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Sunday, July 12, 2009
Squirrel gets yogurt container stuck on its head
A squirrel somehow got a yogurt container stuck on its head at a rose garden. A news photographer captured the strange scene while he working on a story on the campus of Furman University in South Carolina.
The squirrel leapt and flailed blindly from bush to bush. After shooting the video, the photgrapher helped the squirrel by removing the container off its head.
The squirrel leapt and flailed blindly from bush to bush. After shooting the video, the photgrapher helped the squirrel by removing the container off its head.
Fork lodged in dog's brain
Smokey, a twelve-week-old chihuahua puppy had a large barbecue fork stuck in his head.
A handle broke off a grilling fork and flew right into his head at a family party in Kentucky.
Smokey then ran off into the woods and was lost for three days before being rescued. He was immediately taken to the hospital.
Vets took just thirty seconds to remove the lodged barbecue fork in Smokey's brain. Doctors say Smokey appears to be okay and is expected to make a full recovery.
A handle broke off a grilling fork and flew right into his head at a family party in Kentucky.
Smokey then ran off into the woods and was lost for three days before being rescued. He was immediately taken to the hospital.
Vets took just thirty seconds to remove the lodged barbecue fork in Smokey's brain. Doctors say Smokey appears to be okay and is expected to make a full recovery.
Couple receive warning for nude sunbathing in graveyard
While searching on Thursday afternoon for a stray dog in an Appling graveyard, a Columbia County Animal Care and Control officer came across an unexpected sight: a man and woman sunbathing in the nude.
"I was a little shocked," Animal Control officer Russell Swann said. "I was expecting to see a dog out there."
Animal Control had received a call from a member of Solid Rock Baptist Church on Scotts Ferry Road saying someone had abandoned a dog on the church's property.
Mr. Swann said he first searched in the front side of the property. As he rounded a corner to the back side of the church, he encountered the naked backsides of the couple stretched out at the edge of the church graveyard. "When I walked back there, there was two naked people and the dog sitting right beside them," he said. "As soon as they saw me, they started throwing clothes on."
Mr. Swann said he called his dispatcher, who in turn called police. "I was a little freaked out," he said. "I pulled my vehicle behind theirs so they couldn't get out and waited for a sheriff's deputy."
A deputy gave the couple a warning and let them go, Columbia County sheriff's Capt. Steve Morris said. During his three years working with Animal Control, Mr. Swann said, he has never come across anything similar to what he experienced. "That was definitely a first for me," he said.
There's a news video here.
"I was a little shocked," Animal Control officer Russell Swann said. "I was expecting to see a dog out there."
Animal Control had received a call from a member of Solid Rock Baptist Church on Scotts Ferry Road saying someone had abandoned a dog on the church's property.
Mr. Swann said he first searched in the front side of the property. As he rounded a corner to the back side of the church, he encountered the naked backsides of the couple stretched out at the edge of the church graveyard. "When I walked back there, there was two naked people and the dog sitting right beside them," he said. "As soon as they saw me, they started throwing clothes on."
Mr. Swann said he called his dispatcher, who in turn called police. "I was a little freaked out," he said. "I pulled my vehicle behind theirs so they couldn't get out and waited for a sheriff's deputy."
A deputy gave the couple a warning and let them go, Columbia County sheriff's Capt. Steve Morris said. During his three years working with Animal Control, Mr. Swann said, he has never come across anything similar to what he experienced. "That was definitely a first for me," he said.
There's a news video here.
Family takes Saudi 'genie' to court for harassment
A family in Saudi Arabia is taking a "genie" to court, accusing it of theft and harassment, reports say. They accuse the spirit of threatening them, throwing stones and stealing mobile phones.
The family have lived in the same house near the city of Medina for 15 years but say they only recently became aware of the spirit. They have now moved out.
A local court is investigating. In Islamic theology, genies are spirits that can harass or possess humans.
"We began to hear strange sounds," the head of the family, who come from Mahd Al Dahab, said. He did not want to be named.
"At first we did not take it seriously, but then stranger things started to happen and the children got particularly scared when the genie started throwing stones."
He added: "A woman spoke to me first, and then a man. They said we should get out of the house." A local court says it is trying to verify the truthfulness of the claims "despite the difficulty" of doing so.
The family have lived in the same house near the city of Medina for 15 years but say they only recently became aware of the spirit. They have now moved out.
A local court is investigating. In Islamic theology, genies are spirits that can harass or possess humans.
"We began to hear strange sounds," the head of the family, who come from Mahd Al Dahab, said. He did not want to be named.
"At first we did not take it seriously, but then stranger things started to happen and the children got particularly scared when the genie started throwing stones."
He added: "A woman spoke to me first, and then a man. They said we should get out of the house." A local court says it is trying to verify the truthfulness of the claims "despite the difficulty" of doing so.
Girl was assaulted by family over belly button ring
A girl's decision to remove her belly ring provoked a family fight, according to Mechanicsburg police.
The girl, who was unnamed by police because she is a juvenile, removed her belly ring on Tuesday night because it had become infected, police said. Two adult family members in the home, Lisa Sites and Kory Sites, became upset over that, police said.
Kory Sites held the girl down, police alleged, while Lisa Sites attempted to put the belly ring back in. The girl also was struck during the altercation, police said.
She managed to get out of the home in the 200 block of West Marble Street and to the police station, police said. Kory and Lisa Sites were arrested a short time later and charged with assault. They were jailed in lieu of $5,000 bail.
The girl, who was unnamed by police because she is a juvenile, removed her belly ring on Tuesday night because it had become infected, police said. Two adult family members in the home, Lisa Sites and Kory Sites, became upset over that, police said.
Kory Sites held the girl down, police alleged, while Lisa Sites attempted to put the belly ring back in. The girl also was struck during the altercation, police said.
She managed to get out of the home in the 200 block of West Marble Street and to the police station, police said. Kory and Lisa Sites were arrested a short time later and charged with assault. They were jailed in lieu of $5,000 bail.
'Yoga cures gay disease', says Indian Swami
India's top TV yoga expert has challenged a court ruling legalising gay sex in the country - claiming it is a "disease" that can be cured by meditative practices.
Swami Baba Ramdev filed the petition on the grounds that the Delhi High Court "erred" in decriminalising "unnatural sex acts" last week, according to the Indian Express newspaper. He also reportedly insisted homosexuality was an illness which could be treated.
"It can be treated like any other congenital defect," Swami Ramdev said in the challenge filed in the Supreme Court.
"Such tendencies can be treated by yoga, pranayama (breathing exercises) and other meditation techniques."
The high court's judgment reversing a colonial-era ban on homosexuality has met with widespread opposition among many religious groups and conservatives. They say same-sex relationships threaten the fabric of traditional Indian society.
In an interview Swami Ramdev said homosexuality caused "mental bankruptcy" and was "against God and creation".
Swami Baba Ramdev filed the petition on the grounds that the Delhi High Court "erred" in decriminalising "unnatural sex acts" last week, according to the Indian Express newspaper. He also reportedly insisted homosexuality was an illness which could be treated.
"It can be treated like any other congenital defect," Swami Ramdev said in the challenge filed in the Supreme Court.
"Such tendencies can be treated by yoga, pranayama (breathing exercises) and other meditation techniques."
The high court's judgment reversing a colonial-era ban on homosexuality has met with widespread opposition among many religious groups and conservatives. They say same-sex relationships threaten the fabric of traditional Indian society.
In an interview Swami Ramdev said homosexuality caused "mental bankruptcy" and was "against God and creation".
Nappies for football fans
Proud dads are being kept nappy - with a new way of showing what they really think about rival football teams.
Nappy makers in Germany have produced a new range in team colours with the motto "I s**t on you" before naming a team. "It's great. It means your baby can pooh all over the team you hate the most," said one delighted dad.
Some hardcore fans have even been taking used nappies to matches before whipping them out to taunt their rivals.
"They have been far more popular than we could have hoped for," said company boss Karsten Stanberger.
"Football fans are always looking for new ways to show their loyalty to their club and what better way than letting your baby do what comes naturally all over the opposition," he added. Now the firm Fan Windel has its eye on expanding to Britain's Premiership clubs.
"We're selling out faster than we can make them," said Mr Stanberger. "I hope soon our products will be a permanent fixture at every Premiership match."
Nappy makers in Germany have produced a new range in team colours with the motto "I s**t on you" before naming a team. "It's great. It means your baby can pooh all over the team you hate the most," said one delighted dad.
Some hardcore fans have even been taking used nappies to matches before whipping them out to taunt their rivals.
"They have been far more popular than we could have hoped for," said company boss Karsten Stanberger.
"Football fans are always looking for new ways to show their loyalty to their club and what better way than letting your baby do what comes naturally all over the opposition," he added. Now the firm Fan Windel has its eye on expanding to Britain's Premiership clubs.
"We're selling out faster than we can make them," said Mr Stanberger. "I hope soon our products will be a permanent fixture at every Premiership match."
Jail sperm smuggling is 'stupid and outrageous'
A former Police superintendent has been asked to investigate allegations a convicted murderer in an Australian jail has fathered a child from behind bars. It is believed the criminal's sperm was smuggled out of prison and used to impregnate his girlfriend interstate. She gave birth to a boy last month.
New South Wales Corrective Services Minister John Robertson has asked former superintendent Rod Harvey to investigate the matter. Mr Robertson has expressed deep concern about the breach.
His concerns have been echoed by Matt Bindley from the Prison Officer Vocational Branch. Mr Bindley says it is an outrageous breach.
"You can't take anything out as small as a letter, let alone sperm," he said. Mr Bindley from has welcomed the investigation. "It's something that shouldn't happen and we don't want to see happen again," he said.
"We've got a job to do and we'd like to see that everyone does it in a professional matter and we don't get dragged down in the community because of people doing stupid things like this.
"It breaches everything that we stand for. It's quiet clear when you join the job, you don't take anything in and you don't take anything out."
New South Wales Corrective Services Minister John Robertson has asked former superintendent Rod Harvey to investigate the matter. Mr Robertson has expressed deep concern about the breach.
His concerns have been echoed by Matt Bindley from the Prison Officer Vocational Branch. Mr Bindley says it is an outrageous breach.
"You can't take anything out as small as a letter, let alone sperm," he said. Mr Bindley from has welcomed the investigation. "It's something that shouldn't happen and we don't want to see happen again," he said.
"We've got a job to do and we'd like to see that everyone does it in a professional matter and we don't get dragged down in the community because of people doing stupid things like this.
"It breaches everything that we stand for. It's quiet clear when you join the job, you don't take anything in and you don't take anything out."
Berlin 'sex academy' offers tips for visitors
Wannabe Latin lovers can improve their technique by playing with the erogenous zones of naked mannequins at a new interactive exhibition that has now opened in Berlin. The "Amora sex academy" that opened in Berlin on Thursday welcomes visitors with the wry slogan, "Finally - an exhibition for those who always have to touch everything."
More than 50 interactive displays guide visitors through the intimate areas of the male and female bodies, offering helpful tips on everything from striptease to oral sex and how to achieve a perfect orgasm.
"A lot of couples come in here together to learn something," said Uta Barkow, the manager of the Beate Uhse sex chain which is hosting the academy. "It's been very well received so far. A lot of exhibits have that 'aha' effect on a lot of people."
The show features several life-sized plastic models, naked and in various positions. One female mannequin light ups when touched in the right spot. A voice shrieks "That's it!" when the visitor manages to put his finger on the elusive G-spot.
Next to it is what the museum called its "Spank-o-metre." It measures the level of pleasure a mannequin receives when spanked with a leather whip. "So far we've had just as many women in here as men," Barkow said. "Women coming in tend to have fewer inhibitions while the men tend to be a bit more embarrassed."
The museum also shows film clips of various sexual positions, including the "Italian chandelier" that the viewer learns can burn up to 920 calories per hour.
More than 50 interactive displays guide visitors through the intimate areas of the male and female bodies, offering helpful tips on everything from striptease to oral sex and how to achieve a perfect orgasm.
"A lot of couples come in here together to learn something," said Uta Barkow, the manager of the Beate Uhse sex chain which is hosting the academy. "It's been very well received so far. A lot of exhibits have that 'aha' effect on a lot of people."
The show features several life-sized plastic models, naked and in various positions. One female mannequin light ups when touched in the right spot. A voice shrieks "That's it!" when the visitor manages to put his finger on the elusive G-spot.
Next to it is what the museum called its "Spank-o-metre." It measures the level of pleasure a mannequin receives when spanked with a leather whip. "So far we've had just as many women in here as men," Barkow said. "Women coming in tend to have fewer inhibitions while the men tend to be a bit more embarrassed."
The museum also shows film clips of various sexual positions, including the "Italian chandelier" that the viewer learns can burn up to 920 calories per hour.
Wallets with baby pictures 'most likely to be returned'
Lost wallets which contain a snapshot of a baby are more likely to be returned to their owners, scientists have discovered.
Researchers left 240 wallets on the streets of Edinburgh last year to see how many were returned to their owners. Some of the wallets contained one of four photographs – the baby, a cute puppy, a family and a portrait of an elderly couple.
Other wallets contained a card suggesting the owner had recently made a charity donation, while a control batch contained no additional items. Professor Richard Wiseman, a psychologist who supervised the experiment, said 42 per cent of the wallets were posted back in total.
Those containing the picture of the infant were most likely to trigger an honest reaction from the finder, with 88 per cent being returned, followed by those containing pictures of the puppy at 53 per cent. Of those featuring the family snapshot, 48 per cent were sent to the return address and only 28 per cent of those with the picture of the elderly couple.
Wallets containing the charity cards and the control sample were least likely to be returned, with rates of 20 and 15 per cent respectively. Prof Wiseman, of the University of Hertfordshire, said: "The baby kicked off a caring feeling in people, which is not surprising from an evolutionary perspective. "We were amazed by the high percentage of wallets that came back."
The wallets were planted at random about a quarter of a mile apart. Snapshots were inserted into a clear plastic window inside the wallets, none of which contained money.
Researchers left 240 wallets on the streets of Edinburgh last year to see how many were returned to their owners. Some of the wallets contained one of four photographs – the baby, a cute puppy, a family and a portrait of an elderly couple.
Other wallets contained a card suggesting the owner had recently made a charity donation, while a control batch contained no additional items. Professor Richard Wiseman, a psychologist who supervised the experiment, said 42 per cent of the wallets were posted back in total.
Those containing the picture of the infant were most likely to trigger an honest reaction from the finder, with 88 per cent being returned, followed by those containing pictures of the puppy at 53 per cent. Of those featuring the family snapshot, 48 per cent were sent to the return address and only 28 per cent of those with the picture of the elderly couple.
Wallets containing the charity cards and the control sample were least likely to be returned, with rates of 20 and 15 per cent respectively. Prof Wiseman, of the University of Hertfordshire, said: "The baby kicked off a caring feeling in people, which is not surprising from an evolutionary perspective. "We were amazed by the high percentage of wallets that came back."
The wallets were planted at random about a quarter of a mile apart. Snapshots were inserted into a clear plastic window inside the wallets, none of which contained money.
Posters showing child eating dog faeces help clean up streets
Shocking posters apparently showing a child eating dog's mess are being credited with a big clean-up on Torbay's streets. Torbay Council launched the controversial campaign at the end of April.
Councillor Dave Butt, cabinet member for community services, said that dog mess had more than halved from about 400 incidents in April to 185 in June. He also said there had been no complaints about the posters.
The campaign by Torbay Council featured a hard-hitting image appearing to show a young child eating dog faeces which they found in a playground.
The posters were displayed in local bus shelters and dog mess offenders were warned about the penalty which is a fine of up to £1,000.
Mr Butt said: "The poster was rather unpleasant, but helped drive the message home very forcibly.
"We did not have any complaints, but we did have people ringing us to say it was about time and they were pleased we went in so hard."
Councillor Dave Butt, cabinet member for community services, said that dog mess had more than halved from about 400 incidents in April to 185 in June. He also said there had been no complaints about the posters.
The campaign by Torbay Council featured a hard-hitting image appearing to show a young child eating dog faeces which they found in a playground.
The posters were displayed in local bus shelters and dog mess offenders were warned about the penalty which is a fine of up to £1,000.
Mr Butt said: "The poster was rather unpleasant, but helped drive the message home very forcibly.
"We did not have any complaints, but we did have people ringing us to say it was about time and they were pleased we went in so hard."
Shop turns away 9 out of 10 job applicants because they cannot calculate sums
A family-run haberdashers is forced to turn away 90 per cent of job applicants, because they are unable to do simple sums. The Remnant Shop has a company rule that staff must be able to mentally add, subtract, multiply and divide on the spot. In the past, eight out of ten made the grade. Now just one in ten can cut it.
Robert Bamberger, boss of the family firm, which employs 28 people at its branches in Colchester, Essex, and Felixstowe, Suffolk, said: "This dates from when the company began 65 years ago.
"My grandfather Sydney Bamberger could add up a column of 50 figures in old pounds, shillings and pennies – including ha'pennies and farthings – in a matter of seconds. He used to insist that any staff we took on could do the same – and we have carried on that practice."
"Nowadays this means we turn away more than nine in 10 people who come to us for a job who would otherwise be suitable. It is a sorry situation and a poor reflection on the academic qualities of young people these days."
Mr Bamberger said his shops did have calculators, but only allowed them to be used to confirm the staff's mental arithmetic, especially when amazed customers ask: "Can you check that?" Val Crampin, manager of the Felixstowe shop, said: "With our staff mental maths must come first.
"If we did it the other way round, how would they know they had pressed the wrong button? They need to have an idea of the answer."
Robert Bamberger, boss of the family firm, which employs 28 people at its branches in Colchester, Essex, and Felixstowe, Suffolk, said: "This dates from when the company began 65 years ago.
"My grandfather Sydney Bamberger could add up a column of 50 figures in old pounds, shillings and pennies – including ha'pennies and farthings – in a matter of seconds. He used to insist that any staff we took on could do the same – and we have carried on that practice."
"Nowadays this means we turn away more than nine in 10 people who come to us for a job who would otherwise be suitable. It is a sorry situation and a poor reflection on the academic qualities of young people these days."
Mr Bamberger said his shops did have calculators, but only allowed them to be used to confirm the staff's mental arithmetic, especially when amazed customers ask: "Can you check that?" Val Crampin, manager of the Felixstowe shop, said: "With our staff mental maths must come first.
"If we did it the other way round, how would they know they had pressed the wrong button? They need to have an idea of the answer."
Father arrested and held in cells for playing football in park with his children without council permission
A father was arrested and held in a cell for five hours for playing football with his children in a park without permission from the council. Darren Chapman, 42, was taken into custody after the family game, which was in defiance of town hall orders.
Council rules state that players must undergo a criminal records check, pay for insurance and apply for formal permission for the game. Mr Chapman, who was eventually released without charge, said: 'All we want to do is have a kickabout with the lads twice a week so they can keep sharp for when their league's training starts again, and we can't.'
Problems began after Mr Chapman began staging regular games for his children and their seven-year-old friends at Woodmansterne Recreation Grounds in Banstead, Surrey. He was approached by Reigate and Banstead Council in February and asked to stop the activity immediately.
The council also sent him a letter asking for proof of a Criminal Records Bureau check, insurance and a formal request to use the park area for organised training activities. Mr Chapman continued the games regardless, and was shocked when police stormed the recreation ground to arrest him on July 1.
He said: 'We play here twice a week, we kick a ball and practice, but they are trying to make us stop.' He told how officers were called in after he tried to organise a protest picnic with other parents to challenge the council's decision. 'The police said I was threatening to cause criminal damage,' he said. Another father added: 'It's totally out of order. Darren's only trying to give the kids something to do and he's being treated like a criminal.'
A council spokeswoman said: 'Unfortunately, although Mr Chapman has been advised on how he can work with the council to obtain the authorised use of the designated areas, to date he has failed to comply with the council's usual procedure.' A Surrey Police spokesman said their 'actions were proportionate throughout the arrest procedure' and subsequent enquiry.
Council rules state that players must undergo a criminal records check, pay for insurance and apply for formal permission for the game. Mr Chapman, who was eventually released without charge, said: 'All we want to do is have a kickabout with the lads twice a week so they can keep sharp for when their league's training starts again, and we can't.'
Problems began after Mr Chapman began staging regular games for his children and their seven-year-old friends at Woodmansterne Recreation Grounds in Banstead, Surrey. He was approached by Reigate and Banstead Council in February and asked to stop the activity immediately.
The council also sent him a letter asking for proof of a Criminal Records Bureau check, insurance and a formal request to use the park area for organised training activities. Mr Chapman continued the games regardless, and was shocked when police stormed the recreation ground to arrest him on July 1.
He said: 'We play here twice a week, we kick a ball and practice, but they are trying to make us stop.' He told how officers were called in after he tried to organise a protest picnic with other parents to challenge the council's decision. 'The police said I was threatening to cause criminal damage,' he said. Another father added: 'It's totally out of order. Darren's only trying to give the kids something to do and he's being treated like a criminal.'
A council spokeswoman said: 'Unfortunately, although Mr Chapman has been advised on how he can work with the council to obtain the authorised use of the designated areas, to date he has failed to comply with the council's usual procedure.' A Surrey Police spokesman said their 'actions were proportionate throughout the arrest procedure' and subsequent enquiry.
Man fined for punching punch-bag
A man has been ordered to pay €1,950 to the owner of an amusement arcade for striking a punch-bag after it swung back and hit him on the jaw.
Paul Kelly, 23, of Lisanisk in Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, admitted hitting the bag and damaging it in a fit of anger after it struck him.
His lawyer said the blow had caused damage to the machine's mechanism.
Carrickmacross District Court heard moments earlier Kelly thought he had won a payout for punching the bag hard. The incident took place at a recent summer festival in the town.
Paul Kelly, 23, of Lisanisk in Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, admitted hitting the bag and damaging it in a fit of anger after it struck him.
His lawyer said the blow had caused damage to the machine's mechanism.
Carrickmacross District Court heard moments earlier Kelly thought he had won a payout for punching the bag hard. The incident took place at a recent summer festival in the town.
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