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Sunday, April 05, 2009
A real life Furby
Update: For anyone, like myself, who had no idea what this creature is, it's a Malaysian eagle owl.
Many thanks to Anon in the comments!
Boy stabs himself in the head while playing maniac
A seven-year-old boy accidently killed himself with a knife while pretending to be "a maniac" during a game with his friends in southern Russia's Rostov Region.
Four small children were left without parental supervision in an apartment in the town of Novoshakhtinsk, when one of the children suggested playing a horror game, grabbed a kitchen knife and began chasing his friends.
"The other children rushed to shut the door just at the moment, when the child with the knife was running towards them," a source said. "As soon as the door shut, the children heard him crying."
The boy apparently hit the door while running and accidentally stabbed himself in the head. He later died in hospital. An investigation is underway to decide whether a criminal case should be opened.
Four small children were left without parental supervision in an apartment in the town of Novoshakhtinsk, when one of the children suggested playing a horror game, grabbed a kitchen knife and began chasing his friends.
"The other children rushed to shut the door just at the moment, when the child with the knife was running towards them," a source said. "As soon as the door shut, the children heard him crying."
The boy apparently hit the door while running and accidentally stabbed himself in the head. He later died in hospital. An investigation is underway to decide whether a criminal case should be opened.
Viagra to boost footballers' performance in high-altitude matches
Viagra seems to be gaining popularity among footballers, with a club deciding to give its players the impotence pill to help them play better in high-altitude cup matches
Brazilian side Gremio has plans to use Viagra when they take on Bolivian teams, who have grounds up to 2,500 metres above sea level, in the Copa Libertadores.
Given that Viagra improves blood circulation, the club believes that it may boost the players' performance.
"I had this illumination reading a magazine. We did a scientific test," club doctor Alarico Endres said.
Brazilian side Gremio has plans to use Viagra when they take on Bolivian teams, who have grounds up to 2,500 metres above sea level, in the Copa Libertadores.
Given that Viagra improves blood circulation, the club believes that it may boost the players' performance.
"I had this illumination reading a magazine. We did a scientific test," club doctor Alarico Endres said.
Swedish internet use plummets after filesharing curb introduced
Internet traffic in Sweden - previously a hotbed of illicit filesharing - has fallen dramatically following the introduction of a law banning online piracy.
The country - home to the notorious Pirate Bay website, whose founders are awaiting a court judgment on whether they have broken the law by allowing people to find films, games and music for illicit downloads - has previously been seen as a haven for filesharing, in which people can get copyrighted content for free. As many as one in 10 Swedes is thought to use such peer-to-peer services.
The so-called IPRED law, which came in to force on Wednesday, obliges internet service providers (ISPs) to turn over details about users who share such content to the owners of copyrighted material, if a court finds sufficient evidence that the user has broken the law.
That seems to have spooked some Swedes. Statistics from the Netnod Internet Exchange, which measures internet traffic, suggest that daily online activity dropped more than 40% after the law took effect. The fall in data may be due to people being worried that their ISP will track their data and they may be sued for copyright infringement, which usually carries penalties equivalent to thousands of pounds.
The country - home to the notorious Pirate Bay website, whose founders are awaiting a court judgment on whether they have broken the law by allowing people to find films, games and music for illicit downloads - has previously been seen as a haven for filesharing, in which people can get copyrighted content for free. As many as one in 10 Swedes is thought to use such peer-to-peer services.
The so-called IPRED law, which came in to force on Wednesday, obliges internet service providers (ISPs) to turn over details about users who share such content to the owners of copyrighted material, if a court finds sufficient evidence that the user has broken the law.
That seems to have spooked some Swedes. Statistics from the Netnod Internet Exchange, which measures internet traffic, suggest that daily online activity dropped more than 40% after the law took effect. The fall in data may be due to people being worried that their ISP will track their data and they may be sued for copyright infringement, which usually carries penalties equivalent to thousands of pounds.
China jails teachers and parents for hi-tech exam cheating
Eight parents and teachers have been jailed on state secret charges after using hi-tech communication devices to help pupils cheat in college entrance exams, Chinese media reported yesterday.
The conspirators used scanners and wireless earpieces to transmit exam answers, indicating the lengths to which people go to ensure success in the make-or-break "gaokao", which determines the future of 10 million 18-year-olds each year.
Concern about cheating is such that papers are kept under armed guard, and last year their classification was upgraded from "secret" to "top secret".
But three separate scams operated in a single school in Zhejiang province. Those involved were sentenced to between six months and three years for illegally obtaining state secrets. It is not known whether any children were punished.
The Legal Daily newspaper said the parents began plotting in 2007 because their children's achievements were "not ideal". One group bribed a teacher to fax them the test paper and paid university students to provide answers, which were transmitted to the children through earpieces. The ruse was discovered when police detected "abnormal radio signals" near the school.
Another man had created an even more elaborate ‑ and expensive ‑ system. He bribed a student to send him the questions using a miniature scanner and hired nine teachers to answer them. He then sent their work back to his son and the other boy. A teacher was also jailed for charging parents to deliver answers to students. The equipment he used failed on the day.
The conspirators used scanners and wireless earpieces to transmit exam answers, indicating the lengths to which people go to ensure success in the make-or-break "gaokao", which determines the future of 10 million 18-year-olds each year.
Concern about cheating is such that papers are kept under armed guard, and last year their classification was upgraded from "secret" to "top secret".
But three separate scams operated in a single school in Zhejiang province. Those involved were sentenced to between six months and three years for illegally obtaining state secrets. It is not known whether any children were punished.
The Legal Daily newspaper said the parents began plotting in 2007 because their children's achievements were "not ideal". One group bribed a teacher to fax them the test paper and paid university students to provide answers, which were transmitted to the children through earpieces. The ruse was discovered when police detected "abnormal radio signals" near the school.
Another man had created an even more elaborate ‑ and expensive ‑ system. He bribed a student to send him the questions using a miniature scanner and hired nine teachers to answer them. He then sent their work back to his son and the other boy. A teacher was also jailed for charging parents to deliver answers to students. The equipment he used failed on the day.
Israeli cabinet picture doctored to remove women
Two ultra-Orthodox Jewish newspapers have altered a photo of Israel's new cabinet, removing two female ministers.
Limor Livnat and Sofa Landver were grouped with the rest of the 30-member cabinet for their inaugural photo.
But Yated Neeman newspaper digitally changed the picture by replacing them with two men. The Shaa Tova newspaper blacked the women out.
Publishing pictures of women is viewed by many ultra-orthodox Jews as a violation of female modesty. Other Israeli papers reprinted the altered images next to the original photos, with one headlining it "Find the lady".
The ultra-Orthodox community separates itself from mainstream society through its traditional religious practices and distinctive attire of black hats, coats and sidelocks for the men and long skirts and sleeves for the women.
Restrictions include using only Kosher telephones, and not accessing websites with content deemed inappropriate.
Limor Livnat and Sofa Landver were grouped with the rest of the 30-member cabinet for their inaugural photo.
But Yated Neeman newspaper digitally changed the picture by replacing them with two men. The Shaa Tova newspaper blacked the women out.
Publishing pictures of women is viewed by many ultra-orthodox Jews as a violation of female modesty. Other Israeli papers reprinted the altered images next to the original photos, with one headlining it "Find the lady".
The ultra-Orthodox community separates itself from mainstream society through its traditional religious practices and distinctive attire of black hats, coats and sidelocks for the men and long skirts and sleeves for the women.
Restrictions include using only Kosher telephones, and not accessing websites with content deemed inappropriate.
Lipstick can save old womens’ lives
Wearing make-up can save the lives of elderly women by stopping them falling over, it emerged last night. Experts claimed the process of slapping on lipstick and mascara boosts balance and co-ordination by acting as a type of stretching.
And older women have better posture even when they wear just basic cosmetics. The bizarre finding emerged from a study of 100 women aged 65 to 85.
Scientists at the University of St Etienne, France, were analysing the impact of make-up on self-esteem. But they discovered that cosmetics had a more powerful effect on health.
The women were fitted with insoles to test their centre of gravity and a belt to monitor their posture. Experts found those who put on make-up every day had much better balance and posture, and suffered fewer falls.
Dr Patricia Pineau, who led the study, said make-up users walked tall. "She said: These women stood up straight and suffered fewer falls. They held themselves differently to those who did not wear make-up."
Dr Pineau, research director for cosmetic firm L'Oreal, added: "It could help to prevent many debilitating falls." The findings were presented at the World Congress of Gerontology, Paris. Falls kill thousands of over-65s each year.
And older women have better posture even when they wear just basic cosmetics. The bizarre finding emerged from a study of 100 women aged 65 to 85.
Scientists at the University of St Etienne, France, were analysing the impact of make-up on self-esteem. But they discovered that cosmetics had a more powerful effect on health.
The women were fitted with insoles to test their centre of gravity and a belt to monitor their posture. Experts found those who put on make-up every day had much better balance and posture, and suffered fewer falls.
Dr Patricia Pineau, who led the study, said make-up users walked tall. "She said: These women stood up straight and suffered fewer falls. They held themselves differently to those who did not wear make-up."
Dr Pineau, research director for cosmetic firm L'Oreal, added: "It could help to prevent many debilitating falls." The findings were presented at the World Congress of Gerontology, Paris. Falls kill thousands of over-65s each year.
Greedy dog cheats chocolate cake death
A dog narrowly avoided death after eating more than 20 chocolate cupcakes. Polly, a one-year-old Patterdale terrier from Southampton, ate the cakes after being accidentally locked in the family's kitchen by her owners.
Owner Yvonne Taylor found the canine surrounded by chocolate wrappers and, knowing of the dangers of cocoa poisoning, contacted vets.
The greedy canine has since made a full recovery after treatment at an animal hospital in Southampton
Ms Taylor said: "I remember reading that cocoa could be poisonous to pets, and having used quite a lot in the cakes, I was concerned for her. The PDSA (People's Dispensary for Sick Animals) vets were brilliant and went that extra mile to save Polly.
"They gave her an injection to induce vomiting and then proceeded to wash out her stomach under a general anaesthetic."
A PDSA spokesman, said: "Easter wouldn't be Easter without chocolate, but it is a time when pets are at increased risk from potentially fatal chocolate poisoning. Luckily, Polly pulled through and survived. The amount of chocolate she ate could have killed her had her owner not recognised the danger and contacted PDSA so swiftly."
Owner Yvonne Taylor found the canine surrounded by chocolate wrappers and, knowing of the dangers of cocoa poisoning, contacted vets.
The greedy canine has since made a full recovery after treatment at an animal hospital in Southampton
Ms Taylor said: "I remember reading that cocoa could be poisonous to pets, and having used quite a lot in the cakes, I was concerned for her. The PDSA (People's Dispensary for Sick Animals) vets were brilliant and went that extra mile to save Polly.
"They gave her an injection to induce vomiting and then proceeded to wash out her stomach under a general anaesthetic."
A PDSA spokesman, said: "Easter wouldn't be Easter without chocolate, but it is a time when pets are at increased risk from potentially fatal chocolate poisoning. Luckily, Polly pulled through and survived. The amount of chocolate she ate could have killed her had her owner not recognised the danger and contacted PDSA so swiftly."
School criticised for encouraging 11-year-olds to swear
A class of 11 and 12-year-olds have been taught the meaning of swear words during a sex education lesson. Year 7 pupils at St Laurence School in Bradford on Avon were asked to list all the swear words they could think of which could be used as slang for sex and the names of body parts.
The words the teacher subsequently wrote on the board, and then explained the meanings of, included the most notorious terms - including the c-word. Deputy headteacher Richard Clutterbuck defended the secondary school's decision to lay on the lessons, but said he and his colleagues would be responding to parental concerns.
He said: "The school has a programme of sex and relationship education in accordance with the governors' policy on sex and relationship education. Part of the delivery of the programme is to ensure that the students use the correct terms when referring to the biological aspects of the programme and to dispel any use of slang terms.
"With hindsight, the delivery of this particular lesson should not have focussed upon the slang terms and I must apologise for any distress caused."
An uncle of one of the pupils present in the lesson said he had been completely shocked when he heard about the incident. He said: "Every parent should be informed that this lesson took place. They have a right to know that their children know these disgusting swear words.
"Many of these children didn't know these words before the lesson, but unfortunately now my niece does. When you are having to hear all those words in a Year 7 lesson it is absolutely disgusting. Is this part of the curriculum? The c-word being explained in the classroom? It beggars belief, the world has gone upside down. These children have been tarnished."
The words the teacher subsequently wrote on the board, and then explained the meanings of, included the most notorious terms - including the c-word. Deputy headteacher Richard Clutterbuck defended the secondary school's decision to lay on the lessons, but said he and his colleagues would be responding to parental concerns.
He said: "The school has a programme of sex and relationship education in accordance with the governors' policy on sex and relationship education. Part of the delivery of the programme is to ensure that the students use the correct terms when referring to the biological aspects of the programme and to dispel any use of slang terms.
"With hindsight, the delivery of this particular lesson should not have focussed upon the slang terms and I must apologise for any distress caused."
An uncle of one of the pupils present in the lesson said he had been completely shocked when he heard about the incident. He said: "Every parent should be informed that this lesson took place. They have a right to know that their children know these disgusting swear words.
"Many of these children didn't know these words before the lesson, but unfortunately now my niece does. When you are having to hear all those words in a Year 7 lesson it is absolutely disgusting. Is this part of the curriculum? The c-word being explained in the classroom? It beggars belief, the world has gone upside down. These children have been tarnished."
Suicidal UK teenager saved by Facebook friend
A British teenager who attempted to commit suicide was saved by police after a Facebook user on the other side of the Atlantic raised the alarm. The depressed 16-year-old boy had been chatting to a girl in Maryland, USA, on the social networking website when he told her he was about to kill himself.
Fearing for his life, the American girl alerted her mother, who then sparked a string of emergency messages between Maryland Police, the White House in Washington, the British Embassy in Washington, Scotland Yard and finally Thames Valley Police. Despite being armed with only the troubled teenager's name and the fact he attended a school in Oxfordshire, detectives managed to narrow his location down to eight potential addresses in the area.
Teams of police sped to each of the properties. At the fourth property, on the outskirts of Oxford, they found the teenager barely conscious in his bedroom, where he had apparently taken an overdose. The youngster was rushed to hospital where, three hours after he posted the online cry for help, he was miraculously revived and made a full recovery.
Oxfordshire police commander Chief Supt Brendan O'Dowda praised those on both sides of the Atlantic who were involved in the rescue. He said: "When it did find its way to Thames Valley Police, it would have been quite easy for any number of people to decide there wasn't enough information.
"We really didn't have much to go on. It was just scant information. But due to the tenacity and professionalism of a number of people, we managed to pin down a number of addresses, then went through the painful and laborious process of visiting the addresses to find the lad.
"It took up time and effort but it was time and effort absolutely well spent."
Fearing for his life, the American girl alerted her mother, who then sparked a string of emergency messages between Maryland Police, the White House in Washington, the British Embassy in Washington, Scotland Yard and finally Thames Valley Police. Despite being armed with only the troubled teenager's name and the fact he attended a school in Oxfordshire, detectives managed to narrow his location down to eight potential addresses in the area.
Teams of police sped to each of the properties. At the fourth property, on the outskirts of Oxford, they found the teenager barely conscious in his bedroom, where he had apparently taken an overdose. The youngster was rushed to hospital where, three hours after he posted the online cry for help, he was miraculously revived and made a full recovery.
Oxfordshire police commander Chief Supt Brendan O'Dowda praised those on both sides of the Atlantic who were involved in the rescue. He said: "When it did find its way to Thames Valley Police, it would have been quite easy for any number of people to decide there wasn't enough information.
"We really didn't have much to go on. It was just scant information. But due to the tenacity and professionalism of a number of people, we managed to pin down a number of addresses, then went through the painful and laborious process of visiting the addresses to find the lad.
"It took up time and effort but it was time and effort absolutely well spent."
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