Saturday, February 21, 2015
Robber smashed through store's glass door with his head to steal worthless scratch-off tickets
Police in Florida said a thief used his head when he broke into an Orlando convenience store early on Thursday morning.
The robber got away with more than $10,000 worth of scratch-off lottery tickets at around 3:45am at the Sunshine Food Mart.
The store had detailed records of which tickets were lost and contacted lottery offices about the head-aching heist right away.
YouTube link.
A Florida lotto employee said the tickets were cancelled before the thief had a chance to cash in.
The robber got away with more than $10,000 worth of scratch-off lottery tickets at around 3:45am at the Sunshine Food Mart.
The store had detailed records of which tickets were lost and contacted lottery offices about the head-aching heist right away.
YouTube link.
A Florida lotto employee said the tickets were cancelled before the thief had a chance to cash in.
Prank call led to employees smashing up store
A Circle K store in Globe, Arizona, was left severely damaged, with windows broken and merchandise destroyed.
But it wasn't the work of vandals, it was done by two gullible store employees.
Police say the employees thought they were following instructions from a security company, but it was a prank call.
The prankster called in and posed as Circle K corporate security, they claimed a silent fire alarm was going off and he instructed the employees to do certain things to stop the alarm. "The first thing they asked him to do was discharge fire extinguishers inside the store, which apparently did not raise any alarms when they did that," said a spokesperson with the Globe Police Department.
The caller then went on to tell them to throw the extinguishers through the windows, which they did. "They finally ordered them to break the computer which is kind of when the light bulb went off that this is a prank call ... unfortunately it didn't go off any sooner, and the store employees caused a significant amount of damage to the store," he added.
Police are investigating the prank, but they could only shake their heads in wonder, and wonder why they did what they did. "I think whoever did it should be ashamed of what they had done, and whoever made that call should pay for what they did," said Phillips. The store is now boarded up, but open for business. It's unclear whether both store employees kept their jobs.
With news video.
The prankster called in and posed as Circle K corporate security, they claimed a silent fire alarm was going off and he instructed the employees to do certain things to stop the alarm. "The first thing they asked him to do was discharge fire extinguishers inside the store, which apparently did not raise any alarms when they did that," said a spokesperson with the Globe Police Department.
The caller then went on to tell them to throw the extinguishers through the windows, which they did. "They finally ordered them to break the computer which is kind of when the light bulb went off that this is a prank call ... unfortunately it didn't go off any sooner, and the store employees caused a significant amount of damage to the store," he added.
Police are investigating the prank, but they could only shake their heads in wonder, and wonder why they did what they did. "I think whoever did it should be ashamed of what they had done, and whoever made that call should pay for what they did," said Phillips. The store is now boarded up, but open for business. It's unclear whether both store employees kept their jobs.
With news video.
Canadian MP blamed too-tight underpants for exit from parliament
A Canadian MP blamed his too-tight underpants for leaving parliament in a hurry on Thursday morning. His cut-price and, as it turned out, overly tight underpants made it difficult for him to sit through a one-by-one vote, MP Pat Martin explained.
The Winnipeg Centre New Democratic Party representative had voted on a procedural motion to adjourn debate, then left his seat for a moment.
When Conservative MP Royal Galipeau asked deputy speaker Joe Comartin if a vote still counts if an MP leaves while it's being counted, Martin stood up to offer his explanation. "I can blame it on a sale that was down at the Hudson's Bay [Company] – they had men's underwear on for half price. I bought a bunch that was clearly too small for me and I find it difficult to sit for any length of time," he said.
"I apologize if it was necessary for me to leave my seat briefly, but I did not mean to forfeit my right to vote." After a mix of cheers, applause and laughter from the benches, Comartin was forced to rule on whether Martin's vote would count. "Let me try to deal with this with at least some seriousness, we all understand that we have to be in our seats at the time the motion is read ... the member for Winnipeg Centre was in his seat at that time.
YouTube link.
"He did step out of his chair for a very short time and was directed by me to sit down again," Comartin said. "I didn't understand the explanation at the time, that he subsequently gave … can't say I really understand it at this point." Comartin then said that since Martin was in his seat when the vote was read and also when he voted that his vote was able to stand.
When Conservative MP Royal Galipeau asked deputy speaker Joe Comartin if a vote still counts if an MP leaves while it's being counted, Martin stood up to offer his explanation. "I can blame it on a sale that was down at the Hudson's Bay [Company] – they had men's underwear on for half price. I bought a bunch that was clearly too small for me and I find it difficult to sit for any length of time," he said.
"I apologize if it was necessary for me to leave my seat briefly, but I did not mean to forfeit my right to vote." After a mix of cheers, applause and laughter from the benches, Comartin was forced to rule on whether Martin's vote would count. "Let me try to deal with this with at least some seriousness, we all understand that we have to be in our seats at the time the motion is read ... the member for Winnipeg Centre was in his seat at that time.
YouTube link.
"He did step out of his chair for a very short time and was directed by me to sit down again," Comartin said. "I didn't understand the explanation at the time, that he subsequently gave … can't say I really understand it at this point." Comartin then said that since Martin was in his seat when the vote was read and also when he voted that his vote was able to stand.
Woman arrested following fake pregnancy pizza day scam
A woman was arrested in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, on Thursday in an unusual scam that included a fake pregnant daughter and a fictional pizza day, police say.
According to police, the woman showed up at a 57-year-old man’s door on the Mountain, underdressed for the weather and in a panic.
Police Constable Steve Welton says she told the man her daughter was in labour, and that she desperately needed a ride to her house. The man didn’t recognize the woman, but assumed she was a neighbour. The two got in the man’s car, and started to drive.
During the drive, the woman told the man it was also pizza day at her son’s school, and asked him to break a $50 bill so she’d have some change to give him. She handed over $50, and he gave her change. Not long after, she asked him to do the same with a $100 bill, police say. He gave her the change, but she never gave him the $100, Welton says.
Instead, she ran off, leaving the man short $100. Officers were able to track down the woman fairly quickly, Welton says, in part because she is “very well known to police.” “This person has a prolific history of intentionally targeting members of our community,” Welton added. A 47-year-old woman was charged with theft by conversion under $5,000, and failing to comply with her probation.
Police Constable Steve Welton says she told the man her daughter was in labour, and that she desperately needed a ride to her house. The man didn’t recognize the woman, but assumed she was a neighbour. The two got in the man’s car, and started to drive.
During the drive, the woman told the man it was also pizza day at her son’s school, and asked him to break a $50 bill so she’d have some change to give him. She handed over $50, and he gave her change. Not long after, she asked him to do the same with a $100 bill, police say. He gave her the change, but she never gave him the $100, Welton says.
Instead, she ran off, leaving the man short $100. Officers were able to track down the woman fairly quickly, Welton says, in part because she is “very well known to police.” “This person has a prolific history of intentionally targeting members of our community,” Welton added. A 47-year-old woman was charged with theft by conversion under $5,000, and failing to comply with her probation.
Hands-free tomato dispenser set for marathon debut
Japanese manufacturer and distributor of tomato-based foods, Kagome, have unveiled a wearable tomato dispensing machine that will feature at this weekend's Tokyo Marathon.
The device allows runners to consume up to seven mid-sized tomatoes on the go, all at the click of a button.
A smaller version can provide runners with twelve cherry-sized tomatoes.
YouTube link.
The machine's designers say they wanted to find a way to incorporate tomatoes into running.
The device allows runners to consume up to seven mid-sized tomatoes on the go, all at the click of a button.
A smaller version can provide runners with twelve cherry-sized tomatoes.
YouTube link.
The machine's designers say they wanted to find a way to incorporate tomatoes into running.
Birds with racist names now banned in Sweden
Sweden's Ornithological Society has banned several names for birds following concerns that they sound racist, after completing the first official guide to bird names in Swedish.
Four different bird species which include the word "neger" ("negro") have been renamed using "svart" ("black") instead. Other feathered creatures known as "swifts" in English will no longer be called "kaffer" in Swedish.
This word, which can also be spelt "caffer" and "kaffir" is a racist term that has been used by white South Africans towards black South Africans. White-rumped swifts will now be known as "vitgumpseglare" in Swedish. "Hottentott", a species of dabbling duck is also being renamed because the word "Hottentot" is a derogatory term for a group of indigenous people called the "Khoikhoi" living in South Africa. The term is thought to refer to their language, which includes clicking sounds.
"Zigenarfågel" which translates as "gypsy bird" will take the name "hoatzin", the English word already used to describe a type of tropical pheasant found in swamps and forests. "We haven't had an official list of what all the birds in the world are called in Swedish until now, we just had an unofficial list put together about ten years ago," Anders Wirdheim Information Officer at Sweden's Ornothological Society said.
"We kept getting more and more questions from translators of Swedish TV programmes and books wanting to know what exactly different bird names were or meant, so we decided to compile a list and while we were doing that we decided to change the names of any birds that could have stirred up a debate," he added. The full list of Swedish bird names was completed three weeks ago after several years of research and includes translations for 10,709 different species.
This word, which can also be spelt "caffer" and "kaffir" is a racist term that has been used by white South Africans towards black South Africans. White-rumped swifts will now be known as "vitgumpseglare" in Swedish. "Hottentott", a species of dabbling duck is also being renamed because the word "Hottentot" is a derogatory term for a group of indigenous people called the "Khoikhoi" living in South Africa. The term is thought to refer to their language, which includes clicking sounds.
"Zigenarfågel" which translates as "gypsy bird" will take the name "hoatzin", the English word already used to describe a type of tropical pheasant found in swamps and forests. "We haven't had an official list of what all the birds in the world are called in Swedish until now, we just had an unofficial list put together about ten years ago," Anders Wirdheim Information Officer at Sweden's Ornothological Society said.
"We kept getting more and more questions from translators of Swedish TV programmes and books wanting to know what exactly different bird names were or meant, so we decided to compile a list and while we were doing that we decided to change the names of any birds that could have stirred up a debate," he added. The full list of Swedish bird names was completed three weeks ago after several years of research and includes translations for 10,709 different species.
Nappy-wearing baby goat has started behaving like the dogs she shares a home with
A sickly baby goat being nursed back to health has started behaving like the dogs she shares a home with, her Northamptonshire owner says.
Lily the kid collapsed near her mother three weeks after birth and was taken to a vet in a critical condition.
Owner Rebecca Mineards hopes Lily, who has to wear nappies in the house, will soon be able to return to her mother.
Meanwhile, she is learning to play "just like my dogs" and wrestling their toys away from them, Mrs Mineards said. Lily collapsed on 22 January and a month later is still living in the Mineards' lounge, with her owner sleeping on the sofa. "Initially I was told she was critical and not to get my hopes up, but after she was given steroids and I noticed some twitching of her nerves, I just thought, 'Come on, you can't go, you've got to stay'," said Mrs Mineards.
"My husband Sid won't allow her in the bed, which I can understand, and if you walk away from Lily she does cry an awful lot, to the point that she would wake up the whole house," Mrs Mineards added. "Unfortunately she has to wear a nappy because unlike a dog you cannot train a goat. It's not ideal so I'm keen for her to get better and return to being with her mum and brother (Dexter) as soon as possible." Mrs Mineards carries out light physiotherapy on Lily daily to improve her mobility.
YouTube link.
"I've become her mum for now, but she's well cared for by the dogs as well. She really does think she's a dog. She plays with them and unfortunately head-butts them, but they don't mind at all," she said. Vets treating the pygmy goat are still not sure what caused Lily's illness but she has come on in leaps and bounds since moving in with the Mineards. "Lily's doing miraculously considering she couldn't sit, stand or walk and now she's doing goat behaviour like jumping and leaping. I know some people will say she's just a goat but she's actually more than that, isn't she? She's special."
If you've been wondering how you put a nappy on a goat, there's a video of Mrs Mineards demonstrating here.
Meanwhile, she is learning to play "just like my dogs" and wrestling their toys away from them, Mrs Mineards said. Lily collapsed on 22 January and a month later is still living in the Mineards' lounge, with her owner sleeping on the sofa. "Initially I was told she was critical and not to get my hopes up, but after she was given steroids and I noticed some twitching of her nerves, I just thought, 'Come on, you can't go, you've got to stay'," said Mrs Mineards.
"My husband Sid won't allow her in the bed, which I can understand, and if you walk away from Lily she does cry an awful lot, to the point that she would wake up the whole house," Mrs Mineards added. "Unfortunately she has to wear a nappy because unlike a dog you cannot train a goat. It's not ideal so I'm keen for her to get better and return to being with her mum and brother (Dexter) as soon as possible." Mrs Mineards carries out light physiotherapy on Lily daily to improve her mobility.
YouTube link.
"I've become her mum for now, but she's well cared for by the dogs as well. She really does think she's a dog. She plays with them and unfortunately head-butts them, but they don't mind at all," she said. Vets treating the pygmy goat are still not sure what caused Lily's illness but she has come on in leaps and bounds since moving in with the Mineards. "Lily's doing miraculously considering she couldn't sit, stand or walk and now she's doing goat behaviour like jumping and leaping. I know some people will say she's just a goat but she's actually more than that, isn't she? She's special."
If you've been wondering how you put a nappy on a goat, there's a video of Mrs Mineards demonstrating here.
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