Friday, July 11, 2014
Injured flying fox enjoys being fed grapes
Charlie the grey-headed flying fox hurt his thumbs after getting himself stuck on a balcony.
YouTube link.
YouTube link.
Police pulled rifle on man cleaning up dog poo after he was mistaken for a burglar
A well-known American Indian artist said police in Santa Fe pulled a rifle on him after his dog pooed in his vehicle and a woman mistook his clean-up efforts for a burglary.
“I tried to talk to her to explain that I was cleaning up dog poop”, Mateo Romero said. “But she got all hysterical and I just backed away. I couldn’t leave. It was crazy.”
But the woman, Maria Markus, 60, said she had no idea what Romero was up to at her house. “Who pulls their car into people’s driveways and cleans dog poop from their car?” she asked.
Markus said there was a strange vehicle in the driveway of her Old Santa Fe Trail home when she pulled up at about noon on Monday. She thought it might be the same burglars who came to the house two months ago and told her husband “we’ll be back” when he walked in on them, Markus said. She said Romero never identified himself after she blocked in his SUV, and he tried to get her to roll down her car windows and tugged at the doors. She’d called police and they told her to lock her doors and not leave, Markus said.
Romero, a Pojoaque painter, said that a Santa Fe officer pointed a weapon at him during the misunderstanding that landed him in handcuffs and in the back of a patrol car. According to a police report, the officer pulled out the rifle, got Romero on the ground and detained him after Markus reported a burglary in progress. Romero said he pulled into the private driveway after Han Solo, his Shih Tzu, relieved himself inside the SUV during a drive to his studio. Romero said he only wanted to clean the mess. However, Romero said when Markus spotted him in her driveway, she boxed him in with her vehicle and called 911.
Police said they searched Romero and released him after officers did not find any of the woman’s property on him or any sign of a break-in. “It appeared to be a misunderstanding,” the police report said. “Mr. Romero was understanding and polite.” Markus said her “heart was pounding” as she waited for police to arrive. She noted that Amelia White Park is just down the street from her home and Romero could have gone there to clean up the dog mess. She said he used an old scarf that was thrown in the bushes. Romero was “rude and obnoxious” and never apologised, she said. Markus said she and her husband moved to Santa Fe from Montana in February and were ready to move back after their second unpleasant incident in a couple of months. But they decided to stay because the responding police officers were so nice, she said.
Markus said there was a strange vehicle in the driveway of her Old Santa Fe Trail home when she pulled up at about noon on Monday. She thought it might be the same burglars who came to the house two months ago and told her husband “we’ll be back” when he walked in on them, Markus said. She said Romero never identified himself after she blocked in his SUV, and he tried to get her to roll down her car windows and tugged at the doors. She’d called police and they told her to lock her doors and not leave, Markus said.
Romero, a Pojoaque painter, said that a Santa Fe officer pointed a weapon at him during the misunderstanding that landed him in handcuffs and in the back of a patrol car. According to a police report, the officer pulled out the rifle, got Romero on the ground and detained him after Markus reported a burglary in progress. Romero said he pulled into the private driveway after Han Solo, his Shih Tzu, relieved himself inside the SUV during a drive to his studio. Romero said he only wanted to clean the mess. However, Romero said when Markus spotted him in her driveway, she boxed him in with her vehicle and called 911.
Police said they searched Romero and released him after officers did not find any of the woman’s property on him or any sign of a break-in. “It appeared to be a misunderstanding,” the police report said. “Mr. Romero was understanding and polite.” Markus said her “heart was pounding” as she waited for police to arrive. She noted that Amelia White Park is just down the street from her home and Romero could have gone there to clean up the dog mess. She said he used an old scarf that was thrown in the bushes. Romero was “rude and obnoxious” and never apologised, she said. Markus said she and her husband moved to Santa Fe from Montana in February and were ready to move back after their second unpleasant incident in a couple of months. But they decided to stay because the responding police officers were so nice, she said.
Men on an adventure broke into school and stole Froot Loops
Two young Florida men were arrested for allegedly breaking into an elementary school and stealing some Froot Loops breakfast cereal.
Logan Brown, 18, and Christopher Ramos, 20, from Hernando County, both face felony burglary charges. Deputies say the pair decided to "go on an adventure" and break into the Challenger K-8 School in Spring Hill last Thursday.
Brown and Ramos say they've exposed some serious security concerns at the school.
"They should have kept their roof locked. That's a big security problem there," Brown said. Brown and Ramos explained that last Thursday, they dressed in dark clothes and masks because they went to a nearby landfill to find Brown's phone that he apparently lost. Seven hours later they found the phone, and "we were kind of excited. We were like 'yea, this is cool. We're already dressed up. Let's go somewhere,'" Brown said. They said they went to Challenger K-8 to see what has changed since they graduated several years ago. "Basically, we scaled a three-storey wall, went in through the roof hatches and walked around," Ramos said.
The school is equipped with dozens of security cameras, which captured their adventure down several hallways, through an auditorium and into the cafeteria. "The Froot Loops were in the cafeteria," Brown said. The men said Froot Loops were not why they went to the school, but the tasty snack was definitely an added bonus. "We weren't in search of Froot Loops. I know that's been a big thing. Everyone's been saying we were looking for Froot Loops. It just so happened that there were Froot Loops there. We got a little bit hungry, and ate some Froot Loops," Brown said.
YouTube link.
The sheriff's office posted two surveillance photos of the men inside the school holding individual boxes of Froot Loops. Several people were able to identify them. The sheriff's office said Brown and Ramos were smoking marijuana, and school officials said they found broken beer bottles on the roof. The school plans to address their unlocked roof hatches and doors. Both Brown and Ramos bonded out of jail about five hours after they were booked in on Tuesday. They've since offered to replace the Froot Loops they are accused of stealing.
"They should have kept their roof locked. That's a big security problem there," Brown said. Brown and Ramos explained that last Thursday, they dressed in dark clothes and masks because they went to a nearby landfill to find Brown's phone that he apparently lost. Seven hours later they found the phone, and "we were kind of excited. We were like 'yea, this is cool. We're already dressed up. Let's go somewhere,'" Brown said. They said they went to Challenger K-8 to see what has changed since they graduated several years ago. "Basically, we scaled a three-storey wall, went in through the roof hatches and walked around," Ramos said.
The school is equipped with dozens of security cameras, which captured their adventure down several hallways, through an auditorium and into the cafeteria. "The Froot Loops were in the cafeteria," Brown said. The men said Froot Loops were not why they went to the school, but the tasty snack was definitely an added bonus. "We weren't in search of Froot Loops. I know that's been a big thing. Everyone's been saying we were looking for Froot Loops. It just so happened that there were Froot Loops there. We got a little bit hungry, and ate some Froot Loops," Brown said.
YouTube link.
The sheriff's office posted two surveillance photos of the men inside the school holding individual boxes of Froot Loops. Several people were able to identify them. The sheriff's office said Brown and Ramos were smoking marijuana, and school officials said they found broken beer bottles on the roof. The school plans to address their unlocked roof hatches and doors. Both Brown and Ramos bonded out of jail about five hours after they were booked in on Tuesday. They've since offered to replace the Froot Loops they are accused of stealing.
Threatened chicken's mating habits delay spaceflight plan
The mating habits of the lesser prairie chicken have postponed a West Texas city's plans for spaceflight.
After the chicken was federally listed in March, the Midland International Airport submitted an addendum to its environmental assessment explaining why the spaceport wouldn’t be a threat to the now “threatened” species.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service, worried about sonic booms negatively impacting the small chicken’s early-morning spring mating habits, has yet to approve the addendum. But Midland Director of Airports Marv Esterly, who offered to send biologists to Andrews County to study how the first five launches would impact the chickens, fully expects the service to sign off and the Federal Aviation Administration to deliver a finding of “no significant impact.”
“They are really sensitive to what’s out there,” Esterly said during Tuesday’s Spaceport Development Corp. meeting. “We feel the sonic boom is so small, so much less than a thunder clap, that it won’t have an effect.” After final approval of the environmental assessment, the FAA has until Sept. 15 to issue a spaceport licence, a process that has taken nearly two years.
Once approved, Midland International will become the first airport in the US to offer commercial and space flights from its runways. “We’re moving forward slowly, at a snail’s pace,” Esterly said. “But it’s a new concept. We’re also setting precedents for airports in the future. Everyone wants to make sure we get it right.”
The US Fish and Wildlife Service, worried about sonic booms negatively impacting the small chicken’s early-morning spring mating habits, has yet to approve the addendum. But Midland Director of Airports Marv Esterly, who offered to send biologists to Andrews County to study how the first five launches would impact the chickens, fully expects the service to sign off and the Federal Aviation Administration to deliver a finding of “no significant impact.”
“They are really sensitive to what’s out there,” Esterly said during Tuesday’s Spaceport Development Corp. meeting. “We feel the sonic boom is so small, so much less than a thunder clap, that it won’t have an effect.” After final approval of the environmental assessment, the FAA has until Sept. 15 to issue a spaceport licence, a process that has taken nearly two years.
Once approved, Midland International will become the first airport in the US to offer commercial and space flights from its runways. “We’re moving forward slowly, at a snail’s pace,” Esterly said. “But it’s a new concept. We’re also setting precedents for airports in the future. Everyone wants to make sure we get it right.”
Crystal knob set bedroom on fire
A beaming crystal doorknob sent a bedroom up in flames after the sun refracted through it.
The shiny knob started a house fire in Clapham, south London, on Monday at 8.20am.
The sun’s rays refracted light through the doorknob and onto a dressing gown, hanging from a door, setting it on fire. The house was empty at the time and a smoke alarm alerted builders working on an adjacent house who called the London Fire Brigade (LFB).
Charlie Pugsley, from the Brigade’s fire investigation unit, said: “Crystal and glass ornaments and items such as shaving mirrors should be kept out of direct sunlight. The homeowners are lucky they had a working smoke alarm which alerted some local builders who quickly called the Brigade.
"Part of the bedroom was damaged in the fire but it could have been much worse.” LFB have warned people to keep shiny objects away from sunny sills, fit a smoke alarm on each floor and if you have a fire to close the door and call the fire brigade. Firefighters from Clapham and West Norwood attended the scene and the blaze was under control by 8.40am.
The sun’s rays refracted light through the doorknob and onto a dressing gown, hanging from a door, setting it on fire. The house was empty at the time and a smoke alarm alerted builders working on an adjacent house who called the London Fire Brigade (LFB).
Charlie Pugsley, from the Brigade’s fire investigation unit, said: “Crystal and glass ornaments and items such as shaving mirrors should be kept out of direct sunlight. The homeowners are lucky they had a working smoke alarm which alerted some local builders who quickly called the Brigade.
"Part of the bedroom was damaged in the fire but it could have been much worse.” LFB have warned people to keep shiny objects away from sunny sills, fit a smoke alarm on each floor and if you have a fire to close the door and call the fire brigade. Firefighters from Clapham and West Norwood attended the scene and the blaze was under control by 8.40am.
Suspected prowler was man wearing elephant onesie
Police were called to deal with a suspected prowler, only to find it was a man wearing an elephant onesie.
The suspicious “masked” man was spotted outside a house in Pear Tree, Derby at 11pm on Saturday.
When police arrived they discovered part of an elephant mask had been stuffed in a bin and a man dressed in the animal outfit for a fancy dress party.
A spokesman said: “A resident called 999 after seeing what he thought was a masked man behaving suspiciously around his dustbins. We sent out a patrol, which included a dog unit, to the scene to investigate.
“Inquiries led us to the bin inside which we found part of an elephant mask. We believe that the man had been to a fancy dress party dressed as an elephant and in an elephant onesie. No crime was committed and no arrests were made.”
When police arrived they discovered part of an elephant mask had been stuffed in a bin and a man dressed in the animal outfit for a fancy dress party.
A spokesman said: “A resident called 999 after seeing what he thought was a masked man behaving suspiciously around his dustbins. We sent out a patrol, which included a dog unit, to the scene to investigate.
“Inquiries led us to the bin inside which we found part of an elephant mask. We believe that the man had been to a fancy dress party dressed as an elephant and in an elephant onesie. No crime was committed and no arrests were made.”
Bertie the leopard is possibly the world's fastest tortoise
Bertie the tortoise is set to stroll into the record books as the fastest in the world.
The current record has been held since 1977, when one named Charlie travelled 5.48 m (18 ft) in 43.7 seconds.
The young Leopard “turbo” tortoise is believed to have set a new world record on Wednesday, covering the 18ft-long uphill track at Adventure Valley theme park, near Durham City, first in 21.47 seconds – around half the previous best – and then smashing his own time, clocking in at 19.59 seconds.
The record attempt was painstakingly monitored, with three vets, a course architect and two timekeepers from Sunderland AFC’s Foundation of Light on hand to ensure everything was done by the book. Their paperwork and videos will now be sent to Guinness World Records, in the hope of official confirmation that Bertie has entered the record books.
LiveLeak link.
Marco Calzini, from Adventure Valley said: “Not only has he smashed the world record, he’s obliterated it completely. I think it will stand for a long time now, without a shadow of a doubt. It’s a massive weight off my shoulders. I’m so proud of him, so pleased. Now hopefully we’ll get that official recognition.”
The young Leopard “turbo” tortoise is believed to have set a new world record on Wednesday, covering the 18ft-long uphill track at Adventure Valley theme park, near Durham City, first in 21.47 seconds – around half the previous best – and then smashing his own time, clocking in at 19.59 seconds.
The record attempt was painstakingly monitored, with three vets, a course architect and two timekeepers from Sunderland AFC’s Foundation of Light on hand to ensure everything was done by the book. Their paperwork and videos will now be sent to Guinness World Records, in the hope of official confirmation that Bertie has entered the record books.
LiveLeak link.
Marco Calzini, from Adventure Valley said: “Not only has he smashed the world record, he’s obliterated it completely. I think it will stand for a long time now, without a shadow of a doubt. It’s a massive weight off my shoulders. I’m so proud of him, so pleased. Now hopefully we’ll get that official recognition.”
Head teacher apologises after discovery of giant egg at school scared children
A head teacher has apologised after a 3ft (90cm) fake egg designed to aid learning ended up scaring pupils.
The egg was part of a project which aimed to encourage group discussion at Holy Trinity Primary School, Halstead, Essex.
Headmaster Jon Smith told parents there had been an "amazing discovery" and the egg had been "cordoned off".
But an apology was issued after it emerged some had been "worried by it" and one parent said that their children had been "in tears". The 250-pupil school, praised by Ofsted for making children feel safe, initially told parents how an investigator had been sent in by the fictitious "National Museum of Strange Objects". Children were to "remain vigilant and put all their energies into research", parents were told.
While some complained about the egg, other parents supported the school by saying it had been a "brilliant idea". In an update for parents, Mr Smith said: "It has come to our attention that whilst the vast majority of the children at school were excited and engaged by this 'discovery' there are some who have been worried by it."
He said an extra whole school assembly was held. "We made it absolutely clear to everyone that the egg was of no danger to anyone," he said. "We apologise if that message did not come through sufficiently." The egg was used as part of a week-long series of lessons which, Mr Smith said, had proved to be a "very successful way of promoting problem solving, teamwork and group discussion".
But an apology was issued after it emerged some had been "worried by it" and one parent said that their children had been "in tears". The 250-pupil school, praised by Ofsted for making children feel safe, initially told parents how an investigator had been sent in by the fictitious "National Museum of Strange Objects". Children were to "remain vigilant and put all their energies into research", parents were told.
While some complained about the egg, other parents supported the school by saying it had been a "brilliant idea". In an update for parents, Mr Smith said: "It has come to our attention that whilst the vast majority of the children at school were excited and engaged by this 'discovery' there are some who have been worried by it."
He said an extra whole school assembly was held. "We made it absolutely clear to everyone that the egg was of no danger to anyone," he said. "We apologise if that message did not come through sufficiently." The egg was used as part of a week-long series of lessons which, Mr Smith said, had proved to be a "very successful way of promoting problem solving, teamwork and group discussion".
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