" simply did not apply to Mr Ali Khan.
According to local press reports, he had his first altercation with a king cobra 27 years ago.
So when, on Tuesday, one of his subjects inflicted what was just the latest of many bites, he had not been unduly worried.
However, two days later, his condition worsened suddenly and his family rushed him to hospital. He died before he could receive treatment.
Phone 'shocked' teenager to death
A family is calling for more research into sudden death among young people as it claims a mobile phone ring may have sparked their daughter's death.
Kasia Ber, 17, who had an undiagnosed heart problem, died in bed at her parents' County Durham home last year.
Subsequent tests showed she had the genetic disorder Long QT syndrome, which is treated with beta blockers.
Her family want more research into how sudden shocks or noises, like phones, can trigger potentially fatal attacks.
An inquest in Hartlepool heard evidence from Miss Ber's boyfriend Scott Wheatley, who said she began shaking when her mobile phone alarm went off on the morning of 28 December last year.
She stopped breathing soon afterwards.
Also, fridge magnets 'can be a killer'.
Kasia Ber, 17, who had an undiagnosed heart problem, died in bed at her parents' County Durham home last year.
Subsequent tests showed she had the genetic disorder Long QT syndrome, which is treated with beta blockers.
Her family want more research into how sudden shocks or noises, like phones, can trigger potentially fatal attacks.
An inquest in Hartlepool heard evidence from Miss Ber's boyfriend Scott Wheatley, who said she began shaking when her mobile phone alarm went off on the morning of 28 December last year.
She stopped breathing soon afterwards.
Also, fridge magnets 'can be a killer'.
Father gave daughters amphetamines
A father who gave his two daughters amphetamines to teach them about the dangers of drugs has been sentenced.
Colin Moyse, 50, of Gorleston, Norfolk, admitted to giving Class B amphetamines - known as Speed - to his daughters between December 2005 and January 2006.
He was given a conditional discharge of two years.
Norwich Crown Court heard that Moyse wanted his daughters, aged 13 and 12, to know what the drug tasted like in case somebody spiked their drinks.
Moyse, said to be "anti-drugs", put some amphetamine on his fingertips and told the girls to taste it.
Colin Moyse, 50, of Gorleston, Norfolk, admitted to giving Class B amphetamines - known as Speed - to his daughters between December 2005 and January 2006.
He was given a conditional discharge of two years.
Norwich Crown Court heard that Moyse wanted his daughters, aged 13 and 12, to know what the drug tasted like in case somebody spiked their drinks.
Moyse, said to be "anti-drugs", put some amphetamine on his fingertips and told the girls to taste it.
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