Saturday, March 29, 2008
Why BBC Radio 4 newsreader Charlotte Green got the giggles and couldn't stop
The normally austere tones of the 8 o'clock news on BBC Radio 4's Today programme were replaced by fits of hilarity this morning when a newsreader was unable to stop laughing after hearing a clip of an old sound recording.
Charlotte Green had just finished reading an item about what appeared to be the earliest recording of the human voice, made in 1860, when she fell into an uncontrollable fit of laughter from which she was unable to recover.
The giggles were triggered by a recording of the French song Au Clair De La Lune, unearthed by American scientists, that was apparently made 11 years before Thomas Edison first demonstrated the gramophone. The strange, scarcely audible, wail was too much for Ms Green, who was unable to recover her composure and broke down intermittently during the next item: a report on the death of the esteemed screenwriter Abby Mann.
After an initial chuckle for which she apologised, Ms Green embarked on the story about Mann, who won the Oscar for best screenplay in 1961, but began laughing again almost immediately, apparently prompted by someone else in the studio. By the time she was recounting the fact that Mann had won several awards for his work, which included the script for the film Judgment at Nuremberg, she was laughing loudly, and soon after she had to stop completely, leaving an awkward silence. She was finally rescued by James Naughtie, the Today presenter, who launched into a report about Iraq.
Charlotte Green had just finished reading an item about what appeared to be the earliest recording of the human voice, made in 1860, when she fell into an uncontrollable fit of laughter from which she was unable to recover.
The giggles were triggered by a recording of the French song Au Clair De La Lune, unearthed by American scientists, that was apparently made 11 years before Thomas Edison first demonstrated the gramophone. The strange, scarcely audible, wail was too much for Ms Green, who was unable to recover her composure and broke down intermittently during the next item: a report on the death of the esteemed screenwriter Abby Mann.
After an initial chuckle for which she apologised, Ms Green embarked on the story about Mann, who won the Oscar for best screenplay in 1961, but began laughing again almost immediately, apparently prompted by someone else in the studio. By the time she was recounting the fact that Mann had won several awards for his work, which included the script for the film Judgment at Nuremberg, she was laughing loudly, and soon after she had to stop completely, leaving an awkward silence. She was finally rescued by James Naughtie, the Today presenter, who launched into a report about Iraq.
Man caught having sex with a picnic table
A man in central Ohio is accused of having sex with his picnic table.
The investigation began when a tipster gave police three DVDs showing Arthur Price having sexual intercourse with a metal round table on his deck.
The incidents occurred between January and March 2008.
Police say the DVDs show Price involved in a sex act in his bedroom. He walks out to his deck, tilts the table on its side and has sex with it.
Price admitted that he had sex with the picnic table when police questioned him.
He confirmed to police the incidents caught on the DVDs and said he had also had sex with the table inside the home. Price faces four counts of public indecency. He is free on a $20,000 bond.
The investigation began when a tipster gave police three DVDs showing Arthur Price having sexual intercourse with a metal round table on his deck.
The incidents occurred between January and March 2008.
Police say the DVDs show Price involved in a sex act in his bedroom. He walks out to his deck, tilts the table on its side and has sex with it.
Price admitted that he had sex with the picnic table when police questioned him.
He confirmed to police the incidents caught on the DVDs and said he had also had sex with the table inside the home. Price faces four counts of public indecency. He is free on a $20,000 bond.
Mexican bull jailed for damaging village
A prisoner is behind bars in southern Mexico for acting beastly.
Residents of the town of Canalumtic say the bull devoured their corn crops and destroyed two wooden shops, so they had it thrown in the slammer.
The bull will not be released until the owner pays damages, to be determined by a local judge, police commander Felipe Gomez said Friday.
The owner, Moises Santiz, said he'll pay a maximum of $400 — the same price he forked over for the bull four months ago.
Santiz said he bought the animal on Nov. 4 and let him out to graze. The bull disappeared on March 1 and was later found tied up in the patio of a private home in Canalumtic, held prisoner by an angry resident.
It's not the first time an animal has been jailed in Mexico's southern state of Chiapas. Last year, a dog was locked up for 12 days after biting someone. His owners were ordered to pay a $18 fine.
Residents of the town of Canalumtic say the bull devoured their corn crops and destroyed two wooden shops, so they had it thrown in the slammer.
The bull will not be released until the owner pays damages, to be determined by a local judge, police commander Felipe Gomez said Friday.
The owner, Moises Santiz, said he'll pay a maximum of $400 — the same price he forked over for the bull four months ago.
Santiz said he bought the animal on Nov. 4 and let him out to graze. The bull disappeared on March 1 and was later found tied up in the patio of a private home in Canalumtic, held prisoner by an angry resident.
It's not the first time an animal has been jailed in Mexico's southern state of Chiapas. Last year, a dog was locked up for 12 days after biting someone. His owners were ordered to pay a $18 fine.
Indian 'witch' tied to tree and beaten by mob
An Indian woman accused of being a witch was tied to a tree and beaten by a mob, with television footage of the incident aired in India yesterday.
Nishant Tiwari, a police official in northeastern India, said a journalist who filmed the beating called him on Thursday to report the incident, which took place in the village of Dumaria in central eastern Bihar state.
He arrived to find the woman tied to a tree, her hair partially cut and her complexion ruddy from being slapped. She had no serious injuries.
"I was appalled at what I saw because people should be more socially responsible than to do this," Tiwari said.
Authorities arrested six people, including the man who admitted to hiring her services as a witch. They were due to appear before a magistrate yesterday.
Ram Ayodhya, who could face up to seven years in prison for his role in the attack, told police he was justified in beating the woman, Tiwari said.
Should you wish, you can see the very graphic video here.
Nishant Tiwari, a police official in northeastern India, said a journalist who filmed the beating called him on Thursday to report the incident, which took place in the village of Dumaria in central eastern Bihar state.
He arrived to find the woman tied to a tree, her hair partially cut and her complexion ruddy from being slapped. She had no serious injuries.
"I was appalled at what I saw because people should be more socially responsible than to do this," Tiwari said.
Authorities arrested six people, including the man who admitted to hiring her services as a witch. They were due to appear before a magistrate yesterday.
Ram Ayodhya, who could face up to seven years in prison for his role in the attack, told police he was justified in beating the woman, Tiwari said.
Should you wish, you can see the very graphic video here.
Frog’s broken leg gets à la carte treatment
This little frog is recovering from a broken leg after he hurt himself while trying to break free from netting which was put over a garden pond.
The green amphibian, who is called Nicolas, was taken to St Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital, in Bucks, where his right leg was X-rayed.
The X-ray confirmed it was broken and the injured leg has now been strapped in blue plaster and bandaged. It will take up to eight weeks to mend.
The two-year-old frog was named after French president Nicolas Sarkozy.
The green amphibian, who is called Nicolas, was taken to St Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital, in Bucks, where his right leg was X-rayed.
The X-ray confirmed it was broken and the injured leg has now been strapped in blue plaster and bandaged. It will take up to eight weeks to mend.
The two-year-old frog was named after French president Nicolas Sarkozy.
The fox who was too fat to flee the coop
Opening her chicken coop one morning, Terri Strick hoped to find some fresh eggs from her hens.
Instead all she found was one - very full - fox, as well as an assortment of blood-stained feathers.
The creature, which she has nicknamed Basil, had already killed six of her chickens the week before. He returned two weeks ago to finish off the feast, but found that his eyes were bigger than his belly.
The extra portion of poultry was clearly too much for him, and he brazenly decided to stay in the warm, if slightly gory, hen house to sleep off the effects of his over-indulgence.
Mrs Strick, of St Levan in west Cornwall, said that she had been hoping to collect some eggs for her breakfast when she opened the coop. "All that was there was a lot of feathers and a very contented fox," she said. "He stayed there all day, too full to move, even though there was a constant stream of people looking at him."
However, despite Basil's greedy ways, Mrs Strick decided not to exact any revenge on him for the killing of her hens. "It's nature I suppose," she said. "If you live in the country it's what you have to put up with."
Instead all she found was one - very full - fox, as well as an assortment of blood-stained feathers.
The creature, which she has nicknamed Basil, had already killed six of her chickens the week before. He returned two weeks ago to finish off the feast, but found that his eyes were bigger than his belly.
The extra portion of poultry was clearly too much for him, and he brazenly decided to stay in the warm, if slightly gory, hen house to sleep off the effects of his over-indulgence.
Mrs Strick, of St Levan in west Cornwall, said that she had been hoping to collect some eggs for her breakfast when she opened the coop. "All that was there was a lot of feathers and a very contented fox," she said. "He stayed there all day, too full to move, even though there was a constant stream of people looking at him."
However, despite Basil's greedy ways, Mrs Strick decided not to exact any revenge on him for the killing of her hens. "It's nature I suppose," she said. "If you live in the country it's what you have to put up with."
Wyatt OAP and his trusty toy gun
Armed police swooped on an old folks’ home – to arrest a pensioner in a cowboy hat brandishing a plastic pistol.
Eugene Hide, 75, was seized as he whirred up and down corridors on his electric mobility scooter.
Staff dialled 999 complaining the “Wyatt twerp” was using “threatening” behaviour.
They evacuated all 25 residents while the armed response unit was scrambled.
Police dashed in to find Eugene waving his toy shooter in the air.
He was taken away for questioning before being released without charge.
Eugene Hide, 75, was seized as he whirred up and down corridors on his electric mobility scooter.
Staff dialled 999 complaining the “Wyatt twerp” was using “threatening” behaviour.
They evacuated all 25 residents while the armed response unit was scrambled.
Police dashed in to find Eugene waving his toy shooter in the air.
He was taken away for questioning before being released without charge.
Darth Vader attacks Jedi in his garden
A Star Wars fan got closer to his idols than he would perhaps have liked when he was attacked in his garden by Darth Vader.
Jedi Master Jonba Hehol - known to family and friends as Barney Jones, 36, of Holyhead - was giving a TV interview in his back garden for a documentary when a man, dressed in a black bin-bag and wearing Darth Vader's trademark shiny black helmet, leapt over his garden fence.
Wielding a metal crutch - his lightsaber presumably being in for repairs - the Sith Lord proceeded to lay about his opponent, whose Jedi powers proved inadequate for the task of defending himself.
After besting Master Hehol in single combat, Vader, who alledgedly was under the influence of alcohol, went on to assault the camera crew and a hairdresser.
Master Hehol, a hairdresser, who founded the first-ever British Jedi Church in loving homage to the world-famous science fiction franchise with his brother Daniel, was unimpressed by the revenge of the Sith. "This wasn't a joke. This was serious," he said.
Police are investigating a claim of assault.
Jedi Master Jonba Hehol - known to family and friends as Barney Jones, 36, of Holyhead - was giving a TV interview in his back garden for a documentary when a man, dressed in a black bin-bag and wearing Darth Vader's trademark shiny black helmet, leapt over his garden fence.
Wielding a metal crutch - his lightsaber presumably being in for repairs - the Sith Lord proceeded to lay about his opponent, whose Jedi powers proved inadequate for the task of defending himself.
After besting Master Hehol in single combat, Vader, who alledgedly was under the influence of alcohol, went on to assault the camera crew and a hairdresser.
Master Hehol, a hairdresser, who founded the first-ever British Jedi Church in loving homage to the world-famous science fiction franchise with his brother Daniel, was unimpressed by the revenge of the Sith. "This wasn't a joke. This was serious," he said.
Police are investigating a claim of assault.
Snorer's revenge on mocking neighbours
A Persistent snorer teased by his neighbours for keeping them awake repeatedly slashed their car tyres in a four-year campaign of revenge, a court has heard.
David Chandler was driven into a rage by his neighbours, who continually poked fun at the sleepless nights they suffered because of his nocturnal noisiness.
Magistrates heard that in anger during the dead of night, the embarrassed 49-year-old would creep out of his house and slash their car tyres with a knife. Claudius Taylor, prosecuting, told Reading magistrates that Chandler had burst 15 tyres on the silver Suzuki Wagon belonging to Jacques Cilliers between 2004 and 2008.
"The reason why the defendant did this is because he had a sleep disorder and this caused him to make breathing noises which went through the walls and disturbed his neighbours," he said. "This neighbour's family were abusive towards him and he could hear them talking about it."
Jobless Chandler, of Reading, Berks, admitted four counts of criminal damage and asked for 11 similar charges to be taken into account. He claimed in court that he was mentally ill. "All I can say is that on most of these occasions I was provoked considerably," he said.
Sentencing was adjourned.
David Chandler was driven into a rage by his neighbours, who continually poked fun at the sleepless nights they suffered because of his nocturnal noisiness.
Magistrates heard that in anger during the dead of night, the embarrassed 49-year-old would creep out of his house and slash their car tyres with a knife. Claudius Taylor, prosecuting, told Reading magistrates that Chandler had burst 15 tyres on the silver Suzuki Wagon belonging to Jacques Cilliers between 2004 and 2008.
"The reason why the defendant did this is because he had a sleep disorder and this caused him to make breathing noises which went through the walls and disturbed his neighbours," he said. "This neighbour's family were abusive towards him and he could hear them talking about it."
Jobless Chandler, of Reading, Berks, admitted four counts of criminal damage and asked for 11 similar charges to be taken into account. He claimed in court that he was mentally ill. "All I can say is that on most of these occasions I was provoked considerably," he said.
Sentencing was adjourned.
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