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Thursday, April 01, 2010
Serbian push-ups
Miodrag Gidra Stojanovic holds the world record of 50 in 10 seconds and 29,449 in 24 hours.
Rats would rather starve than eat healthy food
Adding fuel to the idea that junk food is like crack, scientists at Scripps Florida say rats fed high-calorie junk food became addicted to the food and voluntarily starved when given healthy food instead.
Scripps Florida scientists Paul Kenny and Paul Johnson have said that junk food changed the rats' brain chemistry in the same way that chronic cocaine use alters an addicts brain functions.
In the experiment, one group of rats was given healthy, nutritionally balanced food. A different group was given "unlimited access to the worst stuff Johnson could find at [the supermarket] Publix, including bacon, sausage, cheesecake, pound cake, Ding Dongs and frosting."
The junk food group gained weight and became less active. "More surprisingly, the fat rats exhibited the sort of self-destructive behaviour associated with human junkies. The rats would eat junk food even if they knew doing so would result in a mild but distinctly uncomfortable electrical shock to their feet."
The scientists then replaced the unhealthy food with the healthy diet of the first group of rats, and the fat rats refused to eat at all.
Junk food alters the brain's chemistry by releasing dopamine that would normally be released when having sex, snorting cocaine or eating a rich dessert, say the scientists. The junk food-addicted rats learned that the easiest way to experience pleasure was by eating high-calorie, high-fat food. Kenny and Johnson hope the results of the study can help people learn to deal with food addictions.
Scripps Florida scientists Paul Kenny and Paul Johnson have said that junk food changed the rats' brain chemistry in the same way that chronic cocaine use alters an addicts brain functions.
In the experiment, one group of rats was given healthy, nutritionally balanced food. A different group was given "unlimited access to the worst stuff Johnson could find at [the supermarket] Publix, including bacon, sausage, cheesecake, pound cake, Ding Dongs and frosting."
The junk food group gained weight and became less active. "More surprisingly, the fat rats exhibited the sort of self-destructive behaviour associated with human junkies. The rats would eat junk food even if they knew doing so would result in a mild but distinctly uncomfortable electrical shock to their feet."
The scientists then replaced the unhealthy food with the healthy diet of the first group of rats, and the fat rats refused to eat at all.
Junk food alters the brain's chemistry by releasing dopamine that would normally be released when having sex, snorting cocaine or eating a rich dessert, say the scientists. The junk food-addicted rats learned that the easiest way to experience pleasure was by eating high-calorie, high-fat food. Kenny and Johnson hope the results of the study can help people learn to deal with food addictions.
Google translate for animals
Translate for Animals is an application for Android phones that recognises and transcribes words and phrases that are common to a species, like cats for example.
Australian restaurant introduces flip-flop surcharge
Darwin has long been known as Australia’s most relaxed capital city when it comes to dress codes, where soaring temperatures mean shorts, singlets and flip-flops are de rigeur among locals. Even some of the Northern Territory’s politicians are reluctant to wear a suit and tie in parliament.
But a restaurant in Darwin is fighting back against the Top End’s unofficial dress code, charging a $10 (£6) “thongage” surcharge to patrons who wear flip-flops while they dine.
John Spellman, the manager of the Tramontana restaurant said he decided to charge people who wear thongs (the Australian name for the flip-flop, not the type of underwear) after a group of people from a local shoe shop came in for dinner wearing the offending footwear last week.
“I just had enough, I’ve spent 40 years asking people to wear bloody shoes,” Mr Spellman, who even added a ‘thongage’ button to the restaurant’s cash register. “I’m sick of explaining to people how to dress so I figured if I just put a ‘thongage’ on the bill there’d be no complaints.”
But a restaurant in Darwin is fighting back against the Top End’s unofficial dress code, charging a $10 (£6) “thongage” surcharge to patrons who wear flip-flops while they dine.
John Spellman, the manager of the Tramontana restaurant said he decided to charge people who wear thongs (the Australian name for the flip-flop, not the type of underwear) after a group of people from a local shoe shop came in for dinner wearing the offending footwear last week.
“I just had enough, I’ve spent 40 years asking people to wear bloody shoes,” Mr Spellman, who even added a ‘thongage’ button to the restaurant’s cash register. “I’m sick of explaining to people how to dress so I figured if I just put a ‘thongage’ on the bill there’d be no complaints.”
Man jailed for barking at dog
A Monessen man found that a bark can result in a bite from the law when it's directed at a canine police officer.
Norris "Big Dog" Daniels, 57, of Pricedale was sentenced to up to a year in jail after he pleaded guilty Friday to one misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct for barking at Ivo, the Monessen City Police dog.
Monessen police Officer Brian Vitale originally charged Daniels with taunting a police animal, a felony count.
In his arrest report, Vitale said Ivo was in the back seat of a police cruiser on Jan. 27 when Daniels walked up and started barking at the dog. Vitale said he told Daniels to stop, but the barking continued.
"I came around the corner. The kids call me Big Dog," Daniels explained yesterday in a Westmoreland County courtroom. "I saw some pit bulls and started barking at them. The officer assumed I was barking at their dog. I was barking at a little pit bull.
"I was at the wrong place at the wrong time," he said. Unable to post $5,000 bail, Daniels has been in jail since he was taken into custody.
Norris "Big Dog" Daniels, 57, of Pricedale was sentenced to up to a year in jail after he pleaded guilty Friday to one misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct for barking at Ivo, the Monessen City Police dog.
Monessen police Officer Brian Vitale originally charged Daniels with taunting a police animal, a felony count.
In his arrest report, Vitale said Ivo was in the back seat of a police cruiser on Jan. 27 when Daniels walked up and started barking at the dog. Vitale said he told Daniels to stop, but the barking continued.
"I came around the corner. The kids call me Big Dog," Daniels explained yesterday in a Westmoreland County courtroom. "I saw some pit bulls and started barking at them. The officer assumed I was barking at their dog. I was barking at a little pit bull.
"I was at the wrong place at the wrong time," he said. Unable to post $5,000 bail, Daniels has been in jail since he was taken into custody.
Cher's son formalises sex change
Cher's son Chaz Bono has asked a judge in Los Angeles to formally change his name and gender following the sex change surgery he had last year.
The 41-year-old, who was born Chastity Sun Bono, now wants to be known as Chaz Salvatore, according to a petition filed earlier this week.
He revealed last June he had undergone the surgery calling it "the best decision I've ever made".
At the time, Cher promised to support her child on his "difficult journey".
"Although I may not understand, I will strive to be understanding," said the singer, who had Chastity with her first husband, the late Sonny Bono, in 1969.
A hearing has been scheduled for 6 May in Santa Monica, California.
The 41-year-old, who was born Chastity Sun Bono, now wants to be known as Chaz Salvatore, according to a petition filed earlier this week.
He revealed last June he had undergone the surgery calling it "the best decision I've ever made".
At the time, Cher promised to support her child on his "difficult journey".
"Although I may not understand, I will strive to be understanding," said the singer, who had Chastity with her first husband, the late Sonny Bono, in 1969.
A hearing has been scheduled for 6 May in Santa Monica, California.
Chinese army recruit shows how not to throw a grenade
A Chinese army recruit somehow managed to escape unhurt after throwing a badly aimed grenade.
The grenade hit a wall, ricocheting back to explode in the recruit's training bunker. Nobody was hurt.
The grenade hit a wall, ricocheting back to explode in the recruit's training bunker. Nobody was hurt.
Monkey bites off owner's thumbs
To a disabled Vietnam vet in Virginia, his pet monkey "Noah" is like his own son. Babe Hameric said he's used the animal to help cope with post-traumatic war stress.
"When I get ready to go into an anxiety attack, he'll jump up on me and hug me around the neck and he'll chatter in my ear so I know it's time to sit down and relax," he said.
But after losing both of his thumbs in an attack two weeks ago and suffering another attack just this week, the former soldier is having second thoughts.
Local animal control officers said Hameric has told them he's now willing to give up the monkey for adoption. "Even though this happened, he's still my baby," Hameric said.
With news video.
"When I get ready to go into an anxiety attack, he'll jump up on me and hug me around the neck and he'll chatter in my ear so I know it's time to sit down and relax," he said.
But after losing both of his thumbs in an attack two weeks ago and suffering another attack just this week, the former soldier is having second thoughts.
Local animal control officers said Hameric has told them he's now willing to give up the monkey for adoption. "Even though this happened, he's still my baby," Hameric said.
With news video.
Biodegradable bag to clean up Kenya slum's 'flying toilets'
Trials of a disposable toilet bag have been carried out by families in the Kenyan slum of Kibera, before it reaches the market in a few months. The "Peepoo" is a small biodegradable bag coated with a chemical which turns human waste into fertiliser.
Kibera - East Africa's largest informal settlement - lacks sewers and suffers from poor levels of sanitation. Residents frequently use polythene bags, known as "flying toilets", to dispose of their waste.
It is hoped the Peepoo will provide a cleaner, more environmentally friendly alternative to the flying toilets, which have contaminated Kibera's water sources and caused the spread of disease.
Peepoo's inventor, Anders Wilhelmson, said the biodegradable bag would actually save money, as it was chemically treated so that it could turn human waste into fertiliser.
He said the product was safe and easy to use. "It doesn't smell for up to 24 hours, so you can use it inside, during the night, and the day, and then have it collected, or just use it in your back garden," he said.
Dickson Matu Makau, who was in charge of distributing and collecting the used bags, said that the Peepoo proved to be very popular and was much preferred to the flying toilets. The Peepoo will be free or cost the same as a traditional plastic bag.
Kibera - East Africa's largest informal settlement - lacks sewers and suffers from poor levels of sanitation. Residents frequently use polythene bags, known as "flying toilets", to dispose of their waste.
It is hoped the Peepoo will provide a cleaner, more environmentally friendly alternative to the flying toilets, which have contaminated Kibera's water sources and caused the spread of disease.
Peepoo's inventor, Anders Wilhelmson, said the biodegradable bag would actually save money, as it was chemically treated so that it could turn human waste into fertiliser.
He said the product was safe and easy to use. "It doesn't smell for up to 24 hours, so you can use it inside, during the night, and the day, and then have it collected, or just use it in your back garden," he said.
Dickson Matu Makau, who was in charge of distributing and collecting the used bags, said that the Peepoo proved to be very popular and was much preferred to the flying toilets. The Peepoo will be free or cost the same as a traditional plastic bag.
Farmer killed by out-of-control manure hose
A 50-year-old Tyrolean farmer died after he was hit on the head by a liquid manure hose. Police in Innerzehent in the province’s Innsbruck-Land district said today the man died before an ambulance team arrived.
They explained the man’s 79-year-old father pumped manure through the hose onto a steep field without being aware that his son, who was standing around 100 metres uphill, was unprepared for the manure avalanche.
They explained the man’s 79-year-old father pumped manure through the hose onto a steep field without being aware that his son, who was standing around 100 metres uphill, was unprepared for the manure avalanche.
Labour's election strategy unleashes Gordon McBroon's inner hard man
In an audacious new election strategy, Labour is set to embrace Gordon Brown's reputation for anger and physical aggression, presenting the prime minister as a hard man, unafraid of confrontation, who is willing to take on David Cameron in "a bare-knuckle fistfight for the future of Britain".
Following months of allegations about Brown's explosive outbursts and bullying, Downing Street will seize the initiative this week with a national billboard campaign portraying him as "a sort of Dirty Harry figure", in the words of a senior aide. One poster shows a glowering Brown alongside the caption "Step outside, posh boy," while another asks "Do you want some of this?"
Brown aides had worried that his reputation for volatility might torpedo Labour's hopes of re-election, but recent internal polls suggest that, on the contrary, stories of Brown's testosterone-fuelled eruptions have been almost entirely responsible for a recent recovery in the party's popularity. As a result, the aide said, Labour was "going all in", staking the election on the hope that voters will be drawn to an alpha-male personality who "is prepared to pummel, punch or even headbutt the British economy into a new era of jobs and prosperity".
Strategists are even understood to be considering engineering a high-profile incident of violence on the campaign trail, and are in urgent consultations on the matter with John Prescott, whose public image improved in 2001 after he punched an egg-throwing protester.
The Brown team has been buoyed by focus group results suggesting that an outbreak of physical fighting during the campaign, preferably involving bloodshed and broken limbs, could re-engage an electorate increasingly apathetic about politics. They also hope they can exploit the so-called "Putin effect", and are said to be exploring opportunities for Brown to be photographed killing a wild animal, though advisers have recommended that weather, and other considerations, mean Brown should not remove his shirt.
You can see the full poster campaign here.
Following months of allegations about Brown's explosive outbursts and bullying, Downing Street will seize the initiative this week with a national billboard campaign portraying him as "a sort of Dirty Harry figure", in the words of a senior aide. One poster shows a glowering Brown alongside the caption "Step outside, posh boy," while another asks "Do you want some of this?"
Brown aides had worried that his reputation for volatility might torpedo Labour's hopes of re-election, but recent internal polls suggest that, on the contrary, stories of Brown's testosterone-fuelled eruptions have been almost entirely responsible for a recent recovery in the party's popularity. As a result, the aide said, Labour was "going all in", staking the election on the hope that voters will be drawn to an alpha-male personality who "is prepared to pummel, punch or even headbutt the British economy into a new era of jobs and prosperity".
Strategists are even understood to be considering engineering a high-profile incident of violence on the campaign trail, and are in urgent consultations on the matter with John Prescott, whose public image improved in 2001 after he punched an egg-throwing protester.
The Brown team has been buoyed by focus group results suggesting that an outbreak of physical fighting during the campaign, preferably involving bloodshed and broken limbs, could re-engage an electorate increasingly apathetic about politics. They also hope they can exploit the so-called "Putin effect", and are said to be exploring opportunities for Brown to be photographed killing a wild animal, though advisers have recommended that weather, and other considerations, mean Brown should not remove his shirt.
You can see the full poster campaign here.
Hadron Collider II planned for Circle Line
London Underground is in talks with the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (Cern) about the possibility of using the 23km tunnel of the Circle Line to house a new type of particle accelerator similar to the Large Hadron Collider in Geneva.
Particle physicists believe the existing tunnel can be adapted to take a small-scale "atom smasher" alongside the passenger line at a fraction of the cost of building a new tunnel elsewhere in Europe. They are understood to have approached London Underground with a view to announcing a feasibility study later this year.
Specialist engineers commissioned by Cern have already produced a preliminary report which proposes installing supercooled magnets and collision detectors at strategic positions on the Circle Line. The main collision experiment will be sited at the newly refurbished Westminster Station, directly below Portcullis House, the offices of more than 200 MPs.
Although there are still considerable technical problems to overcome, such as a geo-magnetic "kink" in the circuitry at Edgware Road station, Cern is quietly confident that it will be able to convince London Underground of the merits of the scheme, which should result in the first air-conditioned underground line as a spin-off of installing supercooled magnets below ground.
The idea was initially mooted in the mid-1980s as an alternative site to the 27km tunnel below Geneva but the idea was dropped. Now, with improvements in technology and miniaturisation of the equipment, Cern believes it can build a successor to the Large Hadron Collider within the Circle line by 2020.
It would mean that two beams of protons would be travelling in clockwise and counterclockwise directions at 99.999999 per cent of the speed of light, within feet of Circle line passengers stuck in perpetual immobility. However, health and safety advisers to London Underground are understood to be concerned about the proposal, and have raised the prospect of a mini black hole being created at Westminster when the two proton beams collide to recreate the conditions of the Big Bang.
Particle physicists believe the existing tunnel can be adapted to take a small-scale "atom smasher" alongside the passenger line at a fraction of the cost of building a new tunnel elsewhere in Europe. They are understood to have approached London Underground with a view to announcing a feasibility study later this year.
Specialist engineers commissioned by Cern have already produced a preliminary report which proposes installing supercooled magnets and collision detectors at strategic positions on the Circle Line. The main collision experiment will be sited at the newly refurbished Westminster Station, directly below Portcullis House, the offices of more than 200 MPs.
Although there are still considerable technical problems to overcome, such as a geo-magnetic "kink" in the circuitry at Edgware Road station, Cern is quietly confident that it will be able to convince London Underground of the merits of the scheme, which should result in the first air-conditioned underground line as a spin-off of installing supercooled magnets below ground.
The idea was initially mooted in the mid-1980s as an alternative site to the 27km tunnel below Geneva but the idea was dropped. Now, with improvements in technology and miniaturisation of the equipment, Cern believes it can build a successor to the Large Hadron Collider within the Circle line by 2020.
It would mean that two beams of protons would be travelling in clockwise and counterclockwise directions at 99.999999 per cent of the speed of light, within feet of Circle line passengers stuck in perpetual immobility. However, health and safety advisers to London Underground are understood to be concerned about the proposal, and have raised the prospect of a mini black hole being created at Westminster when the two proton beams collide to recreate the conditions of the Big Bang.
Pineberries ready for spring eating
What looks like a strawberry, but is white and tastes like a pineapple? A pineberry, of course.
While the delicacy might look like a faded strawberry, it is said to have the exotic flavour and smell of a pineapple.
If the pineberry tantalises your tastebuds, you best be quick - they are only in season for the next five weeks.
The fruit, which has the same genetic make-up as the common strawberry, originated in South America where it grew wild.
It had been near to extinction until seven years ago when Dutch farmers saved it.
Now it is grown commercially in glasshouses, turning from green to white and is ripe when the seeds turn dark red.
While the delicacy might look like a faded strawberry, it is said to have the exotic flavour and smell of a pineapple.
If the pineberry tantalises your tastebuds, you best be quick - they are only in season for the next five weeks.
The fruit, which has the same genetic make-up as the common strawberry, originated in South America where it grew wild.
It had been near to extinction until seven years ago when Dutch farmers saved it.
Now it is grown commercially in glasshouses, turning from green to white and is ripe when the seeds turn dark red.
Sustainable fishing move could help your cat reduce its eco pawprint
For the environmentalist who has done it all, from greening their home to decarbonising their travel, there's a new frontier: greening their pet.
Later this year the UK's 8m cat owners will, for the first time, be able to feed their kitties their favourite fish with a clear conscience.
Whiskas and Sheba pet foods are to become the first to sell products using Marine Stewardship Council-certified fish, which is caught sustainably and without threatening further dwindling stocks.
While eight out of 10 cats are likely to have no opinion on the provenance of their fish, Mark Johnson of manufacturer Mars Petcare said people were increasingly aware of the importance of sustainability.
But pet lovers have so far been limited to giving their animals human food such as sustainably caught tinned tuna: an expensive way to limit their pets' ecological impact.
While cats and dogs may seem unlikely environmental villains, UK pet owners buy 1.5m tonnes of food a year and globally there are an estimated 750m pets who consume 20m tonnes annually.
Later this year the UK's 8m cat owners will, for the first time, be able to feed their kitties their favourite fish with a clear conscience.
Whiskas and Sheba pet foods are to become the first to sell products using Marine Stewardship Council-certified fish, which is caught sustainably and without threatening further dwindling stocks.
While eight out of 10 cats are likely to have no opinion on the provenance of their fish, Mark Johnson of manufacturer Mars Petcare said people were increasingly aware of the importance of sustainability.
But pet lovers have so far been limited to giving their animals human food such as sustainably caught tinned tuna: an expensive way to limit their pets' ecological impact.
While cats and dogs may seem unlikely environmental villains, UK pet owners buy 1.5m tonnes of food a year and globally there are an estimated 750m pets who consume 20m tonnes annually.
World's first ever calorie negative Diet Cola Bottle launched
Woolworths.co.uk have launched the world’s first ever calorie negative sweet - the Diet Cola Bottle.
The sweet, part of its Pic n’ Mix range, burns more calories when eating and digesting than the sweet actually contains.
Matthew Jacques, Head of brand at Woolworths.co.uk, says “The Diet Cola Bottle looks almost identical and tastes equally as good as the original cola bottle, but without the calories.”
Woolworths.co.uk has worked closely with health and nutritional expert Prof. A.Prilfoolius to develop the Diet Cola Bottle.
The slimming sweet contains seven calories, 50 per cent less than the original.
Energy expended on chewing and digestion uses nine calories meaning each sweet effectively contains minus two calories per bottle. Eating 100g of Diet Cola Bottles can clock up minus 140 calories.
The sweet, part of its Pic n’ Mix range, burns more calories when eating and digesting than the sweet actually contains.
Matthew Jacques, Head of brand at Woolworths.co.uk, says “The Diet Cola Bottle looks almost identical and tastes equally as good as the original cola bottle, but without the calories.”
Woolworths.co.uk has worked closely with health and nutritional expert Prof. A.Prilfoolius to develop the Diet Cola Bottle.
The slimming sweet contains seven calories, 50 per cent less than the original.
Energy expended on chewing and digestion uses nine calories meaning each sweet effectively contains minus two calories per bottle. Eating 100g of Diet Cola Bottles can clock up minus 140 calories.
AA rocketmen to fly to the rescue of stranded motorists
Next time you break down on the motorway don't scan the road for the AA van to arrive. Look up in the sky. The breakdown rescue service is launching a rapid response patrol that will see 'AA Rocketmen' in lightweight jet-packs flitting over traffic jams to reach stranded motorists.
The AA has chosen today, the first day of the annual Easter getaway, to test the service. It follows a series of secret trials at Dunsfold Aerodrome near Guildford. Film of the early trials shows patrolmen taking off and landing with pin-point accuracy.
Today's test will be carried out on the M25 between Surrey and Heathrow Airport between dawn and noon. The Transport Department and the Civil Aviation Authority will then rule on whether the scheme can be extended across Britain later this year. The AA, or Automobile Association, was founded to help motorists in distress.
But until now, its solutions have been very much on the ground - with a fleet of vans, motorcycles and electric scooters. This is the first time the AA has tried to go over the traffic rather than through it to reach stranded drivers.
With news video. There's more information at the AA website.
The AA has chosen today, the first day of the annual Easter getaway, to test the service. It follows a series of secret trials at Dunsfold Aerodrome near Guildford. Film of the early trials shows patrolmen taking off and landing with pin-point accuracy.
Today's test will be carried out on the M25 between Surrey and Heathrow Airport between dawn and noon. The Transport Department and the Civil Aviation Authority will then rule on whether the scheme can be extended across Britain later this year. The AA, or Automobile Association, was founded to help motorists in distress.
But until now, its solutions have been very much on the ground - with a fleet of vans, motorcycles and electric scooters. This is the first time the AA has tried to go over the traffic rather than through it to reach stranded drivers.
With news video. There's more information at the AA website.
Ferrets used to lay digital cables
Specially trained ferrets are being used to deliver broadband to rural areas following groundbreaking techniques used by an Internet provider.
The animals have been used by Virgin Media for over a year to help lay cables for its broadband service, the company has disclosed.
The ferrets wear jackets fitted with a microchip which is able to analyse any breaks or damage in the underground network.
The development could help increase broadband in current Internet "dead zones", giving access to inaccessible places, and and helping bridge the 'digital divide'.
The animals have been used by Virgin Media for over a year to help lay cables for its broadband service, the company has disclosed.
The ferrets wear jackets fitted with a microchip which is able to analyse any breaks or damage in the underground network.
The development could help increase broadband in current Internet "dead zones", giving access to inaccessible places, and and helping bridge the 'digital divide'.
Police told "Santa" driving speeding car
A man told police "Santa" was driving his car when it was snapped by a speed camera travelling at 79 mph. Paul Ellard, 24, from Connah's Quay, wrote on a formal notice it was not a VW car, but a sleigh "pulled by Rudolph and the rest of the gang at 379 mph." A court heard the car was travelling in a 30mph zone at Pentre, Deeside.
Ellard denied failing to provide the information but did not attend a trial at Flintshire magistrates' court where the case was proved in his absence. Magistrates heard he had crossed out his name on the form and replaced it with Santa Claus and crossed out the make of car and replaced it with a sleigh. In a section asking for the driver's contact details Ellard wrote the driver lived at "Santa's Grotto in the North Pole" where he said "the town is freezing and full of elves."
Prosecutor John Wylde told the court: "That does not provide sufficient information to enable the prosecution to identify the driver." Magistrates adjourned sentencing to a future date for him to attend because he already had six penalty points on his driving licence. He faces a driving ban. Magistrates joked whether anyone had checked with the North Pole. Legal adviser Tracey Etienne said: "We have been assured that in September that Santa was busy wrapping presents and had then gone on holiday with Mrs Santa Claus!"
The court heard how the car had within a few months had a number of different registered keepers. Originally from south Wales, it was now registered to a man in Glasgow, but the court heard that Ellard was said to be in possession of it at the time. It was stressed that he was not being prosecuted for speeding but for failing to provide sufficient information about the driver at the time of the speeding offence.
Ellard denied failing to provide the information but did not attend a trial at Flintshire magistrates' court where the case was proved in his absence. Magistrates heard he had crossed out his name on the form and replaced it with Santa Claus and crossed out the make of car and replaced it with a sleigh. In a section asking for the driver's contact details Ellard wrote the driver lived at "Santa's Grotto in the North Pole" where he said "the town is freezing and full of elves."
Prosecutor John Wylde told the court: "That does not provide sufficient information to enable the prosecution to identify the driver." Magistrates adjourned sentencing to a future date for him to attend because he already had six penalty points on his driving licence. He faces a driving ban. Magistrates joked whether anyone had checked with the North Pole. Legal adviser Tracey Etienne said: "We have been assured that in September that Santa was busy wrapping presents and had then gone on holiday with Mrs Santa Claus!"
The court heard how the car had within a few months had a number of different registered keepers. Originally from south Wales, it was now registered to a man in Glasgow, but the court heard that Ellard was said to be in possession of it at the time. It was stressed that he was not being prosecuted for speeding but for failing to provide sufficient information about the driver at the time of the speeding offence.
New innovation set to take football by storm
Football authorities have been secretly testing 'ref-mobile' Segways - and they will be used in the Blue Square Premier next season.
Blackburn manager, Sam Allardyce, believes the motorised two-wheeler will keep referees up to speed with the game's fastest players.
Allardyce said: "Players are athletes and we can't expect refs to keep up with them for a full 90 minutes, so this gives them a real edge.
"We can no longer say the referee was nowhere near the incident because, with this, he will be."
Top referee Mark Halsey said: "Not only does the innovation help referees keep right up with play it will also mean older, more experienced refs will not be lost to the game. It's easy to move it round the pitch. This could be the biggest move forward in refereeing yet."
If the experiment works in non-league, the idea will be put forward to UEFA for it to be introduced all over Europe.
With news video.
Blackburn manager, Sam Allardyce, believes the motorised two-wheeler will keep referees up to speed with the game's fastest players.
Allardyce said: "Players are athletes and we can't expect refs to keep up with them for a full 90 minutes, so this gives them a real edge.
"We can no longer say the referee was nowhere near the incident because, with this, he will be."
Top referee Mark Halsey said: "Not only does the innovation help referees keep right up with play it will also mean older, more experienced refs will not be lost to the game. It's easy to move it round the pitch. This could be the biggest move forward in refereeing yet."
If the experiment works in non-league, the idea will be put forward to UEFA for it to be introduced all over Europe.
With news video.
Jail for man who broke into woman's home to frame husband for child porn
A man has been sent to prison after he attempted to force his way into a female colleague’s life by breaking into her house and framing her husband for downloading child pornography. Ilkka Karttunen, who was born in Finland, became obsessed by a co-worker and hoped that he could forge a relationship with her if he could break up her marriage, jurors at Basildon Crown Court were told.
He sneaked into her home in Southend, Essex, while she and her family were asleep and used the family computer to download images of children being abused, the jury was told. Kartunnen, 48, who denied charges of harrassment, perverting the course of justice and making indecent images of children between December 2008 and March 2009, then stole the computer’s hard drive and sent it anonymously to police with a note stating that it had been taken from his victim’s address.
Suzanne Stringer, for the prosecution, said that police officers went to the house of the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and arrested her husband on suspicion of possession of indecent images of children. “This had a devastating effect on the family as he was given no access to his young children or his home while he was under investigation and he had to live with the trauma of being accused of crimes against young children, of which he is wholly innocent,” she said. Karttunen was arrested and his computer was analysed using specialist software designed for use in terrorist cases.
Miss Stringer said that it was one of the most unusual cases she had ever encountered. “He had been inside the home of his colleague at night whilst the family were upstairs asleep and had downloaded the contents of their home computer. In doing this Karttunnen had hoped to have an innocent man arrested and imprisoned so he could take his place in the family. The lengths this man went to in order to pursue a fantasy were incredible. We only hope the family can now move forward positively with their lives.” Karttunnen denied the charges against him, but a jury convicted him on Friday. He was sentenced to four and a half years in prison. He was also made subject to a restraining order and has been ordered to sign the sex offenders register.
He sneaked into her home in Southend, Essex, while she and her family were asleep and used the family computer to download images of children being abused, the jury was told. Kartunnen, 48, who denied charges of harrassment, perverting the course of justice and making indecent images of children between December 2008 and March 2009, then stole the computer’s hard drive and sent it anonymously to police with a note stating that it had been taken from his victim’s address.
Suzanne Stringer, for the prosecution, said that police officers went to the house of the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and arrested her husband on suspicion of possession of indecent images of children. “This had a devastating effect on the family as he was given no access to his young children or his home while he was under investigation and he had to live with the trauma of being accused of crimes against young children, of which he is wholly innocent,” she said. Karttunen was arrested and his computer was analysed using specialist software designed for use in terrorist cases.
Miss Stringer said that it was one of the most unusual cases she had ever encountered. “He had been inside the home of his colleague at night whilst the family were upstairs asleep and had downloaded the contents of their home computer. In doing this Karttunnen had hoped to have an innocent man arrested and imprisoned so he could take his place in the family. The lengths this man went to in order to pursue a fantasy were incredible. We only hope the family can now move forward positively with their lives.” Karttunnen denied the charges against him, but a jury convicted him on Friday. He was sentenced to four and a half years in prison. He was also made subject to a restraining order and has been ordered to sign the sex offenders register.
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