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Wednesday, June 01, 2011
New Zealand prisons trial carrot sticks ahead of smoking ban
As New Zealand prisons prepare to become smoke free from July 1, some units have already made the move and are trialling a healthy initiative to help prisoners kick the habit – carrot sticks. In an Invercargill Prison internal communication, Corrections Inmate Employment is said to be supporting a national directive to supply two carrot sticks a day to each prisoner as part of the smoking cessation policy.
The costings and size had been trialled, the memo said, with one jumbo carrot providing 16 carrot sticks, which would be cut into uniform sizes "to the best of our ability". A Department of Corrections spokeswoman confirmed Invercargill Prison and the Otago Corrections Facility were among prisons that had already started giving out the healthy snack to help with smoking withdrawal.
Corrections Association of New Zealand president Beven Hanlon said when he first heard about giving prisoners carrot sticks as a replacement for cigarettes he thought it was a joke. While the prison memo says the carrots are to be trialled for about a month, Mr Hanlon said he would be surprised if it was still going in a couple of weeks.
"I don't think it is one of [the Department of Corrections'] best ideas but it is worth a try," he said. The reasoning behind carrot sticks, he said, was they were healthier than other options, such as hard lollies, and should take the prisoners' minds off smoking. "It's the whole oral thing ... if they have got something in their mouth, they won't be looking for a cigarette to put in it."
The costings and size had been trialled, the memo said, with one jumbo carrot providing 16 carrot sticks, which would be cut into uniform sizes "to the best of our ability". A Department of Corrections spokeswoman confirmed Invercargill Prison and the Otago Corrections Facility were among prisons that had already started giving out the healthy snack to help with smoking withdrawal.
Corrections Association of New Zealand president Beven Hanlon said when he first heard about giving prisoners carrot sticks as a replacement for cigarettes he thought it was a joke. While the prison memo says the carrots are to be trialled for about a month, Mr Hanlon said he would be surprised if it was still going in a couple of weeks.
"I don't think it is one of [the Department of Corrections'] best ideas but it is worth a try," he said. The reasoning behind carrot sticks, he said, was they were healthier than other options, such as hard lollies, and should take the prisoners' minds off smoking. "It's the whole oral thing ... if they have got something in their mouth, they won't be looking for a cigarette to put in it."
Nuns on the run rob bank
Wearing nun masks and habits, an armed man and woman staged a brazen bank robbery on Sunday at TCF Bank in Chicago.
Forcing a bank employee into the vault with a pistol aimed at her head, the robbers made off with a duffel bag full of cash.
No one was injured in the robbery. The robbers drove away in a silver, four-door Chevrolet.
Palos Heights are looking for a black man, about 5 feet, 7 inches tall, wearing black-and-white gym shoes, black-coloured gloves and armed with a revolver and a black woman, about 5 feet, 5 inches tall, wearing black boots, white gloves and armed with a semi-automatic pistol.
Forcing a bank employee into the vault with a pistol aimed at her head, the robbers made off with a duffel bag full of cash.
No one was injured in the robbery. The robbers drove away in a silver, four-door Chevrolet.
Palos Heights are looking for a black man, about 5 feet, 7 inches tall, wearing black-and-white gym shoes, black-coloured gloves and armed with a revolver and a black woman, about 5 feet, 5 inches tall, wearing black boots, white gloves and armed with a semi-automatic pistol.
Man shot parked plane
A gunman opened fire on a private airplane parked at the Deer Valley Airport, Arizona, early on Sunday morning, according to Phoenix police. No one was on board and no one was hurt.
Two Phoenix police officers were on routine patrol near the airport when they heard shots fired at around 1:30 a.m. The officers spotted a vehicle speeding away, but the driver refused to stop when officers attempted to pull him over.
Shell casings were found at the scene along with a small airplane that was damaged by gunfire. Investigators said they found two weapons believed to be used during the shooting.
YouTube link.
Randon Reid, 26, was arrested at his home a short time later, and charged with aggravated DUI, two outstanding warrants and felony flight. A motive has yet to be determined.
Two Phoenix police officers were on routine patrol near the airport when they heard shots fired at around 1:30 a.m. The officers spotted a vehicle speeding away, but the driver refused to stop when officers attempted to pull him over.
Shell casings were found at the scene along with a small airplane that was damaged by gunfire. Investigators said they found two weapons believed to be used during the shooting.
YouTube link.
Randon Reid, 26, was arrested at his home a short time later, and charged with aggravated DUI, two outstanding warrants and felony flight. A motive has yet to be determined.
Female flasher avoids prosecution as police can't prove she gets sexually aroused
German police are powerless to prosecute a female flasher because local laws say it is only possible to take legal action against those that expose themselves "for sexual satisfaction." Annette Kaiser, 34, who works as a civil servant in the capital's main tax office, has been spotted naked or wearing just suspenders and a fur coat on the streets of Berlin.
But police who were alerted to the naked exhibitionism said the law only allowed them to punish someone who they could prove was sexually aroused by the act. A spokesman said: "If a man drops his trousers he could be prosecuted for exhibitionism if there was a sexual motive - which with a man is usually easy to see.
"If he is clearly not excited then it is regarded as simply expressing a personal preference for nudity that is not illegal. For a woman of course that is not possible top prove - so we can't really do anything unless she is actually caught in a sex act. Effectively it means we can only prosecute male flashers - who will get a fine of around €1,150 (£1,000)."
Kaiser said: "I like to show off my body - I am rather proud of it - I prefer being either completely naked or in underwear, it's a kick. I used to go to nudists beaches but it is more fun to be naked in Berlin streets and parks." She added: "I don't walk around naked all the time - I strip off and let men get an eyeful - they usually act stunned - and then I'm quickly gone again before they get any ideas."
But police who were alerted to the naked exhibitionism said the law only allowed them to punish someone who they could prove was sexually aroused by the act. A spokesman said: "If a man drops his trousers he could be prosecuted for exhibitionism if there was a sexual motive - which with a man is usually easy to see.
"If he is clearly not excited then it is regarded as simply expressing a personal preference for nudity that is not illegal. For a woman of course that is not possible top prove - so we can't really do anything unless she is actually caught in a sex act. Effectively it means we can only prosecute male flashers - who will get a fine of around €1,150 (£1,000)."
Kaiser said: "I like to show off my body - I am rather proud of it - I prefer being either completely naked or in underwear, it's a kick. I used to go to nudists beaches but it is more fun to be naked in Berlin streets and parks." She added: "I don't walk around naked all the time - I strip off and let men get an eyeful - they usually act stunned - and then I'm quickly gone again before they get any ideas."
Man charged with assault by forklift on girlfriend
Springfield Police have arrested a man who they say lifted his girlfriend’s car with a forklift and dropped it while she was still inside.
Police Sergeant John Delaney said that Brian Hurley, 41, of Springfield, was arguing with his girlfriend after she had dropped him off at his workplace on Saturday morning. The two were reportedly arguing over financial issues, when Hurley slapped the woman across the face, got out of the car, and began kicking it.
Delaney says Hurley then got into a forklift, drove it toward her car, and picked it up while she was still inside. Using the forklift, he moved the car several feet away before putting it down and running away.
Officers found him hours later after receiving a report that he was banging on the door of his Dayton Street residence. Hurley has been charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (the forklift), assault and battery (open hand slap), and malicious damage to a motor vehicle.
Police Sergeant John Delaney said that Brian Hurley, 41, of Springfield, was arguing with his girlfriend after she had dropped him off at his workplace on Saturday morning. The two were reportedly arguing over financial issues, when Hurley slapped the woman across the face, got out of the car, and began kicking it.
Delaney says Hurley then got into a forklift, drove it toward her car, and picked it up while she was still inside. Using the forklift, he moved the car several feet away before putting it down and running away.
Officers found him hours later after receiving a report that he was banging on the door of his Dayton Street residence. Hurley has been charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (the forklift), assault and battery (open hand slap), and malicious damage to a motor vehicle.
Artist faces prosecution for painting beer cans
Artist Michał Ogiński has been warned he could prosecuted after painting cans of beer. Police in Cieszyn, Poland, have seized canvasses claiming they breach the country's tough alcohol advertising laws and could encourage young people to take up drinking.
Photo from here.
The 25-year-old said: "I was told by police that my work corrupts youth and promotes alcoholism. But it’s just paintings of some beer cans. It’s part of a series of paintings depicting supermarket products. I’ve got others of washing powder and sugar. There’s nothing sinister or corrupting about it."
His lawyer Beata Lejman said: "This is absurd and I’ve never heard of such a ridiculous law. Are they going to confiscate Rembrandt’s pictures which show casks of wine?"
Now officials are waiting for prosecutors to say if Ogiński has a case to answer. Local police chief Kazmierz Plus said: "I don’t make up the law - I just uphold it. And these paintings break the Act of Upbringing in Sobriety and Couteracting Alcoholism law, which is universally binding."
There's a news video in Polish here.
Photo from here.
The 25-year-old said: "I was told by police that my work corrupts youth and promotes alcoholism. But it’s just paintings of some beer cans. It’s part of a series of paintings depicting supermarket products. I’ve got others of washing powder and sugar. There’s nothing sinister or corrupting about it."
His lawyer Beata Lejman said: "This is absurd and I’ve never heard of such a ridiculous law. Are they going to confiscate Rembrandt’s pictures which show casks of wine?"
Now officials are waiting for prosecutors to say if Ogiński has a case to answer. Local police chief Kazmierz Plus said: "I don’t make up the law - I just uphold it. And these paintings break the Act of Upbringing in Sobriety and Couteracting Alcoholism law, which is universally binding."
There's a news video in Polish here.
National Trust introduce talking benches
Benches that can 'talk' are being set up at eight beauty spots across the UK, voiced by celebrities including Stephen Fry and Miranda Hart.
The National Trust project will give listeners the chance to hear five-minute monologues inspired by nature. Other famous names involved include broadcaster John Sergeant, philosopher Alain de Botton, cricket commentator David Gower, and presenter Claudia Winkleman.
The benches have taken more than six months to make and each one is engraved with three words their celebrity has used to describe their setting.
YouTube link.
The talking benches will be at Felbrigg Hall in Norfolk, Castle Ward in County Down, Craigside, Northumberland, Quarry Mill Bank in Cheshire, Petworth House and Park, West Sussex, Cotehele, Cornwall, Derbyshire's Calke Abbey and Dinefwr Park and Castle, Carmarthenshire.
The National Trust project will give listeners the chance to hear five-minute monologues inspired by nature. Other famous names involved include broadcaster John Sergeant, philosopher Alain de Botton, cricket commentator David Gower, and presenter Claudia Winkleman.
The benches have taken more than six months to make and each one is engraved with three words their celebrity has used to describe their setting.
YouTube link.
The talking benches will be at Felbrigg Hall in Norfolk, Castle Ward in County Down, Craigside, Northumberland, Quarry Mill Bank in Cheshire, Petworth House and Park, West Sussex, Cotehele, Cornwall, Derbyshire's Calke Abbey and Dinefwr Park and Castle, Carmarthenshire.
Safe 'stolen under woman's skirt'
Police in Doncaster are appealing for information after an alleged burglary at an off licence on Bentley Road, Doncaster on Sunday, 10 May.
A group of around four women and two men entered the shop around 3.30pm. Some of the group began distracting the shop assistants whilst one of the women entered the private residential area at the back of the shop.
She is seen on CCTV going into the area wearing trousers but returns a short while later wearing a long skirt and looks to be struggling to walk.
It is later discovered that a safe containing a large amount of Indian jewellery and cash has been stolen. It is believed that the woman may have had the safe between her legs under the skirt.
A group of around four women and two men entered the shop around 3.30pm. Some of the group began distracting the shop assistants whilst one of the women entered the private residential area at the back of the shop.
She is seen on CCTV going into the area wearing trousers but returns a short while later wearing a long skirt and looks to be struggling to walk.
It is later discovered that a safe containing a large amount of Indian jewellery and cash has been stolen. It is believed that the woman may have had the safe between her legs under the skirt.
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