Thursday, September 18, 2014
The Diatomist
A short documentary by Matthew Killip, an English filmmaker now living in New York, about Klaus Kemp, one of the last practitioners of the Victorian art of Diatom arrangement.
Vimeo link.
Diatoms are tiny microscopic plankton that create intricate glass shells around themselves which the Victorians used to arrange into beautiful patterns.
Klaus Kemp has devoted his entire life to understanding and perfecting diatom arrangement and he is now acknowledged as the last great practitioner of this combination of art and science. The Diatomist showcases his incredible work.
Vimeo link.
Diatoms are tiny microscopic plankton that create intricate glass shells around themselves which the Victorians used to arrange into beautiful patterns.
Klaus Kemp has devoted his entire life to understanding and perfecting diatom arrangement and he is now acknowledged as the last great practitioner of this combination of art and science. The Diatomist showcases his incredible work.
Scotland decides
The background to today's Scottish independence referendum as depicted by the Taiwanese Animators. Comes complete with dodgy Scottish accent.
YouTube link.
YouTube link.
Pedicab driver arrested after being found passed out with snake wrapped around his neck
A pedicab driver was discovered in downtown San Diego early on Tuesday morning passed out with a live snake wrapped around his neck.
According to San Diego police, the man was discovered by a group of friends at about 2am slumped over in the cab in the centre of the road in the Gaslamp District. As they approached him, he tried to cycle away backwards.
The witnesses contacted police, who arrived and determined the man was wearing a GPS bracelet on his ankle and appeared under the influence of drugs. Travis Elsner-Young, 27, was arrested, accused of riding a bicycle under the influence.
SDPD contacted San Diego County Animal Services who said the 18-inch snake was not in good condition. The snake, a ball python was taken to an emergency veterinarian to be treated for starvation, dehydration and anemia, Animal Services says. The reptile will stay in the hospital until further notice.
According to San Diego police, the man was discovered by a group of friends at about 2am slumped over in the cab in the centre of the road in the Gaslamp District. As they approached him, he tried to cycle away backwards.
The witnesses contacted police, who arrived and determined the man was wearing a GPS bracelet on his ankle and appeared under the influence of drugs. Travis Elsner-Young, 27, was arrested, accused of riding a bicycle under the influence.
SDPD contacted San Diego County Animal Services who said the 18-inch snake was not in good condition. The snake, a ball python was taken to an emergency veterinarian to be treated for starvation, dehydration and anemia, Animal Services says. The reptile will stay in the hospital until further notice.
Woman charged with lit cigarette and spatula attack on buttocks
An woman from Easthampton, Massachusetts, was charged with assault and battery on Tuesday for allegedly burning a Westfield woman’s right buttock with a lit cigarette and striking her left buttock with a spatula.
The 18-year-old was arrested by Westfield police Monday. She was released on her own recognizance after posting $100 bail.
The woman was charged with two counts of assault and battery on a person older than 14, as well as assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
According to reports: On Sept. 12, the aggressor confessed to burning a 20-year-old woman on the left buttock with a lit cigarette, as well as hitting her right buttock with a cooking spatula. The spatula’s head left a solid red impression on the victim’s skin. The victim was passed out at the time of the incident.
The 18-year-old was arrested by Westfield police Monday. She was released on her own recognizance after posting $100 bail.
The woman was charged with two counts of assault and battery on a person older than 14, as well as assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
According to reports: On Sept. 12, the aggressor confessed to burning a 20-year-old woman on the left buttock with a lit cigarette, as well as hitting her right buttock with a cooking spatula. The spatula’s head left a solid red impression on the victim’s skin. The victim was passed out at the time of the incident.
Skunk with head stuck in beer can rescued
A skunk found with a beer can stuck on its head outside a fraternity house in Ohio has been rescued.
Police in Oxford responded to the unusual call to find the mammal blindly banging into shrubs outside the house. An animal control officer was able to free the skunk without getting sprayed, Sergeant Jon Varley said.
"One of our public safety assistants (animal control officer) was able to remove the can without being 'skunked'," he said. The skunk was then released. Varley says police in the city have received calls before about skunks and other wild animals.
But he says this was the first one he knew of that had to be rescued from a beer can. Oxford is home to Miami University, about 35 miles northwest of Cincinnati.
Police in Oxford responded to the unusual call to find the mammal blindly banging into shrubs outside the house. An animal control officer was able to free the skunk without getting sprayed, Sergeant Jon Varley said.
"One of our public safety assistants (animal control officer) was able to remove the can without being 'skunked'," he said. The skunk was then released. Varley says police in the city have received calls before about skunks and other wild animals.
But he says this was the first one he knew of that had to be rescued from a beer can. Oxford is home to Miami University, about 35 miles northwest of Cincinnati.
Health concerns after thieves steal 1.3 tonnes of potentially deadly cheese
Investigators in Liechtenstein are probing the theft of 1.3 tonnes of cheese that was set to be destroyed because it contained dangerous bacteria.
The country’s food inspection office is concerned the bad cheese will be sold either directly or indirectly, posing a health risk to anyone who consumes it. The problem is the “Alp Sücka” cheese was found to be contaminated with listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium that causes listeriosis, a potentially deadly infection.
Liechtenstein’s food office had banned the cheese but during a check discovered that 236 five-kilogram wheels of the dairy product had gone missing. They were probably stolen from open containers where they were stored temporarily before planned destruction.
The country’s prosecutor has launched an investigation into the cheese’s disappearance. Listeriosis is particularly dangerous for elderly people and pregnant women. The Liechtenstein food inspection office has issued a warning for people to avoid eating Alp Sücka cheeses sold after September 9th.
The country’s food inspection office is concerned the bad cheese will be sold either directly or indirectly, posing a health risk to anyone who consumes it. The problem is the “Alp Sücka” cheese was found to be contaminated with listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium that causes listeriosis, a potentially deadly infection.
Liechtenstein’s food office had banned the cheese but during a check discovered that 236 five-kilogram wheels of the dairy product had gone missing. They were probably stolen from open containers where they were stored temporarily before planned destruction.
The country’s prosecutor has launched an investigation into the cheese’s disappearance. Listeriosis is particularly dangerous for elderly people and pregnant women. The Liechtenstein food inspection office has issued a warning for people to avoid eating Alp Sücka cheeses sold after September 9th.
Booby trap covered traffic officer in manure as he was trying to catch people speeding
A traffic officer in Austria got more than he bargained for after a booby trap covered him from head-to-toe in manure as he was trying to catch people speeding, police said on Tuesday.
A bucket containing the slurry exploded three metres from the officer after he triggered a trip wire at a site often used for speed traps, police in the southern state of Carinthia said. The 58-year-old was not hurt and police said the device was likely designed by an irate motorist to humiliate officers rather than cause injury.
But they were nonetheless not amused. "What could have happened if the officer had been nearer the explosives, or if a child had set it off? It doesn't bear thinking about," spokesman Rainer Dionisio said. Police said that a detonator in a bucket of manure was connected to a fishing line, which triggered the trap when the traffic police officer visited the location near the Mölltal state highway.
The site is commonly used by police for laser-based speed monitoring. A garden spade and garden gloves were leaning against the bucket containing the bovine excrement. The force of the explosion destroyed the garden tool's wooden handle. Fortunately, the officer was sufficiently far from the explosive that he was not injured, but his uniform was covered with manure.
A bucket containing the slurry exploded three metres from the officer after he triggered a trip wire at a site often used for speed traps, police in the southern state of Carinthia said. The 58-year-old was not hurt and police said the device was likely designed by an irate motorist to humiliate officers rather than cause injury.
But they were nonetheless not amused. "What could have happened if the officer had been nearer the explosives, or if a child had set it off? It doesn't bear thinking about," spokesman Rainer Dionisio said. Police said that a detonator in a bucket of manure was connected to a fishing line, which triggered the trap when the traffic police officer visited the location near the Mölltal state highway.
The site is commonly used by police for laser-based speed monitoring. A garden spade and garden gloves were leaning against the bucket containing the bovine excrement. The force of the explosion destroyed the garden tool's wooden handle. Fortunately, the officer was sufficiently far from the explosive that he was not injured, but his uniform was covered with manure.
Stuck deer rescued from metal railings
A roe deer has been rescued after it got stuck between the metal railings of a fence in Inverness.
A member of the public spotted the animal in distress at Cradlehall Meadows on Wednesday.
The Scottish SPCA said its officers were able to free the adult deer from the fence without causing it any injury. During the rescue operation a towel was put over the animal's head in an effort to calm it down.
Animal rescue officer Clare Anderson said: "A lady had spotted the deer running out of a field and straight into the fence. "It's possible he may have taken fright as he ran into the gate with force and became stuck."
The Scottish SPCA officer added: "It took us around 20 minutes to get him out as we had to lift his body at an angle and move one hip through at a time. After checking he wasn't hurt, we released him into a wooded area where there are other deer. We're glad we were able to help him out as it must have been quite an uncomfortable experience."
The Scottish SPCA said its officers were able to free the adult deer from the fence without causing it any injury. During the rescue operation a towel was put over the animal's head in an effort to calm it down.
Animal rescue officer Clare Anderson said: "A lady had spotted the deer running out of a field and straight into the fence. "It's possible he may have taken fright as he ran into the gate with force and became stuck."
The Scottish SPCA officer added: "It took us around 20 minutes to get him out as we had to lift his body at an angle and move one hip through at a time. After checking he wasn't hurt, we released him into a wooded area where there are other deer. We're glad we were able to help him out as it must have been quite an uncomfortable experience."
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