Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Playful collie interrupts skiers to get assistance
This dog on the ski-slopes in Leukerbad, Switzerland, needed someone to throw his stick.
YouTube link.
He was back the next day, when he was happy to play fetch with a lump of dirty snow.
YouTube link.
YouTube link.
He was back the next day, when he was happy to play fetch with a lump of dirty snow.
YouTube link.
Athletic club hope to reunite prosthetic eye with its owner
A customer was walking out of the Memorial Athletic Club in Houston, Texas, recently when something on the ground caught his eye.
The man who found it turned it in to lost and found at Memorial Athletic Club, thinking someone was missing a ring or necklace.
"Didn't even look to see what it was.
"It was in a jewellery case, you know, a little box, and it made a noise, and he just assumed there was something in there," said Joseph Gabriel with the Memorial Athletic Club. When Gabriel opened the box, he found an artificial eye. The ocular prosthesis is made out of acrylic, hand-painted and custom fitted.
Dr. Michael Yen, opthamologist at Baylor College of Medicine says a patient wouldn't normally take out the prosthesis unless it's new and the patient is still getting used to how it feels. Somehow this one ended up in the parking lot, and it's not cheap. "The custom, hand-painted ones can run several thousand dollars," Yen said.
The athletic club staff are now trying to find the owner. "It's apparently very valuable and probably of great importance to the person who owns it," Gabriel said. Employees are keeping the eye safe until its owner claims it. If you or someone you know is missing an artificial eye, contact the Memorial Athletic Club.
With news video.
"It was in a jewellery case, you know, a little box, and it made a noise, and he just assumed there was something in there," said Joseph Gabriel with the Memorial Athletic Club. When Gabriel opened the box, he found an artificial eye. The ocular prosthesis is made out of acrylic, hand-painted and custom fitted.
Dr. Michael Yen, opthamologist at Baylor College of Medicine says a patient wouldn't normally take out the prosthesis unless it's new and the patient is still getting used to how it feels. Somehow this one ended up in the parking lot, and it's not cheap. "The custom, hand-painted ones can run several thousand dollars," Yen said.
The athletic club staff are now trying to find the owner. "It's apparently very valuable and probably of great importance to the person who owns it," Gabriel said. Employees are keeping the eye safe until its owner claims it. If you or someone you know is missing an artificial eye, contact the Memorial Athletic Club.
With news video.
Jaws of life used to free dog that got itself stuck between two heavy metal storage containers
A dog that got wedged between two large storage containers while playing with children on an elementary school playground in Oceanside, California, was rescued by firefighters on Sunday who used the "jaws of life" to move the heavy steel boxes.
Someone called emergency crews around noon to report that the 12-year-old Rhodesian Ridgeback named Spike had wedged himself between the containers at South Oceanside Elementary School, said Oceanside Fire Battalion Chief Pete Lawrence.
At first, crews from the Carlsbad Fire Department went to the school but they were unable to move the heavy containers so they summoned a ladder truck from Oceanside Fire Department.
Firefighters were able to move the containers about six inches, providing enough room for the dog to free himself, Lawrence said. After turning off their equipment, Spike's owners were able to coax the dog to safety.
Someone called emergency crews around noon to report that the 12-year-old Rhodesian Ridgeback named Spike had wedged himself between the containers at South Oceanside Elementary School, said Oceanside Fire Battalion Chief Pete Lawrence.
At first, crews from the Carlsbad Fire Department went to the school but they were unable to move the heavy containers so they summoned a ladder truck from Oceanside Fire Department.
Firefighters were able to move the containers about six inches, providing enough room for the dog to free himself, Lawrence said. After turning off their equipment, Spike's owners were able to coax the dog to safety.
Man arrested for assaulting his brother with Jesus licence plate
State police in Pennsylvania say a metal vanity licence plate reading "Jesus" was used as a weapon in a fight between two brothers in Springhill Township.
Police said James Edward Wiles, 45, of Point Marion was charged with simple assault and harassment.
Wiles allegedly threw the state licence plate at his 47-year-old brother, name not provided, during a domestic dispute at a residence on Fallen Timbers Road.
Wiles' brother sustained a severe laceration and bleeding, so he needed treatment by Point Marion EMS at the scene, police said. Wiles was arraigned by Magisterial District Court Judge Randy Abraham, who set bond at $25,000.
Police said James Edward Wiles, 45, of Point Marion was charged with simple assault and harassment.
Wiles allegedly threw the state licence plate at his 47-year-old brother, name not provided, during a domestic dispute at a residence on Fallen Timbers Road.
Wiles' brother sustained a severe laceration and bleeding, so he needed treatment by Point Marion EMS at the scene, police said. Wiles was arraigned by Magisterial District Court Judge Randy Abraham, who set bond at $25,000.
Gun collector killed after accidentally shooting himself with a cannon
A man from Northland, New Zealand, who accidentally shot himself with a cannon was a trained firearms instructor who had been around weapons all his life.
Derek Allan Kelly, 74, a gun collector from near Dargaville, was killed on Sunday afternoon by what police described as a small, single-shot cannon.
Police spokeswoman Sarah Kennett said Kelly was killed when he attempted to move the cannon from the back of his pick-up and it accidentally discharged. Kelly died at the scene in front of his wife who was "very distressed". Kennett said the barrel of the cannon was about 40mm in diameter. Police were still investigating the circumstances and couldn't reveal more because the matter was with the coroner, she said.
Barry Shine, a friend of Kelly's for 20 years, described him as an "upstanding citizen". "You'd go a long way to find as nice a guy as Derek," he said. "It's an absolute tragedy, and my thoughts are with his wife and family." Kelly was a trained firearms instructor, who was heavily involved with the local community, Shine said. "He's been around firearms all his life."
Kelly was a member of the New Zealand Antique & Historical Arms Association, and proficient with pistols and bolt-action rifles. Shine could not recall Kelly using or having any cannon-type weapons. Another friend, Neil Black, described Kelly as "a great guy". "He had a big collection of firearms - all sorts of things." Black was not familiar with the cannon involved in Kelly's death, but said: "There are groups that build these sorts of things, they're perfectly legal."
Police spokeswoman Sarah Kennett said Kelly was killed when he attempted to move the cannon from the back of his pick-up and it accidentally discharged. Kelly died at the scene in front of his wife who was "very distressed". Kennett said the barrel of the cannon was about 40mm in diameter. Police were still investigating the circumstances and couldn't reveal more because the matter was with the coroner, she said.
Barry Shine, a friend of Kelly's for 20 years, described him as an "upstanding citizen". "You'd go a long way to find as nice a guy as Derek," he said. "It's an absolute tragedy, and my thoughts are with his wife and family." Kelly was a trained firearms instructor, who was heavily involved with the local community, Shine said. "He's been around firearms all his life."
Kelly was a member of the New Zealand Antique & Historical Arms Association, and proficient with pistols and bolt-action rifles. Shine could not recall Kelly using or having any cannon-type weapons. Another friend, Neil Black, described Kelly as "a great guy". "He had a big collection of firearms - all sorts of things." Black was not familiar with the cannon involved in Kelly's death, but said: "There are groups that build these sorts of things, they're perfectly legal."
Fishing guide unrepentant about abusing clients, pooing from boat and hitting catfish with a bat
A fishing guide from Darwin in Australia's Northern Territory has hit back after a customer claimed that he pooed off the front of his boat, abused him and his fellow travellers and hit fish over the head with a baseball bat.
TripAdvisor user Robrobbo from Brisbane described his group’s fishing safari with Allan Beale from Darwin’s Barra Base as “so bad it was good”.
“Once we hit the water with Allan I think we were all looking around for the hidden cameras,” he wrote. “Abused at the boat ramp whilst attempting to help him launch the boat, abused when we hooked a fish, abused when we lost a fish, witnesses to the man himself defecating off the front of the boat … All in all, Robrobbo was philosophical about the adventure.
“Sure we spotted up over $3k each for the abuse but the accommodation on safari was good (Stuart Point), the wildlife was extraordinary and the conversations that we had over the three days on the water catching nothing bar (F!^king) catfish were pretty excellent (minus the hollow cracking noise that Allan’s baseball bat made on the Catfish’s heads – aaaah the serenity ...),” the post said. “One thing I will say though is you CANNOT question Allan’s passion for the ‘metrey’.” But Mr Beale, the owner and operator of Darwin’s Barra Base, wasn’t going to take gibes from southerners lying down.
“Yes, I swear at times, sorry that you have taken this as abuse to yourself,” he responded. “I believe your group did not land a metrey but hooked and lost plenty; I remember one guy actually just gave up the fight, and the barra flicked him off. This is frustrating when guides work all day to get you on to the big fish and clients cannot handle them. Yes, I assist to minimise the population of catfish, they are a pest and sometimes come into Shady Camp in droves.” And as for him “defecating” off the front of the boat, well … “if a man has to go, like you all did, then we have to go”. Mr Beale also pointed out that Darwin’s Barra Base lands more than 30 metreys (metre-long barramundi) a year.
“Once we hit the water with Allan I think we were all looking around for the hidden cameras,” he wrote. “Abused at the boat ramp whilst attempting to help him launch the boat, abused when we hooked a fish, abused when we lost a fish, witnesses to the man himself defecating off the front of the boat … All in all, Robrobbo was philosophical about the adventure.
“Sure we spotted up over $3k each for the abuse but the accommodation on safari was good (Stuart Point), the wildlife was extraordinary and the conversations that we had over the three days on the water catching nothing bar (F!^king) catfish were pretty excellent (minus the hollow cracking noise that Allan’s baseball bat made on the Catfish’s heads – aaaah the serenity ...),” the post said. “One thing I will say though is you CANNOT question Allan’s passion for the ‘metrey’.” But Mr Beale, the owner and operator of Darwin’s Barra Base, wasn’t going to take gibes from southerners lying down.
“Yes, I swear at times, sorry that you have taken this as abuse to yourself,” he responded. “I believe your group did not land a metrey but hooked and lost plenty; I remember one guy actually just gave up the fight, and the barra flicked him off. This is frustrating when guides work all day to get you on to the big fish and clients cannot handle them. Yes, I assist to minimise the population of catfish, they are a pest and sometimes come into Shady Camp in droves.” And as for him “defecating” off the front of the boat, well … “if a man has to go, like you all did, then we have to go”. Mr Beale also pointed out that Darwin’s Barra Base lands more than 30 metreys (metre-long barramundi) a year.
Woman travelled around Australia while knitting knockers for breast cancer survivors
A Queensland woman has knitted her way around Australia creating breast prostheses for breast cancer survivors.
While looking for something to do while travelling around Australia, Dawn Toomey, from Deception Bay north of Brisbane, decided to knit breast inserts for Knitted Knockers.
The charity originated in America and design and create breast prostheses for women who undergo single or double mastectomy.
"I could not quilt in the car like I normally would do at home, so I decided to knit knockers ," Ms Toomey said. "I knitted 128 of them when I travelled around Australia, and when I got back here there were no other branches in Queensland so I started one in Deception Bay." Groups in Australia started appearing in 2013 after a group in Melbourne heard about the American concept. Ms Toomey started the Deception Bay group in September last year with two other groups now in Caboolture and the Sunshine Coast.
The prostheses are free to women who have undergone a mastectomy and cannot afford reconstruction or chose not to undergo the procedure. The 'knockers' are made of 100 per cent cotton, enabling patients to use the inserts immediately after an operation. The group also works with hospitals and breast care nurses to supply the inserts and ensure that two sets of every size are always available. "We use cotton as many people have allergies or get itchy with wool, so cotton is the way to go as it is soft," Ms Toomey said. "It sits right against the skin and if someone has just had a mastectomy, it can sit against the wound and it does not itch or irritate.
"The knockers can be put inside a bra and worn immediately. We knit all sizes from A cup to G cup to suit all shapes and sizes." Ms Toomey hopes other knitters will join her in providing the service to breast cancer survivors. "We send out kits to knitters which are made up of a ball of cotton, pattern and enough fill to fill the cup and we provide all that for free," she said. "We have a quality control system and all the knitting goes through this first to make sure it is made as it should be before we put them into stock." More information on volunteering or receiving prostheses can be found at Knitted Knockers Australia.
"I could not quilt in the car like I normally would do at home, so I decided to knit knockers ," Ms Toomey said. "I knitted 128 of them when I travelled around Australia, and when I got back here there were no other branches in Queensland so I started one in Deception Bay." Groups in Australia started appearing in 2013 after a group in Melbourne heard about the American concept. Ms Toomey started the Deception Bay group in September last year with two other groups now in Caboolture and the Sunshine Coast.
The prostheses are free to women who have undergone a mastectomy and cannot afford reconstruction or chose not to undergo the procedure. The 'knockers' are made of 100 per cent cotton, enabling patients to use the inserts immediately after an operation. The group also works with hospitals and breast care nurses to supply the inserts and ensure that two sets of every size are always available. "We use cotton as many people have allergies or get itchy with wool, so cotton is the way to go as it is soft," Ms Toomey said. "It sits right against the skin and if someone has just had a mastectomy, it can sit against the wound and it does not itch or irritate.
"The knockers can be put inside a bra and worn immediately. We knit all sizes from A cup to G cup to suit all shapes and sizes." Ms Toomey hopes other knitters will join her in providing the service to breast cancer survivors. "We send out kits to knitters which are made up of a ball of cotton, pattern and enough fill to fill the cup and we provide all that for free," she said. "We have a quality control system and all the knitting goes through this first to make sure it is made as it should be before we put them into stock." More information on volunteering or receiving prostheses can be found at Knitted Knockers Australia.
Polite thief broke into car to firstly steal an ‘itchy’ blanket and again to return it with charming note
A homeless thief in Australia who broke into a car to “borrow” a blanket anonymously returned the stolen item to the owner with a cheeky and heart-warming thank you note.
Great-grandfather Bert Palin, 82, said he parked his car in Redfern, New South Wales, while visiting family but didn’t realise it had been broken into until he arrived home the next day and found a note from the culprit in the boot.
“I was getting (my wife’s) walker out of the boot when I saw the blanket that we normally toss in after using for picnics, folded neatly with a note,” Mr Palin said. The note read: “Hi, I borrowed your blanket for a little while because I was cold and didn’t have anywhere to go. I hope you accept my apology for taking your stuff without asking. Kind regards, Blankt (sic) theif :) P.S. The blank is really itchy.”
Mr Palin said he was surprised to see the note and learn someone had broken into his car twice - once to take the blanket and a second time to return it. “It was obviously a male or female of some education to have written it the way they did and to break into my car then say ‘thank you’ and ‘PS your blanket was itchy’ … it was breathtaking,” he said.
“I washed the blanket after that because I was concerned about it being itchy.” Mr Palin said there was no sign of any damage to the car as a result of the break in. “The boot just had a plastic clasp that must have been easy to open,” Mr Palin said. “I’ve been passing the note around and people are amazed ... (my grandson) couldn’t stop laughing.” Mr Palin said he accepted the thief’s apology but that if he could say anything to him or her it would be: “keep out of my car”.
“I was getting (my wife’s) walker out of the boot when I saw the blanket that we normally toss in after using for picnics, folded neatly with a note,” Mr Palin said. The note read: “Hi, I borrowed your blanket for a little while because I was cold and didn’t have anywhere to go. I hope you accept my apology for taking your stuff without asking. Kind regards, Blankt (sic) theif :) P.S. The blank is really itchy.”
Mr Palin said he was surprised to see the note and learn someone had broken into his car twice - once to take the blanket and a second time to return it. “It was obviously a male or female of some education to have written it the way they did and to break into my car then say ‘thank you’ and ‘PS your blanket was itchy’ … it was breathtaking,” he said.
“I washed the blanket after that because I was concerned about it being itchy.” Mr Palin said there was no sign of any damage to the car as a result of the break in. “The boot just had a plastic clasp that must have been easy to open,” Mr Palin said. “I’ve been passing the note around and people are amazed ... (my grandson) couldn’t stop laughing.” Mr Palin said he accepted the thief’s apology but that if he could say anything to him or her it would be: “keep out of my car”.
Dalek playing Doctor Who theme tune burst into lady's funeral
A Dalek burst into the funeral of a science fiction-loving lady, playing the Doctor Who theme tune, flashing lights and blowing smoke before leading mourners out of Eltham crematorium in south east London.
When Shoshanna Manch died from ovarian cancer on February 4 this year, she had already selected the readings and music for her funeral.
But sister Kim Bacon thought drafting in a special intergalactic funeral guest would be a fitting tribute to the 61-year-old from Forest Hill who loved attending sci-fi conventions while dressed up as characters and aliens from shows like Star Trek and Doctor Who.
Ms Bacon, 49, explained: "We all thought, you know what, she'd love it if she had a Dalek at her funeral. She was a bit zany, a bit of a fruitcake. We were going to have it following the hearse. But what we decided to do was surprise people by having it come in halfway through the service." Ms Bacon looked for the creatures online and found a man called Derek the Dalek who agreed to come and perform. She explained: "It was sitting there, waiting to burst through the doors. I said 'We now have a tribute from someone that's come a long way'. Then I did the thumbs up and the doors opened and in came the Dalek.
"The Dalek was playing the theme tune as it was coming in and it had its lights flashing. It came up the aisle playing the Doctor Who music, let out some smoke from its exterminator thing and came to the front. It went right up as far as it could to the front of the coffin and said to it 'Hail Shoshanna Manch, queen of the Daleks', blew some smoke and lowered its eye down in respect. As it turned itself around it bumped into the pew in the front and was saying 'Dalek reversing'. Everybody was just falling about laughing and taking pictures. You don't normally expect people to take their cameras out in a funeral."
After two more tributes, the Dalek returned and led everybody out to where the flowers were before staying there, speaking to the pall bearers, posing for photos and saying cheese. Ms Bacon said: "It was a first for everybody involved. She'd have loved it. She was such a Doctor Who fan, but she'd never have asked for it herself." Ms Manch, survived by 30-year-old son, had explicitly asked for people to have fun at her funeral, requesting guests sing along to Prince Buster's Enjoy Yourself. Her sister said: "She was a fun-loving person and it hit us hard when she was ill. It was our tribute to her really. It kind of shows what sort of personality she had."
Ms Bacon, 49, explained: "We all thought, you know what, she'd love it if she had a Dalek at her funeral. She was a bit zany, a bit of a fruitcake. We were going to have it following the hearse. But what we decided to do was surprise people by having it come in halfway through the service." Ms Bacon looked for the creatures online and found a man called Derek the Dalek who agreed to come and perform. She explained: "It was sitting there, waiting to burst through the doors. I said 'We now have a tribute from someone that's come a long way'. Then I did the thumbs up and the doors opened and in came the Dalek.
"The Dalek was playing the theme tune as it was coming in and it had its lights flashing. It came up the aisle playing the Doctor Who music, let out some smoke from its exterminator thing and came to the front. It went right up as far as it could to the front of the coffin and said to it 'Hail Shoshanna Manch, queen of the Daleks', blew some smoke and lowered its eye down in respect. As it turned itself around it bumped into the pew in the front and was saying 'Dalek reversing'. Everybody was just falling about laughing and taking pictures. You don't normally expect people to take their cameras out in a funeral."
After two more tributes, the Dalek returned and led everybody out to where the flowers were before staying there, speaking to the pall bearers, posing for photos and saying cheese. Ms Bacon said: "It was a first for everybody involved. She'd have loved it. She was such a Doctor Who fan, but she'd never have asked for it herself." Ms Manch, survived by 30-year-old son, had explicitly asked for people to have fun at her funeral, requesting guests sing along to Prince Buster's Enjoy Yourself. Her sister said: "She was a fun-loving person and it hit us hard when she was ill. It was our tribute to her really. It kind of shows what sort of personality she had."
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