Saturday, November 29, 2014
Disruptive pig removed from flight
A pig didn't fly on Wednesday after it was removed from a US Airways flight out of Connecticut due to its disruptive behaviour.
Jonathan Skolnik, a professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a passenger on the flight, said he thought the woman with the pig was carrying a duffel bag when she got on the plane and headed straight for the empty seat next to him. "But it turns out it wasn't a duffel bag.
"We could smell it and it was a pig on a leash," he said. "She tethered it to the arm rest next to me and started to deal with her stuff, but the pig was walking back and forth. I was terrified, because I was thinking I'm gonna be on the plane with the pig," Snolnik added, saying he guesses the pig weighed between 50 and 70 pounds.
But the flight didn't take off with the pig. The woman and the animal eventually deplaned. American Airlines, the parent company of US Airways, confirmed that a passenger brought the pig aboard as an emotional support animal. After the pig became disruptive, she was asked to leave, a spokesperson said.
Jonathan Skolnik, a professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a passenger on the flight, said he thought the woman with the pig was carrying a duffel bag when she got on the plane and headed straight for the empty seat next to him. "But it turns out it wasn't a duffel bag.
"We could smell it and it was a pig on a leash," he said. "She tethered it to the arm rest next to me and started to deal with her stuff, but the pig was walking back and forth. I was terrified, because I was thinking I'm gonna be on the plane with the pig," Snolnik added, saying he guesses the pig weighed between 50 and 70 pounds.
But the flight didn't take off with the pig. The woman and the animal eventually deplaned. American Airlines, the parent company of US Airways, confirmed that a passenger brought the pig aboard as an emotional support animal. After the pig became disruptive, she was asked to leave, a spokesperson said.
Darth Vader and Imperial Stormtroopers felt the force in collision with overhead street sign
Darth Vader and a pair of Imperial Stormtroopers felt the force of a blow from a road sign after not paying attention while hitting the campaign trail.
Darth Vader, who had his name legally changed by deed poll, was campaigning for the Ukrainian Internet party on a platform promoting e-government and improving financial transparency.
Video apparently recorded on a potato.
YouTube link.
But as they were carrying out an "Imperial March" on the streets of the Ukrainian capital Kiev on their Vadermobile, they failed to notice a street sign which bashed both of the Imperial Stormtroopers on the head.
The street sign then swung forward, before slipping back to smash Darth Vader, who was standing behind them, firmly on the head, knocking off his helmet as he struggled to avoid falling from the vehicle. The Vadermobile has been a very public part of the Internet party's attempts to draw attention to problems with corruption in the country.
Darth Vader, who had his name legally changed by deed poll, was campaigning for the Ukrainian Internet party on a platform promoting e-government and improving financial transparency.
Video apparently recorded on a potato.
YouTube link.
But as they were carrying out an "Imperial March" on the streets of the Ukrainian capital Kiev on their Vadermobile, they failed to notice a street sign which bashed both of the Imperial Stormtroopers on the head.
The street sign then swung forward, before slipping back to smash Darth Vader, who was standing behind them, firmly on the head, knocking off his helmet as he struggled to avoid falling from the vehicle. The Vadermobile has been a very public part of the Internet party's attempts to draw attention to problems with corruption in the country.
Family unimpressed after restaurant included dead mouse in vegetable dish
A restaurant in Shanghai, China, that served up a dead mouse to a family of diners is under investigation by the Changning District government.
According to a customer surnamed Zhang, he and his family visited the South Memory restaurant at the Xijiao Bailian Shopping Mall last Saturday. As they were eating a vegetable dish they discovered the dead rodent in it, and immediately alerted the staff.
Zhang said he took a photograph of the mouse on his cellphone before a waiter took away the offending platter. A diner at a nearby table vomited at the sight, he said. Despite the restaurant manager appealing to Zhang not to report the incident to the authorities, the disgruntled diner called both police and the Changning government.
Zhou Xian from the Changning Market Administration Bureau said that officials have spoken to both Zhang and the restaurant boss, and an investigation is now under way. “The restaurant admitted to the existence of the mouse in the dish and agreed it was a mistake,” Zhou said. “We have launched an investigation and the restaurant will be punished if it is found to have violated food safety regulations,” he said.
According to a customer surnamed Zhang, he and his family visited the South Memory restaurant at the Xijiao Bailian Shopping Mall last Saturday. As they were eating a vegetable dish they discovered the dead rodent in it, and immediately alerted the staff.
Zhang said he took a photograph of the mouse on his cellphone before a waiter took away the offending platter. A diner at a nearby table vomited at the sight, he said. Despite the restaurant manager appealing to Zhang not to report the incident to the authorities, the disgruntled diner called both police and the Changning government.
Zhou Xian from the Changning Market Administration Bureau said that officials have spoken to both Zhang and the restaurant boss, and an investigation is now under way. “The restaurant admitted to the existence of the mouse in the dish and agreed it was a mistake,” Zhou said. “We have launched an investigation and the restaurant will be punished if it is found to have violated food safety regulations,” he said.
55-tonne crane lifting boat toppled onto neighbour's house
A 55-tonne crane lifting a boat in the Albany suburb of Auckland, New Zealand, toppled over and crashed into a house on Friday afternoon.
It reportedly narrowly missed a young man sitting in his bedroom.
The boat's owner, Louise Cashmore, said that the crane was blown over by a gust of wind and crashed into a neighbour's home. She said three neighbours had to climb out of the window. Albany station officer Graeme Butter said the young man who survived the crash "was very lucky, he was in his bedroom and the crane came right through it."
Another neighbour reportedly pulled a woman out of the house shortly after the crash. She was described as being "hysterical" Ms Cashmore said she and her husband had wanted to move the boat to an area behind their house in Unsworth Heights. She said she "felt awful" about the large hole left in her neighbour's home.
YouTube link.
"It crashed and I don't know where the boat went flying to but it's gone, "she said, adding: "Just as well I took the rabbit off the deck." The driver of the crane was taken to hospital with a minor leg injury. It's likely that the house is a write-off.
There's an overhead video of the house and crane here.
The boat's owner, Louise Cashmore, said that the crane was blown over by a gust of wind and crashed into a neighbour's home. She said three neighbours had to climb out of the window. Albany station officer Graeme Butter said the young man who survived the crash "was very lucky, he was in his bedroom and the crane came right through it."
Another neighbour reportedly pulled a woman out of the house shortly after the crash. She was described as being "hysterical" Ms Cashmore said she and her husband had wanted to move the boat to an area behind their house in Unsworth Heights. She said she "felt awful" about the large hole left in her neighbour's home.
YouTube link.
"It crashed and I don't know where the boat went flying to but it's gone, "she said, adding: "Just as well I took the rabbit off the deck." The driver of the crane was taken to hospital with a minor leg injury. It's likely that the house is a write-off.
There's an overhead video of the house and crane here.
Man given conditional discharge after court appearance for theft of items worth two pence
A man has appeared in court in Derry, Northern Ireland, charged with the theft of two aftershave testers from Boots valued at one pence each.
Keith Shannon (44) with an address in Letterkenny or alternatively in Larne was charged with stealing the items on November 22 and on November 26. The court was told that police were called to Boots after reports that a man was seen to put something shiny in his pocket after being at the aftershave counter.
The man left without paying. On November 26 police received another report of a man being detained in Boots after lifting a tester and trying to leave the store without paying. The value of the testers was one pence each.
At interview Shannon said he had gone in to Boots with the intention of stealing the aftershave. District Judge Barney McElholm said he did not care whether Shannon lived in Letterkenny or Larne, but if he appeared at this court again for shoplifting he was going to prison. Shannon was given a conditional discharge for a period of two years.
Keith Shannon (44) with an address in Letterkenny or alternatively in Larne was charged with stealing the items on November 22 and on November 26. The court was told that police were called to Boots after reports that a man was seen to put something shiny in his pocket after being at the aftershave counter.
The man left without paying. On November 26 police received another report of a man being detained in Boots after lifting a tester and trying to leave the store without paying. The value of the testers was one pence each.
At interview Shannon said he had gone in to Boots with the intention of stealing the aftershave. District Judge Barney McElholm said he did not care whether Shannon lived in Letterkenny or Larne, but if he appeared at this court again for shoplifting he was going to prison. Shannon was given a conditional discharge for a period of two years.
Elderly man drowned lodger's pet cat after it knocked his model aeroplane over
An elderly man drowned his lodger’s cat in a river after it knocked over his model aeroplane.
Neil Lewis, 72, held the animal under water in a pet carrier, Colchester Magistrates’ Court heard on Friday.
He was given a suspended sentence and a life ban from owning animals.
The court heard Lewis’s lodger, Alexander Hammond, brought a kitten home last November after finding it at Colchester railway station and being unable to locate its owner.
Colette Harper, prosecuting, said: “As it got older, he noticed the defendant had some hatred for the cat. He told him he was fed up with it because it knocked his model aeroplane over.” Lewis, of Colchester, had suggested to Mr Hammond they should take the cat into a nearby meadow and set it loose. On April 24, Lewis was seen by a witness with the cat in a pet carrier along the River Colne. Mrs Harper said: “He was then seen to place the pet carrier fully in the water.”
When police attended, Lewis said: “I didn’t like that cat. It was always a pain and scratched things. There’s another cat at home I like – that’s my cat.” The cat was taken to a vets, but was dead on arrival. Laura Austin, mitigating, told magistrates Lewis suffered from bipolar disorder. She said: “There is a significant history of mental health problems relating to this defendant, which was exacerbated by a serious traffic accident he was involved in a year ago.
“He knows in hindsight what he did was wrong. He saw a short-term solution to the perceived problems he was facing at that time, not thinking of the consequences. The defendant is a somewhat educated person who, without these mental health difficulties, would have behaved entirely differently.” Lewis admitted causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. He was given an 18-week prison sentence, suspended for two years, and made subject to a lifetime order banning him from having animals. Lewis was also ordered to pay £165 in costs.
Colette Harper, prosecuting, said: “As it got older, he noticed the defendant had some hatred for the cat. He told him he was fed up with it because it knocked his model aeroplane over.” Lewis, of Colchester, had suggested to Mr Hammond they should take the cat into a nearby meadow and set it loose. On April 24, Lewis was seen by a witness with the cat in a pet carrier along the River Colne. Mrs Harper said: “He was then seen to place the pet carrier fully in the water.”
When police attended, Lewis said: “I didn’t like that cat. It was always a pain and scratched things. There’s another cat at home I like – that’s my cat.” The cat was taken to a vets, but was dead on arrival. Laura Austin, mitigating, told magistrates Lewis suffered from bipolar disorder. She said: “There is a significant history of mental health problems relating to this defendant, which was exacerbated by a serious traffic accident he was involved in a year ago.
“He knows in hindsight what he did was wrong. He saw a short-term solution to the perceived problems he was facing at that time, not thinking of the consequences. The defendant is a somewhat educated person who, without these mental health difficulties, would have behaved entirely differently.” Lewis admitted causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. He was given an 18-week prison sentence, suspended for two years, and made subject to a lifetime order banning him from having animals. Lewis was also ordered to pay £165 in costs.
School markings accidentally painted outside home
"Keep clear" markings intended for outside a Shropshire school have been accidentally painted outside a home instead.
The yellow zig-zag lines were placed outside a former primary school that has not heard the sound of children's voices for 13 years.
The blunder came about in the small village of Ruyton XI Towns, near Shrewsbury. The gang were sent to draw up the safety markings outside St John the Baptist Primary School on Church Street. But they instead descended on the former village school in Grug Hill, half a mile away and which closed in 2001.
Councillor Colin Case, chairman of the parish council and a governor at the village school, said the workmanship couldn't be faulted – but the geography left something to be desired. He said: "They are beautifully painted, a cracking job, just 400 yards in the wrong place. I suspect the poor lady who lives in the old school now isn't as amused though."
Councillor Case, who is also a governor at the village primary school, said the work had not been arranged by the school. He said: "The school don't seem to have any knowledge of the work. It's such a shame but these things do happen, particularly if you use subcontractors that don't know the area that well. But the new school isn't really that new any more. It's been there for 10 years so anyone local would know where it is."
The blunder came about in the small village of Ruyton XI Towns, near Shrewsbury. The gang were sent to draw up the safety markings outside St John the Baptist Primary School on Church Street. But they instead descended on the former village school in Grug Hill, half a mile away and which closed in 2001.
Councillor Colin Case, chairman of the parish council and a governor at the village school, said the workmanship couldn't be faulted – but the geography left something to be desired. He said: "They are beautifully painted, a cracking job, just 400 yards in the wrong place. I suspect the poor lady who lives in the old school now isn't as amused though."
Councillor Case, who is also a governor at the village primary school, said the work had not been arranged by the school. He said: "The school don't seem to have any knowledge of the work. It's such a shame but these things do happen, particularly if you use subcontractors that don't know the area that well. But the new school isn't really that new any more. It's been there for 10 years so anyone local would know where it is."
'Dog sat on my accelerator' speeding driver is jailed - Update
A man who blamed his dog for sitting on the pedals when he was caught driving at nearly 100mph has been jailed for 13 months.
Jordan Winn told police his Staffordshire bull terrier was in the footwell of his Volvo S60 as he sped along a 30mph zone last October.
He had admitted dangerous driving at a previous hearing, but said it only happened because Buster sat on the accelerator pedal.
During sentencing at Durham Crown Court, the judge said it was a "ludicrous account" which he dismissed.
Winn was spotted by a police officer in Chester-le-Street who then set off in pursuit. Footage played in court showed the police car reached 88mph in an attempt to catch up with Winn. The officer estimated Winn must have been driving at close to 100mph. His Volvo could then be seen braking hard and turning right, just missing an oncoming car which had two adults and two children in it. He stopped around a mile from where the police chase started.
Winn went on to blame Buster when he was arrested and later interviewed. The judge told him: "You advanced an utterly ludicrous account on which you were to insist for over a year. You told the police officer the reason you drove in that manner is because the dog that was in your vehicle was jumping around and became trapped beneath your foot." The judge said Winn claimed the car accelerated and braked "because the dog's backside was on the pedals of the vehicle".
YouTube link.
That claim was dismissed at the previous hearing, known as a trial of issue. Sentencing the 23-year-old, the judge said he would be failing the public if he did not immediately jail him. "Your driving was extremely dangerous and it is just a matter of pure good fortune that nobody was seriously injured or killed during what was I am quite sure a police pursuit." The judge said he was not being punished for the "ludicrous defence" he put forward, but for the potential harm he caused to others. Winn was also disqualified from driving for three years.
Winn was spotted by a police officer in Chester-le-Street who then set off in pursuit. Footage played in court showed the police car reached 88mph in an attempt to catch up with Winn. The officer estimated Winn must have been driving at close to 100mph. His Volvo could then be seen braking hard and turning right, just missing an oncoming car which had two adults and two children in it. He stopped around a mile from where the police chase started.
Winn went on to blame Buster when he was arrested and later interviewed. The judge told him: "You advanced an utterly ludicrous account on which you were to insist for over a year. You told the police officer the reason you drove in that manner is because the dog that was in your vehicle was jumping around and became trapped beneath your foot." The judge said Winn claimed the car accelerated and braked "because the dog's backside was on the pedals of the vehicle".
YouTube link.
That claim was dismissed at the previous hearing, known as a trial of issue. Sentencing the 23-year-old, the judge said he would be failing the public if he did not immediately jail him. "Your driving was extremely dangerous and it is just a matter of pure good fortune that nobody was seriously injured or killed during what was I am quite sure a police pursuit." The judge said he was not being punished for the "ludicrous defence" he put forward, but for the potential harm he caused to others. Winn was also disqualified from driving for three years.
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