Friday, May 08, 2015
Bear walks like a human
This Asiatic black bear was rescued from a bile farm and now lives in a rescue centre. Apparently he walks this way due to being malnourished during his former life.
YouTube link.
YouTube link.
Man and his dog are suing energy company over exploding manhole
A man who was hit in the head by an exploding manhole cover in Park Slope, New York, while he was walking his dog is suing Con Edison - and he's named his beloved pet as a plaintiff.
Salvatore Grillo, 71, says the utility is to blame for an explosion that sent a cast iron manhole cover sailing into his head on Feb. 2, 2015, according to a lawsuit filed last week in Brooklyn Supreme Court.
Grillo suffered permanent "serious personal injuries" from the explosion and so did his dog, a black Lab named Abby, according to the lawsuit. The dog sustained multiple wounds, including singed fur and paws, the lawsuit alleges. Abby also suffered psychological damage that left her afraid to leave home, according to the lawsuit. The blast sent the manhole cover about 25 feet into the air and shattered windows in a nearby apartment building.
Abby was so spooked by the eruption that she ran into Prospect Park and was found about an hour later at a pharmacy. The dog was taken to Sean Casey Animal Rescue, which tracked down her relieved owners. Casey said that Abby's paws and nails were torn up from her run. Bloody paw pads are visible in a photo of the dog taken that day. The Feb. 2 manhole fire in Park Slope was one of hundreds that erupted on streets in New York last winter, when salt in melting snow seeped underground and damaged wires, sparking the blazes.
Grillo's lawsuit claims Con Ed was negligent in part because it failed to prevent wiring from eroding, didn't install a manhole cover that "would not fly during underground vault explosions," and didn't warn the public to stay away from the potential threat. There are 250,000 manholes in New York City, a Con Ed spokesman said. The covers are typically about 2 feet wide and can weigh up to 260 pounds, but most are lighter, the spokesman said. A spokesman for Con Ed declined to comment because the litigation is ongoing.
Grillo suffered permanent "serious personal injuries" from the explosion and so did his dog, a black Lab named Abby, according to the lawsuit. The dog sustained multiple wounds, including singed fur and paws, the lawsuit alleges. Abby also suffered psychological damage that left her afraid to leave home, according to the lawsuit. The blast sent the manhole cover about 25 feet into the air and shattered windows in a nearby apartment building.
Abby was so spooked by the eruption that she ran into Prospect Park and was found about an hour later at a pharmacy. The dog was taken to Sean Casey Animal Rescue, which tracked down her relieved owners. Casey said that Abby's paws and nails were torn up from her run. Bloody paw pads are visible in a photo of the dog taken that day. The Feb. 2 manhole fire in Park Slope was one of hundreds that erupted on streets in New York last winter, when salt in melting snow seeped underground and damaged wires, sparking the blazes.
Grillo's lawsuit claims Con Ed was negligent in part because it failed to prevent wiring from eroding, didn't install a manhole cover that "would not fly during underground vault explosions," and didn't warn the public to stay away from the potential threat. There are 250,000 manholes in New York City, a Con Ed spokesman said. The covers are typically about 2 feet wide and can weigh up to 260 pounds, but most are lighter, the spokesman said. A spokesman for Con Ed declined to comment because the litigation is ongoing.
Woman claims Verizon Wireless caused her to have a heart attack
Angela Hawkins called Verizon Wireless last year to straighten out a problem with her bill.
The grandmother of four hoped to talk to a helpful customer service representative.
Instead, according to a lawsuit, the rep and her supervisor treated Hawkins rudely and threatened to have her arrested. She claims the supervisor wrongly accused her of threatening to kill everyone in the call centre and caused her to have a heart attack.
"I was just blindsided," Hawkins said. "What a horrible thing to accuse someone of."
Hawkins sued Verizon Wireless on Wednesday for $2.35 million, claiming both negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Hawkins, 53, of Chesapeake, Virginia, said she called to ask for help with another Verizon Wireless representative's promise of a $60 account credit made several weeks before. During the Nov. 19 call, Hawkins spoke to a female customer service representative for at least 20 minutes. The 4-foot, 10-inch woman said she never raised her voice or threatened the rep because she's "not that type of person." The rep eventually suggested Hawkins speak with her supervisor. Hawkins waited on hold for several minutes, the lawsuit said. When the supervisor came on the line, the lawsuit said, he indicated that Hawkins had threatened his employee and that he was calling the police. Hawkins said she was shocked anyone would say something like that about her. She felt lightheaded and quickly got off the phone and sat on her couch.
She talked to her husband about what happened and checked her blinds several times in anticipation of police cars. Jeffrey Brooke, Hawkins' attorney, said the threat of arrest really shook his client. "She had visions of SWAT guys breaking her door down and putting her in leg shackles," he said. Hawkins said the supervisor called back about two hours later and apologised for the "miscommunication." "That was his word," she said. The supervisor explained he had listened to a recording of the original call and determined she had not threatened anyone, according to Hawkins. She said the supervisor didn't mention the $60 credit, and she didn't press the matter. "I'd already had a horrible experience," she said. "I wasn't going to subject myself to that again." The day after the call, Hawkins went to her doctor. She said an EKG revealed she'd had a heart attack.
Hawkins said her doctor personally drove her to a hospital, where she underwent surgery to place a stent in one of her arteries. She said she spent four days in the hospital. Hawkins said she had high cholesterol but no history of heart problems before the call. "She was in good health," Brooke said, noting that she took a stress test in 2013 and passed. "It was all found to be in good working order." Brooke said the hospital trip cost more than $60,000. Plus, he said, Hawkins will require special medication for the rest of her life at a cost of about $120,000. Hawkins said this is the first lawsuit she's been a party to. "I'm not one who believes in suing," she said. But Hawkins said she's seeking more than her $60 credit. She wants Verizon to realise "the representative did a wrong... a horrible wrong." "It's one thing to say I can't help you," Brooke said. "It's another thing to say I'm calling the police." A spokesman for Verizon Wireless declined to comment on the lawsuit filed in Chesapeake Circuit Court, citing the pending litigation.
Hawkins, 53, of Chesapeake, Virginia, said she called to ask for help with another Verizon Wireless representative's promise of a $60 account credit made several weeks before. During the Nov. 19 call, Hawkins spoke to a female customer service representative for at least 20 minutes. The 4-foot, 10-inch woman said she never raised her voice or threatened the rep because she's "not that type of person." The rep eventually suggested Hawkins speak with her supervisor. Hawkins waited on hold for several minutes, the lawsuit said. When the supervisor came on the line, the lawsuit said, he indicated that Hawkins had threatened his employee and that he was calling the police. Hawkins said she was shocked anyone would say something like that about her. She felt lightheaded and quickly got off the phone and sat on her couch.
She talked to her husband about what happened and checked her blinds several times in anticipation of police cars. Jeffrey Brooke, Hawkins' attorney, said the threat of arrest really shook his client. "She had visions of SWAT guys breaking her door down and putting her in leg shackles," he said. Hawkins said the supervisor called back about two hours later and apologised for the "miscommunication." "That was his word," she said. The supervisor explained he had listened to a recording of the original call and determined she had not threatened anyone, according to Hawkins. She said the supervisor didn't mention the $60 credit, and she didn't press the matter. "I'd already had a horrible experience," she said. "I wasn't going to subject myself to that again." The day after the call, Hawkins went to her doctor. She said an EKG revealed she'd had a heart attack.
Hawkins said her doctor personally drove her to a hospital, where she underwent surgery to place a stent in one of her arteries. She said she spent four days in the hospital. Hawkins said she had high cholesterol but no history of heart problems before the call. "She was in good health," Brooke said, noting that she took a stress test in 2013 and passed. "It was all found to be in good working order." Brooke said the hospital trip cost more than $60,000. Plus, he said, Hawkins will require special medication for the rest of her life at a cost of about $120,000. Hawkins said this is the first lawsuit she's been a party to. "I'm not one who believes in suing," she said. But Hawkins said she's seeking more than her $60 credit. She wants Verizon to realise "the representative did a wrong... a horrible wrong." "It's one thing to say I can't help you," Brooke said. "It's another thing to say I'm calling the police." A spokesman for Verizon Wireless declined to comment on the lawsuit filed in Chesapeake Circuit Court, citing the pending litigation.
Machete-wielding man who tried to steal lawn chairs fought off by woman with garden hoe
A man from Bingham, Maine, was arrested on Sunday after allegedly threatening a woman with a machete when she confronted him as he was allegedly stealing lawn chairs from her property.
Dwight Nathan Hart, 64, is charged with criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon and criminal trespassing, according to Chief Deputy James Ross of the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office.
The woman, whose name was not released, told police that she saw a pickup truck pull into her yard at around 6:15pm, Ross said.
“A male got out, who was Mr. Hart, and he started taking her lawn chairs,” Ross said. He said the woman confronted Hart with a garden hoe and told him to put the chairs down. The two did not know each other, Ross said. They got into an argument. When the woman went to take the chairs out of the back of the truck, Hart pulled a large machete out of the truck and started swinging at her, Ross said. “He actually hit the hoe several times,” Ross said.
“The deputy actually saw machete marks on the hoe handle.” The woman was able to take the chairs back and Hart left, but not before the woman wrote down his licence plate number and gave a description of the vehicle to police, Ross said. Deputy Wilfred Dodge of the sheriff’s office responded to the call and was able to locate Hart at his residence. Dodge was assisted by other members of the sheriff’s office and the Maine State Police.
There were no serious injuries, although Ross said the woman did hit Hart with the hoe handle. Ross said the property was posted against trespassing, and Hart admitted to having seen a “No Trespassing” sign. “I don’t know what prompted him to take the chairs, whether it was a crime of opportunity or something else,” Ross said. “The victim said she had never seen him before.” Hart is being held at the Somerset County Jail on $500 cash bail.
“A male got out, who was Mr. Hart, and he started taking her lawn chairs,” Ross said. He said the woman confronted Hart with a garden hoe and told him to put the chairs down. The two did not know each other, Ross said. They got into an argument. When the woman went to take the chairs out of the back of the truck, Hart pulled a large machete out of the truck and started swinging at her, Ross said. “He actually hit the hoe several times,” Ross said.
“The deputy actually saw machete marks on the hoe handle.” The woman was able to take the chairs back and Hart left, but not before the woman wrote down his licence plate number and gave a description of the vehicle to police, Ross said. Deputy Wilfred Dodge of the sheriff’s office responded to the call and was able to locate Hart at his residence. Dodge was assisted by other members of the sheriff’s office and the Maine State Police.
There were no serious injuries, although Ross said the woman did hit Hart with the hoe handle. Ross said the property was posted against trespassing, and Hart admitted to having seen a “No Trespassing” sign. “I don’t know what prompted him to take the chairs, whether it was a crime of opportunity or something else,” Ross said. “The victim said she had never seen him before.” Hart is being held at the Somerset County Jail on $500 cash bail.
Woman surprised to find cocaine in granola bar
The San Antonio Police Department has confirmed narcotics detectives are investigating how a small bag of cocaine ended up inside the wrapper of a granola bar eaten by a local woman.
"It's a somewhat disturbing case," Sgt. Javier Salazar said.
"You think of a child getting a hold of a package that's got interesting symbols on it, dollar signs in this case, and ingesting something like cocaine that could have a possibly dangerous effect, maybe even deadly on a child," added Salazar.
Cynthia Rodriguez reported the incident to SAPD on March 18, after the bag of cocaine fell from the wrapper of a Nature Valley granola bar. Rodriguez said she originally thought she won a prize. She called Nature Valley and a company representative told her to report the incident to her local police department. Rodriguez said an officer and a detective first tested the substance to see if it was heroin. The detective then tested it for cocaine. "He tried for cocaine and they both looked at each other and he goes 'oh my goodness, its high quality cocaine,'" said Rodriguez.
SAPD took the drugs, the wrapper and the box the granola bars came in as evidence. Salazar said detectives are trying to determine at what point the cocaine got inside the wrapper. "We're not sure if this was something added on purpose or if it was something that may have fallen out of someone's pocket on the assembly line," said Salazar. General Mills, the company that owns the Nature Valley brand, released a written statement on Wednesday: "We referred this to the police department in March, and are confident this did not happen in our facility."
YouTube link.
When pressed for answers about why company officials feel this way, spokesperson Mike Siemienas said granola bars move quickly along its factory assembly lines and that it would be "difficult" for someone to place drugs inside a wrapper. Rodriguez said she's thankful one of her 11 grandchildren, three of whom live at her home, did not find the bag. "What if they thought it was sugar?" asked Rodriguez. Rodriguez said she was given several boxes of Nature Valley bars along with other snack products from a person who hands them out at as samples at San Antonio area stores. She said the larger box, the granola bar box and the wrapper itself did not appear to have been opened at any point before she got the products.
Cynthia Rodriguez reported the incident to SAPD on March 18, after the bag of cocaine fell from the wrapper of a Nature Valley granola bar. Rodriguez said she originally thought she won a prize. She called Nature Valley and a company representative told her to report the incident to her local police department. Rodriguez said an officer and a detective first tested the substance to see if it was heroin. The detective then tested it for cocaine. "He tried for cocaine and they both looked at each other and he goes 'oh my goodness, its high quality cocaine,'" said Rodriguez.
SAPD took the drugs, the wrapper and the box the granola bars came in as evidence. Salazar said detectives are trying to determine at what point the cocaine got inside the wrapper. "We're not sure if this was something added on purpose or if it was something that may have fallen out of someone's pocket on the assembly line," said Salazar. General Mills, the company that owns the Nature Valley brand, released a written statement on Wednesday: "We referred this to the police department in March, and are confident this did not happen in our facility."
YouTube link.
When pressed for answers about why company officials feel this way, spokesperson Mike Siemienas said granola bars move quickly along its factory assembly lines and that it would be "difficult" for someone to place drugs inside a wrapper. Rodriguez said she's thankful one of her 11 grandchildren, three of whom live at her home, did not find the bag. "What if they thought it was sugar?" asked Rodriguez. Rodriguez said she was given several boxes of Nature Valley bars along with other snack products from a person who hands them out at as samples at San Antonio area stores. She said the larger box, the granola bar box and the wrapper itself did not appear to have been opened at any point before she got the products.
Bangladeshi authorities use signs in 'sacred' Arabic to deter men from peeing in public
Authorities in Bangladesh appear to be winning the battle to stop men from urinating in public by putting up signs in Arabic, which is regarded by Muslim Bengalis as a sacred language.
Although most Bengalis are not even able to read Arabic, the recent decision of the Religious Affairs Ministry to put up signs telling people not to pee in public seems to be working. Arabic is sacred because it is the language the Koran is written in. Similar signs in the Bengali language were having little effect.
A spokesmen for the religious affairs ministry said the campaign had been a success. “We took the initiative to erase the warnings in Bangla language against urinating in public and instead wrote the same message in Arabic, you can see the result yourself – it appears to be a successful campaign so far,” he said.
YouTube link.
But it has received harsh criticism from Fariduddin Masud, a well-known cleric, who said it was running the image of Arabic. “Nobody has the right to use the language of the Koran for such a campaign. The people of the country respect Arabic but that does not mean that we’ll tolerate the use of Arabic to stop people from urinating [at street corners],” the cleric said.
Although most Bengalis are not even able to read Arabic, the recent decision of the Religious Affairs Ministry to put up signs telling people not to pee in public seems to be working. Arabic is sacred because it is the language the Koran is written in. Similar signs in the Bengali language were having little effect.
A spokesmen for the religious affairs ministry said the campaign had been a success. “We took the initiative to erase the warnings in Bangla language against urinating in public and instead wrote the same message in Arabic, you can see the result yourself – it appears to be a successful campaign so far,” he said.
YouTube link.
But it has received harsh criticism from Fariduddin Masud, a well-known cleric, who said it was running the image of Arabic. “Nobody has the right to use the language of the Koran for such a campaign. The people of the country respect Arabic but that does not mean that we’ll tolerate the use of Arabic to stop people from urinating [at street corners],” the cleric said.
Lady left unsavoury deposit on floor of bank
A 61-year-old woman walked through the front doors of bank in Australia's Northern Territory and left a deposit of an unpleasant kind.
The woman walked into the NAB branch on Smith St in Darwin City, dropped her pants, and left a steaming poo in the middle of the floor at about 9.30am on Wednesday.
The bank was forced to close its doors, with signs blaming a “technical problem” for the issue. It is not known why the woman used the bank as her own not-so-private bathroom, and not a toilet.
NAB refused to comment on the incident, saying it was a police matter. NT Police said the woman was issued an infringement notice for offensive behaviour in public.
The woman walked into the NAB branch on Smith St in Darwin City, dropped her pants, and left a steaming poo in the middle of the floor at about 9.30am on Wednesday.
The bank was forced to close its doors, with signs blaming a “technical problem” for the issue. It is not known why the woman used the bank as her own not-so-private bathroom, and not a toilet.
NAB refused to comment on the incident, saying it was a police matter. NT Police said the woman was issued an infringement notice for offensive behaviour in public.
Motorist's bandaged mannequin passenger ruse proved to be unsuccessful
A 24-year-old New Zealand man has been given a $150 infringement offence notice, after his attempt to use a T2 lane with a mannequin as the front seat passenger failed.
At 7.55am on Wednesday morning,
Waitemata Police were running a checkpoint and monitoring cars using the T2 lanes unlawfully in Mairangi Bay, when an officer spotted an unusual looking passenger in the front seat of a car using the T2. Officers pulled the car over and found the passenger was a mannequin with a bandaged head and sunglasses.
"The driver was rather sheepish, apologised and said it was the first time he'd done it. He was given an infringement notice for unauthorised use of a special vehicle lane" says Senior Sergeant Brett Henshaw, Waitemata Police. Police receive numerous complaints from motorists about unauthorised use of the lanes and regularly conduct patrols of the lanes. "Drivers who use lanes like this without having a bona-fide reason should be aware that we're regularly conducting patrols of them.
"We often locate offenders in stolen cars, as well as disqualified and suspended drivers using these lanes, because these types of drivers engage in high-risk behaviour. No one enjoys sitting in traffic and we've all experienced the frustration of waiting your turn, only to see someone who is the sole occupant of their car sailing past in the T2 lane. These lanes are there to reduce congestion on our motorways and only those who are genuinely entitled to do so should use them" says Snr Sgt Henshaw.
Waitemata Police were running a checkpoint and monitoring cars using the T2 lanes unlawfully in Mairangi Bay, when an officer spotted an unusual looking passenger in the front seat of a car using the T2. Officers pulled the car over and found the passenger was a mannequin with a bandaged head and sunglasses.
"The driver was rather sheepish, apologised and said it was the first time he'd done it. He was given an infringement notice for unauthorised use of a special vehicle lane" says Senior Sergeant Brett Henshaw, Waitemata Police. Police receive numerous complaints from motorists about unauthorised use of the lanes and regularly conduct patrols of the lanes. "Drivers who use lanes like this without having a bona-fide reason should be aware that we're regularly conducting patrols of them.
"We often locate offenders in stolen cars, as well as disqualified and suspended drivers using these lanes, because these types of drivers engage in high-risk behaviour. No one enjoys sitting in traffic and we've all experienced the frustration of waiting your turn, only to see someone who is the sole occupant of their car sailing past in the T2 lane. These lanes are there to reduce congestion on our motorways and only those who are genuinely entitled to do so should use them" says Snr Sgt Henshaw.
Curiosity almost killed cat with a taste for shoelaces
A cat was miraculously saved by vets after it got itself into a terrible tangle with its bizarre diet of shoelaces.
Two-year-old Garry went along to the PDSA Pet Hospital at Brighton, Sussex, for his annual vaccine but vets discovered an extremely large mass in his stomach.
The black and white cat was admitted for further tests and worried owner Ana Barbosa, 32, was told to prepare for the worst as a life-threatening tumour was suspected.
Quick-thinking PDSA vet Jess Maguire started exploratory surgery and was shocked to discover laces, hair bands and plastic in Garry's stomach. If left undetected, the items, shoelaces and ‘several’ hair bands, could have caused a potentially fatal blockage. According to vets the items were eaten over a period of time and it was a miracle the feline wasn't suffering any side effects after his bizarre snacking habits.
Ana, from Hove, East Sussex, said: “Garry is a very cheeky little chap who has always preferred playing with human things instead of cat toys. But we had no idea he was actually eating the shoelaces and hair bands. I had washed some laces from my trainers which went missing and I never for one moment thought that Garry was the reason why. When I first heard it may be a tumour, I was devastated, my two boys and I all adore him.
“So although I was absolutely shocked to find out what the mass was, we were relieved to hear the good news that it wasn’t a tumour. We are so grateful to the PDSA for saving Garry's life – he’s a big part of our family and we would have been heartbroken if we had lost him so young. Now we know how mischievous he can be, we’ll definitely be keeping a closer eye on him in future.” PDSA vet Jess Maguire urged owners to be vigilant where peckish pets are concerned. She said: “We often see dogs who have eaten odd things, but it is quite unusual for a cat to eat so many different items.”
Quick-thinking PDSA vet Jess Maguire started exploratory surgery and was shocked to discover laces, hair bands and plastic in Garry's stomach. If left undetected, the items, shoelaces and ‘several’ hair bands, could have caused a potentially fatal blockage. According to vets the items were eaten over a period of time and it was a miracle the feline wasn't suffering any side effects after his bizarre snacking habits.
Ana, from Hove, East Sussex, said: “Garry is a very cheeky little chap who has always preferred playing with human things instead of cat toys. But we had no idea he was actually eating the shoelaces and hair bands. I had washed some laces from my trainers which went missing and I never for one moment thought that Garry was the reason why. When I first heard it may be a tumour, I was devastated, my two boys and I all adore him.
“So although I was absolutely shocked to find out what the mass was, we were relieved to hear the good news that it wasn’t a tumour. We are so grateful to the PDSA for saving Garry's life – he’s a big part of our family and we would have been heartbroken if we had lost him so young. Now we know how mischievous he can be, we’ll definitely be keeping a closer eye on him in future.” PDSA vet Jess Maguire urged owners to be vigilant where peckish pets are concerned. She said: “We often see dogs who have eaten odd things, but it is quite unusual for a cat to eat so many different items.”
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