Sunday, April 22, 2007
Rio de Janeiro Red Bull Air Race - Update
This video shows British pilot Paul Bonhomme winning yesterday's race.
With many thanks to Bernardo, who has put together a huge selection of information, videos and photos on his website.
With many thanks to Bernardo, who has put together a huge selection of information, videos and photos on his website.
Escort agency launches virgin service for geeks
A Dutch escort agency is launching a special virgin service for computer geeks.
Sociology student Zoe Vialet, who set up Society Service last year, says she has had a lot of demand from virgins.
She says most of them work in the IT sector and added: "They are very sweet but are afraid of seeking contact with other people. They mean it very well but are very scared.
"Every booking lasts three hours minimum. Longer is possible, shorter not. We take the time to take a bath together, do a massage and explore each others body.
"When the date is over, you will have had a fantastic experience, and you will be able to pleasure a woman."
Zoe and her colleague Marieke have specially trained five girls to look after the needs of virgins.
She added: "You better practise before having a girlfriend. Woman expect men older than 30 having had some experience.
"Some men need a little bit of help. But it makes them happy and they are glowing .There is nothing more terrible than dying as a virgin."
Sociology student Zoe Vialet, who set up Society Service last year, says she has had a lot of demand from virgins.
She says most of them work in the IT sector and added: "They are very sweet but are afraid of seeking contact with other people. They mean it very well but are very scared.
"Every booking lasts three hours minimum. Longer is possible, shorter not. We take the time to take a bath together, do a massage and explore each others body.
"When the date is over, you will have had a fantastic experience, and you will be able to pleasure a woman."
Zoe and her colleague Marieke have specially trained five girls to look after the needs of virgins.
She added: "You better practise before having a girlfriend. Woman expect men older than 30 having had some experience.
"Some men need a little bit of help. But it makes them happy and they are glowing .There is nothing more terrible than dying as a virgin."
Buddhist monks turn streetfighter
Two opposing groups of Buddhist monks engaged in a street fist fight on Friday, during a protest in Cambodia to demand religious freedom for their fellow monks living in southern Vietnam.
Lim Yuth, a 23-year-old monk, suffered a cut on his left eyebrow during the brawl, but it was not immediately clear what caused the injury.
Lim Yuth was among some 50 monks who marched through Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh, to voice their grievances over alleged mistreatment by Hanoi authorities against Cambodian Buddhist monks in southern Vietnam.
As the march took place on Friday morning, a different group of six monks confronted the protesters throwing water bottles at the second group of monks.
It was not immediately apparent what the motivation of the other monks for the confrontation was, or if they were acting on someone else's orders.
With video, or there's a longer video here.
Lim Yuth, a 23-year-old monk, suffered a cut on his left eyebrow during the brawl, but it was not immediately clear what caused the injury.
Lim Yuth was among some 50 monks who marched through Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh, to voice their grievances over alleged mistreatment by Hanoi authorities against Cambodian Buddhist monks in southern Vietnam.
As the march took place on Friday morning, a different group of six monks confronted the protesters throwing water bottles at the second group of monks.
It was not immediately apparent what the motivation of the other monks for the confrontation was, or if they were acting on someone else's orders.
With video, or there's a longer video here.
Big business learns a thing or two from the humble dabbawalla
Carrying tiffin boxes lovingly packed by wives and mothers in nearly 200,000 surburban kitchens, these 5,000 lunch delivery workers are part of one of the world’s most admired distribution systems.
Employing a complex colour-coded logistics process, the dabbawallas (can-carriers) complete a door-to-door service across 15 miles (25km) of public transport and 6 miles (10km) of road with multiple transfer points in a three-hour period.
In a system finely tuned over 120 years they maintain an error rate of only one in eight million and have drawn attention from leading business schools, including Stanford.
Now, the power of their unique system and loyal customer base is being harnessed by top multinationals.
Microsoft, the world’s largest software company, tapped their network last month to launch its new Vista operating system.
Wearing branded caps and T-shirts, the dabbawallas distributed leaflets with tiffin boxes offering discounted prices on laptops and PCs with a local dealer. Every sale earned a 100-rupee commission (£1.20). Microsoft India claimed the unique promotion as a success. “They have access to 200,000 households. It’s amazing,” Rishi Srivastava, client business director, said. “We more than achieved the marketing objective we set ourselves.”
Raghunath Medge, the president of the Bombay Tiffin Box Supply Charity Trust, which oversees the dabbawallas, is regularly asked to give management presentations. “Proper time management is our key to success. We do everything to keep the customer happy and they help in our marketing,” he said in a recent lecture. Most new customers are referred, and the service, which costs between 150 and 300 rupees a month, is growing by about 10 per cent a year.
Distinguishable by their trademark white Gandhi topis, they are descendants of the soldiers of Shivaji, the legendary 17th-century warrior king. The trade, which originates from British rule, is passed down through the generations, with village elders recommending new recruits. About 85 per cent are illiterate, making the fact they employ a ten-digit alphanumeric code to track deliveries — like shipping companies — all the more remarkable.
Knowledge of the system is held by mukadams, experienced dabbawallas, who oversee financially independent sub-groups of younger workers. Each group is competitive for new customers, although forbidden from undercutting each other, and co-operative for deliveries.
Employing a complex colour-coded logistics process, the dabbawallas (can-carriers) complete a door-to-door service across 15 miles (25km) of public transport and 6 miles (10km) of road with multiple transfer points in a three-hour period.
In a system finely tuned over 120 years they maintain an error rate of only one in eight million and have drawn attention from leading business schools, including Stanford.
Now, the power of their unique system and loyal customer base is being harnessed by top multinationals.
Microsoft, the world’s largest software company, tapped their network last month to launch its new Vista operating system.
Wearing branded caps and T-shirts, the dabbawallas distributed leaflets with tiffin boxes offering discounted prices on laptops and PCs with a local dealer. Every sale earned a 100-rupee commission (£1.20). Microsoft India claimed the unique promotion as a success. “They have access to 200,000 households. It’s amazing,” Rishi Srivastava, client business director, said. “We more than achieved the marketing objective we set ourselves.”
Raghunath Medge, the president of the Bombay Tiffin Box Supply Charity Trust, which oversees the dabbawallas, is regularly asked to give management presentations. “Proper time management is our key to success. We do everything to keep the customer happy and they help in our marketing,” he said in a recent lecture. Most new customers are referred, and the service, which costs between 150 and 300 rupees a month, is growing by about 10 per cent a year.
Distinguishable by their trademark white Gandhi topis, they are descendants of the soldiers of Shivaji, the legendary 17th-century warrior king. The trade, which originates from British rule, is passed down through the generations, with village elders recommending new recruits. About 85 per cent are illiterate, making the fact they employ a ten-digit alphanumeric code to track deliveries — like shipping companies — all the more remarkable.
Knowledge of the system is held by mukadams, experienced dabbawallas, who oversee financially independent sub-groups of younger workers. Each group is competitive for new customers, although forbidden from undercutting each other, and co-operative for deliveries.
Nip'n'tuck loans offer in Lebanon
A Lebanese bank is giving out loans for cosmetic procedures in this notoriously image-conscious Mediterranean country.
First National Bank's website dubs the "plastic surgery loans" as a way to "have the life you've always wanted".
Customers can borrow $1,000-$5,000 (£500-£2,500) for surgery for two years, as long as they are employed and under 64 years of age.
The bank says it has received more than 200 calls a day about the loan since it was launched with a TV and poster campaign last week.
First National Bank's website dubs the "plastic surgery loans" as a way to "have the life you've always wanted".
Customers can borrow $1,000-$5,000 (£500-£2,500) for surgery for two years, as long as they are employed and under 64 years of age.
The bank says it has received more than 200 calls a day about the loan since it was launched with a TV and poster campaign last week.
Drugs 'were to cure sick albino buffalo'
An accused New Zealand drug smuggler says he brought ephedrine into Australia not to make illicit drugs but to cure a sick, rare albino buffalo calf he wanted to sell to an Indonesian sultan.
Richard Thomas Gordon, 41, appeared in the Perth Magistrate's Court today where he also said he had skipped bail on November 28, 2006, because bushfires in NSW threatened his unique herd of albino buffalo and he had to walk them out of harm's way.
Mr Gordon faces a charge of importing ephedrine, a prohibited precursor chemical which can be used to make amphetamines.
He was arrested on arrival at Port Hedland International Airport on August 19 on a flight from Bali. Allegedly, he was found with 729g of ephedrine in four packs strapped to his thighs and groin.
Mr Gordon's lawyer Luka Margaretic said his client, who has yet to plead to the importation charge, concedes he brought the ephedrine into the country.
But he said Mr Gordon bought the drug over the counter in Indonesia to cure a sick buffalo calf he wanted to sell to an Indonesian sultan.
Mr Margaretic said Gordon did not wish to discuss the whereabouts of the buffalo herd because the animals were so rare he feared they would be stolen.
Richard Thomas Gordon, 41, appeared in the Perth Magistrate's Court today where he also said he had skipped bail on November 28, 2006, because bushfires in NSW threatened his unique herd of albino buffalo and he had to walk them out of harm's way.
Mr Gordon faces a charge of importing ephedrine, a prohibited precursor chemical which can be used to make amphetamines.
He was arrested on arrival at Port Hedland International Airport on August 19 on a flight from Bali. Allegedly, he was found with 729g of ephedrine in four packs strapped to his thighs and groin.
Mr Gordon's lawyer Luka Margaretic said his client, who has yet to plead to the importation charge, concedes he brought the ephedrine into the country.
But he said Mr Gordon bought the drug over the counter in Indonesia to cure a sick buffalo calf he wanted to sell to an Indonesian sultan.
Mr Margaretic said Gordon did not wish to discuss the whereabouts of the buffalo herd because the animals were so rare he feared they would be stolen.
Nelson Mandela statue to be erected opposite UK parliament
Nelson Mandela's statue will be placed in Parliament Square, ending a five year row over its location.
London's mayor welcomed Westminster Council's decision to allow the statue of the former South African president in front the House of Commons.
In 2005, the council blocked the mayor's bid to install the 9ft (2.7m) bronze sculpture in Trafalgar Square.
The £400,000 statue by the late Ian Walters will be in the central garden of the square.
Other statues in the square include Winston Churchill, Lloyd George, Abraham Lincoln, Benjamin Disraeli and George Canning.
London's mayor welcomed Westminster Council's decision to allow the statue of the former South African president in front the House of Commons.
In 2005, the council blocked the mayor's bid to install the 9ft (2.7m) bronze sculpture in Trafalgar Square.
The £400,000 statue by the late Ian Walters will be in the central garden of the square.
Other statues in the square include Winston Churchill, Lloyd George, Abraham Lincoln, Benjamin Disraeli and George Canning.
Fox gets head stuck in wheel
This little fox cub landed in a hole lot of trouble when he got stuck inside a wheel.
The youngster tried to squeeze through the axle hole and ended up getting trapped for two days.
Staff at an M&J plant hire yard raised the alarm when they heard squeaks and a fire crew freed him with bolt cutters in Strood, Kent. The RSPCA later released him.
Construction worker Steve Keen, 41, who took the picture, said: “He won’t do it again in a hurry.”
The youngster tried to squeeze through the axle hole and ended up getting trapped for two days.
Staff at an M&J plant hire yard raised the alarm when they heard squeaks and a fire crew freed him with bolt cutters in Strood, Kent. The RSPCA later released him.
Construction worker Steve Keen, 41, who took the picture, said: “He won’t do it again in a hurry.”
Lice shampoo boy in fireball
A teenager was left with severe burns when he accidentally set his hair on fire after rubbing in head lice lotion.
Matthew Moore, 15, of Purbeck, Dorset, had just applied the lotion when he started playing with a cigarette lighter, which ignited his hair.
Matthew and his mother, Lesley, blame the Hedrin lotion but its manufacturers insist it is not flammable and failed to ignite in their laboratory tests.
Matthew is recovering in the burns unit at Salisbury District Hospital.
In a statement, manufacturers of the lotion Thornton & Ross said: "It's the very first incident of its kind.
"The product is not flammable. It's been fully approved by various regulatory authorities."
The company added that nobody should ever put a naked flame close to their hair.
With news video.
Matthew Moore, 15, of Purbeck, Dorset, had just applied the lotion when he started playing with a cigarette lighter, which ignited his hair.
Matthew and his mother, Lesley, blame the Hedrin lotion but its manufacturers insist it is not flammable and failed to ignite in their laboratory tests.
Matthew is recovering in the burns unit at Salisbury District Hospital.
In a statement, manufacturers of the lotion Thornton & Ross said: "It's the very first incident of its kind.
"The product is not flammable. It's been fully approved by various regulatory authorities."
The company added that nobody should ever put a naked flame close to their hair.
With news video.
Husky's head gets trapped in wall
A husky had to be rescued by firefighters after it trapped its head in a brick wall.
The six-month-old male husky, called Keano, had become trapped by his jaw in a garden in Whitchurch, Hampshire, on Friday afternoon.
A neighbour alerted the dog's owner, who found Keano's head stuck in the ornamental brick wall and called in Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service.
A chisel was used to chip off part of the wall that was trapping the dog.
The six-month-old male husky, called Keano, had become trapped by his jaw in a garden in Whitchurch, Hampshire, on Friday afternoon.
A neighbour alerted the dog's owner, who found Keano's head stuck in the ornamental brick wall and called in Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service.
A chisel was used to chip off part of the wall that was trapping the dog.
Fisherman with Samurai sword floored by a spirit level
A drunk fisherman with a Samurai sword was floored in a brawl - by a spirit level.
Scaffolder Jeff Thomson, 27, confronted his cousins with the ceremonial blade as a family feud boiled over.
But he came off worst and was rushed to hospital with a fractured skull.
And at Wick Sheriff Court yesterday, Thomson was jailed for three months.
Thomson, of Grant Street, Wick, admitted possessing an offensive weapon and breach of the peace.
Scaffolder Jeff Thomson, 27, confronted his cousins with the ceremonial blade as a family feud boiled over.
But he came off worst and was rushed to hospital with a fractured skull.
And at Wick Sheriff Court yesterday, Thomson was jailed for three months.
Thomson, of Grant Street, Wick, admitted possessing an offensive weapon and breach of the peace.
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