Friday, October 27, 2006
A dog and a cat
The dog is trying to get a hot potato, whilst the cat is drinking milk.
Straight from the cow.
And here are some puppies.
Straight from the cow.
And here are some puppies.
Cabana of Quotes
A large collection of quotes.
“Usually I'd say a top-hat doesn't suit a shaved monkey, but in your case, I'm willing to make an exception.”
“Usually I'd say a top-hat doesn't suit a shaved monkey, but in your case, I'm willing to make an exception.”
'Tower of Babel' translator made
A "Tower of Babel" device that gives the illusion of being bilingual is being developed by US scientists.
Users simply have to silently mouth a word in their own language for it to be translated and read out in another.
The researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, said the effect was like watching a television programme that had been dubbed.
The system, detailed in New Scientist, is not yet fully accurate, but experts said it showed the technology was "within reach".
Users simply have to silently mouth a word in their own language for it to be translated and read out in another.
The researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, said the effect was like watching a television programme that had been dubbed.
The system, detailed in New Scientist, is not yet fully accurate, but experts said it showed the technology was "within reach".
Nepal show fuses art and fashion
Imagine an exhibition where instead of the art-lover walking among the paintings, the paintings walk among the public.
That is the concept of Wearable Art, which has been displayed at a unique show in Kathmandu.
It has been created by seven young Nepali artists and the exhibition's curator, Deneth Piumakshi from Sri Lanka.
Deneth, 26, is at pains to say this is art, not "fashion".
"Art doesn't have to be in a square on a wall," she says. "I don't like canvas or paper. So I started painting on clothes."
That is the concept of Wearable Art, which has been displayed at a unique show in Kathmandu.
It has been created by seven young Nepali artists and the exhibition's curator, Deneth Piumakshi from Sri Lanka.
Deneth, 26, is at pains to say this is art, not "fashion".
"Art doesn't have to be in a square on a wall," she says. "I don't like canvas or paper. So I started painting on clothes."
Penguins act as sheepdogs of the sea
Penguins work in teams to herd fish in the same way that sheepdogs chivvy sheep into a pen, scientists have found.
Tracking devices attached to Magellanic penguins have revealed that they will swim in ever decreasing circles to herd schools of fish into balls.
As the penguins tighten their circles the fish crowd together until they get so squashed up that the ball loses it shape and breaks up. The penguins then target those fish that stray and snatch a meal.
Sensors also revealed that the penguins are among the Earth’s greediest creatures, stuffing themselves so full that a grown man would have to consume almost 600 quarter-pounder burgers in eight hours to match them.
Tracking devices attached to Magellanic penguins have revealed that they will swim in ever decreasing circles to herd schools of fish into balls.
As the penguins tighten their circles the fish crowd together until they get so squashed up that the ball loses it shape and breaks up. The penguins then target those fish that stray and snatch a meal.
Sensors also revealed that the penguins are among the Earth’s greediest creatures, stuffing themselves so full that a grown man would have to consume almost 600 quarter-pounder burgers in eight hours to match them.
Boy goes for toy, ends up inside vending machine
A toddler who went fishing for a stuffed cartoon character in a vending machine wound up sharing space with the toy inside the game's plastic cubicle.
Three-year-old Robert Moore tried to scoop out a stuffed replica of SpongeBob SquarePants with the vending machine's plastic crane on Saturday, but had no luck on his first attempt.
While his grandmother, Fredricka Bierdemann, turned her back to get another dollar for a second try, Robert took off his coat and squeezed through an opening in the machine. He landed in the stuffed animal cube.
"He was having a ball in there, hugging all the stuffed animals," Bierdemann said. "He was so good-natured, but I was shaking like a leaf.
Firefighters broke one lock but then spotted two latches inside the plastic cube. They passed a screwdriver to Robert, who eventually freed himself.
He went home safe, but without a stuffed Sponge Bob.
Thanks Ajit!
Three-year-old Robert Moore tried to scoop out a stuffed replica of SpongeBob SquarePants with the vending machine's plastic crane on Saturday, but had no luck on his first attempt.
While his grandmother, Fredricka Bierdemann, turned her back to get another dollar for a second try, Robert took off his coat and squeezed through an opening in the machine. He landed in the stuffed animal cube.
"He was having a ball in there, hugging all the stuffed animals," Bierdemann said. "He was so good-natured, but I was shaking like a leaf.
Firefighters broke one lock but then spotted two latches inside the plastic cube. They passed a screwdriver to Robert, who eventually freed himself.
He went home safe, but without a stuffed Sponge Bob.
Thanks Ajit!
"Sexsomniacs" puzzle medical researchers
Researchers are struggling to understand a rare medical condition where sufferers unknowingly demand, or actually have, sex while asleep.
Research into sexsomnia - making sexual advances toward another person while asleep - has been hampered as sufferers are so embarrassed by the problem they tend not to own up to it, while doctors do not ask about it.
As yet there is no cure for the condition, which often leads to difficulties in relationships.
Most researchers view sexsomnia as a variant of sleepwalking, where sufferers are stuck between sleep and wakefulness, though sexsomniacs tend to stay in bed rather than get up and walk about.
Research into sexsomnia - making sexual advances toward another person while asleep - has been hampered as sufferers are so embarrassed by the problem they tend not to own up to it, while doctors do not ask about it.
As yet there is no cure for the condition, which often leads to difficulties in relationships.
Most researchers view sexsomnia as a variant of sleepwalking, where sufferers are stuck between sleep and wakefulness, though sexsomniacs tend to stay in bed rather than get up and walk about.
Family meal ruined by urine thrower
A family meal at a New Malden restuarant took an unexpected turn when a total stranger walked in off the street and threw urine over diners and their food.
The family of four was enjoying a meal together at Pizza Piazza in the High Street at about 9.15pm on October 16 when they were approached at their table by the suspect, who was carrying a clear plastic bag containing what police believe to be urine.
He was heard to say "This is for you" and then threw the liquid over the family and their food. He then quickly walked out of the restaurant.
A waitress in the restaurant called the police who did not arrive immediately, leaving the family sitting in urine-soaked clothes for more than 30 minutes.
The family of four was enjoying a meal together at Pizza Piazza in the High Street at about 9.15pm on October 16 when they were approached at their table by the suspect, who was carrying a clear plastic bag containing what police believe to be urine.
He was heard to say "This is for you" and then threw the liquid over the family and their food. He then quickly walked out of the restaurant.
A waitress in the restaurant called the police who did not arrive immediately, leaving the family sitting in urine-soaked clothes for more than 30 minutes.
Man banned from touching muscles
A man has been ordered by a judge not to feel people's muscles or ask them to do exercises in public.
Akinwale Arobieke, 45, from Liverpool, was also banned from measuring the size of muscles, under the order requested by Merseyside Police.
Arobieke, who is known in the area as Purple Aki, is out of jail on licence after a sentence imposed in 2003 for 15 counts of harassment.
He pursued young people with requests such as asking to feel their muscles.
Deputy District Judge Aled Jones granted the order to coincide with Arobieke's release on Thursday.
For all the wrong reasons 'Purple Aki' is quite famous in and around Merseyside, and even has his own Wikipedia page.
Proceed with caution.
Akinwale Arobieke, 45, from Liverpool, was also banned from measuring the size of muscles, under the order requested by Merseyside Police.
Arobieke, who is known in the area as Purple Aki, is out of jail on licence after a sentence imposed in 2003 for 15 counts of harassment.
He pursued young people with requests such as asking to feel their muscles.
Deputy District Judge Aled Jones granted the order to coincide with Arobieke's release on Thursday.
For all the wrong reasons 'Purple Aki' is quite famous in and around Merseyside, and even has his own Wikipedia page.
Proceed with caution.
Colombia 'is fake banknote king'
Colombia and North Korea are the largest producers of fake US banknotes, a report suggests.
The study by the US Treasury Department, Federal Reserve and Secret Service said that one in every 10,000 greenbacks was a fake.
It said more affordable equipment meant counterfeiting was getting easier.
About $450bn of the $750bn of US currency in circulation is held outside the US, with up to $70m estimated to be fake.
The study by the US Treasury Department, Federal Reserve and Secret Service said that one in every 10,000 greenbacks was a fake.
It said more affordable equipment meant counterfeiting was getting easier.
About $450bn of the $750bn of US currency in circulation is held outside the US, with up to $70m estimated to be fake.
Bank note honour for George Best
Northern Ireland soccer legend George Best is to be immortalised on one million commemorative £5 bank notes.
The Ulster Bank is to issue the limited edition notes as a tribute to the footballing genius next month to mark the first anniversary of his death.
They will show Best in both his Northern Ireland and Man Utd strips.
The finalised artwork for the notes was unveiled at the bank's Belfast headquarters by chief executive Cormac McCarthy on Thursday.
The Ulster Bank is to issue the limited edition notes as a tribute to the footballing genius next month to mark the first anniversary of his death.
They will show Best in both his Northern Ireland and Man Utd strips.
The finalised artwork for the notes was unveiled at the bank's Belfast headquarters by chief executive Cormac McCarthy on Thursday.
Novelty socks ban plan for medics
Doctors, nurses and health visitors in Lancashire could be banned from wearing novelty socks to work.
uniform policy which would also stop staff from having tight clothes, unusual hairstyles or excessive tattoos.
The East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust said it wanted a "corporate image which presents a professional and business-like approach".
Lynn Wissett, director of clinical care, said: "Many of our staff work with very sick or dying patients and the policy is intended to make sure that our staff present a professional image at all times.
uniform policy which would also stop staff from having tight clothes, unusual hairstyles or excessive tattoos.
The East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust said it wanted a "corporate image which presents a professional and business-like approach".
Lynn Wissett, director of clinical care, said: "Many of our staff work with very sick or dying patients and the policy is intended to make sure that our staff present a professional image at all times.
Police use tape measure to catch robbers
Jewellers targetted in a series of terrifying armed raids are furious after police unveiled their latest weapon in the war on crime - a tape measure.
Police have handed out tape measures so the jewellers can check the height of the gunman holding up their shops.
They have been told to attach them to their doorframes so they can give an accurate description of how tall the villain is as he flees the scene after robbing them.
The move has caused fury among small business owners in the upmarket Cheshire towns of Alderley Edge, Wilmslow and Knutsford who have been robbed of an estimated £1 million worth of jewellery in recent months.
Police have handed out tape measures so the jewellers can check the height of the gunman holding up their shops.
They have been told to attach them to their doorframes so they can give an accurate description of how tall the villain is as he flees the scene after robbing them.
The move has caused fury among small business owners in the upmarket Cheshire towns of Alderley Edge, Wilmslow and Knutsford who have been robbed of an estimated £1 million worth of jewellery in recent months.
Expert on addiction 'was drunk'
A senior NHS manager recognised nationally for his work helping people overcome drug and alcohol problems has stepped down after an investigation found he was regularly drunk at work.
It concluded there was evidence David Cliff, head of County Durham's Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT), returned from extended lunches under the influence of alcohol and behaved inappropriately.
One witness told NHS investigators it was common knowledge he drank at lunchtime and they had seen Mr Cliff and a colleague "both coming back, absolutely reeking of alcohol and giggling and the worse for wear."
Mr Cliff, believed to have earned £50,000 a year and controlling a £1.8m budget, has been suspended on full pay since last November. He left his post on October 16.
It concluded there was evidence David Cliff, head of County Durham's Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT), returned from extended lunches under the influence of alcohol and behaved inappropriately.
One witness told NHS investigators it was common knowledge he drank at lunchtime and they had seen Mr Cliff and a colleague "both coming back, absolutely reeking of alcohol and giggling and the worse for wear."
Mr Cliff, believed to have earned £50,000 a year and controlling a £1.8m budget, has been suspended on full pay since last November. He left his post on October 16.
It's official: Women more grumpy than men in the morning
Millions of chaps across the country have come to agree that the best way to avoid the outbreak of World War Three over breakfast is to keep well away until the bad tempered creature that came from beneath the duvet (aka the wife) lightens up a bit.
New research has confirmed they have every right to be wary. It found that not only are women grumpier than men first thing, but also that they remain in a foul mood for longer.
A survey by The Sleep Council showed a quarter of men never wake up in a bad mood, compared to just one in seven women.
The survey, published for national sleep-in day on October 29 when the clocks go back and people get an extra hour in bed, found that four in ten people believe a disturbed night is the main reason for grumpiness in the morning.
New research has confirmed they have every right to be wary. It found that not only are women grumpier than men first thing, but also that they remain in a foul mood for longer.
A survey by The Sleep Council showed a quarter of men never wake up in a bad mood, compared to just one in seven women.
The survey, published for national sleep-in day on October 29 when the clocks go back and people get an extra hour in bed, found that four in ten people believe a disturbed night is the main reason for grumpiness in the morning.
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