Monday, July 20, 2015
Unhappy mother claims her baby was unfairly disqualified from crawling race
Everyone agrees 10-month-old Berkley Bailey was first to cross the line in her heat at the Pan-O-Prog baby Crawl-A-Thon in Lakeville, Minnesota, last Tuesday.
But because Berkley scoots and does not crawl in a conventional manner, she was disqualified from the race and not allowed to win a trophy.
Rules verbally announced before the Crawl-A-Thon’s first heat indicated babies had to crawl on their hands and knees across the finish line.
The rules were established to make the competition fair and give everyone a level playing field, said Pan-O-Prog President Diana Neameyer.
Berkley’s mother, Samantha Moore, said the rule is unfair to babies who have a unique way of getting around. She said she did not think the rules would disqualify Berkley, her first child who has always crawled by pulling herself forward with her left side, dragging her right leg behind her and her right arm in the air. “That’s the only way we’ve ever seen our baby crawl,” she said. “That’s all she’s ever done. The doctor told us it was a crawl.” Neameyer said the issue first arose at the race last year when a baby crawled like a bear, on his hands and feet. He finished the race first, but was also disqualified, because Neameyer said, “When you do it that way, you are a speedster.”
This year, they allowed eligibility for a baby who “army crawled” by pulling himself forward with his arms because his knees were on the floor and he was using his legs. “His belly was just dragging, that’s how I looked at it,” Neameyer said. A suggestion to hold a special race for scooters was rejected, because Neameyer said organisers do not think they will have many who only scoot. “We thought it was just a fluke that this kid wasn’t crawling,” Neameyer said. Moore said Berkley is the first child to her and husband Nick Bailey, both lifelong Lakeville residents. “It’s not necessarily like, oh my God, we needed her to win,” Moore said. “It’s just a baby crawl. It was more like she did really good and we didn’t really expect her to go that fast, but she did and then we’re disqualified.”
She said many family members took time off work to watch the competition, then were disappointed that Berkley was disqualified. “It just kind of stunk because everyone was so excited about it,” Moore said. “I didn’t think it was fair to disqualify a baby for crawling differently.” Neameyer said they will consider printing rules in the newspaper next year, but organizers never thought they needed rules before since its title indicates it is a “Crawl-A-Thon.” Neameyer said it was unfortunate that it happened, but said it was a surprise to them that some babies scoot instead of crawl. “We just try to keep it fair for everybody,” she said, “We’ve been doing this for years and have not had a problem, All of the sudden, we have people having problems with Baby Crawl-A-Thon. If it gets to be a real issue, we’ll just cancel it. It’s not worth our hassle and stress to try to appease everyone.”
Berkley’s mother, Samantha Moore, said the rule is unfair to babies who have a unique way of getting around. She said she did not think the rules would disqualify Berkley, her first child who has always crawled by pulling herself forward with her left side, dragging her right leg behind her and her right arm in the air. “That’s the only way we’ve ever seen our baby crawl,” she said. “That’s all she’s ever done. The doctor told us it was a crawl.” Neameyer said the issue first arose at the race last year when a baby crawled like a bear, on his hands and feet. He finished the race first, but was also disqualified, because Neameyer said, “When you do it that way, you are a speedster.”
This year, they allowed eligibility for a baby who “army crawled” by pulling himself forward with his arms because his knees were on the floor and he was using his legs. “His belly was just dragging, that’s how I looked at it,” Neameyer said. A suggestion to hold a special race for scooters was rejected, because Neameyer said organisers do not think they will have many who only scoot. “We thought it was just a fluke that this kid wasn’t crawling,” Neameyer said. Moore said Berkley is the first child to her and husband Nick Bailey, both lifelong Lakeville residents. “It’s not necessarily like, oh my God, we needed her to win,” Moore said. “It’s just a baby crawl. It was more like she did really good and we didn’t really expect her to go that fast, but she did and then we’re disqualified.”
She said many family members took time off work to watch the competition, then were disappointed that Berkley was disqualified. “It just kind of stunk because everyone was so excited about it,” Moore said. “I didn’t think it was fair to disqualify a baby for crawling differently.” Neameyer said they will consider printing rules in the newspaper next year, but organizers never thought they needed rules before since its title indicates it is a “Crawl-A-Thon.” Neameyer said it was unfortunate that it happened, but said it was a surprise to them that some babies scoot instead of crawl. “We just try to keep it fair for everybody,” she said, “We’ve been doing this for years and have not had a problem, All of the sudden, we have people having problems with Baby Crawl-A-Thon. If it gets to be a real issue, we’ll just cancel it. It’s not worth our hassle and stress to try to appease everyone.”
Stormy weather caused hot air balloon mishap
This is the moment a hot air balloon got caught in a freak windstorm at a festival in Wisconsin, dragging the vehicle it was tethered to into nearby tents.
Onlookers at the Waterford Balloonfest grabbed guide ropes as fierce winds swept through on Saturday.
Video shows one balloon break free, swirling into the sky before dragging a vehicle into a nearby camping area.
YouTube link.
Those trying to control the balloons suffered minor injuries, with one person taken to hospital but not admitted.
Onlookers at the Waterford Balloonfest grabbed guide ropes as fierce winds swept through on Saturday.
Video shows one balloon break free, swirling into the sky before dragging a vehicle into a nearby camping area.
YouTube link.
Those trying to control the balloons suffered minor injuries, with one person taken to hospital but not admitted.
Man accidentally shot roommate after teasing cat with laser
An man from Onalaska in La Crosse County, Wisconsin, is accused of shooting his roommate in the leg after using the handgun’s laser sight to tease his cat.
Vaughn Rothering, 22, told police his cat was chasing the laser on the porch of his house in Onalaska before he spun the gun in his hand, according to the complaint filed in La Crosse County Circuit Court.
The Glock 9mm handgun fired while Rothering was “messing around with it,” and lodged a bullet in his roommates’ ankle, the complaint stated. The victim was treated at Gundersen Health System.
The shooting was reported on May 11, although Rothering made his first court appearance on Friday on a felony charge of injury by negligent handling of a dangerous weapon. He returns to court at a later date.
Vaughn Rothering, 22, told police his cat was chasing the laser on the porch of his house in Onalaska before he spun the gun in his hand, according to the complaint filed in La Crosse County Circuit Court.
The Glock 9mm handgun fired while Rothering was “messing around with it,” and lodged a bullet in his roommates’ ankle, the complaint stated. The victim was treated at Gundersen Health System.
The shooting was reported on May 11, although Rothering made his first court appearance on Friday on a felony charge of injury by negligent handling of a dangerous weapon. He returns to court at a later date.
Mystery surrounds McDonald's 'opening soon' sign in middle of desert
Covering more than 170,000 square kilometres, it is the world's largest sand dune desert and attracts thousands of tourists each year.
Now a mysterious sign has appeared in the Simpson Desert Conservation Park in Northern Territory, South Australia and Queensland in central Australia.
Midway along the most popular 'road' that crosses the Simpson, more than 200 kilometres into the desert, a large sign has been erected on top of a 15-metre-high dune. Easily seen for kilometres in every direction it leaves visitors to believe that some time soon they will be able to order a double cheeseburger.
Rosaline Poohey, from Bunbury, Western Australia was making the crossing along The French Line track with a group of friends recently and described the sign as an eyesore. "It's not in keeping with the value of what you think you'd find in a national park ... I think it's completely inappropriate or not the right sort of sign for a landmark," she said. And it seems, McDonald's agrees.
McDonald's spokesman Chris Grant said the sign was a mystery to the company. "This one has us all intrigued," he said. "I can assure you it is nothing to with us. The font and the style used on the sign is not consistent with our branding and it serves us no purpose. It's beyond us why anyone would go the time and effort to install a sign like this," Mr Grant said. SA Environment Minister Ian Hunter said he would have Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources staff investigate the sign and arrange its removal.
Midway along the most popular 'road' that crosses the Simpson, more than 200 kilometres into the desert, a large sign has been erected on top of a 15-metre-high dune. Easily seen for kilometres in every direction it leaves visitors to believe that some time soon they will be able to order a double cheeseburger.
Rosaline Poohey, from Bunbury, Western Australia was making the crossing along The French Line track with a group of friends recently and described the sign as an eyesore. "It's not in keeping with the value of what you think you'd find in a national park ... I think it's completely inappropriate or not the right sort of sign for a landmark," she said. And it seems, McDonald's agrees.
McDonald's spokesman Chris Grant said the sign was a mystery to the company. "This one has us all intrigued," he said. "I can assure you it is nothing to with us. The font and the style used on the sign is not consistent with our branding and it serves us no purpose. It's beyond us why anyone would go the time and effort to install a sign like this," Mr Grant said. SA Environment Minister Ian Hunter said he would have Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources staff investigate the sign and arrange its removal.
Hotel 'celebrates' 61 years without guests
Work began on Grand Hotel San Calogero in Italy more than 60 years ago, but in spite of being renovated and inaugurated twice, the hotel has never entertained a single guest.
The project was developed by the region of Sicily to promote the beauty of the area around Sciacca, southern Sicily, in particular the nearby thermal baths which have been well-known since antiquity.
The site for the hotel was perfect.
Located on top of a rocky outcrop on Monte Kronio, and within walking distance of the thermal springs and the Basilica of San Calogero, the hotel was supposed to be able to offer guests the chance to experience the best of Sicily. Construction of the 300-bed, five-storey hotel began in 1954 and took nearly 30 years. By the beginning of the 1980s, the hotel was finally nearing completion, but there was a hitch. No agreement had been reached over which company would manage the hotel for the coming ten years.
During that time, the hotel began to fall into ruin and so Sicily's regional authorities decided to revamp it. By 1993, the hotel was once again ready to be opened: it was even inaugurated. Finally visitors from far and wide would be able to come and admire the wonderful views from the hotel's balcony. But there was a minor hiccup. It emerged that a grave oversight had been made during the hotel's construction: after 40 years of building work, the hotel was still without a properly connected drainage system. The unfortunate oversight cost the region dearly.
In 2010 it paid €800,000 in compensation to the co-operative that had won the right to manage the hotel in 1993. The problems of 1993 set plans back a few more years. It was finally inaugurated - again - in 1998, but closed immediately. In 2000, another company was found to manage the Grand Hotel San Calogero, and plans were drawn up to finally connect the hotel's drainage system to the town. But the work was never started. Sciacca council had "forgotten" to ask for the funds needed to redevelop the hotel's drains and plans were shelved once again. After 60 years of work and billions of Lira invested, the true cost of the project in today's money is difficult to quantify. Perhaps, one day it will open.
Located on top of a rocky outcrop on Monte Kronio, and within walking distance of the thermal springs and the Basilica of San Calogero, the hotel was supposed to be able to offer guests the chance to experience the best of Sicily. Construction of the 300-bed, five-storey hotel began in 1954 and took nearly 30 years. By the beginning of the 1980s, the hotel was finally nearing completion, but there was a hitch. No agreement had been reached over which company would manage the hotel for the coming ten years.
During that time, the hotel began to fall into ruin and so Sicily's regional authorities decided to revamp it. By 1993, the hotel was once again ready to be opened: it was even inaugurated. Finally visitors from far and wide would be able to come and admire the wonderful views from the hotel's balcony. But there was a minor hiccup. It emerged that a grave oversight had been made during the hotel's construction: after 40 years of building work, the hotel was still without a properly connected drainage system. The unfortunate oversight cost the region dearly.
In 2010 it paid €800,000 in compensation to the co-operative that had won the right to manage the hotel in 1993. The problems of 1993 set plans back a few more years. It was finally inaugurated - again - in 1998, but closed immediately. In 2000, another company was found to manage the Grand Hotel San Calogero, and plans were drawn up to finally connect the hotel's drainage system to the town. But the work was never started. Sciacca council had "forgotten" to ask for the funds needed to redevelop the hotel's drains and plans were shelved once again. After 60 years of work and billions of Lira invested, the true cost of the project in today's money is difficult to quantify. Perhaps, one day it will open.
'Your man with glasses' letter reached intended recipient
A letter addressed: "Your man Henderson, that boy with the glasses who is doing a PhD up here at Queen's in Belfast. Buncrana, County Donegall, Ireland," successfully reached its intended recipient last week - student Barry Henderson.
A friend of Barry's sent the letter in an attempt to demonstrate how small Buncrana is. The letter travelled more than 80 miles from Belfast, before being delivered to the office of Mr Henderson's wife, Roisin in the town.
Inside was a note saying: "If this has arrived, you live in a village." Buncrana in County Donegal has a population of about 7,000. Roisin Henderson said she thought the local postmen were "wonderful".
"They go above and beyond," she said. "I actually cornered the postman that came into the office this morning, but he claimed it wasn't him. I'm not sure if he was being shy or it really wasn't, but I'm going to find the postman."
A friend of Barry's sent the letter in an attempt to demonstrate how small Buncrana is. The letter travelled more than 80 miles from Belfast, before being delivered to the office of Mr Henderson's wife, Roisin in the town.
Inside was a note saying: "If this has arrived, you live in a village." Buncrana in County Donegal has a population of about 7,000. Roisin Henderson said she thought the local postmen were "wonderful".
"They go above and beyond," she said. "I actually cornered the postman that came into the office this morning, but he claimed it wasn't him. I'm not sure if he was being shy or it really wasn't, but I'm going to find the postman."
Disappointment after theft of honesty box
Staff who run a community facility on the edge of Dorchester, Dorset, say they are 'disappointed' that their honesty box has been taken.
Future Roots at Whitfield runs a range of community projects including for older people and youngsters.
To help the not for profit organisation boost funds in a small way, it had been putting plants and other items from its Countrymen's Club and group for youngsters with learning disabilities at the entrance to the site for people to purchase in exchange for a donation, which were placed in an honesty box.
Julie MacDougall from Future Roots said she was shocked to discover that somebody had ripped the box off the trolley it was on and taken the money from it. She said there was probably hardly any money in the box, so she had not reported it to police, but she was saddened that anybody could take it from an organisation like Future Roots and also said she wanted to make it clear to people that there was no money kept on the site.
Mrs MacDougall said: "We really wanted to make it clear to people that we don't keep any money on site and we do rely on the generosity of the general public to keep the project going. What we earn from the honesty box and plant sales gets ploughed back into our equipment and things to keep us going. It's just a bit disappointing that somebody felt the need to take that." Mrs MacDougall said it was not loss of the money, which would only have been a few pounds at most, that was upsetting but the fact that someone had taken from an organisation that was trying to do some good in the community.
To help the not for profit organisation boost funds in a small way, it had been putting plants and other items from its Countrymen's Club and group for youngsters with learning disabilities at the entrance to the site for people to purchase in exchange for a donation, which were placed in an honesty box.
Julie MacDougall from Future Roots said she was shocked to discover that somebody had ripped the box off the trolley it was on and taken the money from it. She said there was probably hardly any money in the box, so she had not reported it to police, but she was saddened that anybody could take it from an organisation like Future Roots and also said she wanted to make it clear to people that there was no money kept on the site.
Mrs MacDougall said: "We really wanted to make it clear to people that we don't keep any money on site and we do rely on the generosity of the general public to keep the project going. What we earn from the honesty box and plant sales gets ploughed back into our equipment and things to keep us going. It's just a bit disappointing that somebody felt the need to take that." Mrs MacDougall said it was not loss of the money, which would only have been a few pounds at most, that was upsetting but the fact that someone had taken from an organisation that was trying to do some good in the community.
Man leapt from wheelchair and tore off shirt in street confrontation
An onlooker caught a video of a disabled man in a heated altercation on Inverness High Street on Tuesday.
The unnamed man leapt from his wheelchair, tore off his shirt, and squared up to a seated trio.
There are few clues to the grounds for the argument, as the video seems to begin in the midst of the incident. It starts with the man appearing to speak to the three men before wheeling around agitatedly for a few seconds.
He then stands from his wheelchair, removing his shirt, before shouting and appearing to challenge the men, who do not appear to react. He continues to act in an agitated manner until two police officers arrive on scene.
YouTube link.
Having sat back down as the officers arrived, the man then stands up again before officers pull him back to his chair. The man then continues to shout as the officers guide him away from the scene. Police Scotland confirmed they had attended the scene, with a spokesman adding: “The man was spoken to and calmed down – there was no further action taken.”
There are few clues to the grounds for the argument, as the video seems to begin in the midst of the incident. It starts with the man appearing to speak to the three men before wheeling around agitatedly for a few seconds.
He then stands from his wheelchair, removing his shirt, before shouting and appearing to challenge the men, who do not appear to react. He continues to act in an agitated manner until two police officers arrive on scene.
YouTube link.
Having sat back down as the officers arrived, the man then stands up again before officers pull him back to his chair. The man then continues to shout as the officers guide him away from the scene. Police Scotland confirmed they had attended the scene, with a spokesman adding: “The man was spoken to and calmed down – there was no further action taken.”
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