Monday, December 17, 2007
Police used helicopter to buy doughnuts
A week or so ago, police in Albuquerque used a police helicopter to buy a box of doughnuts from Krispy Kremes.
In the audio below, a man made a series of humorous phone calls to a local police station regarding the incident.
If he'd made similar phone calls in the UK, I'm pretty sure the police would have been round to his house like a shot.
In the audio below, a man made a series of humorous phone calls to a local police station regarding the incident.
If he'd made similar phone calls in the UK, I'm pretty sure the police would have been round to his house like a shot.
Inventor had to prove toilet worms were happy
The inventor of a worm-driven composting toilet in New Zealand had to prove the worms were not traumatised or stressed by their task before council bureaucrats would approve the system.
Coll Bell, who invented the "wormorator" as an alternative to septic tanks, was told by an Auckland Regional Council staff member to get an expert's report on the psychological impact on the worms after she became concerned during a site visit.
"She felt that the worms were being unfairly treated, being expected to deal with human faeces, and that it could affect them in a psychological way," says Bell. "I said, `Well, what do I do about that?' and she said `you have to have someone with the necessary qualifications to say the worms are happy'."
The ARC was satisfied after vermiculture consultant Patricia Naidu reported the worms were in excellent health and breeding happily.
Coll Bell, who invented the "wormorator" as an alternative to septic tanks, was told by an Auckland Regional Council staff member to get an expert's report on the psychological impact on the worms after she became concerned during a site visit.
"She felt that the worms were being unfairly treated, being expected to deal with human faeces, and that it could affect them in a psychological way," says Bell. "I said, `Well, what do I do about that?' and she said `you have to have someone with the necessary qualifications to say the worms are happy'."
The ARC was satisfied after vermiculture consultant Patricia Naidu reported the worms were in excellent health and breeding happily.
Man crafts pens from cow patties
One cow's excrement is one man's fine writing instrument.
At least it is for John Lopez, 42, who began making his South Texas Cow Patty Pens six years ago with local, natural materials.
He perfected the process through trial and error. The end result: flecks of brown suspended in a clear plastic, looking almost like wood from a distance.
His original brand name for the pens included a vulgar barnyard term, but it offended customers and other vendors at craft shows, so he retreated to the safer "South Texas Cow Patty Pen." The finished product goes for $45.
At least it is for John Lopez, 42, who began making his South Texas Cow Patty Pens six years ago with local, natural materials.
He perfected the process through trial and error. The end result: flecks of brown suspended in a clear plastic, looking almost like wood from a distance.
His original brand name for the pens included a vulgar barnyard term, but it offended customers and other vendors at craft shows, so he retreated to the safer "South Texas Cow Patty Pen." The finished product goes for $45.
Horse rescued from icy well
Emergency crews spend hours in near freezing temperatures trying to rescue a horse trapped in a well. Three Boone County teens spotted the distressed horse fighting to keep his head above water.
Struggling in frigid temperatures a horse named Beau floated in an old spring well for about four hours on Friday. His owner, Linda Smiley, watched helplessly as rescue workers tried to pull the four-year-old horse from the icy water.
After hours of waiting, a crane finally hoisted Beau to safety, but he's bloodied and seriously wounded - still his owners think he'll be okay.
Beau's worst wounds are on his legs - he has serious tendon damage. He'll stay at the Carmargo Hunt Club in Burlington where vets will care for him.
You can see a longer video with commentary here.
Struggling in frigid temperatures a horse named Beau floated in an old spring well for about four hours on Friday. His owner, Linda Smiley, watched helplessly as rescue workers tried to pull the four-year-old horse from the icy water.
After hours of waiting, a crane finally hoisted Beau to safety, but he's bloodied and seriously wounded - still his owners think he'll be okay.
Beau's worst wounds are on his legs - he has serious tendon damage. He'll stay at the Carmargo Hunt Club in Burlington where vets will care for him.
You can see a longer video with commentary here.
Get a load of the Swiss views, girls
Switzerland is trying to tempt women away from neighbouring countries’ snowy slopes with a bare-chested male ski instructor and a competition for lessons with the country’s sexiest men.
Toni “the Body” Betschart, a ski and fitness instructor for four years, has found fame by posing topless for the Swiss tourist board on a sunny mountainside. An advertisement showing him in just ski trousers and sunglasses has been displayed across Europe, with a giant billboard in the centre of Amsterdam.
“Our message is that Switzerland has much more to offer than beautiful winter landscapes,” said Veronique Kanel, from the tourist board.
The £8m campaign includes a television advertisement to be broadcast in Britain, Germany, France and Italy, which shows another ski instructor being pursued down a mountain by hundreds of women.
The tourist board’s website also features a male beauty contest in which members of the public can vote for the sexiest ski instructor.
The prize, to be announced in a draw next month, is a weekend of private tuition with one of nine instructors.
Toni “the Body” Betschart, a ski and fitness instructor for four years, has found fame by posing topless for the Swiss tourist board on a sunny mountainside. An advertisement showing him in just ski trousers and sunglasses has been displayed across Europe, with a giant billboard in the centre of Amsterdam.
“Our message is that Switzerland has much more to offer than beautiful winter landscapes,” said Veronique Kanel, from the tourist board.
The £8m campaign includes a television advertisement to be broadcast in Britain, Germany, France and Italy, which shows another ski instructor being pursued down a mountain by hundreds of women.
The tourist board’s website also features a male beauty contest in which members of the public can vote for the sexiest ski instructor.
The prize, to be announced in a draw next month, is a weekend of private tuition with one of nine instructors.
Stop leaving such big tips, Spanish minister tells consumers
Spaniards still have not fully got to grips with the value of the euro and often tip too much, according to Economy Minister Pedro Solbes.
Over-tipping had added to the sense among Spanish consumers that the cost of living is higher since the euro's introduction in 2002, he said.
"People haven't taken on board the value of a euro," Mr Solbes told a political rally in Madrid.
"I see people having a couple of coffees and calmly leaving a euro tip," Mr Solbes told a Socialist Party economic forum in the Spanish capital.
"That's 50% of the value of the product."
Before the euro hit the streets five years ago, leaving a 25 peseta tip was the norm. One euro was then worth 166 pesetas.
Over-tipping had added to the sense among Spanish consumers that the cost of living is higher since the euro's introduction in 2002, he said.
"People haven't taken on board the value of a euro," Mr Solbes told a political rally in Madrid.
"I see people having a couple of coffees and calmly leaving a euro tip," Mr Solbes told a Socialist Party economic forum in the Spanish capital.
"That's 50% of the value of the product."
Before the euro hit the streets five years ago, leaving a 25 peseta tip was the norm. One euro was then worth 166 pesetas.
Joy for little girl who wants hair for Christmas
A girl of four has offered to cut off her long hair to help another youngster's Christmas wish come true.
Earlier this month, four-year-old Kazia-Leigh Rutherford, who has a disease which makes her hair grow in tufts, wrote a letter to Santa asking for a full head of hair.
Now Morna Francesca Moore, four, and her mother Sanja, 36, of Nottingham, have offered to have their own locks made into hair extensions for Kazia-Leigh.
Mrs Moore, who has dark hair down to her waist, said: 'Having a four-year-old daughter with really long hair made me relate to the story. When I told my daughter, Morna Francesca, about it she said: “Mum, I'll give her mine.” She is only four, but she is perfectly ready to do that.'
Doctors are baffled that Kazia-Leigh, from Hebburn, Tyneside, has never been able to grow more than a couple of inches of hair. Kazia's family have yet to respond to the offer.
Earlier this month, four-year-old Kazia-Leigh Rutherford, who has a disease which makes her hair grow in tufts, wrote a letter to Santa asking for a full head of hair.
Now Morna Francesca Moore, four, and her mother Sanja, 36, of Nottingham, have offered to have their own locks made into hair extensions for Kazia-Leigh.
Mrs Moore, who has dark hair down to her waist, said: 'Having a four-year-old daughter with really long hair made me relate to the story. When I told my daughter, Morna Francesca, about it she said: “Mum, I'll give her mine.” She is only four, but she is perfectly ready to do that.'
Doctors are baffled that Kazia-Leigh, from Hebburn, Tyneside, has never been able to grow more than a couple of inches of hair. Kazia's family have yet to respond to the offer.
Giant love spoon world record bid
A 44ft (13.41m) love spoon being carved outside Cardiff Castle is due to be completed in the next few days.
Ed Harrison from Pontsian, Ceredigion, is attempting to break the world record for the largest wooden spoon which currently stands at 25ft 9in (7.86m).
Using a chainsaw, Mr Harrison is carving the spoon out of a felled Red Cedar tree from the Caerphilly area.
It has taken him over a week to finish the spoon which features a heart, cage, dragon and links, all symbolising love.
Welsh love spoons, which date back to the 17th Century, were traditionally given as a declaration of love or to commemorate a marriage, anniversary or birth.
You can see more of Mr Harrison's work on his website, and while there is no doubt that he's a master at carving wood, it doesn't look like spelling is his strong point.
Ed Harrison from Pontsian, Ceredigion, is attempting to break the world record for the largest wooden spoon which currently stands at 25ft 9in (7.86m).
Using a chainsaw, Mr Harrison is carving the spoon out of a felled Red Cedar tree from the Caerphilly area.
It has taken him over a week to finish the spoon which features a heart, cage, dragon and links, all symbolising love.
Welsh love spoons, which date back to the 17th Century, were traditionally given as a declaration of love or to commemorate a marriage, anniversary or birth.
You can see more of Mr Harrison's work on his website, and while there is no doubt that he's a master at carving wood, it doesn't look like spelling is his strong point.
Rogue surf kite nearly killed pensioner
A pensioner was lucky to escape serious injury after getting tangled in a rogue surf kite and dragged into a wall.
Brian Phillipson was driving home along Sandbanks Road at 1pm on Saturday when the powerful kite, being used by a surfer in Poole Harbour, became tangled in his car.
The 72-year-old from Banks Road, Poole, said: "It just shot over the top of my car, landed behind me and got caught up. That was a bit of a shock in itself, but I pulled over and started to unhook it so I could get home.
"Suddenly my hand became caught up in the nylon cord and this great gale picked up. The kite pulled me off my feet and dragged me into a garden wall the other side of the pavement." Luckily the grandfather-of-one from Banks Road managed to free himself, but the nylon cord badly gashed his finger which left him with a lengthy wait at Poole Hospital and several butterfly stitches.
Seconds after freeing himself from the kite a man ran up - but not to help.
"I had a badly bleeding hand, but this man just ran up said 'I'm so sorry' and when I looked around again he was gone, off chasing his kite in the wind."
Brian Phillipson was driving home along Sandbanks Road at 1pm on Saturday when the powerful kite, being used by a surfer in Poole Harbour, became tangled in his car.
The 72-year-old from Banks Road, Poole, said: "It just shot over the top of my car, landed behind me and got caught up. That was a bit of a shock in itself, but I pulled over and started to unhook it so I could get home.
"Suddenly my hand became caught up in the nylon cord and this great gale picked up. The kite pulled me off my feet and dragged me into a garden wall the other side of the pavement." Luckily the grandfather-of-one from Banks Road managed to free himself, but the nylon cord badly gashed his finger which left him with a lengthy wait at Poole Hospital and several butterfly stitches.
Seconds after freeing himself from the kite a man ran up - but not to help.
"I had a badly bleeding hand, but this man just ran up said 'I'm so sorry' and when I looked around again he was gone, off chasing his kite in the wind."
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