Thursday, February 25, 2010
Dildo bed and breakfast takes hi-tech tourism award
Dildo has gone high-tech. A small heritage bed-and-breakfast in Dildo, Canada, has won the fifth annual Tourism Atlantic Technology Award for bringing its five-room operation into the 21st century.
The small business now boasts hookups to Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, a Google-optimized web presence, registered GPS co-ordinates and an online room-booking system that lets guests check availability and make reservations in advance of their arrival.
Dale Cameron and Todd Warren, owners of the George House Heritage Bed and Breakfast, began improving their web presence in 2009 and quickly noticed how effectively social networking can be leveraged as a business tool.
The Victorian home was built in 1885 and served as a post-office for nearly 40 years before it was converted into a B&B. Dildo is a community of 1,100 people approximately 100km North west of St. John's. The town has a growing tourism community with the Dildo Museum interpretive centre, and the Historic Dildo Days celebration in August.
The small business now boasts hookups to Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, a Google-optimized web presence, registered GPS co-ordinates and an online room-booking system that lets guests check availability and make reservations in advance of their arrival.
Dale Cameron and Todd Warren, owners of the George House Heritage Bed and Breakfast, began improving their web presence in 2009 and quickly noticed how effectively social networking can be leveraged as a business tool.
The Victorian home was built in 1885 and served as a post-office for nearly 40 years before it was converted into a B&B. Dildo is a community of 1,100 people approximately 100km North west of St. John's. The town has a growing tourism community with the Dildo Museum interpretive centre, and the Historic Dildo Days celebration in August.
Rescuers free suspected Brazilian thief stuck in restaurant chimney
A Brazilian would-be burglar tried to make a discreet entrance into a bar in Sao Paulo, but had to shout for help once he got trapped inside the chimney on Tuesday night.
His cries for help were heard by a woman who lives next door to the bar. When the bar's owner, Cleia Baldonedo, arrived home after midnight, she was surprised by the ambulance and fire truck parked outside her bar.
Baldonedo walked inside and saw the suspect's feet hanging from inside the chimney. "We heard someone groaning and when I looked that way, I saw the man's feet hanging inside the barbecue grill," she said.
Fire fighters spent more than an hour trying to free the soot-covered man before finally breaking away part of the chimney with hammers. The suspect, whose identity was not revealed, was then taken to the hospital. It was still unclear if he would be charged.
His cries for help were heard by a woman who lives next door to the bar. When the bar's owner, Cleia Baldonedo, arrived home after midnight, she was surprised by the ambulance and fire truck parked outside her bar.
Baldonedo walked inside and saw the suspect's feet hanging from inside the chimney. "We heard someone groaning and when I looked that way, I saw the man's feet hanging inside the barbecue grill," she said.
Fire fighters spent more than an hour trying to free the soot-covered man before finally breaking away part of the chimney with hammers. The suspect, whose identity was not revealed, was then taken to the hospital. It was still unclear if he would be charged.
Canadian mother tries to sell breast milk online
A Winnipeg mother is looking to move gallons of surplus mother’s milk via the online marketplace. With a freezer full of breast milk she’s been stocking away since her four-month-old son’s birth, Sara Wiens is now looking to offload it after she found out her son Simon cannot drink it.
He has an allergy to cow’s milk protein and is unable to drink his mother’s breast milk produced during the period when she still was consuming cow’s milk. The toddler can now consume his mother’s milk again as she has cut dairy products from her diet.
“I know lots of people who would have loved to have breast milk for their children — women who aren’t producing enough or aren’t producing at all,” said the mother of two. “If someone can use it, that would be great.”
Wiens has put the milk up for sale on Kijiji — a classifieds website — and is fielding offers. She said there is no set price for the milk but hopes to cover the rental of the breast pump and other costs incurred, likely somewhere between $200 and $500. “Compared to formula, it’s a lot cheaper and a lot better,” Wiens said.
Breast milk banks exist in Canada, but there is no such facility in Winnipeg to which a mother could donate milk. Wiens said she’d have to cover costs to donate the milk to a bank in Vancouver.
However, she was was forced to remove the post. "There were quite a lot of negative responses," Wiens said, adding she was told to take the ad off the site because the sale of bodily fluids is not allowed.
He has an allergy to cow’s milk protein and is unable to drink his mother’s breast milk produced during the period when she still was consuming cow’s milk. The toddler can now consume his mother’s milk again as she has cut dairy products from her diet.
“I know lots of people who would have loved to have breast milk for their children — women who aren’t producing enough or aren’t producing at all,” said the mother of two. “If someone can use it, that would be great.”
Wiens has put the milk up for sale on Kijiji — a classifieds website — and is fielding offers. She said there is no set price for the milk but hopes to cover the rental of the breast pump and other costs incurred, likely somewhere between $200 and $500. “Compared to formula, it’s a lot cheaper and a lot better,” Wiens said.
Breast milk banks exist in Canada, but there is no such facility in Winnipeg to which a mother could donate milk. Wiens said she’d have to cover costs to donate the milk to a bank in Vancouver.
However, she was was forced to remove the post. "There were quite a lot of negative responses," Wiens said, adding she was told to take the ad off the site because the sale of bodily fluids is not allowed.
Girl refuses to write deal with the Devil essay
A Cumberland County high school student says a homework assignment violated her Christian beliefs, so she took a stand.
Tieanna Trough is an A-B honor roll student at Gray's Creek High School. The junior potentially sacrificed her good grades over her Christian faith.
Trough refused to write an essay on making a deal with the Devil.
"I believe you don't write about how to sell your soul to the Devil," she said.
"We can't allow God into the classrooms, but yet they are going to allow the Devil in the classroom, that's the way I felt," Trough's mother Monice McLean said. "They were told if they didn't do it they would get a zero."
Monice McLean-Trough says an alternate assignment was also unacceptable, so they complained to school officials.
With news video.
Tieanna Trough is an A-B honor roll student at Gray's Creek High School. The junior potentially sacrificed her good grades over her Christian faith.
Trough refused to write an essay on making a deal with the Devil.
"I believe you don't write about how to sell your soul to the Devil," she said.
"We can't allow God into the classrooms, but yet they are going to allow the Devil in the classroom, that's the way I felt," Trough's mother Monice McLean said. "They were told if they didn't do it they would get a zero."
Monice McLean-Trough says an alternate assignment was also unacceptable, so they complained to school officials.
With news video.
Whale kills SeaWorld trainer during Orlando show
A killer whale has killed a 40-year-old female trainer at the SeaWorld marine park in Orlando, Florida.
Officials described the incident as an accident, saying the woman fell in the water, although eyewitnesses said the whale jumped up and grabbed her waist.
Guests were evacuated while fire crews tried to rescue the woman, but they were unable to revive her, company president Dan Brown confirmed.
Whale trainers at SeaWorld parks were also attacked in 2006 and 2004.
With news video.
Officials described the incident as an accident, saying the woman fell in the water, although eyewitnesses said the whale jumped up and grabbed her waist.
Guests were evacuated while fire crews tried to rescue the woman, but they were unable to revive her, company president Dan Brown confirmed.
Whale trainers at SeaWorld parks were also attacked in 2006 and 2004.
With news video.
Female inmate uses spoon to dig out of prison
A convict in the Netherlands has succeeded in breaking out of prison with an escape worthy of the movies: She tunneled her way out with a spoon. Her secret tunnel began in a cellar and was concealed by a removable hatch.
The public prosecutor's office confirmed on Tuesday that the 35-year-old female prisoner had escaped through a tunnel from a prison in Breda in the southern Netherlands.
The spectacular prison break was made possible because the convict was no longer housed in a regular cell, but in a separate building on the grounds of the detention centre where long-term inmates are prepared for their release and are given more freedom.
The woman's tunnel began in a cellar under the building's kitchen, with its entrance concealed by a removable hatch. The police are assuming that the fugitive had at least one accomplice, who is believed to have loosened paving stones that were part of a sidewalk next to the detention centre, allowing the prisoner to emerge from her tunnel. The woman was serving time for murder and still had another 22 months of her sentence to go.
The public prosecutor's office confirmed on Tuesday that the 35-year-old female prisoner had escaped through a tunnel from a prison in Breda in the southern Netherlands.
The spectacular prison break was made possible because the convict was no longer housed in a regular cell, but in a separate building on the grounds of the detention centre where long-term inmates are prepared for their release and are given more freedom.
The woman's tunnel began in a cellar under the building's kitchen, with its entrance concealed by a removable hatch. The police are assuming that the fugitive had at least one accomplice, who is believed to have loosened paving stones that were part of a sidewalk next to the detention centre, allowing the prisoner to emerge from her tunnel. The woman was serving time for murder and still had another 22 months of her sentence to go.
Australian children to be given identity numbers
A programme in which every school child in Australia would be given an identity number so their academic progress could be tracked through their school life is expected to be announced by the federal government.
It is understood the number, to be known as a ''unique student identifier'', will be annexed to the My School program, which publishes the performance of individual schools on the internet.
The number would allow the performance of individual students in each of the core subjects to be monitored for the duration of their school life so their progress could be measured.
A senior source said strict privacy provisions would restrict its use to those who needed the information, such as parents. Protections would be built in to stop third parties being able to identify students.
It is understood the number, to be known as a ''unique student identifier'', will be annexed to the My School program, which publishes the performance of individual schools on the internet.
The number would allow the performance of individual students in each of the core subjects to be monitored for the duration of their school life so their progress could be measured.
A senior source said strict privacy provisions would restrict its use to those who needed the information, such as parents. Protections would be built in to stop third parties being able to identify students.
Mother gets dead son's sperm for child
When Nikolas Evans was assaulted in a fight last year outside a bar in Austin, Texas, his mother's dreams for her 21-year-old son - a college student with "a good head on his shoulders" -- evaporated.
Returning from a night of drinking, Nikolas and a friend were attacked on their way to catch a bus ride home. The fatal blow came when the slight son she called "Pea" was violently knocked sideways by an assailant and struck his temple on the ground. Nikolas, initially left in the middle of the road, died 10 days later of a subdural hematoma.
"His brain never stopped swelling," said his mother, 43-year-old Missy Evans of Bedford, Texas. "I sat at a picnic table and bawled for an hour. I never cried so hard. I talk to him four times a day and see him twice a week and now nothing. I couldn't lose him. It was too important."
But now his mother is hoping for a legacy - a grandchild culled from her son's sperm after his death on April 5, 2009. She has heard from hundreds of women who have offered to be egg donors or surrogate mothers for her future grandchild.
Full 4-page story, with news video here.
Returning from a night of drinking, Nikolas and a friend were attacked on their way to catch a bus ride home. The fatal blow came when the slight son she called "Pea" was violently knocked sideways by an assailant and struck his temple on the ground. Nikolas, initially left in the middle of the road, died 10 days later of a subdural hematoma.
"His brain never stopped swelling," said his mother, 43-year-old Missy Evans of Bedford, Texas. "I sat at a picnic table and bawled for an hour. I never cried so hard. I talk to him four times a day and see him twice a week and now nothing. I couldn't lose him. It was too important."
But now his mother is hoping for a legacy - a grandchild culled from her son's sperm after his death on April 5, 2009. She has heard from hundreds of women who have offered to be egg donors or surrogate mothers for her future grandchild.
Full 4-page story, with news video here.
Dog survives 40 days stranded in mountains
A very strong-willed dog has returned to its owner after surviving 40 days in the freezing wilderness of the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Buck, a black lab, got lost near his home on Jan. 6. Owner Terina Held thought he got swept up in a swollen river during a rain storm. Flyers went up and calls were made to shelters, but Held gave up after five weeks of searching.
"We figured he was probably dead or what not. Or someone fell in love with him and (they) weren't going to give him back," Held recalled.
But the story changed on Feb. 16 when neighbour Mark Smith took the day off to go hiking on his birthday. Smith and his dog Copper heard whimpering and found the weak, emaciated black lab stranded on a patch of dry river bed not far from where Buck went missing.
Smith scooped him up, waded 200 yards through an ice-cold creek, and carried Buck to safety. "I would think that anybody who loves animals and was walking and seeing what I saw probably wouldn't have hesitated to do what I did," said Smith.
Buck lost 50 pounds as he lay in the cold without food for more than a month. Held is relieved to have her companion back at home. "I know he knows that we love him, and maybe he didn't want to leave us hanging dry," said Held. "Maybe he wanted to make sure to give us more love before his dying day."
With news video.
Buck, a black lab, got lost near his home on Jan. 6. Owner Terina Held thought he got swept up in a swollen river during a rain storm. Flyers went up and calls were made to shelters, but Held gave up after five weeks of searching.
"We figured he was probably dead or what not. Or someone fell in love with him and (they) weren't going to give him back," Held recalled.
But the story changed on Feb. 16 when neighbour Mark Smith took the day off to go hiking on his birthday. Smith and his dog Copper heard whimpering and found the weak, emaciated black lab stranded on a patch of dry river bed not far from where Buck went missing.
Smith scooped him up, waded 200 yards through an ice-cold creek, and carried Buck to safety. "I would think that anybody who loves animals and was walking and seeing what I saw probably wouldn't have hesitated to do what I did," said Smith.
Buck lost 50 pounds as he lay in the cold without food for more than a month. Held is relieved to have her companion back at home. "I know he knows that we love him, and maybe he didn't want to leave us hanging dry," said Held. "Maybe he wanted to make sure to give us more love before his dying day."
With news video.
Man sues for $25,000 over hot dog injury
The Kansas City Royals are facing a lawsuit filed by a man who says the team’s mascot, Slugger, injured him with a hot dog. John Coomer says Slugger used an air gun to launch hot dogs into the stands, and later began throwing them into the crowd by hand.
Coomer says Slugger tried to throw a hot dog behind his back. Instead of sailing out of Slugger’s hand, the suit says, “Slugger lost control of his throw, or was reckless with his throw, and threw the hot dog directly into Plaintiff”.
Slugger on a happier day.
Coomer claims he was sitting just a few feet from Slugger when he was hit in his left eye by the hot dog. The suit says Coomer suffered a detatched retina and developed a cataract in the injured eye, and that he expects to have future medical expenses because of the injury.
A spokesman for the Kansas City Royals declined to comment because the suit is a pending legal matter. Coomer's suit cites negligence and battery, and asks for more than $25,000 in damages.
Coomer says Slugger tried to throw a hot dog behind his back. Instead of sailing out of Slugger’s hand, the suit says, “Slugger lost control of his throw, or was reckless with his throw, and threw the hot dog directly into Plaintiff”.
Slugger on a happier day.
Coomer claims he was sitting just a few feet from Slugger when he was hit in his left eye by the hot dog. The suit says Coomer suffered a detatched retina and developed a cataract in the injured eye, and that he expects to have future medical expenses because of the injury.
A spokesman for the Kansas City Royals declined to comment because the suit is a pending legal matter. Coomer's suit cites negligence and battery, and asks for more than $25,000 in damages.
French rail SNCF sorry for 'racist' alert on Romanians
French national rail operator SNCF has apologised for a note that singled out Romanians over baggage thefts and triggered accusations of xenophobia.
The note asked employees to bring "all activities of Romanians" to the attention of rail security services. The note was distributed at the end of January in the Midi-Pyrenees region.
SNCF said the note was a "regrettable individual initiative" and had been recalled as soon as regional train officials learnt about it.
An SNCF spokesperson said that the official responsible for the note had been summoned along with their superiors, and had been reminded of the "obligations and culture of the SNCF".
The note asked employees to bring "all activities of Romanians" to the attention of rail security services. The note was distributed at the end of January in the Midi-Pyrenees region.
SNCF said the note was a "regrettable individual initiative" and had been recalled as soon as regional train officials learnt about it.
An SNCF spokesperson said that the official responsible for the note had been summoned along with their superiors, and had been reminded of the "obligations and culture of the SNCF".
‘Anyone But England’ World Cup 2010 T-shirts spark racism row
A kilt shop got a police warning for selling World Cup T-shirts with "Anyone But England" on the front. An officer told staff at Slanj of Scotland's Aberdeen branch that the slogan could spark racial unrest.
The shop's assistant manager, Jamie Wilkinson, 23, insisted that the T-shirts in their window were just "harmless football banter". He added: "It has nothing to do with hating the English. It's just about winding them up."
Slanj owner Brian Halley vowed that the £20 T-shirts would stay on sale. "The ABE t-shirts are our best sellers at the moment," he said.
"This is the first complaint I'm aware of. It's supposed to be a bit of satire, a bit of fun. It's been claimed the T-shirts might incite race riots, which I find quite ridiculous. My brother-in-law is English and he just thinks it's a laugh."
The shop's assistant manager, Jamie Wilkinson, 23, insisted that the T-shirts in their window were just "harmless football banter". He added: "It has nothing to do with hating the English. It's just about winding them up."
Slanj owner Brian Halley vowed that the £20 T-shirts would stay on sale. "The ABE t-shirts are our best sellers at the moment," he said.
"This is the first complaint I'm aware of. It's supposed to be a bit of satire, a bit of fun. It's been claimed the T-shirts might incite race riots, which I find quite ridiculous. My brother-in-law is English and he just thinks it's a laugh."
First lesbian prison wedding takes place
Two women inmates have tied the knot in what is thought to be Britain's first lesbian prison wedding. Sara Crane, a convicted killer, and drug dealer Joanne Davies who are both 31, married in a private ceremony earlier this month.
The service was conducted by an official from Guildford Register Office at Send Prison in Surrey. Prison governors are required to consider requests from gay couples who wish to enter civil partnerships.
Crane was jailed for life for murder in 2003 and Davies was jailed for two and a half years for intent to supply drugs.
A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "We cannot comment on individual offenders held in custody at HMP Send. Offenders are entitled to apply to the Governor to register a civil partnership in prison under the Civil Partnership Act 2004, so long as certain criteria defined under the Act are met."
The service was conducted by an official from Guildford Register Office at Send Prison in Surrey. Prison governors are required to consider requests from gay couples who wish to enter civil partnerships.
Crane was jailed for life for murder in 2003 and Davies was jailed for two and a half years for intent to supply drugs.
A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "We cannot comment on individual offenders held in custody at HMP Send. Offenders are entitled to apply to the Governor to register a civil partnership in prison under the Civil Partnership Act 2004, so long as certain criteria defined under the Act are met."
Man crucifies himself in Walsall
This was the scene as a protester re-enacted the crucifixion on a Walsall telegraph pole.
Drivers watched as the man, in his thirties and clad only in a loincloth, climbed a ladder before strapping himself to a home-made wooden cross.
He then hung in a Christ-like pose for more than half an hour in sub-zero temperatures before police and fire crews talked him down.
The unidentified man, who also wore an imitation crown of thorns, was taken to hospital with mild hypothermia.
It is understood he staged the bizarre protest outside his doctors's surgery following a row over medication. One local said: "He's known to have mental health issues. It's a good job they managed to get him down - he was virtually naked and the cold could have killed him."
A witness said: "It was so weird seeing this Jesus figure just hanging there. It's the most amazing sight I've ever seen in Walsall."
Drivers watched as the man, in his thirties and clad only in a loincloth, climbed a ladder before strapping himself to a home-made wooden cross.
He then hung in a Christ-like pose for more than half an hour in sub-zero temperatures before police and fire crews talked him down.
The unidentified man, who also wore an imitation crown of thorns, was taken to hospital with mild hypothermia.
It is understood he staged the bizarre protest outside his doctors's surgery following a row over medication. One local said: "He's known to have mental health issues. It's a good job they managed to get him down - he was virtually naked and the cold could have killed him."
A witness said: "It was so weird seeing this Jesus figure just hanging there. It's the most amazing sight I've ever seen in Walsall."
Susan Boyle mistaken for Queen
Susan Boyle was mistaken for the Queen last week.
The Scottish singer - who had been travelling first class from Paris into London with her manager Andy Stephens and niece Kirsty Foy - found the case of mistaken identity highly amusing after Eurostar staff bowed and curtseyed to her after being told to expect a royal passenger
An onlooker at the Gare du Nord station said: "A rumour went round that the Queen had arrived to catch a train back so everyone was told to observe royal etiquette.
"It soon became clear it was Susan - and not Her Majesty - but one train attendant still thought she was the Queen. Susan roared with laughter when she realised the mix-up."
The Scottish singer - who had been travelling first class from Paris into London with her manager Andy Stephens and niece Kirsty Foy - found the case of mistaken identity highly amusing after Eurostar staff bowed and curtseyed to her after being told to expect a royal passenger
An onlooker at the Gare du Nord station said: "A rumour went round that the Queen had arrived to catch a train back so everyone was told to observe royal etiquette.
"It soon became clear it was Susan - and not Her Majesty - but one train attendant still thought she was the Queen. Susan roared with laughter when she realised the mix-up."
Britain's smelliest urine contest to be held at theme park
A Surrey theme park is calling on members of the public to submit their urine samples in a bid to find the country's most pungent smelling urine.
Thorpe Park, near Chertsey, wants it to become the signature stench of its brand new attraction, SAW Alive - billed as the world's most extreme live action horror maze.
Bosses are offering a £500 cash prize to the person who submits the winning sample and is asking entrants to attend the park on Friday, 26, February between 11am and 2pm.
The distinctive smell of the winning entry will be recreated and feature in the new attraction, which features six traps depicting the most grisly and iconic scenes from the six SAW films.
It will be pumped into the iconic washroom scene, recreating a "realistic and truly gut wrenching sensory experience" designed to test the nerve of all who enter.
Laura Sinclair, Thorpe Park's entertainments manager, will be responsible for selecting the most stomach turning urine sample.
Thorpe Park, near Chertsey, wants it to become the signature stench of its brand new attraction, SAW Alive - billed as the world's most extreme live action horror maze.
Bosses are offering a £500 cash prize to the person who submits the winning sample and is asking entrants to attend the park on Friday, 26, February between 11am and 2pm.
The distinctive smell of the winning entry will be recreated and feature in the new attraction, which features six traps depicting the most grisly and iconic scenes from the six SAW films.
It will be pumped into the iconic washroom scene, recreating a "realistic and truly gut wrenching sensory experience" designed to test the nerve of all who enter.
Laura Sinclair, Thorpe Park's entertainments manager, will be responsible for selecting the most stomach turning urine sample.
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