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Monday, February 01, 2010
Man finds Jesus in coconut
A Paradise man claims he discovered a miracle in the produce section of his local grocery.
Mike Zachweija said he went shopping to buy bananas a few days before Christmas. He glanced at a bunch of coconuts and noticed one that looked like it had a silhouette of a face on it.
Impressed with the image Zachweija bought the coconut.
On Christmas Day Zachweija said he decided to take some pictures of the coconut before the image faded away.
He says: "As the first picture I took appeared on my small digital camera, I could hardly believe what I was looking at. The silhouette face now had some colour and much more detail, with added Christmas sunlight. The face looked very much like that of Jesus."
Zachweija said he's not an overly religious person but believes, "Jesus sent out his own Christmas card greeting by way of a simple coconut."
Mike Zachweija said he went shopping to buy bananas a few days before Christmas. He glanced at a bunch of coconuts and noticed one that looked like it had a silhouette of a face on it.
Impressed with the image Zachweija bought the coconut.
On Christmas Day Zachweija said he decided to take some pictures of the coconut before the image faded away.
He says: "As the first picture I took appeared on my small digital camera, I could hardly believe what I was looking at. The silhouette face now had some colour and much more detail, with added Christmas sunlight. The face looked very much like that of Jesus."
Zachweija said he's not an overly religious person but believes, "Jesus sent out his own Christmas card greeting by way of a simple coconut."
My furry client bleats not guilty
Switzerland is going to new extremes in the battle to improve life for its animals. The country will hold a referendum in March on whether domesticated creatures should have the right to be represented by lawyers in court.
The Alpine state is rapidly emerging as European champion of animal rights. It recently changed its constitution to protect the “dignity” of plant life and made a law last year establishing rights for creatures such as canaries and goldfish.
If the referendum is approved, every canton in Switzerland will be obliged to appoint a lawyer to act for pets as well as farm animals and defend them from abuse. “Humans accused of animal cruelty can hire a lawyer or get one assigned but animals can’t,” said Antoine Goetschel, a lawyer. “Which is where I come in.”
In 2007 the canton of Zurich appointed him an “animal advocate” in an experiment whose success has encouraged animal welfare groups to mount a campaign for a referendum to create similar officials all over the country. Activists gathered more than the 100,000 signatures required for a national ballot.
The government is against the idea of animal lawyers, as are farmers’ associations and pet breeders, who fear stricter regulation if the motion is approved on March 7. Last week a committee called No to the Useless Animal Lawyers’ Initiative was set up.
“Animal rights advocates are useless to animals,” it said. “They can’t prevent animal abuse because they only get involved after it has been perpetrated.” Goetschel, a 50-year-old vegetarian, disagrees and hopes that the initiative passes with a big “yes”.
The Alpine state is rapidly emerging as European champion of animal rights. It recently changed its constitution to protect the “dignity” of plant life and made a law last year establishing rights for creatures such as canaries and goldfish.
If the referendum is approved, every canton in Switzerland will be obliged to appoint a lawyer to act for pets as well as farm animals and defend them from abuse. “Humans accused of animal cruelty can hire a lawyer or get one assigned but animals can’t,” said Antoine Goetschel, a lawyer. “Which is where I come in.”
In 2007 the canton of Zurich appointed him an “animal advocate” in an experiment whose success has encouraged animal welfare groups to mount a campaign for a referendum to create similar officials all over the country. Activists gathered more than the 100,000 signatures required for a national ballot.
The government is against the idea of animal lawyers, as are farmers’ associations and pet breeders, who fear stricter regulation if the motion is approved on March 7. Last week a committee called No to the Useless Animal Lawyers’ Initiative was set up.
“Animal rights advocates are useless to animals,” it said. “They can’t prevent animal abuse because they only get involved after it has been perpetrated.” Goetschel, a 50-year-old vegetarian, disagrees and hopes that the initiative passes with a big “yes”.
Protesting Spanish firefighters clash with police
Firefighters and emergency service workers have clashed with police after a demonstration ended in a brawl in the Spanish city of La Coruna.
Violence erupted after cops warned the protesters to stop throwing fireworks and nails outside a local government building.
Around 500 firefighters from Galicia had gathered at the main city square and made their way to the headquarters of the regional council.
They were protesting against privatisation of the emergency services and demanded talks with the local government representative.
Anti-riot police charged the demonstrators, beating them back with batons and firing rubber balls.
The emergency service workers retaliated by throwing traffic signs and stones. Several of the demonstrators were taken to hospital with minor injuries.
There's a longer video here.
Violence erupted after cops warned the protesters to stop throwing fireworks and nails outside a local government building.
Around 500 firefighters from Galicia had gathered at the main city square and made their way to the headquarters of the regional council.
They were protesting against privatisation of the emergency services and demanded talks with the local government representative.
Anti-riot police charged the demonstrators, beating them back with batons and firing rubber balls.
The emergency service workers retaliated by throwing traffic signs and stones. Several of the demonstrators were taken to hospital with minor injuries.
There's a longer video here.
Politician who called Robert Mugabe a 'goblin' facing jail
A prominent opposition politician in Zimbabwe has been charged for allegedly calling President Robert Mugabe "a goblin". The politician, Douglas Mwonzora, is a leader of the Movement for Democratic Change and is the joint head of a parliamentary commission drafting a new constitution.
He allegedly made the goblin reference at a political rally before presidential and parliamentary elections more than a year ago, but was charged only last week, his lawyer, Lewis Uriri, said yesterday.
In Zimbabwean tribal mythology, goblins are said to be feared as "hideous creatures with evil powers". Mr Mwonzora faces a year in jail if found guilty.
MDC officials say the charge is another attempt by authorities to intimidate opposition leaders opposed to the Mugabe regime. The MDC won the election but was forced into a second-round presidential ballot, which was preceded by violence in which more 100 MDC supporters were murdered, and thousands tortured and made homeless.
Hundreds of people have in the past been arrested and fined or jailed under laws that make it an offence to make derisory comments about Mugabe, who has been in power for nearly 30 years.
Last week, an MDC official in southern Zimbabwe was arrested for telling a party rally that the people must not allow Mugabe to cheat them in elections again.
He allegedly made the goblin reference at a political rally before presidential and parliamentary elections more than a year ago, but was charged only last week, his lawyer, Lewis Uriri, said yesterday.
In Zimbabwean tribal mythology, goblins are said to be feared as "hideous creatures with evil powers". Mr Mwonzora faces a year in jail if found guilty.
MDC officials say the charge is another attempt by authorities to intimidate opposition leaders opposed to the Mugabe regime. The MDC won the election but was forced into a second-round presidential ballot, which was preceded by violence in which more 100 MDC supporters were murdered, and thousands tortured and made homeless.
Hundreds of people have in the past been arrested and fined or jailed under laws that make it an offence to make derisory comments about Mugabe, who has been in power for nearly 30 years.
Last week, an MDC official in southern Zimbabwe was arrested for telling a party rally that the people must not allow Mugabe to cheat them in elections again.
Family evacuated due to masturbating man on roof
Authorities have arrested a man accused of standing naked on a rooftop in Santa Ana and masturbating in front of motorists on the Santa Ana (5) Freeway.
A police helicopter was sent to the 2000 block of North Bush Street around 11:45 a.m. Wednesday after Santa Ana police were flooded with calls about the naked man who was performing a sexual act either to or at drivers, according to Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna.
Police say the man was 36-year-old Charles Edward Meaux Jr., a transient in the area and an alleged white supremacist with a long criminal history.
Meaux, who has a white supremacist tattoo above his left eyebrow, climbed down a ladder and hid inside a home where a family and a child were present, Bertagna said. The family was evacuated as a precaution.
Police say Meaux was found inside a closet and struggled with police, forcing them to use a Taser to subdue him.
Meaux was arrested and booked on suspicion of burglary, indecent exposure, obstructing and resisting officers, and disorderly conduct, Bertagna said. His bail was set at $150,000, according to jail records.
A police helicopter was sent to the 2000 block of North Bush Street around 11:45 a.m. Wednesday after Santa Ana police were flooded with calls about the naked man who was performing a sexual act either to or at drivers, according to Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna.
Police say the man was 36-year-old Charles Edward Meaux Jr., a transient in the area and an alleged white supremacist with a long criminal history.
Meaux, who has a white supremacist tattoo above his left eyebrow, climbed down a ladder and hid inside a home where a family and a child were present, Bertagna said. The family was evacuated as a precaution.
Police say Meaux was found inside a closet and struggled with police, forcing them to use a Taser to subdue him.
Meaux was arrested and booked on suspicion of burglary, indecent exposure, obstructing and resisting officers, and disorderly conduct, Bertagna said. His bail was set at $150,000, according to jail records.
Malaysian lovers fined four buffaloes and a pig for affair
Four buffaloes, a pig and RM2,000 ($586) was the fine a court imposed on a man and his wife’s colleague for having an illicit affair.
The two were convicted by the Penampang Native Court on Friday under customary native laws, after the man’s wife filed a complaint against them last year.
During the hearing, the woman claimed her husband had become indifferent to her after he enrolled for a degree course at a university in 2006. She claimed she later found him and her colleague living together in a house in the city, and that when she confronted them there, her husband was clad in shorts while his lover was in a sarong.
The court fined the man RM1,000 and ordered him to pay compensation of a buffalo or RM1,500 to his wife, a pig or RM500 to his two sons and another buffalo or RM1,500 to his Kampung Langkuas folks in Papar.
He was also ordered to pay RM200 in monthly expenses for his two sons by the three-man bench comprising Penampang district officer William Sampil, and native chiefs Johney Molijo and Adrian Sikawah.
The man’s lover was fined RM1,000 and ordered to compensate his wife with one buffalo and her village in Keningau district with another buffalo. Sampil, in delivering the ruling, said although the man and his lover claimed they were “best friends” in their defence, the court found strong evidence of their intimate affair.
The two were convicted by the Penampang Native Court on Friday under customary native laws, after the man’s wife filed a complaint against them last year.
During the hearing, the woman claimed her husband had become indifferent to her after he enrolled for a degree course at a university in 2006. She claimed she later found him and her colleague living together in a house in the city, and that when she confronted them there, her husband was clad in shorts while his lover was in a sarong.
The court fined the man RM1,000 and ordered him to pay compensation of a buffalo or RM1,500 to his wife, a pig or RM500 to his two sons and another buffalo or RM1,500 to his Kampung Langkuas folks in Papar.
He was also ordered to pay RM200 in monthly expenses for his two sons by the three-man bench comprising Penampang district officer William Sampil, and native chiefs Johney Molijo and Adrian Sikawah.
The man’s lover was fined RM1,000 and ordered to compensate his wife with one buffalo and her village in Keningau district with another buffalo. Sampil, in delivering the ruling, said although the man and his lover claimed they were “best friends” in their defence, the court found strong evidence of their intimate affair.
10,000 Indian zoo visitors flee after tigers escape
Around 10,000 frightened visitors were evacuated from a zoo in northeastern India when two Bengal tigers sneaked out of their cage to mingle with the crowd.
The tigers opened the door to the iron enclosures and padded out while keepers disinfected the cage at the zoo in Guwahati, the main city in the state of Assam.
"Fortunately the two cats remained inside the zoo complex and did not try to venture out in the streets," zoo warden Narayan Mahanta said.
"We immediately evacuated the visitors and tried to locate the cats before tranquilising one of them relaxing by the side of a pool inside the zoo," he added.
The second tiger was tranquilised shortly after.
None of the estimated 10,000 visitors was injured but many ran for their lives upon seeing the tigers stealthily walk by. The zoo, the largest in India's northeast, was packed with families and students on a weekend break.
The tigers opened the door to the iron enclosures and padded out while keepers disinfected the cage at the zoo in Guwahati, the main city in the state of Assam.
"Fortunately the two cats remained inside the zoo complex and did not try to venture out in the streets," zoo warden Narayan Mahanta said.
"We immediately evacuated the visitors and tried to locate the cats before tranquilising one of them relaxing by the side of a pool inside the zoo," he added.
The second tiger was tranquilised shortly after.
None of the estimated 10,000 visitors was injured but many ran for their lives upon seeing the tigers stealthily walk by. The zoo, the largest in India's northeast, was packed with families and students on a weekend break.
'Oral sex is the new kissing' in Australian schools
Teachers are overhearing Tasmanian primary students boasting about having oral sex. Roz Madsen from the Australian Education Union said teachers "felt helpless" at how to deal with the problem.
"The students are talking about what they have done on the weekend, sexual experiences that they are having," she said. "Anecdotally it seems to be happening at earlier ages." She said at a recent AEU forum, teachers had described what children in grade 4 and 5 talked about.
"They are talking about oral sex and saying they are doing it. Who knows if they are or are just boasting, I hope they are not," she said. "And the language as well, it's quite explicit, nothing is left to the imagination."
Family Planning Tasmania's chief executive Sue Williams said teachers were "horrified" at the conversations on Monday mornings when kids compared what they had done on the weekend. "All sorts of sexual activities," she said. "Oral sex has become the new kissing. It's easy and you don't get pregnant."
She said for some children, their first knowledge of sex was through pornography on computers or mobile phones. Sexting was also a growing problem, where kids send explicit photographs of themselves to others on mobile phones.
Ms Williams said teen pregnancy remained an issue and the centre had heard of 12 and 13-year-old girls falling pregnant and a 14-year-old giving birth to her second child. Relationships had evolved and school kids now had "friends with benefits" and multiple sexual partners rather than a steady mate, she said.
"The students are talking about what they have done on the weekend, sexual experiences that they are having," she said. "Anecdotally it seems to be happening at earlier ages." She said at a recent AEU forum, teachers had described what children in grade 4 and 5 talked about.
"They are talking about oral sex and saying they are doing it. Who knows if they are or are just boasting, I hope they are not," she said. "And the language as well, it's quite explicit, nothing is left to the imagination."
Family Planning Tasmania's chief executive Sue Williams said teachers were "horrified" at the conversations on Monday mornings when kids compared what they had done on the weekend. "All sorts of sexual activities," she said. "Oral sex has become the new kissing. It's easy and you don't get pregnant."
She said for some children, their first knowledge of sex was through pornography on computers or mobile phones. Sexting was also a growing problem, where kids send explicit photographs of themselves to others on mobile phones.
Ms Williams said teen pregnancy remained an issue and the centre had heard of 12 and 13-year-old girls falling pregnant and a 14-year-old giving birth to her second child. Relationships had evolved and school kids now had "friends with benefits" and multiple sexual partners rather than a steady mate, she said.
Fury at funeral parlour frolics
Undertakers' staff face the sack after shameful scenes during a wild party at their funeral parlour. Photos and videos have emerged of the workers stripping for a Full Monty-style routine beside a hearse
Horrified bosses suspended several members of staff who frolicked near the funeral home's mortuary. The undignified bash shattered the normal calm at George Pettit & Son, in Chester.
The firm, run by the giant Co-operative Funeralcare, deals with dead and stillborn babies from Alder Hey hospital, Liverpool.
A source at the home said: "The Co-op prides itself on dignity but these workers did not show any. Anyone's son or daughter could have been in there and they carry on like that. It shows a total lack of respect. This will make people feel sick."
One video shot from the Christmas Eve party shows a worker with a nipple chain wearing only a thong with the slogan "Jingle My Bells".
Co-op Funeralcare, which runs 800 homes, could not confirm whether there were bodies at the parlour during the party. A spokesman said: "We are appalled to learn of this incident and will never tolerate this kind of behaviour."
Horrified bosses suspended several members of staff who frolicked near the funeral home's mortuary. The undignified bash shattered the normal calm at George Pettit & Son, in Chester.
The firm, run by the giant Co-operative Funeralcare, deals with dead and stillborn babies from Alder Hey hospital, Liverpool.
A source at the home said: "The Co-op prides itself on dignity but these workers did not show any. Anyone's son or daughter could have been in there and they carry on like that. It shows a total lack of respect. This will make people feel sick."
One video shot from the Christmas Eve party shows a worker with a nipple chain wearing only a thong with the slogan "Jingle My Bells".
Co-op Funeralcare, which runs 800 homes, could not confirm whether there were bodies at the parlour during the party. A spokesman said: "We are appalled to learn of this incident and will never tolerate this kind of behaviour."
Underworld boss used Facebook to threaten enemies from jail
One of Britain’s most dangerous gangsters has been using Facebook to threaten and intimidate his enemies from a maximum security prison.
Colin Gunn, an underworld godfather who ordered the execution of two grandparents, has been able to correspond freely with up to 565 “friends” on the social networking site for the past two months.
Gunn, a “double-A” category inmate who is serving a 35-year sentence for conspiracy to murder, is said to be still running his drugs and organised crime cartel from jail. He claims he was allowed to set up a Facebook account by prison governors, suggesting it was his legal right.
Critics believe the authorities may have turned a blind eye out of fear of receiving a legal challenge on human rights grounds.
In one posting, Gunn, 42, said: “I will be home one day and I can’t wait to look into certain people’s eyes and see the fear of me being there.” In another message he wrote: “It’s good to have an outlet to let you know how I am, some of you will be in for a good slagging, some have let me down badly, and will be named and shamed, f****** rats.”
Gunn’s criminal empire in Nottingham was one of the main reasons why it became known as “assassination city”. His site, which he appears to have been able to update on a daily basis, was shut down on Friday.
Colin Gunn, an underworld godfather who ordered the execution of two grandparents, has been able to correspond freely with up to 565 “friends” on the social networking site for the past two months.
Gunn, a “double-A” category inmate who is serving a 35-year sentence for conspiracy to murder, is said to be still running his drugs and organised crime cartel from jail. He claims he was allowed to set up a Facebook account by prison governors, suggesting it was his legal right.
Critics believe the authorities may have turned a blind eye out of fear of receiving a legal challenge on human rights grounds.
In one posting, Gunn, 42, said: “I will be home one day and I can’t wait to look into certain people’s eyes and see the fear of me being there.” In another message he wrote: “It’s good to have an outlet to let you know how I am, some of you will be in for a good slagging, some have let me down badly, and will be named and shamed, f****** rats.”
Gunn’s criminal empire in Nottingham was one of the main reasons why it became known as “assassination city”. His site, which he appears to have been able to update on a daily basis, was shut down on Friday.
6-inch scissors left inside dog for two years
This X-ray shows why family pet Gracey was as sick as a dog - a 6-inch pair of surgical scissor clamps inside her for two years.
They were mistakenly left behind after an op to spay her as a puppy. A different vet operated to remove them - and the Rottweiler-cross is now fighting fit. Owner Trudi Deja-Summers, of High Halden, Kent said: "Before the first op Gracey was happy but after it she wouldn't stop growling."
Eventually Gracey went lame in one leg and an X-ray revealed the cause - the scissor clamps. The vet who left them there apologised and offered to pay the £600 bill for the op to remove them. Trudi said: "Gracey is now coming to me for big hugs again."
They were mistakenly left behind after an op to spay her as a puppy. A different vet operated to remove them - and the Rottweiler-cross is now fighting fit. Owner Trudi Deja-Summers, of High Halden, Kent said: "Before the first op Gracey was happy but after it she wouldn't stop growling."
Eventually Gracey went lame in one leg and an X-ray revealed the cause - the scissor clamps. The vet who left them there apologised and offered to pay the £600 bill for the op to remove them. Trudi said: "Gracey is now coming to me for big hugs again."
Neighbours' smoke alarms save woman with kitchen fire
Fire chiefs said the importance of smoke alarms was shown when a woman was found unconscious in her kitchen after her neighbours' alarms were triggered.
Crews found the woman slumped on the kitchen floor at her smoke-logged home in Holywell, Flintshire, at around 2340 GMT on Friday. The 41-year-old was taken to hospital for precautionary checks.
Chris Nott, of North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, praised the neighbours' alertness.
He said: "Had the neighbours not heard the alarm and responded by calling 999, we could very easily have been dealing with another fire death."
Crews found the woman slumped on the kitchen floor at her smoke-logged home in Holywell, Flintshire, at around 2340 GMT on Friday. The 41-year-old was taken to hospital for precautionary checks.
Chris Nott, of North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, praised the neighbours' alertness.
He said: "Had the neighbours not heard the alarm and responded by calling 999, we could very easily have been dealing with another fire death."
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