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Thursday, April 24, 2008
Cigarette packs patch up hole in Chinese man's chest
A Chinese man with a huge hole in his chest has survived for 10 years by covering the wound – with cigarette packets.
Rao Jiacang, 51, was left with a gaping hole over his chest - through which his beating heart can be seen - after he ran out of cash to complete surgery.
He said: "I had the operation in 1998. I was then laid up for almost five years but gradually got used to the wound, and since 2003 I have been back on my feet.
But he is now desperate for a donor to come forward to pay for proper treatment to cover over the wound measuring seven by three inches.
He says he keeps the plaster coverings sterile, and changes the cigarette boxes several times each day.
An estimated one in 8,000 people are dextrocardiac - that is, their heart is not on the left hand side of their body, but slightly to the right.
Rao Jiacang, 51, was left with a gaping hole over his chest - through which his beating heart can be seen - after he ran out of cash to complete surgery.
He said: "I had the operation in 1998. I was then laid up for almost five years but gradually got used to the wound, and since 2003 I have been back on my feet.
But he is now desperate for a donor to come forward to pay for proper treatment to cover over the wound measuring seven by three inches.
He says he keeps the plaster coverings sterile, and changes the cigarette boxes several times each day.
An estimated one in 8,000 people are dextrocardiac - that is, their heart is not on the left hand side of their body, but slightly to the right.
Indian temple elephant turns killer
An elephant has rampaged through a Hindu temple in India killing three people, including one of its handlers.
The adult male charged through the temple compound, knocked down a thatched awning, tried to batter its way through a steel gate and finally trampled a man, kicking the limp body several yards through the air.
The elephant was being used during a ceremony for a regional festival in the southern Thrissur district of Kerala when it suddenly went wild, killing the man and a woman and then the handler who was trying to bring it under control, police officer Jay Prakash said.
It was not clear what sparked the rampage, he said, but the beast was later brought under control.
Elephants are routinely used in southern Indian temple ceremonies, often covered in elaborate decorations and paint.
However, animal rights activists say the elephants are often kept in inhumane conditions.
The adult male charged through the temple compound, knocked down a thatched awning, tried to batter its way through a steel gate and finally trampled a man, kicking the limp body several yards through the air.
The elephant was being used during a ceremony for a regional festival in the southern Thrissur district of Kerala when it suddenly went wild, killing the man and a woman and then the handler who was trying to bring it under control, police officer Jay Prakash said.
It was not clear what sparked the rampage, he said, but the beast was later brought under control.
Elephants are routinely used in southern Indian temple ceremonies, often covered in elaborate decorations and paint.
However, animal rights activists say the elephants are often kept in inhumane conditions.
Pets eat body left three years on floor
A partially mumified body lay on the floor for three years and was eaten by household pets in a house occupied by the dead woman's mentally ill sister.
Responding to a neighbour's concern, police in the US city of Detroit discovered the body of the woman, thought to have died in her 80s, on the kitchen floor in a house shared with her sister.
A cat and a dog had apparently eaten part of the body, which was partially covered with newspapers and had apparently been left lying by the sister for three years, police said.
The sister, also in her 80s and suffering from mental problems, has reportedly been taken to a crisis centre.
There's a news video here.
Responding to a neighbour's concern, police in the US city of Detroit discovered the body of the woman, thought to have died in her 80s, on the kitchen floor in a house shared with her sister.
A cat and a dog had apparently eaten part of the body, which was partially covered with newspapers and had apparently been left lying by the sister for three years, police said.
The sister, also in her 80s and suffering from mental problems, has reportedly been taken to a crisis centre.
There's a news video here.
Shelter dog nurses 9 kittens
A dog in Burlington, Iowa, is taking care of nine kittens that lost their own mother. "She does everything momma cat would do," said Angie Beard, a worker at the Des Moines County Humane Society. "She's excellent."
Lilly Lou, as shelter workers call her, is nursing nine kittens, the results of three litters that all lost their mothers.
Beard initially gave Lilly two kittens, hoping she would take to them while the rest were bottle fed. Shelter workers were hopeful that Lilly would accept more kittens as their chances for survival being bottle fed weren't very high.
Lilly, who recently had six puppies of her own and is expecting another litter, immediately took to her new charges, which Beard and other shelter workers have dubbed "pittens," or puppy kittens.
"If one of them crawls out of bed, she'll follow it around the room, toss it up in the air and then take it back to the bed," Beard said. "She cleans them just like her own puppies; she feeds them just like her own puppies."
The kittens are three and four weeks old now and will stay with Lilly until they are six weeks old.
Lilly Lou, as shelter workers call her, is nursing nine kittens, the results of three litters that all lost their mothers.
Beard initially gave Lilly two kittens, hoping she would take to them while the rest were bottle fed. Shelter workers were hopeful that Lilly would accept more kittens as their chances for survival being bottle fed weren't very high.
Lilly, who recently had six puppies of her own and is expecting another litter, immediately took to her new charges, which Beard and other shelter workers have dubbed "pittens," or puppy kittens.
"If one of them crawls out of bed, she'll follow it around the room, toss it up in the air and then take it back to the bed," Beard said. "She cleans them just like her own puppies; she feeds them just like her own puppies."
The kittens are three and four weeks old now and will stay with Lilly until they are six weeks old.
Beyonce and Jay-Z wedding confirmed
A licence confirming the marriage of Beyonce and Jay-Z has been filed with the authorities in New York.
Beyonce, 26, and 38-year-old Jay-Z - real name ShawnCastle Carter - have collaborated musically on singles such as Deja Vu, '03 Bonnie and Clyde and Crazy In Love.
Beyonce, 26, and 38-year-old Jay-Z - real name Shawn
Roofer accused of fatally scorching raccoon in tar-heating machine
The owner of a roofing company was arrested yesterday, accused by wildlife officials of killing a raccoon that could not be coaxed out of the fire kettle of a tar-heating machine.
Eric L. Hill, 49, of 3738 67th Ave. N., Pinellas Park, was charged with felony cruelty to animals.
Hill and his employees began work on the roof of Northside Hospital in Pinellas Park when they discovered two of the animals, Gary Morse, spokesman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said.
One member of the crew turned on the tar-heating machine and heard scratching, Morse said. Inside the furnace of the machine was a young raccoon. Its fur was singed when the machine was activated, Morse said.
The workers turned off the machine and removed the animal, but the second raccoon, an adult, would not come out. Hill told his employees that they were wasting time and to turn on the machine although the adult raccoon was still inside, Morse said.
"The people who work for Mr. Hill refused to restart the bucket," Morse said. "So he did it himself." The adult raccoon was burned alive. "There's no explanation for this kind of act," Morse said. "I'm at a loss for words." Hill was released from Pinellas County Jail on $5,000 bail.
Eric L. Hill, 49, of 3738 67th Ave. N., Pinellas Park, was charged with felony cruelty to animals.
Hill and his employees began work on the roof of Northside Hospital in Pinellas Park when they discovered two of the animals, Gary Morse, spokesman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said.
One member of the crew turned on the tar-heating machine and heard scratching, Morse said. Inside the furnace of the machine was a young raccoon. Its fur was singed when the machine was activated, Morse said.
The workers turned off the machine and removed the animal, but the second raccoon, an adult, would not come out. Hill told his employees that they were wasting time and to turn on the machine although the adult raccoon was still inside, Morse said.
"The people who work for Mr. Hill refused to restart the bucket," Morse said. "So he did it himself." The adult raccoon was burned alive. "There's no explanation for this kind of act," Morse said. "I'm at a loss for words." Hill was released from Pinellas County Jail on $5,000 bail.
Godfather-style horse's head left for Italian politician
A horse’s head has been found outside the office of an Italian politician, in a scene reminiscent of The Godfather.
An anonymous call alerted police to the macabre discovery which outside deputy mayor Vincenzo Pomes’ office in Osturni, near Bari. Mr Pomes, a centre left politician, said: “There is no explanation for such a stupid act. I have no idea why anyone would make such a horrific gesture. I don’t think it’s a warning with regard to my political life or private life.
“It’s obviously the gesture of a madman to embarrass me and the town of Ostuni. I am not afraid but obviously my wife and family have been left upset.”
Police said they were keeping an open mind and were also examining two shotgun cartridges found at the scene. They were also trying to trace the slaughterhouse where the horse was killed - horse meat is a delicacy in Italy.
An anonymous call alerted police to the macabre discovery which outside deputy mayor Vincenzo Pomes’ office in Osturni, near Bari. Mr Pomes, a centre left politician, said: “There is no explanation for such a stupid act. I have no idea why anyone would make such a horrific gesture. I don’t think it’s a warning with regard to my political life or private life.
“It’s obviously the gesture of a madman to embarrass me and the town of Ostuni. I am not afraid but obviously my wife and family have been left upset.”
Police said they were keeping an open mind and were also examining two shotgun cartridges found at the scene. They were also trying to trace the slaughterhouse where the horse was killed - horse meat is a delicacy in Italy.
Vigilante 'robot' keeps Atlanta safe
An American pub owner has created an electronic vigilante in the form of a water pistol-wielding 'robot' to patrol his Atlanta neighbourhood.
The Bum Bot, as inventor Rufus Terrill calls it, is waist-high, weighs about 300lb and is emblazoned with the word "SECURITY". It is fitted with bright red lights, a blazing spotlight, an infrared video camera and a turret-mounted water cannon on a spinning turret.
Mr Terrill's creation has been on the beat since September, angering some neighbours and the city's homeless, who say the talking box is intimidating.
In fact, the contraption is not a robot at all. It is remotely controlled by Terrill, who can transmit messages through its loudspeaker, giving the Bum Bot a voice. Mr Terrill, 57, says since the Bum Bot took to the streets, people feel safer and there has not been a burglary while the robot has been on patrol.
The Bum Bot, as inventor Rufus Terrill calls it, is waist-high, weighs about 300lb and is emblazoned with the word "SECURITY". It is fitted with bright red lights, a blazing spotlight, an infrared video camera and a turret-mounted water cannon on a spinning turret.
Mr Terrill's creation has been on the beat since September, angering some neighbours and the city's homeless, who say the talking box is intimidating.
In fact, the contraption is not a robot at all. It is remotely controlled by Terrill, who can transmit messages through its loudspeaker, giving the Bum Bot a voice. Mr Terrill, 57, says since the Bum Bot took to the streets, people feel safer and there has not been a burglary while the robot has been on patrol.
Mum threw boiling water over daughter's boyfriend after he dumped
A furious mother poured boiling water over a man as he slept - in revenge for dumping her daughter, a court heard yesterday.
Steven Wade, 32, was left with red scald marks on his face, chest and shoulders after a week's treatment in a burns unit last August.
Marie Bell, 56, is alleged to have attacked him after he finished with her daughter Jemma Watts, 28.
The court heard Bell turned up at 5am in the house where Mr Wade was staying, near hers in Swindon, Wilts.
He recalled waking up in pain and said: "I saw Marie with a kettle in her hand. I was burning. I was shouting 'Why did you do that?' She said. 'You know why, you know why, because of my Jemma'."
Bell denies causing GBH, saying she tripped over Mr Doyle's dog, Sacha, a nine-year-old Jack Russell. The trial continues.
Steven Wade, 32, was left with red scald marks on his face, chest and shoulders after a week's treatment in a burns unit last August.
Marie Bell, 56, is alleged to have attacked him after he finished with her daughter Jemma Watts, 28.
The court heard Bell turned up at 5am in the house where Mr Wade was staying, near hers in Swindon, Wilts.
He recalled waking up in pain and said: "I saw Marie with a kettle in her hand. I was burning. I was shouting 'Why did you do that?' She said. 'You know why, you know why, because of my Jemma'."
Bell denies causing GBH, saying she tripped over Mr Doyle's dog, Sacha, a nine-year-old Jack Russell. The trial continues.
Sat-nav takes cabbie into river
A taxi driver following his satellite navigating instructions ended up stranded in a river after taking a wrong turning at a ford in the road.
The red-faced driver - working for a taxi company called Streamline - drove 200 yards up the River Nar in Norfolk before his eight-seater minibus ground to a halt on the muddy river bed.
Luckily, the Volkswagen Caravelle had no passengers aboard because it was on its way to pick up a fare. The driver used his mobile phone to ring the taxi owners and report he was adrift without a paddle.
Yesterday the owners said the driver was too embarrassed to talk about his experience.
The red-faced driver - working for a taxi company called Streamline - drove 200 yards up the River Nar in Norfolk before his eight-seater minibus ground to a halt on the muddy river bed.
Luckily, the Volkswagen Caravelle had no passengers aboard because it was on its way to pick up a fare. The driver used his mobile phone to ring the taxi owners and report he was adrift without a paddle.
Yesterday the owners said the driver was too embarrassed to talk about his experience.
Britons give more to donkey sanctuary than abuse charities
The British public gives more to a Devon-based donkey sanctuary than the most prominent charities trying to combat violence and abuse against women, a report released yesterday by a leading philanthropy watchdog reveals.
New Philanthropy Capital (NPC) has calculated that more than 7 million women have been affected by domestic violence but found that Refuge, the Women's Aid Federation and Eaves Housing for Women have a combined annual income of just £17m. By contrast the Donkey Sanctuary, which has looked after 12,000 donkeys, received £20m in 2006.
Yesterday's report references an ICM poll which found that more people would call the police if someone was mistreating their dog than if someone was mistreating their partner.NPC is calling for concerted government action to tackle violence against women and is urging charitable donors to divert more to non-governmental organisations in the sector.
It said that the 200 largest charities which provide services for abused women or campaign to prevent abuse have a combined annual income of £97m. That compares with £110m for the RSPCA, £149m for the Royal National Lifeboat Institute and £83m for the Royal Opera House.
New Philanthropy Capital (NPC) has calculated that more than 7 million women have been affected by domestic violence but found that Refuge, the Women's Aid Federation and Eaves Housing for Women have a combined annual income of just £17m. By contrast the Donkey Sanctuary, which has looked after 12,000 donkeys, received £20m in 2006.
Yesterday's report references an ICM poll which found that more people would call the police if someone was mistreating their dog than if someone was mistreating their partner.NPC is calling for concerted government action to tackle violence against women and is urging charitable donors to divert more to non-governmental organisations in the sector.
It said that the 200 largest charities which provide services for abused women or campaign to prevent abuse have a combined annual income of £97m. That compares with £110m for the RSPCA, £149m for the Royal National Lifeboat Institute and £83m for the Royal Opera House.
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