Sunday, March 02, 2008
How to traumatise a child for life
This little fella had sneaked a look at the Xbox 360 he was to get for Christmas, so his mother switched the contents of the box before he opened it on Christmas morning.
Apparently he was given the game later.
Apparently he was given the game later.
Elderly German robs Danish bank with water pistol
An 80-year-old German-born man was placed in protective custody in Denmark on Friday for robbing a bank with a water pistol after his bank refused to let him repay an account overdraft in installments, police said.
The German man, who has lived in Denmark for nearly 50 years, walked into a Sydbank branch in the western town of Viborg on Thursday wearing dark glasses and carrying a cane. Pointing a water gun at the teller, he politely asked her to give him a bit of money.
"Don't worry," he said, according to media reports. "I don't shoot people."
He left the bank with a plastic bag filled with about 30,000 kroner (€4,000, $6,100), but only managed to walk some 300 metres (985 feet) before he was stopped by police. By that time, his booty had become worthless after an exploding cartridge placed in the bag by the bank clerk exploded, spraying the money – and his clothing – with red ink.
The man planned the hold-up after he overdrew his account when redecorating his new apartment in a retirement home and his bank refused to set up a repayment plan for him.
Police said it remained unclear whether the man had robbed his own bank. On Friday, the man happily accepted being sent to jail, telling the judge: "I don't want to return to my apartment. I'm too ashamed."
The German man, who has lived in Denmark for nearly 50 years, walked into a Sydbank branch in the western town of Viborg on Thursday wearing dark glasses and carrying a cane. Pointing a water gun at the teller, he politely asked her to give him a bit of money.
"Don't worry," he said, according to media reports. "I don't shoot people."
He left the bank with a plastic bag filled with about 30,000 kroner (€4,000, $6,100), but only managed to walk some 300 metres (985 feet) before he was stopped by police. By that time, his booty had become worthless after an exploding cartridge placed in the bag by the bank clerk exploded, spraying the money – and his clothing – with red ink.
The man planned the hold-up after he overdrew his account when redecorating his new apartment in a retirement home and his bank refused to set up a repayment plan for him.
Police said it remained unclear whether the man had robbed his own bank. On Friday, the man happily accepted being sent to jail, telling the judge: "I don't want to return to my apartment. I'm too ashamed."
Paraglider and chihuahua rescued from tree in Australia
A paraglider who was rescued after spending five hours dangling from a tree in the Yarra Valley says he is embarrassed by the fuss he caused.
Paul Hanson, 42, had his pet chihuahua dog strapped to his chest when he became entangled in branches 35 metres off the ground at Don Valley just after 5pm AEDT yesterday.
He used a mobile phone to call for help and stayed in contact with police on a UHF radio, while a ground crew searched the dense bushland for him. He was pulled to safety about 10:15pm.
Mr Hanson says he feels lucky to have escaped unscathed. "It's pretty embarrassing to see the amount of trouble that's been taken for me," he said. "I'm just so grateful that we've got these sort of people. Imagine if this was in some part of Woop Woop", he said, using Australian slang for remote bushland.
Mr Hanson says his dog coped well during the ordeal. "She goes everywhere with me so she's used to being in some pretty radical situations," he said. "She's a pretty awesome little chihuahua."
He says he may sell some of his paragliding gear and donate the money to the State Emergency Service.
Paul Hanson, 42, had his pet chihuahua dog strapped to his chest when he became entangled in branches 35 metres off the ground at Don Valley just after 5pm AEDT yesterday.
He used a mobile phone to call for help and stayed in contact with police on a UHF radio, while a ground crew searched the dense bushland for him. He was pulled to safety about 10:15pm.
Mr Hanson says he feels lucky to have escaped unscathed. "It's pretty embarrassing to see the amount of trouble that's been taken for me," he said. "I'm just so grateful that we've got these sort of people. Imagine if this was in some part of Woop Woop", he said, using Australian slang for remote bushland.
Mr Hanson says his dog coped well during the ordeal. "She goes everywhere with me so she's used to being in some pretty radical situations," he said. "She's a pretty awesome little chihuahua."
He says he may sell some of his paragliding gear and donate the money to the State Emergency Service.
Crocodile feeding frenzy filmed
A BBC crew managed to film over 40 of the huge beasts gathering and working together to feast on fish migrating up the Mary River in Australia.
This cooperative feeding behaviour has only recently been discovered - saltwater crocodiles are usually highly territorial creatures.
The animals were filmed with the help of infrared cameras because the spectacle took place during the night.
Mullet migrate in spring; they wait for the high-tide so they can swim up-river to breed.
The crocodiles knew when to gather at the river. The crew filmed them picking the mullet off one by one as the fish swam past.
This cooperative feeding behaviour has only recently been discovered - saltwater crocodiles are usually highly territorial creatures.
The animals were filmed with the help of infrared cameras because the spectacle took place during the night.
Mullet migrate in spring; they wait for the high-tide so they can swim up-river to breed.
The crocodiles knew when to gather at the river. The crew filmed them picking the mullet off one by one as the fish swam past.
The day a crane driver really fell for a new £1m home
It was a dream home expected to fetch £1 million. But disaster struck as a crane was helping with finishing touches yesterday. The 40m (131ft) machine teetered and fell on the building at Broadstairs, Kent.
The roof of the building was severely damaged as was one of the external walls. Neighbours compared the noise of the crash to a bomb going off.
Thomas Hindmarsh, 70, a retired RAF serviceman who lives in the same road as the house, said the walls of his home shook when the crane fell.
“It was an unbelievable noise, like an explosion,” he said. “My house was given a right old shake. They are building luxury flats and houses on the site. It’s lucky no one was hurt. I can’t wait to see the size of crane they get to shift this one.”
The machine is owned by Bedingfield Lifting, a Canterbury-based firm whose motto is: “No mission impossible.” Tony Bedingfield, its owner, said that the crane had been clearing a container from the site. The “unfortunate incident” would cost about £40,000. “We are carrying out our investigations at the moment,” he said. “We are trying to put plans together to recover the vehicle. It is still leaning on the building.” Two larger cranes, weighing 120 tonnes and 160 tonnes, had been sent to shift the vehicle. Lilybrooks, the developer that owns the home, was not available for comment.
A Kent Police spokesman said: “The crane was lifting something over the house that was obviously heavier than it.”
The roof of the building was severely damaged as was one of the external walls. Neighbours compared the noise of the crash to a bomb going off.
Thomas Hindmarsh, 70, a retired RAF serviceman who lives in the same road as the house, said the walls of his home shook when the crane fell.
“It was an unbelievable noise, like an explosion,” he said. “My house was given a right old shake. They are building luxury flats and houses on the site. It’s lucky no one was hurt. I can’t wait to see the size of crane they get to shift this one.”
The machine is owned by Bedingfield Lifting, a Canterbury-based firm whose motto is: “No mission impossible.” Tony Bedingfield, its owner, said that the crane had been clearing a container from the site. The “unfortunate incident” would cost about £40,000. “We are carrying out our investigations at the moment,” he said. “We are trying to put plans together to recover the vehicle. It is still leaning on the building.” Two larger cranes, weighing 120 tonnes and 160 tonnes, had been sent to shift the vehicle. Lilybrooks, the developer that owns the home, was not available for comment.
A Kent Police spokesman said: “The crane was lifting something over the house that was obviously heavier than it.”
Too-tall truck rips through Boston tunnel
The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority released a video of a truck carrying a crane crashing into a tunnel leading to the Ted Williams Tunnel this week.
The video shows a flatbed truck carrying a crane enter the tunnel and trigger the over height sensors and warning sign before the entrance. But the driver continued.
That's when the top of the crane hit the tunnel ceiling.
"The part of the crane, looked like to me it was jetting up into the ceiling," said Christian Mosher, a witness.
It took 90 minutes for officials to clear the accident. Inspectors said there were minor damage, but no structural damage.
The driver, Jeffrey Peck, 50, of Revanna, Ohio, could face a $1,100 fine. He was cited for an over height violation and failing to secure his load.
The video shows a flatbed truck carrying a crane enter the tunnel and trigger the over height sensors and warning sign before the entrance. But the driver continued.
That's when the top of the crane hit the tunnel ceiling.
"The part of the crane, looked like to me it was jetting up into the ceiling," said Christian Mosher, a witness.
It took 90 minutes for officials to clear the accident. Inspectors said there were minor damage, but no structural damage.
The driver, Jeffrey Peck, 50, of Revanna, Ohio, could face a $1,100 fine. He was cited for an over height violation and failing to secure his load.
Crash after ‘blind’ driver parked tractor in fast lane
A visually impaired elderly driver caused a pile-up on the A9 after parking his tractor in the fast lane of the dual carriageway. Robert Simpson stopped the tractor and trailer and got out to walk across the road because he had missed his turn-off - by three miles.
The 77-year-old, who is registered blind and lives in a nursing home, got lost on his way home from a trip to Perth on the farm vehicle. He had been driving in the dark, without any lights, on the A9 at an average speed of 10mph, a court heard.
He thought he had missed his turn-off and simply pulled in to the central reservation, leaving the trailer parked across the outside lane of the busy trunk road. As the pensioner walked across the dual carriageway in the dark he left the trailer, which had no lights, in the path of oncoming traffic.
Several motorists heading south between Perth and Stirling had to swerve to avoid the trailer and two cars collided at high speed. Neither of the drivers - Charles Lawson and John Alexander - were injured although both cars were badly damaged. Despite being badly shocked, Mr Alexander managed to start the tractor and drive it to a safe place off the road.
At Perth Sheriff Court yesterday, Simpson admitted driving carelessly while knowing he had defective eyesight on the A9 on November 22 last year. Explaining why his client was not present in court, solicitor John Buchan said: "He has been unable to make it in. He has travel difficulties. His address is a nursing home in Auchterarder. He is incapacitated. His eyesight is further deteriorating and he is registered blind."
Sheriff David Clapham deferred sentence for Simpson, Ruthven Towers, Auchterarder, Perthshire, to attend court in person.
The 77-year-old, who is registered blind and lives in a nursing home, got lost on his way home from a trip to Perth on the farm vehicle. He had been driving in the dark, without any lights, on the A9 at an average speed of 10mph, a court heard.
He thought he had missed his turn-off and simply pulled in to the central reservation, leaving the trailer parked across the outside lane of the busy trunk road. As the pensioner walked across the dual carriageway in the dark he left the trailer, which had no lights, in the path of oncoming traffic.
Several motorists heading south between Perth and Stirling had to swerve to avoid the trailer and two cars collided at high speed. Neither of the drivers - Charles Lawson and John Alexander - were injured although both cars were badly damaged. Despite being badly shocked, Mr Alexander managed to start the tractor and drive it to a safe place off the road.
At Perth Sheriff Court yesterday, Simpson admitted driving carelessly while knowing he had defective eyesight on the A9 on November 22 last year. Explaining why his client was not present in court, solicitor John Buchan said: "He has been unable to make it in. He has travel difficulties. His address is a nursing home in Auchterarder. He is incapacitated. His eyesight is further deteriorating and he is registered blind."
Sheriff David Clapham deferred sentence for Simpson, Ruthven Towers, Auchterarder, Perthshire, to attend court in person.
Sexy lady label deemed not too saucy for stout
Watchdogs have rejected complaints a saucy stout logo brewed in Herefordshire was too sexy.
The label for the suggestively-named Dorothy Goodbody stout features a blonde showing her thighs.
The charity Alcohol Concern complained the picture on the Wye Valley Brewery was "sexually suggestive".
Brewers are banned from associating their products with sexual success but the Portman Group, which regulates brewers, rejected the complaint. It said the brewery had not crossed the line from acceptable to irresponsible marketing.
Vernon Amor, managing director of Wye Valley Brewery said he was "surprised" that a complaint had been made about the 15-year-old brand. He added: "If you were to ban Dorothy Goodbody, where would it end?
"Next thing you know there would be a ban on all the Carry On films and the iconic British seaside postcards."
The label for the suggestively-named Dorothy Goodbody stout features a blonde showing her thighs.
The charity Alcohol Concern complained the picture on the Wye Valley Brewery was "sexually suggestive".
Brewers are banned from associating their products with sexual success but the Portman Group, which regulates brewers, rejected the complaint. It said the brewery had not crossed the line from acceptable to irresponsible marketing.
Vernon Amor, managing director of Wye Valley Brewery said he was "surprised" that a complaint had been made about the 15-year-old brand. He added: "If you were to ban Dorothy Goodbody, where would it end?
"Next thing you know there would be a ban on all the Carry On films and the iconic British seaside postcards."
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