Sunday, May 17, 2015
Here's a twerking wagtail
A little wagtail, currently under the care of the kind people at The Wildlife Aid Foundation, indulges in a spot of cage dancing.
YouTube link.
YouTube link.
Three turtles on the table
This enterprising man in Roatan, Honduras, offers passers-by the opportunity to see turtles. Although he originally offered five, what's a couple of turtles between friends?
YouTube link.
YouTube link.
Woman claims that neighbour's parrot is teaching her grandchildren to curse in Spanish
A parrot named Rula is at the heart of a dispute in Tracy, California, where one neighbour claims that the bird curses in Spanish.
Animal Control Services say they responded to the home more than a dozen times due to complaints over noise from the parrot and barking from the owner's dogs. However, Animal Services supervisor Ben Miller said officers have not personally heard profanity from Rula.
Rula's owner says that he does not curse, or speak Spanish, although he can imitate a variety of other noises. "He barks like a dog and meows like a cat," said Rita Canisales. "He can sound like a drill or sound like a waterfall." However, neighbour Jessica Baca said the bird has repeated a word meaning "prostitute" in Spanish multiple times,
YouTube link.
This has allegedly caused her grandchildren to repeat the word. Canisales says that Baca is not hearing Rula correctly, that the bird is actually uttering its own name, which rhymes with the term Baca is referring to. She said she has never taught the bird any Spanish.
Animal Control Services say they responded to the home more than a dozen times due to complaints over noise from the parrot and barking from the owner's dogs. However, Animal Services supervisor Ben Miller said officers have not personally heard profanity from Rula.
Rula's owner says that he does not curse, or speak Spanish, although he can imitate a variety of other noises. "He barks like a dog and meows like a cat," said Rita Canisales. "He can sound like a drill or sound like a waterfall." However, neighbour Jessica Baca said the bird has repeated a word meaning "prostitute" in Spanish multiple times,
YouTube link.
This has allegedly caused her grandchildren to repeat the word. Canisales says that Baca is not hearing Rula correctly, that the bird is actually uttering its own name, which rhymes with the term Baca is referring to. She said she has never taught the bird any Spanish.
Mother shocked to find penguin bondage book on shelves at pre-school
A picture book which depicts penguins in bondage gear has prompted the Ministry of Education in New Zealand to contact a pre-school after the book was discovered on its shelves.
Mother of three Lana McLean found the book last month when she visited Sovereign Star Preschool and Nursery in Kaiapoi with her 3-year-old daughter. She had been the previous day with her husband to look at the pre-school.
"I was there looking at it as a prospective preschool for my child, when other kids there brought the book over to me from the shelf and asked me to read it. I looked at it and said, 'go choose another one'."
The book, Gus and Waldo's Book of Love, is written by Massimo Fenati and is intended as an adult picture book, according to its reviews on Amazon. McLean said she was shocked by the book and took photographs of some pages to show her husband. After talking it over with him that night she returned to the pre-school the next day and laid a complaint with the manager, Brooke Philpott. "I said to her, ' I think you have some inappropriate reading material on your shelf. It's not suitable for toddlers - in fact I don't even think it's suitable for my 15-year-old'." McLean said she left the pre-school feeling as if the complaint wasn't being dealt with which prompted her to speak out about it. Pre-school manager Brooke Philpott on Thursday issued a statement through her lawyer, David Beck.
"The woman in question came to look at our pre-school and took offence to the book in question, Gus & Waldo's Book of Love. She left without talking the issue over and took photos in the pre-school without permission," the statement said. McLean is adamant she raised her concerns with the preschool management on her third visit. "I went back specifically to say I did not think it should be on the shelves." When this was put to Philipott's lawyer, he said: "I understand she is not a client of the pre-school." The pre-school's statement continues: "It is a humorous book depicting cartoon penguins that we had ordered wrongly thinking it was suitable for children given its use of brightly cartooned penguins. The offending bit that we did not spot until a much closer reading is that it depicts the two penguins in bondage gear.
"We now appreciate that it contains some adult themes that parents would naturally object to and have decided to immediately withdraw it but stress that young children reading it would be completely unaware of the significance of the clothing worn by the penguins. The book is otherwise bright and funny." Philpott said she unreservedly apologised for any offence. In the statement, she stressed that if any parent had concerns they should approach her directly to discuss them. Rawiri Brell , deputy secretary, early learning, parents and whanau, from the Ministry of Education, said early childhood centres (ECEs) buy their own resources, including books. Brell said the ECE regulations required centres to make sure that books and other resources for children were age appropriate. "This includes stories about families and relationships. Picture books for adults may not be appropriate ECE resources, while ECEs are responsible for buying their own resources, we will be contacting the ECE centre to remind them of their obligations," Brell said.
The book, Gus and Waldo's Book of Love, is written by Massimo Fenati and is intended as an adult picture book, according to its reviews on Amazon. McLean said she was shocked by the book and took photographs of some pages to show her husband. After talking it over with him that night she returned to the pre-school the next day and laid a complaint with the manager, Brooke Philpott. "I said to her, ' I think you have some inappropriate reading material on your shelf. It's not suitable for toddlers - in fact I don't even think it's suitable for my 15-year-old'." McLean said she left the pre-school feeling as if the complaint wasn't being dealt with which prompted her to speak out about it. Pre-school manager Brooke Philpott on Thursday issued a statement through her lawyer, David Beck.
"The woman in question came to look at our pre-school and took offence to the book in question, Gus & Waldo's Book of Love. She left without talking the issue over and took photos in the pre-school without permission," the statement said. McLean is adamant she raised her concerns with the preschool management on her third visit. "I went back specifically to say I did not think it should be on the shelves." When this was put to Philipott's lawyer, he said: "I understand she is not a client of the pre-school." The pre-school's statement continues: "It is a humorous book depicting cartoon penguins that we had ordered wrongly thinking it was suitable for children given its use of brightly cartooned penguins. The offending bit that we did not spot until a much closer reading is that it depicts the two penguins in bondage gear.
"We now appreciate that it contains some adult themes that parents would naturally object to and have decided to immediately withdraw it but stress that young children reading it would be completely unaware of the significance of the clothing worn by the penguins. The book is otherwise bright and funny." Philpott said she unreservedly apologised for any offence. In the statement, she stressed that if any parent had concerns they should approach her directly to discuss them. Rawiri Brell , deputy secretary, early learning, parents and whanau, from the Ministry of Education, said early childhood centres (ECEs) buy their own resources, including books. Brell said the ECE regulations required centres to make sure that books and other resources for children were age appropriate. "This includes stories about families and relationships. Picture books for adults may not be appropriate ECE resources, while ECEs are responsible for buying their own resources, we will be contacting the ECE centre to remind them of their obligations," Brell said.
Traffic police officer masquerading as 'God of death' patrolled streets to prevent accidents
With a number of people losing their lives in road accidents every day, a traffic police constable in Jharkhand, north India, donned the look of 'God of death' to create awareness about road safety.
Dressed as 'Yamraj', the 'God of death', constable Rajesh Kumar walked on the streets of Ranchi to make people aware of traffic rules. The awareness initiative aims to educate people about the importance of helmets and seat belts, the need to possess a driving licence and about dangerous practices like triple riding.
While many have benefited from the initiative, says Kumar, several others choose to remain indifferent. Kumar, along with his colleagues, caught traffic violators and created awareness about traffic rules.
YouTube link.
They also distributed pamphlets on road safety. A student, Sanjay Kumar Pandey, who was caught for traffic violation said that he was made aware of the need to obey traffic rules by the 'Yamraj'.
Dressed as 'Yamraj', the 'God of death', constable Rajesh Kumar walked on the streets of Ranchi to make people aware of traffic rules. The awareness initiative aims to educate people about the importance of helmets and seat belts, the need to possess a driving licence and about dangerous practices like triple riding.
While many have benefited from the initiative, says Kumar, several others choose to remain indifferent. Kumar, along with his colleagues, caught traffic violators and created awareness about traffic rules.
YouTube link.
They also distributed pamphlets on road safety. A student, Sanjay Kumar Pandey, who was caught for traffic violation said that he was made aware of the need to obey traffic rules by the 'Yamraj'.
Court rules that delusional jealousy is a crime
Partners who manifest extreme jealous behaviour towards their other half are guilty of mistreatment, Italy’s highest court of appeal has said.
Italy’s Court of Cassation has overturned the acquittal of a Sicilian man for mistreating his wife.
The husband, who is from Sicily, allegedly suffered from “morbid jealousy”, also known as "delusional jealousy", a psychological disorder in which a person wrongly believes their spouse or sexual partner is being unfaithful without having any real proof to back up their claim.
His jealous behaviour included constantly accusing his wife of being unfaithful, reading her text messages and even demanding that their daughter get a DNA test. His behaviour was so extreme that his wife even quit her job as a flight attendant because he said the job was “not suited to a respectable woman”. In May 2014 an appeal’s court in Palermo, Sicily, acquitted the man of mistreating his wife.
But on Thursday Italy’s highest court overturned the acquittal, stating that such behaviour amounted to “psychological harassment”, a crime punishable by law. “Constantly hassling the spouse with continuous manic and obsessive behaviour inspired by morbid jealousy constitutes mistreatment,” the court said. His behaviour caused “significant imitations and constraints in her daily life and choices, as well as an intolerable state of anxiety.” The case has now been reopened and the woman’s claims will be evaluated in another hearing.
The husband, who is from Sicily, allegedly suffered from “morbid jealousy”, also known as "delusional jealousy", a psychological disorder in which a person wrongly believes their spouse or sexual partner is being unfaithful without having any real proof to back up their claim.
His jealous behaviour included constantly accusing his wife of being unfaithful, reading her text messages and even demanding that their daughter get a DNA test. His behaviour was so extreme that his wife even quit her job as a flight attendant because he said the job was “not suited to a respectable woman”. In May 2014 an appeal’s court in Palermo, Sicily, acquitted the man of mistreating his wife.
But on Thursday Italy’s highest court overturned the acquittal, stating that such behaviour amounted to “psychological harassment”, a crime punishable by law. “Constantly hassling the spouse with continuous manic and obsessive behaviour inspired by morbid jealousy constitutes mistreatment,” the court said. His behaviour caused “significant imitations and constraints in her daily life and choices, as well as an intolerable state of anxiety.” The case has now been reopened and the woman’s claims will be evaluated in another hearing.
Shopkeeper fought off stun gun-wielding robber using lollipops
When a 15-year-old tried to rob a kiosk in Dortmund, Germany, on Thursday evening things went badly wrong, despite the fact he had a stun gun and the shopkeeper was only armed with confectionery.
It was shortly after ten o'clock at night when the young man entered the kiosk in north-east Dortmund. He was wearing a balaclava and had a stun gun in his hand. The robber immediately demanded that the shopkeeper give him all the money in the till, report the local police.
But instead of obeying, the shopkeeper, who does not wish to be identified, went on the counter-attack, using the only weapon he had to hand – lollipops. The surprise attack had the desired effect. The young man ran from the shop and up the street in the company of an accomplice. But he made a mistake.
In front of the shop he pulled the balaclava up and looked back at the kiosk, giving the shopkeeper a clear sight of his face. Thanks to the shopkeeper's detailed description, the police were able to detain two 15-year-olds on whom they found a balaclava and the stun gun. The pair were subsequently arrested.
It was shortly after ten o'clock at night when the young man entered the kiosk in north-east Dortmund. He was wearing a balaclava and had a stun gun in his hand. The robber immediately demanded that the shopkeeper give him all the money in the till, report the local police.
But instead of obeying, the shopkeeper, who does not wish to be identified, went on the counter-attack, using the only weapon he had to hand – lollipops. The surprise attack had the desired effect. The young man ran from the shop and up the street in the company of an accomplice. But he made a mistake.
In front of the shop he pulled the balaclava up and looked back at the kiosk, giving the shopkeeper a clear sight of his face. Thanks to the shopkeeper's detailed description, the police were able to detain two 15-year-olds on whom they found a balaclava and the stun gun. The pair were subsequently arrested.
Man fined after being found guilty of calling policeman a frying pan
A 37-year-old man from St. Paul’s Bay in Malta has been fined €850 (£615, $970) and conditionally discharged for a year after being found guilty of offending a police officer when he called him “a frying pan”.
Patrick Sciberras was arraigned before Magistrate Charmaine Galea on Friday afternoon on charges of insulting a police officer, offending public morals, giving false details to the police, breaching the peace and relapsing.
Prosecuting Inspector Godwin Scerri told the court that Mr Sciberras had told a traffic policeman “hawn ja frying pan” (“Hey you frying pan”) as he drove past him on his motorcycle. However, Mr Sciberras denied calling him that, admitting that he had consumed “a couple of drinks”. He said he remembered the traffic policeman radioing for assistance and there was “a commotion” when Rapid Intervention Police arrived on the scene.
Defence lawyer Franco Debono said the entire issue was over an “exaggerated reaction to a perceived insult”, saying that there was no need to involve the RIU or the district police. The accused apologised and said he retracted anything which could have been perceived as an insult. The court, however, found him guilty of the charges, conditionally discharging him for a year and fining him €850.
Patrick Sciberras was arraigned before Magistrate Charmaine Galea on Friday afternoon on charges of insulting a police officer, offending public morals, giving false details to the police, breaching the peace and relapsing.
Prosecuting Inspector Godwin Scerri told the court that Mr Sciberras had told a traffic policeman “hawn ja frying pan” (“Hey you frying pan”) as he drove past him on his motorcycle. However, Mr Sciberras denied calling him that, admitting that he had consumed “a couple of drinks”. He said he remembered the traffic policeman radioing for assistance and there was “a commotion” when Rapid Intervention Police arrived on the scene.
Defence lawyer Franco Debono said the entire issue was over an “exaggerated reaction to a perceived insult”, saying that there was no need to involve the RIU or the district police. The accused apologised and said he retracted anything which could have been perceived as an insult. The court, however, found him guilty of the charges, conditionally discharging him for a year and fining him €850.
Paedophile's Star Trek flat being sold by ex-wife as she doesn't want to be reminded of the past
A flat that looks like the inside of the Star Trek Voyager is up for sale in Hinckley, Leicestershire.
The unusual property used to be occupied by Anthony Alleyne, who was jailed in 2013 for downloading thousands of images of child abuse.
His ex-wife is now selling the flat, because she doesn't want to be reminded of the past. Allenye, who was an interior designer, spent 10 years and thousands of pounds converting his home. It is on the market for £70,000.
However, because there is no cooker in the kitchen and the windows are obstructed, you can't get a mortgage on this property - so any buyers need to have the money. According to the estate agent any potential buyers would also need to be vetted as they do not want the flat "to turn into a tourist attraction".
The unusual property used to be occupied by Anthony Alleyne, who was jailed in 2013 for downloading thousands of images of child abuse.
His ex-wife is now selling the flat, because she doesn't want to be reminded of the past. Allenye, who was an interior designer, spent 10 years and thousands of pounds converting his home. It is on the market for £70,000.
However, because there is no cooker in the kitchen and the windows are obstructed, you can't get a mortgage on this property - so any buyers need to have the money. According to the estate agent any potential buyers would also need to be vetted as they do not want the flat "to turn into a tourist attraction".
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