Click for bigger.
Friday, December 19, 2008
A little French girl scheming with her mother
Aawww.
Update: I'd not realised that little, charming, Capucha was such an interweb star.
Many thanks Mike!
Update: I'd not realised that little, charming, Capucha was such an interweb star.
Many thanks Mike!
Goat keeps sneaking onto school bus
The children aboard Ohio's Western Reserve School Bus #6 welcomed a new student this year, and she's a little different than the other kids. So what makes this new kid unique?
She walks on all fours, she's covered in hair and has to sneak onto the bus. The new kid is third-grader Jordan Lamp's pet goat "Nanny".
"It always follows me on the bus and hops on. I guess it wants to go to school with us," Jordan explained.
Nanny the goat and she so desperately wants to go to school she follows her owner Jordan right on to the bus.
The school administration has taken this whole situation in stride, even joking they wanted to make the goat an official student through open enrollment.
Sadly, superintendent Chuck Swindler says it just didn't work out. "The big problem he has is he tends to eat his homework and that just isn't going to work for us," he laughed.
With news video.
She walks on all fours, she's covered in hair and has to sneak onto the bus. The new kid is third-grader Jordan Lamp's pet goat "Nanny".
"It always follows me on the bus and hops on. I guess it wants to go to school with us," Jordan explained.
Nanny the goat and she so desperately wants to go to school she follows her owner Jordan right on to the bus.
The school administration has taken this whole situation in stride, even joking they wanted to make the goat an official student through open enrollment.
Sadly, superintendent Chuck Swindler says it just didn't work out. "The big problem he has is he tends to eat his homework and that just isn't going to work for us," he laughed.
With news video.
Football player remorseful over pigeon's death
Argentine soccer player Gaston Aguirre killed a pigeon with a single shot - right off his foot. "I kicked the ball and, poor pigeon," the San Lorenzo defender said."Now I will be remembered as the pigeon killer."
Aguirre hit the bird in the 2-1 victory against Tigre in a three-team round-robin for the Argentine league title. Surrounded by opponents, he kicked the ball toward the goal and in the direction of a group of pigeons on the grass near the corner.
A burst of feathers followed and the pigeons flew away - except one.
Several players surrounded the wounded bird as it tried to fly away but it collapsed. Referee Saul Laverni then scooped up the dead pigeon and placed it off the field.
Aguirre hit the bird in the 2-1 victory against Tigre in a three-team round-robin for the Argentine league title. Surrounded by opponents, he kicked the ball toward the goal and in the direction of a group of pigeons on the grass near the corner.
A burst of feathers followed and the pigeons flew away - except one.
Several players surrounded the wounded bird as it tried to fly away but it collapsed. Referee Saul Laverni then scooped up the dead pigeon and placed it off the field.
Woman accused of trying to sell 'gothic kittens'
Three kittens with ear, neck and tail piercings were removed from a home by humane officers.
One of the officers from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Luzerne County said the pierced kittens were being sold as “gothic kittens” on an Internet auction site. “This is a first,” said Officer Carol Morrison. “It’s unbelievable anybody would do this to kittens.”
Morrison said the investigation began about a week ago when a man from another state noticed “gothic kittens” being sold on eBay. The kittens were also being sold on a pet classified Web site with an attached picture of a pierced kitten.
Assisted by the state police at Shickshinny, the humane officers travelled to the home located at the end of a long driveway in a remote area of Ross Township.
Humane officers and troopers were inside the home for more than an hour before removing three kittens and a cat.
“She (the homeowner) thought it was a great idea (to pierce kittens),” Morrison said. She said charges are likely to be filed against the homeowner. A dog inside the home was also found with pierced ears.
With news video.
One of the officers from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Luzerne County said the pierced kittens were being sold as “gothic kittens” on an Internet auction site. “This is a first,” said Officer Carol Morrison. “It’s unbelievable anybody would do this to kittens.”
Morrison said the investigation began about a week ago when a man from another state noticed “gothic kittens” being sold on eBay. The kittens were also being sold on a pet classified Web site with an attached picture of a pierced kitten.
Assisted by the state police at Shickshinny, the humane officers travelled to the home located at the end of a long driveway in a remote area of Ross Township.
Humane officers and troopers were inside the home for more than an hour before removing three kittens and a cat.
“She (the homeowner) thought it was a great idea (to pierce kittens),” Morrison said. She said charges are likely to be filed against the homeowner. A dog inside the home was also found with pierced ears.
With news video.
Doe saved from icy death
Smack dab in the middle of Lake Zumbro, a doe is trapped, not able to grip the slippery ice. With the wind-chill of 30 below zero, it could be a death sentence.
A sentence Steve Breland won't see carried out. "I'm going to try and put this rope around its neck without choking it," said Breland. Fear sets in for the helpless doe but Steve presses on.
Steve gives the doe a free toe. It's a full days workout for Steve and a lifetime of fright for the doe.
Every time Steve gets the doe off the ice, the deer goes right back on the ice again.
"There he goes back on the ice again," laughs Breland. But after a chuckle Steve was getting frustrated. "This is starting to tick me off," said Breland.
In the end, the deer makes it off the ice, takes a rest and says thanks Steve.
A sentence Steve Breland won't see carried out. "I'm going to try and put this rope around its neck without choking it," said Breland. Fear sets in for the helpless doe but Steve presses on.
Steve gives the doe a free toe. It's a full days workout for Steve and a lifetime of fright for the doe.
Every time Steve gets the doe off the ice, the deer goes right back on the ice again.
"There he goes back on the ice again," laughs Breland. But after a chuckle Steve was getting frustrated. "This is starting to tick me off," said Breland.
In the end, the deer makes it off the ice, takes a rest and says thanks Steve.
Would-be robbers 'overly prepared'
An alert security guard chased two thieves and sat on them until police arrived. Herman Sakaria used his unusual restraint method after an attempted robbery in New Zealand on Tuesday. The Whangaparaoa-based security guard was heading home when he saw two youths covering their car plates.
The Pride Security company director says the two 16-year-olds then put clear plastic bags over their faces, and socks over their shoes, before running into the Bay View Store in Stanmore Bay armed with steak knives. "The boys had obviously been watching too many crime movies because they were overly prepared," he says.
Mr Sakaria parked behind their vehicle and approached the dairy, where police say one of the youths remained at the entrance while the other demanded cash. But the male owner repelled the attacker and chased both youths out of his store, where Mr Sakaria intercepted them. "I grabbed them, disarmed them and took them to the ground, restraining them until police arrived," he says.
A Korean man and woman came out after the youths. "The woman started hitting them with a flyswat she was so angry," says Mr Sakaria. By sheer coincidence Mr Sakaria says the mother of one of the youths turned up. "The youth said: ‘Oh s#%t, there’s my mum’."
Rodney police are applauding Mr Sakaria’s quick thinking and actions. "It was a ridiculous attempt," Mr Sakaria says. "The silly season really has started."
The youths were to appear in the North Shore District Court this week charged with assault with intent to rob, carrying a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment.
The Pride Security company director says the two 16-year-olds then put clear plastic bags over their faces, and socks over their shoes, before running into the Bay View Store in Stanmore Bay armed with steak knives. "The boys had obviously been watching too many crime movies because they were overly prepared," he says.
Mr Sakaria parked behind their vehicle and approached the dairy, where police say one of the youths remained at the entrance while the other demanded cash. But the male owner repelled the attacker and chased both youths out of his store, where Mr Sakaria intercepted them. "I grabbed them, disarmed them and took them to the ground, restraining them until police arrived," he says.
A Korean man and woman came out after the youths. "The woman started hitting them with a flyswat she was so angry," says Mr Sakaria. By sheer coincidence Mr Sakaria says the mother of one of the youths turned up. "The youth said: ‘Oh s#%t, there’s my mum’."
Rodney police are applauding Mr Sakaria’s quick thinking and actions. "It was a ridiculous attempt," Mr Sakaria says. "The silly season really has started."
The youths were to appear in the North Shore District Court this week charged with assault with intent to rob, carrying a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment.
Suspicious wife who demanded to smell husband's genitals beaten
Police are seeking an arrest warrant for a man accused of hitting his wife after she asked to smell his penis to determine whether he was cheating with another woman, according to a police report released.
The 37-year-old victim told investigators her husband of three years punched her face and kicked her arms and legs Monday night after she accused him of having an affair.
The victim said she told her 25-year-old husband as he used the restroom "to display his penis to her so that she can smell it," the report states.
She said she asked him to show his genital area so she could determine whether he was cheating with another woman.
As she went to sniff her husband's penis, he reportedly punched her mouth and started to kick her when she was on the floor. The husband then fled the scene.
Police saw bruises and red marks on the victim's mouth, legs and arms. She became uncooperative when told a warrant would be filed for her husband's arrest.
The 37-year-old victim told investigators her husband of three years punched her face and kicked her arms and legs Monday night after she accused him of having an affair.
The victim said she told her 25-year-old husband as he used the restroom "to display his penis to her so that she can smell it," the report states.
She said she asked him to show his genital area so she could determine whether he was cheating with another woman.
As she went to sniff her husband's penis, he reportedly punched her mouth and started to kick her when she was on the floor. The husband then fled the scene.
Police saw bruises and red marks on the victim's mouth, legs and arms. She became uncooperative when told a warrant would be filed for her husband's arrest.
Father punishes son with public humiliation
It may be tough love, but a Long Beach father got his point across with an unusual punishment for his son after he was caught vandalizing school property at Wilson Classical High School. Dennis Baltimore, Jr., 16, had to walk the streets of Long Beach and Signal Hill for five hours on Tuesday wearing a sign that read: "I am a juvenile delinquent who should be punished. I have wasted your tax money with dumb acts of vandalism in the public schools."
The teen cringed as onlookers laughed, pointed and took pictures. "I want him to feel all of those things because I want him to always question himself before he makes a decision," his father, Dennis Baltimore, Sr., said. "He just made a bad decision, and he has to pay for it."
Baltimore, Sr., found out about the vandalism on Monday, when his son's school called him and told him the damages would cost $875. He said his son was trying to get attention when he tagged a fictitious gang logo on school property. Baltimore, Jr., was suspended for four days, and ordered by the school to spend several days of his holiday vacation doing community service on Wilson's campus. He will be painting over graffiti and doing other chores.
His father, though, wanted to make sure his son really got the message that "there are consequences and reactions."
The punishment seems to have been effective. "I was thinking about being a gang-banger, but once I saw what the punishment was, I was like, no," Baltimore, Jr., said. "I'm really mad, confused and I feel dumb at the same time, but I understand what my dad is saying."
Onlookers said they thought the punishment will help keep Baltimore, Jr., from getting into worse trouble in the future. "He looked embarrassed," said one observer. "I think he's learned his lesson."
The teen cringed as onlookers laughed, pointed and took pictures. "I want him to feel all of those things because I want him to always question himself before he makes a decision," his father, Dennis Baltimore, Sr., said. "He just made a bad decision, and he has to pay for it."
Baltimore, Sr., found out about the vandalism on Monday, when his son's school called him and told him the damages would cost $875. He said his son was trying to get attention when he tagged a fictitious gang logo on school property. Baltimore, Jr., was suspended for four days, and ordered by the school to spend several days of his holiday vacation doing community service on Wilson's campus. He will be painting over graffiti and doing other chores.
His father, though, wanted to make sure his son really got the message that "there are consequences and reactions."
The punishment seems to have been effective. "I was thinking about being a gang-banger, but once I saw what the punishment was, I was like, no," Baltimore, Jr., said. "I'm really mad, confused and I feel dumb at the same time, but I understand what my dad is saying."
Onlookers said they thought the punishment will help keep Baltimore, Jr., from getting into worse trouble in the future. "He looked embarrassed," said one observer. "I think he's learned his lesson."
Cigarette chewing dog killed on way to tobacconists
A 10-a-day cigarette chewing 24-year-old Dachshund has been knocked down and killed – on his way to the tobacconist's shop.
General Edi has been munching his way through half a packet of cigarettes every day since he was a puppy, said owner Wolfgang Treirler. But Edi has died after he was hit by a car during a walk to his favourite cigarette shop.
"Poor Edi dashed out in the road in excitement right in front of a car. There was nothing anyone could do," said one neighbour in Graz, central Austria.
Mr Treirler said:"His old owner abandoned him and so we took him in 17 years ago, and noticed straight away that he was in the habit of eating cigarettes.
"He eats the tobacco and the paper, and then chews a while on the filter before spitting it out. On average he eats about 10 cigarettes a day, but all of his teeth are fine."
A local vet, Harald Mayr, said: "Nicotine normally leads to poisoning in dogs, but in this case the animal has obviously become addicted to it which has increased its level of tolerance."
General Edi has been munching his way through half a packet of cigarettes every day since he was a puppy, said owner Wolfgang Treirler. But Edi has died after he was hit by a car during a walk to his favourite cigarette shop.
"Poor Edi dashed out in the road in excitement right in front of a car. There was nothing anyone could do," said one neighbour in Graz, central Austria.
Mr Treirler said:"His old owner abandoned him and so we took him in 17 years ago, and noticed straight away that he was in the habit of eating cigarettes.
"He eats the tobacco and the paper, and then chews a while on the filter before spitting it out. On average he eats about 10 cigarettes a day, but all of his teeth are fine."
A local vet, Harald Mayr, said: "Nicotine normally leads to poisoning in dogs, but in this case the animal has obviously become addicted to it which has increased its level of tolerance."
Starving family in Zimbabwe eats rug to survive
Starving families have been feeding on the skin of a cow that was slaughtered six years ago as the famine in Zimbabwe worsens.
It is just one sad example of the deepening crisis engulfing the country.
Children as young as two have been eating the skin and one man has died. The hide was originally used as a rug in a village near Bulawayo, hit by starvation and haunted by a cholera outbreak.
Families, who cannot get hold of grain, have also resorted to eating poisonous plants, while others have died after eating wild fruits.
Grandmother-of-seven Ellinah, 66, said: 'Since the summer, we've had no harvest. We had nothing to do but eat the unthinkable.
'Whatever we can get our hands on these days, that goes down. Our ancestors used to keep the skin of their beasts, in case of drought or famine. We just didn't know what else we could eat any more.'
It is just one sad example of the deepening crisis engulfing the country.
Children as young as two have been eating the skin and one man has died. The hide was originally used as a rug in a village near Bulawayo, hit by starvation and haunted by a cholera outbreak.
Families, who cannot get hold of grain, have also resorted to eating poisonous plants, while others have died after eating wild fruits.
Grandmother-of-seven Ellinah, 66, said: 'Since the summer, we've had no harvest. We had nothing to do but eat the unthinkable.
'Whatever we can get our hands on these days, that goes down. Our ancestors used to keep the skin of their beasts, in case of drought or famine. We just didn't know what else we could eat any more.'
Headbanging music fans encouraged to wear neck braces
Head-banging to heavy metal music can be hazardous to your health, researchers have found. In the first-ever study of its kind, published this week in the British Medical Journal, metal aficionados jerking their heads up and down to a fast and furious beat are found to be at risk of everything from whiplash to strokes.
Australian risk and safety researchers Declan Patton and Andrew McIntosh, from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, attended hard rock and heavy metal concerts to observe head-banging techniques. They then worked up a biomechanical analysis, culminating in a "theoretical head-banging model".
In their offbeat study the pair said that thrashing about to the music may cause similar effects to whiplash. A typical death-metal rhythm of 146 beats-per-minute or faster, combined with head-banging arcs of at least 45 degrees, is "predicted to cause mild head and neck injury," they wrote.
With faster tempos and wider arcs, "there are definite risks of mild traumatic brain injury." Anecdotal evidence also points to the potential health hazards of 'thrash rock', the paper said. "In 2005, doctors believed that Terry Balsamo, the guitarist from the band Evanescence, experienced a stroke from head-banging," it noted.
But what can be done? Metal fans could wear a neck brace while head-banging - or stick to listening to Michael Bolton, Celine Dion and Enya - joke Patton and McIntosh. But for those who still prefer high energy tunes to easy listening, the paper offers a practical example of what to avoid.
It applies the "theoretical head-banging model" to well-known cartoon characters Beavis and Butt-head, seen on screen dancing to The Ramones' "I Wanna Be Sedated" at 164 beats-per-minute. The range of motion of Beavis' head is about 45 degrees, which is below the injury threshold. For Butt-head, though, the prospects are not so great. He head-bangs with a range of motion of about 75 degrees, with the risk of "level one" head injuries, such as headaches and dizziness.
Australian risk and safety researchers Declan Patton and Andrew McIntosh, from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, attended hard rock and heavy metal concerts to observe head-banging techniques. They then worked up a biomechanical analysis, culminating in a "theoretical head-banging model".
In their offbeat study the pair said that thrashing about to the music may cause similar effects to whiplash. A typical death-metal rhythm of 146 beats-per-minute or faster, combined with head-banging arcs of at least 45 degrees, is "predicted to cause mild head and neck injury," they wrote.
With faster tempos and wider arcs, "there are definite risks of mild traumatic brain injury." Anecdotal evidence also points to the potential health hazards of 'thrash rock', the paper said. "In 2005, doctors believed that Terry Balsamo, the guitarist from the band Evanescence, experienced a stroke from head-banging," it noted.
But what can be done? Metal fans could wear a neck brace while head-banging - or stick to listening to Michael Bolton, Celine Dion and Enya - joke Patton and McIntosh. But for those who still prefer high energy tunes to easy listening, the paper offers a practical example of what to avoid.
It applies the "theoretical head-banging model" to well-known cartoon characters Beavis and Butt-head, seen on screen dancing to The Ramones' "I Wanna Be Sedated" at 164 beats-per-minute. The range of motion of Beavis' head is about 45 degrees, which is below the injury threshold. For Butt-head, though, the prospects are not so great. He head-bangs with a range of motion of about 75 degrees, with the risk of "level one" head injuries, such as headaches and dizziness.
Bogus Qantas engineer is jailed
An Australian man, who faked being a Qantas engineer for 10 months, has been sentenced to at least two years in jail for endangering thousands of lives.
Timothy McCormack, 26, pleaded guilty to 42 charges of deception, including forging an engineer's licence.
Mr McCormack posed as a supervising engineer checking 30 Qantas 747 aircraft leaving Sydney airport.
Photo from here.
Before being exposed in July 2007, he is said to have put the lives of 12,000 people at risk.
During sentencing at a district court in Sydney, Judge Mark Marien said that "the potential consequences of that course of conduct might have been catastrophic".
The judge also criticised Mr McCormack for presenting four forged character references at an earlier hearing, in order to get a lighter prison term.
Timothy McCormack, 26, pleaded guilty to 42 charges of deception, including forging an engineer's licence.
Mr McCormack posed as a supervising engineer checking 30 Qantas 747 aircraft leaving Sydney airport.
Photo from here.
Before being exposed in July 2007, he is said to have put the lives of 12,000 people at risk.
During sentencing at a district court in Sydney, Judge Mark Marien said that "the potential consequences of that course of conduct might have been catastrophic".
The judge also criticised Mr McCormack for presenting four forged character references at an earlier hearing, in order to get a lighter prison term.
Plane diverted 300 miles back home because pilot wasn't qualified to land
A pilot with 30 years experience told passengers "I am not qualified to land the plane" as he approached a runway in fog.
Speaking over the tannoy, he said he was unable to touch down in Paris because he had not yet passed his low-visibility training to land that particular aircraft in such conditions. Instead he turned the plane round and flew back to Cardiff.
Startled passengers on the Flybe flight BE1431 from Cardiff were given the news as the plane approached Charles De Gaulle airport.
A spokesman for Flybe said the pilot had flown several different passenger aircraft types: "He has relatively recently transferred his 'type-rating, from a Bombardier Q300 to a Bombardier Q400.
"He has not yet completed the requisite low-visibility training to complete a landing in conditions such as the dense fog experienced in Paris Charles de Gaulle.
"The captain therefore quite correctly turned the aircraft around and returned to Cardiff; a decision which the company stands by 100 per cent."
Speaking over the tannoy, he said he was unable to touch down in Paris because he had not yet passed his low-visibility training to land that particular aircraft in such conditions. Instead he turned the plane round and flew back to Cardiff.
Startled passengers on the Flybe flight BE1431 from Cardiff were given the news as the plane approached Charles De Gaulle airport.
A spokesman for Flybe said the pilot had flown several different passenger aircraft types: "He has relatively recently transferred his 'type-rating, from a Bombardier Q300 to a Bombardier Q400.
"He has not yet completed the requisite low-visibility training to complete a landing in conditions such as the dense fog experienced in Paris Charles de Gaulle.
"The captain therefore quite correctly turned the aircraft around and returned to Cardiff; a decision which the company stands by 100 per cent."
Window shopping peacock caught on camera
A peacock with an eye for fashion was caught on CCTV cameras window shopping at a clothes shop called Peacocks.
A number of the birds live in Dunfermline's Pittencrieff Park but often wander out into the town and along the High Street where the shop is located.
Staff in the Fife town noticed that this particular peacock likes to shelter from the wind and rain in the tiled area in front of the doors. It is normally too engrossed by the window displays to be bothered by passers-by.
Martin Rae, manager of the fashion store, said: "The bird just seemed to make straight for the shop. He must have seen the word Peacocks above the door and thought it was an invitation.
"It has found a home for itself and sits there under the cover away from the rain and preens its feathers. It is quite amicable and friendly."
The bird started visiting Peacocks around a month ago when the weather worsened.
Video.
A number of the birds live in Dunfermline's Pittencrieff Park but often wander out into the town and along the High Street where the shop is located.
Staff in the Fife town noticed that this particular peacock likes to shelter from the wind and rain in the tiled area in front of the doors. It is normally too engrossed by the window displays to be bothered by passers-by.
Martin Rae, manager of the fashion store, said: "The bird just seemed to make straight for the shop. He must have seen the word Peacocks above the door and thought it was an invitation.
"It has found a home for itself and sits there under the cover away from the rain and preens its feathers. It is quite amicable and friendly."
The bird started visiting Peacocks around a month ago when the weather worsened.
Video.
Man told he can't take paint pot on bus
A health and safety row has erupted after a passenger was banned from boarding a number 9 bus - for carrying a pot of paint. Simon Virr, of Winfold Road, Waterbeach was told by the driver of a Stagecoach bus in Cambridge it would be a breach of health and safety rules to allow him to board.
The Cambridge University administrator decided to splash out on the tub of stone ochre matt emulsion from Fired Earth in the city centre.
But when the 33-year-old tried to catch the bus home on Monday, the driver banned him from getting on.
Mr Virr said: "I got on the bus with a big five litre pot of matt emulsion paint when the driver asked: 'Is that paint?'. "I thought: 'That's a stupid question, what do you think it is?' Then he said: 'We don't have paint on the bus', and told me I couldn't get on with it.
"It's ridiculous. I phoned the bus operator's manager and he said I should have doublebagged the paint so that the driver didn't see what I was carrying. But I think it would be more of a hazard in a bag because passengers wouldn't know what it was and could kick it over. But it was new paint and unlikely that the vacuum sealed top would have come off. It's only water-based paint."
Philip Norwell, commercial director of Stagecoach in Cambridge, said: "In times gone by paint was often toxic and it was not allowed on the bus. But these days, paint that is not toxic can still cause problems if it spills out. It can cause major problems if it splashes over customers and the bus. The common sense approach is to put it in a double bag and make sure the lid is firmly secured and then if it falls to the floor it is unlikely to spill."
The Cambridge University administrator decided to splash out on the tub of stone ochre matt emulsion from Fired Earth in the city centre.
But when the 33-year-old tried to catch the bus home on Monday, the driver banned him from getting on.
Mr Virr said: "I got on the bus with a big five litre pot of matt emulsion paint when the driver asked: 'Is that paint?'. "I thought: 'That's a stupid question, what do you think it is?' Then he said: 'We don't have paint on the bus', and told me I couldn't get on with it.
"It's ridiculous. I phoned the bus operator's manager and he said I should have doublebagged the paint so that the driver didn't see what I was carrying. But I think it would be more of a hazard in a bag because passengers wouldn't know what it was and could kick it over. But it was new paint and unlikely that the vacuum sealed top would have come off. It's only water-based paint."
Philip Norwell, commercial director of Stagecoach in Cambridge, said: "In times gone by paint was often toxic and it was not allowed on the bus. But these days, paint that is not toxic can still cause problems if it spills out. It can cause major problems if it splashes over customers and the bus. The common sense approach is to put it in a double bag and make sure the lid is firmly secured and then if it falls to the floor it is unlikely to spill."
Evening Christmas choir concert cancelled over health and safety fears
An evening Christmas choir concert in a rural church has been cancelled over health and safety fears that one of the congregation could fall in the dark and sue its organisers.
The 16-strong Collegium Vocale has spent weeks practising Handel's Messiah for the festive performance at tiny St Stephen Church near Wimborne in Dorset. But organisers have cancelled the event after deciding that the quaint countryside church could be "dangerous" on a winter's night.
Although the 100-year-old building has electric lighting they feared that a member of the audience could injure themselves if there was a power cut.
Choirmaster Ian Davis carried out a risk assessment of the venue and also found the unlit tree-lined avenue leading up to it could also cause problems.
Mr Davis, 43, feared his voluntary choir, which has performed in Westminster Abbey and Chichester Cathedral in the past, could have faced legal action due to the "absurd" health and safety laws and decided to pull the concert instead.
He said: "The law states that a dark church is dangerous if it does not have relevant health and safety procedures in place."
The 16-strong Collegium Vocale has spent weeks practising Handel's Messiah for the festive performance at tiny St Stephen Church near Wimborne in Dorset. But organisers have cancelled the event after deciding that the quaint countryside church could be "dangerous" on a winter's night.
Although the 100-year-old building has electric lighting they feared that a member of the audience could injure themselves if there was a power cut.
Choirmaster Ian Davis carried out a risk assessment of the venue and also found the unlit tree-lined avenue leading up to it could also cause problems.
Mr Davis, 43, feared his voluntary choir, which has performed in Westminster Abbey and Chichester Cathedral in the past, could have faced legal action due to the "absurd" health and safety laws and decided to pull the concert instead.
He said: "The law states that a dark church is dangerous if it does not have relevant health and safety procedures in place."
Anti-social behaviour chief arrested
The man spearheading Nottingham's fight against anti-social behaviour has been arrested in connection with an incident of 'violent disorder' outside a city centre night spot.
Richard Antcliff, 32, the city council's chief anti-social behaviour officer, was one of 15 arrested by Notts police in a planned operation.
It followed an incident outside Bar Circle in Market Street just after 12am on Sunday, November 16.
A Notts police spokesman said: "Officers visited several addresses in the Nottingham area in the early hours of Sunday, December 7 2008 and made the arrests.
"All the suspects were arrested on suspicion of being involved in a violent disorder.
"All those arrested were released on police bail until February 3 2009."
Richard Antcliff, 32, the city council's chief anti-social behaviour officer, was one of 15 arrested by Notts police in a planned operation.
It followed an incident outside Bar Circle in Market Street just after 12am on Sunday, November 16.
A Notts police spokesman said: "Officers visited several addresses in the Nottingham area in the early hours of Sunday, December 7 2008 and made the arrests.
"All the suspects were arrested on suspicion of being involved in a violent disorder.
"All those arrested were released on police bail until February 3 2009."
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)