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Sunday, February 28, 2010
Jesus picture only item to survive house fire
The day after Raymond Kennedy's home in Greensboro, North Carolina, burned down he says a firefighter pulled him inside what use to be his living room and told him to look around. Kennedy's first response was, "I looked around and said, 'Everything is destroyed' and he said, 'Look at that picture of Jesus.'"
On an outside wall of the home, right next to the front door hung a paper picture of Jesus Christ. The frame was covered in soot, the glass covering the picture was covered in soot and broken away, but the picture remained intact. Kennedy was shocked when he finally noticed it.
"It was extraordinary to me. I mean, I got cold chills on the back of my neck. I was just like, 'I cannot believe that picture did not burn,'" Kennedy said.
Kennedy was surprised because all the other photos burned behind the glass before it broke away. "Doesn't make any sense. A piece of paper in over 1,000 degree heat would just disentegrate. All the other ones did. All the other pictures in here, there is nothing left," he said.
With news video.
On an outside wall of the home, right next to the front door hung a paper picture of Jesus Christ. The frame was covered in soot, the glass covering the picture was covered in soot and broken away, but the picture remained intact. Kennedy was shocked when he finally noticed it.
"It was extraordinary to me. I mean, I got cold chills on the back of my neck. I was just like, 'I cannot believe that picture did not burn,'" Kennedy said.
Kennedy was surprised because all the other photos burned behind the glass before it broke away. "Doesn't make any sense. A piece of paper in over 1,000 degree heat would just disentegrate. All the other ones did. All the other pictures in here, there is nothing left," he said.
With news video.
Japanese temple flushes away troubles
Tired of an unsatisfying relationship, the sluggish economy or just your own bad habits? Now you really can flush it all down the toilet.
The Mantokuji temple in Japan's central Gumma prefecture was once an asylum for women who wanted to cut marital ties with their husbands, a function now made obsolete by modern divorce laws and family courts.
Now, the temple is a museum chronicling the history of divorce as well as a place to help people get rid of any bad karma, via a piece of paper they drop into latrines.
Visitors are given two options: the white squat toilet for the "enkiri", or cutting ties, or the black one for the "enmusubi", or tightening ties.
Full story here. There's a video with commentary here.
The Mantokuji temple in Japan's central Gumma prefecture was once an asylum for women who wanted to cut marital ties with their husbands, a function now made obsolete by modern divorce laws and family courts.
Now, the temple is a museum chronicling the history of divorce as well as a place to help people get rid of any bad karma, via a piece of paper they drop into latrines.
Visitors are given two options: the white squat toilet for the "enkiri", or cutting ties, or the black one for the "enmusubi", or tightening ties.
Full story here. There's a video with commentary here.
Seal holds up traffic
Drivers were forced to take an unusual detour after a seal settled itself in the middle of the street in Salisbury, Mass.
A quick-thinking driver called Salisbury police. The driver then parked in front of the seal so other drivers wouldn’t hit it.
Lt. Kevin Sullivan was one of the officers who went to save the seal.
"When we arrived the seal was in the middle of the road on the double solid yellow line just lounging around. Then we called DCR, the state to see if they could come down and remove him,” Sullivan said.
Seals aren’t as peaceful as they appear to be, Sullivan said. "They look tame, but they are not. You can't get too close to them because they have real sharp teeth and they will take a finger off,” Sullivan said.
Eventually, the 80 pound seal was moved to safety by police and the Department of Conservation and Recreation.
With news video including 911 call.
A quick-thinking driver called Salisbury police. The driver then parked in front of the seal so other drivers wouldn’t hit it.
Lt. Kevin Sullivan was one of the officers who went to save the seal.
"When we arrived the seal was in the middle of the road on the double solid yellow line just lounging around. Then we called DCR, the state to see if they could come down and remove him,” Sullivan said.
Seals aren’t as peaceful as they appear to be, Sullivan said. "They look tame, but they are not. You can't get too close to them because they have real sharp teeth and they will take a finger off,” Sullivan said.
Eventually, the 80 pound seal was moved to safety by police and the Department of Conservation and Recreation.
With news video including 911 call.
Belgium town residents offered chickens to reduce waste
Residents of a Belgian town are to be offered chickens as part of a campaign to reduce household waste. The town of Mouscron has 50 pairs of chickens that it will distribute to families with sufficient space to keep the birds in their gardens.
Those who take part in the scheme must agree not to eat the chickens for at least two years, or to give them away.
Local officials are stressing that applicants could gain a supply of free, fresh eggs. The town council's environment department is building on the success of a previous distribution of chickens, officials said.
The aim of the project is to publicise alternative methods of waste management. Residents included in the project will be given basic instruction on chicken-keeping.
Those who take part in the scheme must agree not to eat the chickens for at least two years, or to give them away.
Local officials are stressing that applicants could gain a supply of free, fresh eggs. The town council's environment department is building on the success of a previous distribution of chickens, officials said.
The aim of the project is to publicise alternative methods of waste management. Residents included in the project will be given basic instruction on chicken-keeping.
Japanese Gender Identity Disorder girl allowed to attend school as boy
A teenager diagnosed with Gender Identity Disorder (GID) has been allowed to attend her school as a boy from April. The 13-year-old girl, who has felt uncomfortable with her gender since around 2 years old, will attend her public junior high school in Kagoshima as a boy from the new school year.
The case comes on the heels of a recent recognition of an 8-year-old boy in Saitama Prefecture to attend the school as a girl after he was diagnosed with GID. While the cases won recognition thanks to their schools' understanding, other GID suffers and their parents are calling for more comprehensive measures by educational administration.
According to the 13-year-old's mother and her school, the student complained of sickness when she wore a sailor-style school uniform and refused to go to school for many days. After her parents consulted with school officials in July last year, she was allowed to commute to school in a gym uniform from September.
Furthermore, the school agreed to switch the 13-year-old's gender classification in her class register and allow her to attend in a boy's uniform from April after she was diagnosed with GID on Feb. 20. The school is also looking into letting her use a women's bathroom for teachers and school staff and a separate room for changing her clothes.
The student's family quoted her as saying, "I can finally wear a school uniform that I feel comfortable with. I'm so happy." "My child has suffered so much pain, so we appreciate the school's response," said the 13-year-old's mother.
"I believe there are many more children who are suffering from the lack of understanding by others. I hope the board of education and the prefectural government will set up a counseling service in conjunction with specialized medical institutions."
The case comes on the heels of a recent recognition of an 8-year-old boy in Saitama Prefecture to attend the school as a girl after he was diagnosed with GID. While the cases won recognition thanks to their schools' understanding, other GID suffers and their parents are calling for more comprehensive measures by educational administration.
According to the 13-year-old's mother and her school, the student complained of sickness when she wore a sailor-style school uniform and refused to go to school for many days. After her parents consulted with school officials in July last year, she was allowed to commute to school in a gym uniform from September.
Furthermore, the school agreed to switch the 13-year-old's gender classification in her class register and allow her to attend in a boy's uniform from April after she was diagnosed with GID on Feb. 20. The school is also looking into letting her use a women's bathroom for teachers and school staff and a separate room for changing her clothes.
The student's family quoted her as saying, "I can finally wear a school uniform that I feel comfortable with. I'm so happy." "My child has suffered so much pain, so we appreciate the school's response," said the 13-year-old's mother.
"I believe there are many more children who are suffering from the lack of understanding by others. I hope the board of education and the prefectural government will set up a counseling service in conjunction with specialized medical institutions."
Boozy chimp sent to rehab
A Russian chimpanzee has been sent to rehab by zookeepers to cure the smoking and beer-drinking habits he has picked up.
An ex-performer, Zhora became aggressive at his circus and was transferred to a zoo in the southern Russian city of Rostov, where he fathered several baby chimps, learned to draw with markers and picked up his two vices.
"The beer and cigarettes were ruining him. He would pester passers-by for booze," the Komsomolskaya Pravda paper said.
It added he has now been transferred to the city of Kazan, about 800 km (500 miles) east of Moscow, for rehabilitation treatment.
An ex-performer, Zhora became aggressive at his circus and was transferred to a zoo in the southern Russian city of Rostov, where he fathered several baby chimps, learned to draw with markers and picked up his two vices.
"The beer and cigarettes were ruining him. He would pester passers-by for booze," the Komsomolskaya Pravda paper said.
It added he has now been transferred to the city of Kazan, about 800 km (500 miles) east of Moscow, for rehabilitation treatment.
Pub landlord is first person in Britain to be jailed over smoking ban
A former pub landlord has became the first person to be jailed in connection with the smoking ban. Nick Hogan, 43, was sentenced to six months in prison for refusing to pay a fine imposed for flouting the legislation.
Two years ago Hogan, who ran two pubs in Bolton, became the first landlord convicted of breaking the law for allowing his customers to routinely light up in his bars. Nick Hogan was the first person to be prosecuted under the new smoking laws. He will spend six months in prison after refusing to pay a fine.
A judge fined Hogan, of Chorley, Lancashire, £3,000 and ordered him to pay £7,236 in costs after finding him guilty of four charges under the Health Act 2006. But the married father-of-two refused to pay the fine and after repeatedly being hauled back before the courts, a judge sitting at Bolton Crown Court finally lost patience and jailed him.
His wife, Denise, 53, who is also a publican, said she was disgusted that her husband would be in prison alongside murderers and rapists.
'Criminals and bad people go to prison not law-abiding businessmen like my husband who are trying to earn an honest living,' she said. 'Nick doesn't deserve to go to jail, all he has done is speak his mind and people simply don't like it. Ninety per cent of people who come into my pub want to smoke, even the non-smokers think there should be a choice. These laws are ridiculous.'
Two years ago Hogan, who ran two pubs in Bolton, became the first landlord convicted of breaking the law for allowing his customers to routinely light up in his bars. Nick Hogan was the first person to be prosecuted under the new smoking laws. He will spend six months in prison after refusing to pay a fine.
A judge fined Hogan, of Chorley, Lancashire, £3,000 and ordered him to pay £7,236 in costs after finding him guilty of four charges under the Health Act 2006. But the married father-of-two refused to pay the fine and after repeatedly being hauled back before the courts, a judge sitting at Bolton Crown Court finally lost patience and jailed him.
His wife, Denise, 53, who is also a publican, said she was disgusted that her husband would be in prison alongside murderers and rapists.
'Criminals and bad people go to prison not law-abiding businessmen like my husband who are trying to earn an honest living,' she said. 'Nick doesn't deserve to go to jail, all he has done is speak his mind and people simply don't like it. Ninety per cent of people who come into my pub want to smoke, even the non-smokers think there should be a choice. These laws are ridiculous.'
13 firefighters help free woman's arm stuck in vending machine
A distressed woman was left with her arm trapped in a vending machine after reaching in for a bag of crisps. More than a dozen firefighters were called to American Express Corporate Travel, on the fourth floor of Stephenson House, in Cherry Orchard Road, East Croydon. The crisps had got trapped on top of the flap and, as the 30-year-old reached in, she got her lower arm wedged.
A spokesman for the Fire Brigade said: "She was reaching in for a bag of crisps that had fallen down. "She was quite a small woman and she had managed to get her arm into the vending hole to try and reach up over the flap. But she got her elbow caught between the flap and the base of the vending machine."
Staff tried in vain to get the woman out for 15 to 20 minutes before the Fire Brigade's arrival, last Thursday. The spokesman for the Fire Brigade explained: "We had three fire appliances attend which amounted to 13 firefighters and a station commander. "We used a couple of crow bars to ease the flap up so she could take her arm out."
The woman was given oxygen and one ambulance crew was called to the scene at around 10.45am. But she escaped uninjured and was not taken to hospital.
A spokesman for the Fire Brigade said: "She was reaching in for a bag of crisps that had fallen down. "She was quite a small woman and she had managed to get her arm into the vending hole to try and reach up over the flap. But she got her elbow caught between the flap and the base of the vending machine."
Staff tried in vain to get the woman out for 15 to 20 minutes before the Fire Brigade's arrival, last Thursday. The spokesman for the Fire Brigade explained: "We had three fire appliances attend which amounted to 13 firefighters and a station commander. "We used a couple of crow bars to ease the flap up so she could take her arm out."
The woman was given oxygen and one ambulance crew was called to the scene at around 10.45am. But she escaped uninjured and was not taken to hospital.
Man 'paedophile suspect' for taking son's photo in shopping centre
A security guard branded Kevin Geraghty-Shewan a 'paedophile suspect' for taking his son's photo at Bridges Shopping Centre, Sunderland. The father had taken four-year-old Ben to the Bridges Shopping Centre in Sunderland to spend £10 Ben had been given as a treat. Geraghty-Shewan went to take a photo of his son on a ride and was suddenly stopped.
"Ben spotted a children's ride which had a train on it and wanted to have a go because he's obsessed with trains. When he got on my wife suggested we take a picture of him. I took the picture on my phone and suddenly this security guard came up and told me it wasn't allowed because I could be a paedophile.
"I told him Ben was my own son. But he said I couldn't prove it. He said there is a real problem with paedophiles and that if I didn't like it, he'd call the manager. A few minutes later a policeman walked in and approached me, so they must have been tracking me on the CCTV. He said he'd received a complaint that a man matching my description was taking pictures of children and wanted my name and address.
"I told him it was ridiculous because it was my own son. He then started asking me what I was doing in Sunderland, asked for my name and address and told me he had the right to delete my pictures. I got annoyed and raised my voice a bit, then he threatened me with arrest for breach of the peace."
There's a news video on this page.
"Ben spotted a children's ride which had a train on it and wanted to have a go because he's obsessed with trains. When he got on my wife suggested we take a picture of him. I took the picture on my phone and suddenly this security guard came up and told me it wasn't allowed because I could be a paedophile.
"I told him Ben was my own son. But he said I couldn't prove it. He said there is a real problem with paedophiles and that if I didn't like it, he'd call the manager. A few minutes later a policeman walked in and approached me, so they must have been tracking me on the CCTV. He said he'd received a complaint that a man matching my description was taking pictures of children and wanted my name and address.
"I told him it was ridiculous because it was my own son. He then started asking me what I was doing in Sunderland, asked for my name and address and told me he had the right to delete my pictures. I got annoyed and raised my voice a bit, then he threatened me with arrest for breach of the peace."
There's a news video on this page.
Couple in own skeleton donation to dungeon
A couple have pledged their skeletons to an Edinburgh dungeon visitor attraction because they do not want to inflict their funerals on their family.
Andrew and Janine Leishman have donated their bodies to Edinburgh University's medical College for dissection before Edinburgh Dungeon puts them on display.
Photo from here.
The pair both work as nurses at Bo'ness Hospital near Falkirk. The Leishmans said they also wanted to highlight the shortage of bodies donated to medical science.
Mr Leishman said their 18-year-old son and 16-year-old daughter think their parents are "weird" but have accepted the plan.
Video.
Andrew and Janine Leishman have donated their bodies to Edinburgh University's medical College for dissection before Edinburgh Dungeon puts them on display.
Photo from here.
The pair both work as nurses at Bo'ness Hospital near Falkirk. The Leishmans said they also wanted to highlight the shortage of bodies donated to medical science.
Mr Leishman said their 18-year-old son and 16-year-old daughter think their parents are "weird" but have accepted the plan.
Video.
Woman driver caught flossing teeth at 70mph on motorway
A woman driver was caught flossing her teeth at 70mph on a motorway. Traffic police spotted the driver, 36, on the M4 motorway using dental floss to clean her teeth in her rear view mirror.
She was pulled over, lectured about careless driving and given a fixed penalty notice of £60.
Police say it is the latest example of people risking lives for a moment of high-speed vanity.
A spokesman said: "We've caught women applying lipstick, make-up and checking their hair in the mirror - and even men using an electric razor on their way to work. But this is the first time we've seen someone flossing their teeth at the wheel. It was a quite bizarre sight.
"It is particularly dangerous because you need to use both hands which clearly should be used to drive the car."
Experienced traffic police often say some people's driving is mental - but one joked: "On this occasion it was dental."
She was pulled over, lectured about careless driving and given a fixed penalty notice of £60.
Police say it is the latest example of people risking lives for a moment of high-speed vanity.
A spokesman said: "We've caught women applying lipstick, make-up and checking their hair in the mirror - and even men using an electric razor on their way to work. But this is the first time we've seen someone flossing their teeth at the wheel. It was a quite bizarre sight.
"It is particularly dangerous because you need to use both hands which clearly should be used to drive the car."
Experienced traffic police often say some people's driving is mental - but one joked: "On this occasion it was dental."
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