Monday, July 13, 2015
Kangaroos hop around in the snow
Recent snowfall in Lithgow, New South Wales, Australia, has probably left the local kangaroos a little confused about what's going on.
YouTube link.
YouTube link.
Orphaned bear cub rescued from river on raft
After being plucked from the Nolichucky River near Erwin on Thursday, Noli Bear is on the road to recovery at the Appalachian Bear Rescue in Townsend, Tennessee.
The five-month-old, 14-pound American black bear was rescued by rafting guides who had seen the cub struggling by the side of the river for several days.
Matt Moses, who owns the USA Raft Company, said the bear was finally rescued and brought to his property by guide Danny Allen of High Mountain Expeditions.
“We had seen this bear over the last four days, and there was no sight of a mama bear,” said Moses.
“She was obviously malnourished and appeared to be in distress. My guides kept coming back to me and saying they had no idea what to do. We didn’t want to see this bear die on the side of the river.”
Moses said the bear, who was named after the river it was rescued from, became more comfortable with human contact each day. “It would walk toward us at first. Then it swam out toward one of our rafts. Thursday, a guy from another rafting company (Allen) pulled over and she got right in.” Moses said he has never seen a bear react that way. “We see bear fairly often, but we’ve never seen anything like this,” he said. “This is the first time I’ve ever heard of a bear getting in a raft.” The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency was called and the bear was transported to the ABR, a black bear rehabilitation facility that has returned orphaned, injured or medically in-need bears to the wild since 1996. According to Dana Dodd, board president of the ABR, Noli Bear is on the mend. “She’s up, walking and feeding,” said Dodd.
“She likes grapes and apple sauce. Those things are great for her because they’re filled with water.” Dodd said ABR took the bear to the University of Tennessee Veterinary School after it was dropped off by TWRA. “She was very dehydrated, and the doctors gave her fluids,” said Dodd. “She will have to stay in the acclimatization area until we can’t see any more of her neurological conditions, like dehydration and possibly heat stroke.” Dodd said the next step is to get Noli Bear healthy enough to be put in an area that houses four other cubs at the facility. “It may be a week or so,” said Dodd. “We have to be sure she is hearing, seeing and climbing well.” Noli Bear will have to grow to about 50 pounds before she can be released into the wild, sometime between August and the end of the year, according to Dodd. She said TWRA will decide where the bears will be released, but it is usually in proximity to where they were found.
“They do that because most of the bears try and make it back to where they came from,” said Dodd. She said information is sketchy on how cubs do on their own after reintroduction. Cubs typically stay with their mother until they are 16 months. “Studies have shown that at six months, especially in warmer climates like the southeast, and if food like acorns are plentiful, these cubs would be viable.” Dodd said that even cubs with their mothers for the full first 16 months face a difficult road. “Fifty percent of all cubs do not make it to their first birthday, and 25 percent of those that survive don’t make it to their second birthday,” she said. While Noli Bear’s rescuers no doubt had the best of intentions, Dodd said you should never approach an animal in the wild. “If you see wildlife in trouble, you should immediately call TWRA. You should never intervene on your own. It’s dangerous for you and the animal.”
There are two videos here.
Moses said the bear, who was named after the river it was rescued from, became more comfortable with human contact each day. “It would walk toward us at first. Then it swam out toward one of our rafts. Thursday, a guy from another rafting company (Allen) pulled over and she got right in.” Moses said he has never seen a bear react that way. “We see bear fairly often, but we’ve never seen anything like this,” he said. “This is the first time I’ve ever heard of a bear getting in a raft.” The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency was called and the bear was transported to the ABR, a black bear rehabilitation facility that has returned orphaned, injured or medically in-need bears to the wild since 1996. According to Dana Dodd, board president of the ABR, Noli Bear is on the mend. “She’s up, walking and feeding,” said Dodd.
“She likes grapes and apple sauce. Those things are great for her because they’re filled with water.” Dodd said ABR took the bear to the University of Tennessee Veterinary School after it was dropped off by TWRA. “She was very dehydrated, and the doctors gave her fluids,” said Dodd. “She will have to stay in the acclimatization area until we can’t see any more of her neurological conditions, like dehydration and possibly heat stroke.” Dodd said the next step is to get Noli Bear healthy enough to be put in an area that houses four other cubs at the facility. “It may be a week or so,” said Dodd. “We have to be sure she is hearing, seeing and climbing well.” Noli Bear will have to grow to about 50 pounds before she can be released into the wild, sometime between August and the end of the year, according to Dodd. She said TWRA will decide where the bears will be released, but it is usually in proximity to where they were found.
“They do that because most of the bears try and make it back to where they came from,” said Dodd. She said information is sketchy on how cubs do on their own after reintroduction. Cubs typically stay with their mother until they are 16 months. “Studies have shown that at six months, especially in warmer climates like the southeast, and if food like acorns are plentiful, these cubs would be viable.” Dodd said that even cubs with their mothers for the full first 16 months face a difficult road. “Fifty percent of all cubs do not make it to their first birthday, and 25 percent of those that survive don’t make it to their second birthday,” she said. While Noli Bear’s rescuers no doubt had the best of intentions, Dodd said you should never approach an animal in the wild. “If you see wildlife in trouble, you should immediately call TWRA. You should never intervene on your own. It’s dangerous for you and the animal.”
There are two videos here.
Fishermen surprised to catch foot-long shrimp
Shrimpers on the St. Johns River near Jacksonville, Florida had a rare catch on Thursday, pulling in a foot-long Asian tiger shrimp.
Representatives for the Trout River Fish Company say they've never seen one this big before.
The Asian tiger shrimp is an invasive species to the St. Johns that eats meat and is impacting the ecosystem on the First Coast. That has shrimpers worried.
"We've been in this business for 57 years," said Kaleigh Rhodes with the Trout River Fish Company. "We do catch them, but to see one that is 12 inches long is rare," said Rhodes.
YouTube link.
"They are aggressive, they are meat eaters and they would love to eat on our shrimp," said Robin Emmett. "Even if they are even half as big as this one, that's a huge shrimp." Emmett says the invasive shrimp are a threat to local shrimpers' supply, but recognises that a catch this big will probably only happen once in a lifetime.
The Asian tiger shrimp is an invasive species to the St. Johns that eats meat and is impacting the ecosystem on the First Coast. That has shrimpers worried.
"We've been in this business for 57 years," said Kaleigh Rhodes with the Trout River Fish Company. "We do catch them, but to see one that is 12 inches long is rare," said Rhodes.
YouTube link.
"They are aggressive, they are meat eaters and they would love to eat on our shrimp," said Robin Emmett. "Even if they are even half as big as this one, that's a huge shrimp." Emmett says the invasive shrimp are a threat to local shrimpers' supply, but recognises that a catch this big will probably only happen once in a lifetime.
Police investigate motorist who drove for miles in reverse
A driver has been caught on camera veering through one of Los Angeles' busiest roads for miles in reverse, and the Police Department says it’s investigating.
The driver started on Mulholland Drive, then drove backward for more than 2 miles along Laurel Canyon Boulevard toward Sunset Boulevard.
The LAPD is calling the incident some of the most reckless driving investigators have ever seen.
Cellphone video captured the vehicle, described as an Audi, going backward. The vehicle stayed in reverse for several minutes and along windy turns. At one point, the car appears to almost hit a pedestrian. Several times, the Audi crosses the double-yellow lines, narrowly missing oncoming traffic. When the vehicle approaches busy Hollywood Boulevard, still in reverse, the driver manoeuvres around other cars and into the left turn lane.
“It definitely was a shocker for me,” said Kevin Zanazanian, who recorded the video on his cellphone. He says he first noticed the Audi at around 4:45 p.m. on Thursday afternoon near Mulholland. He says there were two people in the car, a man behind the wheel, and a woman in the passenger seat. “It was definitely like a movie and I just think either this individual had an argument or a fight or something or just possibly just wanted to be a cool guy,”Zanazanian said.
YouTube link.
LAPD investigators say the driver could be arrested on numerous charges. “Reckless driving, unsafe speed, crossing double-yellow lines, failure to drive on the right half of the roadway,” LAPD Sgt. Tito Mariano said. Given the numerous close calls, police say it’s incredible no one was hurt. “Imagine if it was you or your family member driving and being struck by someone doing something irresponsible,” the sergeant said. Since the car had dealer plates, police plan to contact the dealership to track down the driver.
Cellphone video captured the vehicle, described as an Audi, going backward. The vehicle stayed in reverse for several minutes and along windy turns. At one point, the car appears to almost hit a pedestrian. Several times, the Audi crosses the double-yellow lines, narrowly missing oncoming traffic. When the vehicle approaches busy Hollywood Boulevard, still in reverse, the driver manoeuvres around other cars and into the left turn lane.
“It definitely was a shocker for me,” said Kevin Zanazanian, who recorded the video on his cellphone. He says he first noticed the Audi at around 4:45 p.m. on Thursday afternoon near Mulholland. He says there were two people in the car, a man behind the wheel, and a woman in the passenger seat. “It was definitely like a movie and I just think either this individual had an argument or a fight or something or just possibly just wanted to be a cool guy,”Zanazanian said.
YouTube link.
LAPD investigators say the driver could be arrested on numerous charges. “Reckless driving, unsafe speed, crossing double-yellow lines, failure to drive on the right half of the roadway,” LAPD Sgt. Tito Mariano said. Given the numerous close calls, police say it’s incredible no one was hurt. “Imagine if it was you or your family member driving and being struck by someone doing something irresponsible,” the sergeant said. Since the car had dealer plates, police plan to contact the dealership to track down the driver.
Burger chain rebuked over Greedy Bastard billboard
A complaint against a billboard advertisement for Burger Fuel's 'Greedy Bastard' burger has been upheld in part by the Advertising Standards Authority in New Zealand.
A complaint was made to the advertising watchdog in regards to the billboard, which named the burger in large type on a main city street.
The burger, named the 'Greedy Bastard' gets its name from its double portions of both meat and cheese.
"I'm sure this humour appeals to the young adults it is trying to lure into its restaurant, but to force the name upon people in large type in public is not acceptable," the complainant told the authority. In its written decision the Complaints Board said while it did not have the jurisdiction to require a company to change the name of its product or brand, there could be circumstances when the name of a product created an issue when used in advertising.
The board said the word 'Greedy Bastard' had been used by the advertiser in a 'light-hearted manner' to describe the double portions of cheese and beef used in the burger, rather than in an aggressive tone and was unlikely to cause serious offence. However, the word was problematic when it appeared on a billboard, the board said. It said the billboard's location meant the advertisement was highly visible to the general public - including children, and such indiscriminate exposure to the word 'Bastard' was not socially responsible. The board upheld the complaint in part with regard to the use of the advertisement on a billboard.
Burger Fuel's marketing manager Alexis Lam said the 'Greedy Bastard' was a limited edition version of the 'Bastard' burger, which has been on the menu since 1995. "Due to this item being on the menu for a short period of time, by the time the complaint decision had been made, the billboard had been taken down so no further action was required by us. "We feel that since Sir Edmond Hillary 'knocked the bastard off', that this phrase has become a normal term in New Zealand society, and that the lack of complaints we've had over the twenty years that this burger has been on our menu is a testament to this. We have a lot of respect for the Advertising Standards Authority and their decision making process and may look to explore this particular decision further with them."
"I'm sure this humour appeals to the young adults it is trying to lure into its restaurant, but to force the name upon people in large type in public is not acceptable," the complainant told the authority. In its written decision the Complaints Board said while it did not have the jurisdiction to require a company to change the name of its product or brand, there could be circumstances when the name of a product created an issue when used in advertising.
The board said the word 'Greedy Bastard' had been used by the advertiser in a 'light-hearted manner' to describe the double portions of cheese and beef used in the burger, rather than in an aggressive tone and was unlikely to cause serious offence. However, the word was problematic when it appeared on a billboard, the board said. It said the billboard's location meant the advertisement was highly visible to the general public - including children, and such indiscriminate exposure to the word 'Bastard' was not socially responsible. The board upheld the complaint in part with regard to the use of the advertisement on a billboard.
Burger Fuel's marketing manager Alexis Lam said the 'Greedy Bastard' was a limited edition version of the 'Bastard' burger, which has been on the menu since 1995. "Due to this item being on the menu for a short period of time, by the time the complaint decision had been made, the billboard had been taken down so no further action was required by us. "We feel that since Sir Edmond Hillary 'knocked the bastard off', that this phrase has become a normal term in New Zealand society, and that the lack of complaints we've had over the twenty years that this burger has been on our menu is a testament to this. We have a lot of respect for the Advertising Standards Authority and their decision making process and may look to explore this particular decision further with them."
Welsh government responded to UFO airport query in Klingon
Klingon was the chosen language for the Welsh government in its response to queries about UFO sightings at Cardiff Airport.
While English and Welsh are the usual forms of communications in the Senedd, it opted for the native tongue of the enemies of Star Trek's Captain Kirk.
Shadow Health Minister and AM for Clwyd West Darren Millar, had asked for details of UFOs sightings and asked if research would be funded. A Welsh government spokesman responded with: "jang vIDa je due luq."
The Welsh government statement continued: "'ach ghotvam'e' QI'yaH devolve qaS." In full it said it translated as: "The minister will reply in due course. However this is a non-devolved matter." It is believed to be the first time the Welsh government has chosen to communicate in Klingon.
While English and Welsh are the usual forms of communications in the Senedd, it opted for the native tongue of the enemies of Star Trek's Captain Kirk.
Shadow Health Minister and AM for Clwyd West Darren Millar, had asked for details of UFOs sightings and asked if research would be funded. A Welsh government spokesman responded with: "jang vIDa je due luq."
The Welsh government statement continued: "'ach ghotvam'e' QI'yaH devolve qaS." In full it said it translated as: "The minister will reply in due course. However this is a non-devolved matter." It is believed to be the first time the Welsh government has chosen to communicate in Klingon.
Lawyer questions wisdom of Probation Service after they housed alcoholic man above a pub
A man with an alcohol and heroin problem was sent to live above a pub by the Probation Service.
David Philip Earnshaw fell off the wagon during his placement.
He has now been jailed for a year after again hitting the booze and returning to drug dealing.
Mold Crown Court heard that on his release from prison last summer there had been plans to put him in a hostel, but he ended up being placed above the Red Lion in Dyserth, Denbighshire, Wales. His defence barrister Andrew Green told the court that Earnshaw, 41, took up drinking again because “every day he could see it, he could smell it”.
His return to the drink disrupted his methadone treatment for heroin addiction, and he decided to seek out drugs for himself. Mr Green said: “For a man who has addiction problems, including alcohol addiction, you would have thought that to house him above the public house was probably not the most appropriate place to put him.” He was arrested in Flint, where he was found to have drugs stashed inside Kinder eggs.
He admitted possessing heroin, cannabis with intent to supply and more than 100 tablets which turned out to be a class C drug, also with intent to supply, in August last year. Earnshaw was released from a sentence for robbery last year, and was housed in Bangor. After a 28 day recall to prison, he was then put above the pub and told to “grin and bear it”. Mr Green added: “He is not seeking to abdicate his responsibility or seeking to blame anyone else for what he has done.” He said Earnshaw, now of no fixed abode, entirely accepted responsibility for his actions.
Mold Crown Court heard that on his release from prison last summer there had been plans to put him in a hostel, but he ended up being placed above the Red Lion in Dyserth, Denbighshire, Wales. His defence barrister Andrew Green told the court that Earnshaw, 41, took up drinking again because “every day he could see it, he could smell it”.
His return to the drink disrupted his methadone treatment for heroin addiction, and he decided to seek out drugs for himself. Mr Green said: “For a man who has addiction problems, including alcohol addiction, you would have thought that to house him above the public house was probably not the most appropriate place to put him.” He was arrested in Flint, where he was found to have drugs stashed inside Kinder eggs.
He admitted possessing heroin, cannabis with intent to supply and more than 100 tablets which turned out to be a class C drug, also with intent to supply, in August last year. Earnshaw was released from a sentence for robbery last year, and was housed in Bangor. After a 28 day recall to prison, he was then put above the pub and told to “grin and bear it”. Mr Green added: “He is not seeking to abdicate his responsibility or seeking to blame anyone else for what he has done.” He said Earnshaw, now of no fixed abode, entirely accepted responsibility for his actions.
Groping women force barmen to stop wearing kilts
Bar staff at a pub in Inverness have stopped wearing their kilts after complaining of constant harassment by women attempting to check whether they are "true Scotsmen".
Until now, the men at Hootananny have donned their tartan in keeping with the pub’s traditional atmosphere.
But they are swapping to trousers, claiming sexual harassment mainly from groups of women revellers who lift up their kilts to check if they are wearing anything underneath.
Iain Howie, the pub’s assistant manager, said the incidents mostly happened at a weekends when the bar was particularly busy.
"You get large groups of drinking women circling around when you are collecting glasses and asking whether you are true Scotsman – and they find out for themselves," he said. "The first few times it is funny. But when it is really busy and everyone has to work fast and hard, and your hands are full of glasses, you feel quite vulnerable. You are thinking, ‘are you going to get broken glasses, or is your kilt going to get lifted up again?’ They see it as a bit of fun, but it is a bit of an embarrassment." Kit Fraser, the owner of Hootananny, described it as "pure sexism".
He said: "It may seem funny but it is serious, too – the women are sticking their hands up their kilts. Can you imagine if I went into a restaurant and stuck my hand up a girl’s skirt? I would be taken to the police station and rightly so." He added: "I look after my customers but equally important are my staff. I am not forcing them to do something they don’t want to do. We fellows are very, very aware of sexism. I think the women need to catch up." Ramsay McGhee, of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, said no employee of either sex should put up with harassment at work. "It seems these guys have found a pragmatic and commonsense solution to an irritating problem.
"It is a shame - wearing the kilt in a place like Hootananny adds to the whole character and atmosphere." There was also sympathy for the bar staff from kilt wearer Cameron Ross, who conducts walking tours of Inverness. "Everyone thinks it is a bit of fun but it depends how it is done," said Mr Ross, of Happy Tours. "If you are stuck in a crowded pub, it could be very difficult. I can see their point of view. If you don’t want the attention, you should not have to put up with it." A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "Everybody in Scotland should have the right to work without fear of harassment and it is important management in all working environments do what they can to ensure this happens."
"You get large groups of drinking women circling around when you are collecting glasses and asking whether you are true Scotsman – and they find out for themselves," he said. "The first few times it is funny. But when it is really busy and everyone has to work fast and hard, and your hands are full of glasses, you feel quite vulnerable. You are thinking, ‘are you going to get broken glasses, or is your kilt going to get lifted up again?’ They see it as a bit of fun, but it is a bit of an embarrassment." Kit Fraser, the owner of Hootananny, described it as "pure sexism".
He said: "It may seem funny but it is serious, too – the women are sticking their hands up their kilts. Can you imagine if I went into a restaurant and stuck my hand up a girl’s skirt? I would be taken to the police station and rightly so." He added: "I look after my customers but equally important are my staff. I am not forcing them to do something they don’t want to do. We fellows are very, very aware of sexism. I think the women need to catch up." Ramsay McGhee, of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, said no employee of either sex should put up with harassment at work. "It seems these guys have found a pragmatic and commonsense solution to an irritating problem.
"It is a shame - wearing the kilt in a place like Hootananny adds to the whole character and atmosphere." There was also sympathy for the bar staff from kilt wearer Cameron Ross, who conducts walking tours of Inverness. "Everyone thinks it is a bit of fun but it depends how it is done," said Mr Ross, of Happy Tours. "If you are stuck in a crowded pub, it could be very difficult. I can see their point of view. If you don’t want the attention, you should not have to put up with it." A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "Everybody in Scotland should have the right to work without fear of harassment and it is important management in all working environments do what they can to ensure this happens."
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