Saturday, September 27, 2014
The world's largest bat colony
As many as twenty million Mexican free-tailed bats spend their summer months in Bracken Cave, Texas, making it home to the largest congregation of warm-blooded animals in the world.
YouTube link.
YouTube link.
Timber yard owner finds Jesus in tree trunk
At the Mid-South Sawmilling lumber yard in West Tennessee, there was a cut of wood that jumped out to owner Daniel Turbeville.
He said he saw something sacred as he was working and cutting slabs.
"Talking to a couple of people that work with me," Turbeville said, "We kind of decided that looked like the depiction of Christ as we know it." The Millington lumber yard salvages wood from around the city and tries to make something constructive out of the timber.
On this particular tree trunk, there is a grain pattern that makes the piece pious, Turbeville says. "About 70 percent of the people I ask agree that it looks like the image of Christ," he said.
Turbeville is not yet sure of what he will do with the discovery, but he hopes that the timber could find a home in a place where its significance could be appreciated. "If somebody wanted it I would sell it, but I do think it would be best served if it were in a church or it'd be nice in a pastor's office," he said.
With news video.
"Talking to a couple of people that work with me," Turbeville said, "We kind of decided that looked like the depiction of Christ as we know it." The Millington lumber yard salvages wood from around the city and tries to make something constructive out of the timber.
On this particular tree trunk, there is a grain pattern that makes the piece pious, Turbeville says. "About 70 percent of the people I ask agree that it looks like the image of Christ," he said.
Turbeville is not yet sure of what he will do with the discovery, but he hopes that the timber could find a home in a place where its significance could be appreciated. "If somebody wanted it I would sell it, but I do think it would be best served if it were in a church or it'd be nice in a pastor's office," he said.
With news video.
Chainsaw-wielding man accused of setting fire to picnic table
An man from Epping, New Hampshire, was arrested in Chester on Wednesday after he set a picnic table on fire and threatened a homeowner with a chainsaw, police say.
Chester police said they were called to a home at about 10:45am to a report of an intoxicated man.
Police said the man was accused of going after the homeowner with a running chainsaw. "He had lit a picnic table on fire," said Chief William Burke. "Prior to getting there, (the officer) was also advised that the subject had started a chainsaw and was chasing the resident homeowner around the yard with a chainsaw." Burke said the homeowner was trying to defend himself with pepper spray.
He said the man, identified as Kyle Kappotis, of Epping, knew people at the house. When police arrived, the homeowner said Kappotis had fled into the woods. Police chased the man and yelled at him to stop, but he refused, police said. The man eventually stopped running, and police found him trying to hide under a fallen tree.
YouTube link.
They were able to take him into custody. Chief Burke says it was a strange and dangerous case that he won't soon forget. "Normally, Chester is busy on Halloween night and we see things like that on our main street here. But it's been quite a while since I've seen something as strange as this," he said. Kappotis was charged with criminal threatening, criminal mischief and resisting arrest. He was arraigned on Thursday, and bail was set at $200.
Police said the man was accused of going after the homeowner with a running chainsaw. "He had lit a picnic table on fire," said Chief William Burke. "Prior to getting there, (the officer) was also advised that the subject had started a chainsaw and was chasing the resident homeowner around the yard with a chainsaw." Burke said the homeowner was trying to defend himself with pepper spray.
He said the man, identified as Kyle Kappotis, of Epping, knew people at the house. When police arrived, the homeowner said Kappotis had fled into the woods. Police chased the man and yelled at him to stop, but he refused, police said. The man eventually stopped running, and police found him trying to hide under a fallen tree.
YouTube link.
They were able to take him into custody. Chief Burke says it was a strange and dangerous case that he won't soon forget. "Normally, Chester is busy on Halloween night and we see things like that on our main street here. But it's been quite a while since I've seen something as strange as this," he said. Kappotis was charged with criminal threatening, criminal mischief and resisting arrest. He was arraigned on Thursday, and bail was set at $200.
Suspected bomb was mix tape of love songs from man begging ex-wife to take him back
Concerns in downtown Florence, Alabama, were quickly abated on Thursday afternoon when police discovered a suspicious package contained a mix tape instead of a bomb.
Police said the call about a suspicious package turned out to be a case of mistaken intentions between a recently-divorced couple. Police said they were called out to the Wilson Park Medical Center at around 2:30pm when a woman called about a suspicious package on her vehicle.
Florence Police Chief Ron Tyler said the package was left on a woman's car by her ex-husband. Tyler said the two divorced a couple of months ago and had recently started talking again. The woman told police she received a call from her ex-husband saying he had left a package on her vehicle. The woman became nervous and called police.
Florence police bomb technicians scanned the package and detected electronics inside, Tyler said. When they opened the package, they discovered a cassette of love songs and a note from the man begging his ex-wife to take him back. Tyler said police aren't planning to file any charges.
Police said the call about a suspicious package turned out to be a case of mistaken intentions between a recently-divorced couple. Police said they were called out to the Wilson Park Medical Center at around 2:30pm when a woman called about a suspicious package on her vehicle.
Florence Police Chief Ron Tyler said the package was left on a woman's car by her ex-husband. Tyler said the two divorced a couple of months ago and had recently started talking again. The woman told police she received a call from her ex-husband saying he had left a package on her vehicle. The woman became nervous and called police.
Florence police bomb technicians scanned the package and detected electronics inside, Tyler said. When they opened the package, they discovered a cassette of love songs and a note from the man begging his ex-wife to take him back. Tyler said police aren't planning to file any charges.
Canadian man caught trying to smuggle 51 live turtles into US in his sweatpants
A Canadian man taped 51 live turtles to his legs and groin and tried to hide them under sweatpants in an attempt to smuggle the reptiles over the Detroit border crossing, according to federal prosecutors in Michigan.
The man was captured as part of a surveillance operation conducted by US Fish and Wildlife Service agents. An official with the service said there has been an increase in turtle smuggling in the last year, which they attribute to demand in Asian food and collector markets.
“These turtles, by the time they get to the end-collector, they can be worth anywhere from $1,300 to $1,500 a turtle,” said Ed Grace, deputy chief law enforcement officer with the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Prosecutors say Kai Xu and Lihua Lin attempted to smuggle several species of North American pond turtles out of the US and into Canada. On 5 August, two fish and wildlife agents say they watched Xu disappear behind two semi-trailers in a Detroit parking lot for about 10 minutes before reappearing with, “irregularly shaped bulges under Xu’s sweatpants on both legs”.
Xu was later stopped by Canadian border patrol after he drove through the Detroit to Windsor, Ontario crossing. Xu’s attorney, Timothy Debolski of Garden City, Michigan, said it’s too early to comment on Xu’s case. Agents said they were tipped off by a Detroit UPS employee identified only as “Dave”, who alerted agents to a seven pound box labeled “live fish keep cool”. In an indictment of Lin, agents said they surveilled Xu as he drove Lin to the Detroit Metropolitan Airport on Tuesday. Lin was bound for Shanghai. He checked two bags, in which fish and wildlife agents say they found more than 200 live turtles, including the protected spotted turtle.
Fish and wildlife service agents say turtles are far from the only North American animals targeted by poachers. A spokesman for the fish and wildlife office, Gavin Shire, said agents sometimes find hummingbirds smuggled in wigs, and that rattlesnakes and Gila Monsters are also popular prey for smugglers. “Not just with turtles, I see it with ginseng, I see it with how wildlife in the United States can be, you know, coveted by collectors or for food markets,” said Grace. Both men were indicted on illegal smuggling charges and violations of the endangered species act. The turtles were seized by fish and wildlife agents.
“These turtles, by the time they get to the end-collector, they can be worth anywhere from $1,300 to $1,500 a turtle,” said Ed Grace, deputy chief law enforcement officer with the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Prosecutors say Kai Xu and Lihua Lin attempted to smuggle several species of North American pond turtles out of the US and into Canada. On 5 August, two fish and wildlife agents say they watched Xu disappear behind two semi-trailers in a Detroit parking lot for about 10 minutes before reappearing with, “irregularly shaped bulges under Xu’s sweatpants on both legs”.
Xu was later stopped by Canadian border patrol after he drove through the Detroit to Windsor, Ontario crossing. Xu’s attorney, Timothy Debolski of Garden City, Michigan, said it’s too early to comment on Xu’s case. Agents said they were tipped off by a Detroit UPS employee identified only as “Dave”, who alerted agents to a seven pound box labeled “live fish keep cool”. In an indictment of Lin, agents said they surveilled Xu as he drove Lin to the Detroit Metropolitan Airport on Tuesday. Lin was bound for Shanghai. He checked two bags, in which fish and wildlife agents say they found more than 200 live turtles, including the protected spotted turtle.
Fish and wildlife service agents say turtles are far from the only North American animals targeted by poachers. A spokesman for the fish and wildlife office, Gavin Shire, said agents sometimes find hummingbirds smuggled in wigs, and that rattlesnakes and Gila Monsters are also popular prey for smugglers. “Not just with turtles, I see it with ginseng, I see it with how wildlife in the United States can be, you know, coveted by collectors or for food markets,” said Grace. Both men were indicted on illegal smuggling charges and violations of the endangered species act. The turtles were seized by fish and wildlife agents.
Workers helpfully scattered litter around so that politician could could have photo-op picking it up
Sanitation workers in India became litterbugs on Thursday when they threw plastic bottles and crumpled pieces of paper outside the Red Fort in Delhi so a Union Minister could get his photo-op while sweeping it up.
The staged littering and cleanliness drive was organised by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) as part of the Swachh Bharat Mission. Even as Minister of State (independent charge) for Culture and Tourism Shripad Naik was speaking at the event, safai karamcharis started littering the premises by throwing used mineral water bottles and waste paper on the road, which had earlier been swept clean.
As Mr. Naik wrapped up his speech, the cleaning staff were ordered to add more garbage as it didn’t look dirty enough. All the while officials associated with the event oversaw the organised littering. After he had finished, Mr Naik was promptly handed a broom, which he wielded with aplomb to bring about a sweeping change in the area. A casual employee of the ASI said the staff usually cleans the busy tourist spot three times a day.
“Today, we cleaned the area at 1pm and were asked to keep the bottles and paper for the Minister’s visit at 4pm,” said the sanitation worker who couldn’t help but smile at the irony. The stage-managed littering seemed to work out with the Minister being mobbed by camerapersons and ordinary visitors, who were curious to see what the man dressed in a sparkling white kurta was up to. Culture and Tourism Ministry and ASI officials were unavailable for comment.
The staged littering and cleanliness drive was organised by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) as part of the Swachh Bharat Mission. Even as Minister of State (independent charge) for Culture and Tourism Shripad Naik was speaking at the event, safai karamcharis started littering the premises by throwing used mineral water bottles and waste paper on the road, which had earlier been swept clean.
As Mr. Naik wrapped up his speech, the cleaning staff were ordered to add more garbage as it didn’t look dirty enough. All the while officials associated with the event oversaw the organised littering. After he had finished, Mr Naik was promptly handed a broom, which he wielded with aplomb to bring about a sweeping change in the area. A casual employee of the ASI said the staff usually cleans the busy tourist spot three times a day.
“Today, we cleaned the area at 1pm and were asked to keep the bottles and paper for the Minister’s visit at 4pm,” said the sanitation worker who couldn’t help but smile at the irony. The stage-managed littering seemed to work out with the Minister being mobbed by camerapersons and ordinary visitors, who were curious to see what the man dressed in a sparkling white kurta was up to. Culture and Tourism Ministry and ASI officials were unavailable for comment.
Jail for man who farted in face of police officer
A man who broke wind in the face of a police officer and branded him a terrorist has been jailed after ignoring his court sentence.
Malcolm Gill, of Dalton, west Yorkshire, admitted the charge of racially-aggravated harassment plus other offences in February.
Kirklees magistrates gave him a community order as a direct alternative to custody.
But that order failed to get off the ground and Gill was charged with breaching the order.
He failed to show for his trial on this and a warrant was issued for his arrest. At his original hearing magistrates heard that Gill was on bail for three shop thefts when he was told to report to Huddersfield Police Station. He turned up a day late on January 16 and appeared agitated while at the front desk. He thrashed around and turned his backside towards one of the officers. The 46-year-old broke wind twice in the face of the officer and told him: “You black bastard, you terrorist.”
Magistrates sentenced him to a 12-month community order with 30 days of activities and a one-month curfew. Gill was found guilty after a trial on September 19 of failing to show up for two appointments. He appeared in court on Wednesday after being arrested when he missed his trial. Ian Whiteley, mitigating, said: “The order was made as a direct alternative to custody, he’s only attended one appointment.
“It’s now seven months later and there’s been no progress with the order. He has a longstanding drugs issue. He was in hospital for six weeks and part of that time covered the breach period. Mr Gill wants a rehab place as an in-patient but there’s no funding available.” Mr Whitely said that while his client did accept most of his behaviour towards police at the station, he disputed some of the language he is said to have used. Magistrates jailed Gill for a total of 18 weeks.
He failed to show for his trial on this and a warrant was issued for his arrest. At his original hearing magistrates heard that Gill was on bail for three shop thefts when he was told to report to Huddersfield Police Station. He turned up a day late on January 16 and appeared agitated while at the front desk. He thrashed around and turned his backside towards one of the officers. The 46-year-old broke wind twice in the face of the officer and told him: “You black bastard, you terrorist.”
Magistrates sentenced him to a 12-month community order with 30 days of activities and a one-month curfew. Gill was found guilty after a trial on September 19 of failing to show up for two appointments. He appeared in court on Wednesday after being arrested when he missed his trial. Ian Whiteley, mitigating, said: “The order was made as a direct alternative to custody, he’s only attended one appointment.
“It’s now seven months later and there’s been no progress with the order. He has a longstanding drugs issue. He was in hospital for six weeks and part of that time covered the breach period. Mr Gill wants a rehab place as an in-patient but there’s no funding available.” Mr Whitely said that while his client did accept most of his behaviour towards police at the station, he disputed some of the language he is said to have used. Magistrates jailed Gill for a total of 18 weeks.
Woman narrowly avoided paying £23.7bn for two return flights from Birmingham to Portugal
A would-be holidaymaker has spoken of her shock after an online travel agency almost charged her £23.7bn for two return flights to Portugal.
Marion Sessions, who owns and runs two holiday cottages in Derbyshire with her husband, was about to click 'proceed' on the eDreams website for flights from Birmingham to Faro for them when she noticed the return baggage check-in cost.
She said: "I tried to book cheap flights for a weekend trip to stay with some good friends. I Googled 'cheap flights to Faro', found eDreams ('Great Trips at Great Prices' is their slogan) were offering the best, with Ryanair and Monarch Airlines, at a cost for the two of us of £164.07. I duly booked and fortunately was alert enough to realise - before clicking 'confirm' that the final cost was the truly - as advertised - great price of £23,659,382,125.95!!!"
"Don't think our current account would have run to it this month..." Mrs Sessions, who has written a blog on her experience, added: "I thought i must have made a mistake. "I couldn't believe my eyes but it was so lucky I noticed the final price. "I shudder to think what may have happened had I agreed... I tried to contact them but there was an out-of-hours message." A spokeswoman for Spain-based eDreams said: "eDreams would like to apologise to Mrs Sessions for any inconvenience caused.
"We are continuing to investigate, however it appears to be an isolated incident that we have been unable to replicate. If it is a bug, we will find it and make every effort to fix it immediately. eDreams would like to re-iterate that at no point was there any attempt to make this purchase. We would also like to provide the added re-assurance that any attempt at a transaction of this size would automatically be rejected by our systems and unable to proceed." Neither Ryanair nor Monarch are responsible for eDreams' pricing or booking processes.
She said: "I tried to book cheap flights for a weekend trip to stay with some good friends. I Googled 'cheap flights to Faro', found eDreams ('Great Trips at Great Prices' is their slogan) were offering the best, with Ryanair and Monarch Airlines, at a cost for the two of us of £164.07. I duly booked and fortunately was alert enough to realise - before clicking 'confirm' that the final cost was the truly - as advertised - great price of £23,659,382,125.95!!!"
"Don't think our current account would have run to it this month..." Mrs Sessions, who has written a blog on her experience, added: "I thought i must have made a mistake. "I couldn't believe my eyes but it was so lucky I noticed the final price. "I shudder to think what may have happened had I agreed... I tried to contact them but there was an out-of-hours message." A spokeswoman for Spain-based eDreams said: "eDreams would like to apologise to Mrs Sessions for any inconvenience caused.
"We are continuing to investigate, however it appears to be an isolated incident that we have been unable to replicate. If it is a bug, we will find it and make every effort to fix it immediately. eDreams would like to re-iterate that at no point was there any attempt to make this purchase. We would also like to provide the added re-assurance that any attempt at a transaction of this size would automatically be rejected by our systems and unable to proceed." Neither Ryanair nor Monarch are responsible for eDreams' pricing or booking processes.
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