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Sunday, June 22, 2008
Bald, 1 eyed, 3-legged dog wins ugliest dog contest
A three-legged, one-eyed, cancer-afflicted dog named Gus has been crowned the World's Ugliest Dog at a fair in California.
Gus, a Chinese Crested dog, beat allcomers to take the title at the Sonoma-Marin Fair.
Owner Jeanenne Teed, from Florida, said she would spend the $1,600 prize on treatment for Gus's skin cancer.
The competition has been running for 20 years, and is one of the fair's top attractions, organisers said.
Vicki DeArmon, marketing director of the fair, said that in the past few years, winners had been dogs that had been abandoned or neglected before being adopted by dog-lovers.
Gus was rescued from a bad home. One of his legs was amputated as a consequence of his skin tumour. He lost an eye to a tomcat in a fight.
There are photo galleries here and here.
Gus, a Chinese Crested dog, beat allcomers to take the title at the Sonoma-Marin Fair.
Owner Jeanenne Teed, from Florida, said she would spend the $1,600 prize on treatment for Gus's skin cancer.
The competition has been running for 20 years, and is one of the fair's top attractions, organisers said.
Vicki DeArmon, marketing director of the fair, said that in the past few years, winners had been dogs that had been abandoned or neglected before being adopted by dog-lovers.
Gus was rescued from a bad home. One of his legs was amputated as a consequence of his skin tumour. He lost an eye to a tomcat in a fight.
There are photo galleries here and here.
Flight cancelled after pilot too upset to fly
A United airline flight was cancelled because the pilot decided he was "not calmed and focused enough" to fly after a row with his company.
The pilot, who was due to fly from Salt Lake City to Denver, told passengers waiting in the plane that he felt unable to safely pilot the machine.
He is believed to have been involved in an angry and unusual confrontation with colleagues minutes earlier about whether to wear his hat and was still too enraged to control his reflexes.
Paul Jacobson, a businessman aboard the plane, related how the news was broken to frustrated passengers. "The pilot came on the PA and said, 'some of you may have witnessed an incident I was involved in at the gate. I'm not going to go into the details, but it was an interpersonal confrontation that upset me significantly to the point where I'm not focused enough to fly you to Denver.
"I feel like I may not be calmed and focused enough to fly to Denver for another hour,'" Mr Jacobson said. He added that the passengers emitted a collective groan before they were let off the plane while another pilot was found.
Passengers who overheard the pilot's argument with colleagues reported that it was over whether or not he should wear his company hat in front of management.
The pilot, who was due to fly from Salt Lake City to Denver, told passengers waiting in the plane that he felt unable to safely pilot the machine.
He is believed to have been involved in an angry and unusual confrontation with colleagues minutes earlier about whether to wear his hat and was still too enraged to control his reflexes.
Paul Jacobson, a businessman aboard the plane, related how the news was broken to frustrated passengers. "The pilot came on the PA and said, 'some of you may have witnessed an incident I was involved in at the gate. I'm not going to go into the details, but it was an interpersonal confrontation that upset me significantly to the point where I'm not focused enough to fly you to Denver.
"I feel like I may not be calmed and focused enough to fly to Denver for another hour,'" Mr Jacobson said. He added that the passengers emitted a collective groan before they were let off the plane while another pilot was found.
Passengers who overheard the pilot's argument with colleagues reported that it was over whether or not he should wear his company hat in front of management.
Heart-shaped clouds float over a Mexican island
Heart-shaped clouds float over a Mexican island in a photo taken 200 miles above Earth.
The image of Isla Sorocco in the Pacific was shot from the International Space Station travelling at 17,000 miles an hour in one of its 15 daily orbits.
With slideshow.
The image of Isla Sorocco in the Pacific was shot from the International Space Station travelling at 17,000 miles an hour in one of its 15 daily orbits.
With slideshow.
'Fat and black' description attacked
Australian police in Queensland will review its use of terms to describe people after an indigenous women objected to being called "fat and black."
Rube Nixon, who tops the scales at more than 100kg, said the terminology was derogatory and inflammatory. "I felt really depressed when I read it. You say you have got a medium, slight or heavy build - I am of a large build. Not fat and black."
Police Constable AJ Pendlebury used the terminology to describe Ms Nixon, who he pulled over for a traffic offence, and her lawyer supplied the court brief which described her as "fat and black".
Queensland Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson said terms used to describe skin colour and build would now be reviewed against national and international standards to ensure consistency and appropriateness.
He said the descriptors were used for internal use only to allow officers and prosecutors to identify individuals. "I regret any embarrassment felt as a result of this matter, and I will be contacting the person as soon as possible to discuss our response," Commissioner Atkinson said in a statement.
"There was absolutely no offence meant in the use of these terms, however we recognise the concerns, and will explore the protocols for these descriptors, and whether they should be adjusted."
Rube Nixon, who tops the scales at more than 100kg, said the terminology was derogatory and inflammatory. "I felt really depressed when I read it. You say you have got a medium, slight or heavy build - I am of a large build. Not fat and black."
Police Constable AJ Pendlebury used the terminology to describe Ms Nixon, who he pulled over for a traffic offence, and her lawyer supplied the court brief which described her as "fat and black".
Queensland Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson said terms used to describe skin colour and build would now be reviewed against national and international standards to ensure consistency and appropriateness.
He said the descriptors were used for internal use only to allow officers and prosecutors to identify individuals. "I regret any embarrassment felt as a result of this matter, and I will be contacting the person as soon as possible to discuss our response," Commissioner Atkinson said in a statement.
"There was absolutely no offence meant in the use of these terms, however we recognise the concerns, and will explore the protocols for these descriptors, and whether they should be adjusted."
Bra missive saves American hiker missing in Bavarian Alps
Rescue workers in the Bavarian Alps have saved an American hiker who had been missing for 70 hours in a dramatic helicopter operation after she sent a signal with her sports bra.
The unnamed 24-year-old woman from Colorado had hung her sports bra on a timber transport cable in the Berchtesgaden region near the Austrian border in hopes that someone would find her, said police chief Adolph Günther.
"She was saved because she was really clever and in good physical shape," Günther said.
A worker on the timber transport discovered her sports bra hooked on the cable midday on Thursday, realized it probably belonged to the woman who had been reported missing on Monday, and immediately called the authorities. She was found just a few hours later as a helicopter circled the area and saw her waving from a 1,250-metre crag. Rescue workers staged a dramatic rescue, plucking her off the crag with a helicopter and taking her to a hospital in the valley below.
Between 60 and 80 emergency workers and five helicopters were involved in the search and rescue operation, Günther said.
The woman had been on a day hike on Monday, but lost her way as the weather turned bad, Günther said. She didn't have any supplies with her, but she was able to get water when she broke open a supply box along the timber cable line. At some point, Günther said she fell five to six metres and sustained minor injuries to her shoulder, ankle and head, but is doing well considering the circumstances.
The unnamed 24-year-old woman from Colorado had hung her sports bra on a timber transport cable in the Berchtesgaden region near the Austrian border in hopes that someone would find her, said police chief Adolph Günther.
"She was saved because she was really clever and in good physical shape," Günther said.
A worker on the timber transport discovered her sports bra hooked on the cable midday on Thursday, realized it probably belonged to the woman who had been reported missing on Monday, and immediately called the authorities. She was found just a few hours later as a helicopter circled the area and saw her waving from a 1,250-metre crag. Rescue workers staged a dramatic rescue, plucking her off the crag with a helicopter and taking her to a hospital in the valley below.
Between 60 and 80 emergency workers and five helicopters were involved in the search and rescue operation, Günther said.
The woman had been on a day hike on Monday, but lost her way as the weather turned bad, Günther said. She didn't have any supplies with her, but she was able to get water when she broke open a supply box along the timber cable line. At some point, Günther said she fell five to six metres and sustained minor injuries to her shoulder, ankle and head, but is doing well considering the circumstances.
Drunk woman woman charged with fatally running over her mother
An Arkansas woman with a blood-alcohol level more than three times the legal limit for driving backed over her mother and left the scene even though loved ones yelled, "You killed grandma," police said.
Lisa Ann Casteel, 40, was charged with negligent homicide and driving while intoxicated.
Sheriff's deputies were told by witnesses that Casteel backed over her mother, Mary Jane Donn, 56, as Donn sat in a plastic chair in the driveway of a home where relatives had gathered, according to an arrest affidavit.
Casteel's sister, Michelle, told the deputies that Casteel thought her Chevrolet Blazer was in drive, not reverse, according to the affidavit.
Witness Michael Carey, who was named in the affidavit, said the group was at his house. He said people in the yard yelled "You killed grandma" at Casteel. Casteel got out of her SUV, checked on her mother, said she was breathing and drove off, the affidavit said. Donn was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead.
Casteel later returned to the house but was blocked by deputies when she tried to turn around and leave at the sight of their cruisers. The affidavit said a breath test showed Casteel had a blood-alcohol content of 0.243 percent.
Lisa Ann Casteel, 40, was charged with negligent homicide and driving while intoxicated.
Sheriff's deputies were told by witnesses that Casteel backed over her mother, Mary Jane Donn, 56, as Donn sat in a plastic chair in the driveway of a home where relatives had gathered, according to an arrest affidavit.
Casteel's sister, Michelle, told the deputies that Casteel thought her Chevrolet Blazer was in drive, not reverse, according to the affidavit.
Witness Michael Carey, who was named in the affidavit, said the group was at his house. He said people in the yard yelled "You killed grandma" at Casteel. Casteel got out of her SUV, checked on her mother, said she was breathing and drove off, the affidavit said. Donn was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead.
Casteel later returned to the house but was blocked by deputies when she tried to turn around and leave at the sight of their cruisers. The affidavit said a breath test showed Casteel had a blood-alcohol content of 0.243 percent.
Indian man went on the run with bear
An Indian man went on the run with his pet bear after authorities threatened to remove the animal.
Rani, a young female sloth bear, has been living with Ramesh Munda, of Orissa, since she was two months old.
According to Mr Munda, she followed him home one day when she saw him collecting firewood in the jungle, and has since been sleeping alongside his three-year-old daughter and living with his family.
Photo from here.
But when local officials learned of the Munda family's wild member, they ordered the bear be handed over to a local zoo.
Instead Mr Munda and Rani went on the run, evading a police dragnet and three wildlife officials for several days before Mr Munda was finally caught and charged for breaking India's wildlife laws.
Ramesh Munda is now in jail and Rani has found a new home at Nandan Kanan Zoo.
Rani, a young female sloth bear, has been living with Ramesh Munda, of Orissa, since she was two months old.
According to Mr Munda, she followed him home one day when she saw him collecting firewood in the jungle, and has since been sleeping alongside his three-year-old daughter and living with his family.
Photo from here.
But when local officials learned of the Munda family's wild member, they ordered the bear be handed over to a local zoo.
Instead Mr Munda and Rani went on the run, evading a police dragnet and three wildlife officials for several days before Mr Munda was finally caught and charged for breaking India's wildlife laws.
Ramesh Munda is now in jail and Rani has found a new home at Nandan Kanan Zoo.
Sick rooster nursed back to health on Marmite
Pickle the pet cockerel is cockadoodle-doing fine after being cured of a crippling illness with daily helpings of Marmite.
The nine-week-old rooster seemed to be on his last scrawny legs after developing a B1 vitamin deficiency. It made his claws curl up and he could barely walk.
Owner Sarah Oates feared he would have to be put down - until a local vet suggested giving him the savoury yeast extract.
Photo from here.
Insurance worker Sarah, 45, said: "I was a bit sceptical at first but I bought a jar of Marmite and just kept smearing it on his beak each day for him to lick off.
"The results were amazing. Within a week he was strutting around as right as rain. They say you either love or hate Marmite and thankfully Pickle loved it. It definitely saved his life."
Sarah, who keeps nine chickens as pets to provide herself with eggs at her home in Reepham, Norfolk, now has trouble keeping pace with spiced-up Pickle. She said: "He's so frisky he's become difficult to catch - sometimes I have to throw a tea towel over him to slow him down."
The nine-week-old rooster seemed to be on his last scrawny legs after developing a B1 vitamin deficiency. It made his claws curl up and he could barely walk.
Owner Sarah Oates feared he would have to be put down - until a local vet suggested giving him the savoury yeast extract.
Photo from here.
Insurance worker Sarah, 45, said: "I was a bit sceptical at first but I bought a jar of Marmite and just kept smearing it on his beak each day for him to lick off.
"The results were amazing. Within a week he was strutting around as right as rain. They say you either love or hate Marmite and thankfully Pickle loved it. It definitely saved his life."
Sarah, who keeps nine chickens as pets to provide herself with eggs at her home in Reepham, Norfolk, now has trouble keeping pace with spiced-up Pickle. She said: "He's so frisky he's become difficult to catch - sometimes I have to throw a tea towel over him to slow him down."
Toddlers to be taught about human rights
Toddlers are to be taught about human rights and respecting different cultures in a scheme condemned as an "absurd" waste of time.
Nurseries across the country are adopting the project, which will see teachers explaining to children as young as three that people across the world live different lives but everyone has a right to food, water and shelter.
Staff will also be expected to ensure that children are treated as independent human beings, and have the "right" to choose their toys or have a drink of water whenever they want.
The move comes amid growing concern about the Government's "nappy curriculum", a set of 69 learning targets for under-fives which experts say will leave young children confused and demotivated.
Sue Palmer, a former headteacher and author of the book Toxic Childhood, said: "Toddlers are still working at a very emotional level. They should be told stories and allowed to sing and play. That's what will turn them into normal people."
Dr Richard House, of the Research Centre for Therapeutic Education at Roehampton University, added: "The idea that this kind of learning is appropriate for nursery-age children is absurd, and betrays a complete lack of understanding of child development. Modern culture seems determined to treat children like 'mini-adults' in all kinds of ways, and with major negative effects in terms of their premature growing-up."
Nurseries across the country are adopting the project, which will see teachers explaining to children as young as three that people across the world live different lives but everyone has a right to food, water and shelter.
Staff will also be expected to ensure that children are treated as independent human beings, and have the "right" to choose their toys or have a drink of water whenever they want.
The move comes amid growing concern about the Government's "nappy curriculum", a set of 69 learning targets for under-fives which experts say will leave young children confused and demotivated.
Sue Palmer, a former headteacher and author of the book Toxic Childhood, said: "Toddlers are still working at a very emotional level. They should be told stories and allowed to sing and play. That's what will turn them into normal people."
Dr Richard House, of the Research Centre for Therapeutic Education at Roehampton University, added: "The idea that this kind of learning is appropriate for nursery-age children is absurd, and betrays a complete lack of understanding of child development. Modern culture seems determined to treat children like 'mini-adults' in all kinds of ways, and with major negative effects in terms of their premature growing-up."
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