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Saturday, May 30, 2009
Clown laid to rest with highest honour from peers
Norman Thompson considered cheering people up his duty.
As a Shriner and member of the Antioch Shrine Funster Clown Unit for 15 years, Thompson took his work seriously.
The clown unit specializes in eliciting smiles from and comforting children who are burn victims or have orthopedic problems.
By all accounts, Thompson, also known as “Boppo,” was good at what he did with a great sense of humour and a ready smile.
Thompson, 79, died on Monday, May 25.
He was buried on Friday, May 29, with the highest honour a clown can receive: he was “carried to his resting spot by his fellow clowns,” said Mick (Willie the Clown) Lile, the Funsters’ director known informally as the boss clown.
Full story here with news video and large photo gallery.
As a Shriner and member of the Antioch Shrine Funster Clown Unit for 15 years, Thompson took his work seriously.
The clown unit specializes in eliciting smiles from and comforting children who are burn victims or have orthopedic problems.
By all accounts, Thompson, also known as “Boppo,” was good at what he did with a great sense of humour and a ready smile.
Thompson, 79, died on Monday, May 25.
He was buried on Friday, May 29, with the highest honour a clown can receive: he was “carried to his resting spot by his fellow clowns,” said Mick (Willie the Clown) Lile, the Funsters’ director known informally as the boss clown.
Full story here with news video and large photo gallery.
Cat falls 26 stories from high rise ledge
It's been said that cats have nine lives. Lucky may have used more than one earlier this month. The cat fell 26 stories out of his owner's apartment window.
"I guess he thought he was safer than he actually was," Keri Hostetler said.
The window in Keri's home office was only open 6 inches, but that was wide enough for Lucky, a curious cat, to squeeze through.
Lucky's terrifying fall and extraordinarily graceful landing were captured on film. A window washing crew across the street took photos.
First of Lucky perched dangerously on the ledge, and then a stomach-turning shot of Lucky midair. Finally, they captured Lucky, after landing, on his feet on a neighbour's balcony 26 stories below.
Amazingly, Lucky escaped with minor injuries.
With news video and photo gallery.
"I guess he thought he was safer than he actually was," Keri Hostetler said.
The window in Keri's home office was only open 6 inches, but that was wide enough for Lucky, a curious cat, to squeeze through.
Lucky's terrifying fall and extraordinarily graceful landing were captured on film. A window washing crew across the street took photos.
First of Lucky perched dangerously on the ledge, and then a stomach-turning shot of Lucky midair. Finally, they captured Lucky, after landing, on his feet on a neighbour's balcony 26 stories below.
Amazingly, Lucky escaped with minor injuries.
With news video and photo gallery.
Virgin Mary appears at dry cleaners
Catholics are flocking to a Rio Grande Valley dry cleaning business where many believe the image of the Virgin Mary has made an apparition.
The image appeared on a dry cleaning press at Comet Cleaners off East Harrison Avenue in Harlingen on Wednesday.
Employee Janie Guerra discovered the image.
Guerra said that she prays at work every day.
The Harlingen woman said the image appeared after she said her lunchtime prayer on Wednesday.
Word of the image spread among Catholics in the Rio Grande Valley prompting many to visit the dry cleaning business in hopes of catching a glimpse of the image.
There's a news video here.
The image appeared on a dry cleaning press at Comet Cleaners off East Harrison Avenue in Harlingen on Wednesday.
Employee Janie Guerra discovered the image.
Guerra said that she prays at work every day.
The Harlingen woman said the image appeared after she said her lunchtime prayer on Wednesday.
Word of the image spread among Catholics in the Rio Grande Valley prompting many to visit the dry cleaning business in hopes of catching a glimpse of the image.
There's a news video here.
Matador gored by bull as fight goes wrong
This is the agonising moment Israel Lancho nearly pays the ultimate price for being a glamourous matador.
A momentary slip and he is speared by an enraged bull and hoisted up on the animal’s horns in front of thousands of spectators in Madrid. Israel was conscious when he reached the bullring surgery.
But after an emergency operation on his 10in deep stomach wound he is now said to be in a “very serious condition” in hospital.
A momentary slip and he is speared by an enraged bull and hoisted up on the animal’s horns in front of thousands of spectators in Madrid. Israel was conscious when he reached the bullring surgery.
But after an emergency operation on his 10in deep stomach wound he is now said to be in a “very serious condition” in hospital.
Husband calls police after men call wife 'fat'
Fort Worth police were called after a woman says she was called fat by men handing out flyers to a health club. The incident happened in a residential area, near Heritage Trace Parkway, as the woman walked down the street with her new baby.
The woman is so upset she didn't want to speak on camera, but did say while walking with her baby, on Tuesday, she was approached by two men with flyers promoting Fitness 2000's summer slim down program.
According to the police report, the woman said the men yelled at her to stop. When she simply waved and kept on going, one of the men began following her.
The report says the man told her she "was fat" and "had a fat stomach" and "ate too many donuts".
After being followed and called fat, the woman reportedly became so upset that she called her husband and he called the non-emergency police line.
So was calling the police extreme? Fort Worth police say the man who did the name calling did not commit a crime; because the woman wasn't followed home, injured, and foul language wasn't used.
The woman is so upset she didn't want to speak on camera, but did say while walking with her baby, on Tuesday, she was approached by two men with flyers promoting Fitness 2000's summer slim down program.
According to the police report, the woman said the men yelled at her to stop. When she simply waved and kept on going, one of the men began following her.
The report says the man told her she "was fat" and "had a fat stomach" and "ate too many donuts".
After being followed and called fat, the woman reportedly became so upset that she called her husband and he called the non-emergency police line.
So was calling the police extreme? Fort Worth police say the man who did the name calling did not commit a crime; because the woman wasn't followed home, injured, and foul language wasn't used.
'Glass hold' reveals personality
The way you hold your glass can reveal much more than you might realise, a psychologist has warned.
Dr Glenn Wilson, a consultant psychologist, observed the body language of 500 drinkers and divided them into eight personality types.
These were the flirt, the gossip, fun lover, wallflower, the ice-queen, the playboy, Jack-the-lad and browbeater.
Dr Wilson, who carried out the work for the Walkabout bar chain, said glass hold "reflected the person you are".
The types of drinker are.
Dr Glenn Wilson, a consultant psychologist, observed the body language of 500 drinkers and divided them into eight personality types.
These were the flirt, the gossip, fun lover, wallflower, the ice-queen, the playboy, Jack-the-lad and browbeater.
Dr Wilson, who carried out the work for the Walkabout bar chain, said glass hold "reflected the person you are".
The types of drinker are.
Maniac kills 5 with self-made electric chair
A Russian man has killed at least 5 people with a self-made electric chair before being detained by police.
The 30-year old killer was detained in the city of Yekaterinburg, in the Urals Region in central Russia. He has pleaded guilty to killing one man whom he lured into his garage by posting a classified ad on the Internet claiming he wanted to buy some computer parts. Then, the maniac tied up his victim and put him into the car, wrapping his body in electric wire connected to a powerful capacitor. After electrocuting the victim he took the body to the outskirts of the city and burned it in a fire made with old car tyres.
Despite the fact that the murder was committed in the presence of a witness – one of the killer’s friends – the case was solved only after the police had found and managed to identify the badly burnt body. When the maniac was detained, he immediately pleaded guilty and told the investigators that he would admit all similar crimes if more bodies were found.
Investigators think that in 2008 and 2009 the maniac killed at least 5 people, since that many people had left their homes to sell computer parts and went missing since then.
Police found a small power plant installed in the garage and linked to a computer. The detained killer said that he had designed a device with which he planned to kill people who passed by in their cars – one part of the machine would remotely stop the car engine and the other part, resembling a door mat – would electrocute and kill the exiting driver.
While staying in the pre-trial detention center, the criminal said that he also planned to make a device that would erase people’s memory with an electro-magnetic ray.
The 30-year old killer was detained in the city of Yekaterinburg, in the Urals Region in central Russia. He has pleaded guilty to killing one man whom he lured into his garage by posting a classified ad on the Internet claiming he wanted to buy some computer parts. Then, the maniac tied up his victim and put him into the car, wrapping his body in electric wire connected to a powerful capacitor. After electrocuting the victim he took the body to the outskirts of the city and burned it in a fire made with old car tyres.
Despite the fact that the murder was committed in the presence of a witness – one of the killer’s friends – the case was solved only after the police had found and managed to identify the badly burnt body. When the maniac was detained, he immediately pleaded guilty and told the investigators that he would admit all similar crimes if more bodies were found.
Investigators think that in 2008 and 2009 the maniac killed at least 5 people, since that many people had left their homes to sell computer parts and went missing since then.
Police found a small power plant installed in the garage and linked to a computer. The detained killer said that he had designed a device with which he planned to kill people who passed by in their cars – one part of the machine would remotely stop the car engine and the other part, resembling a door mat – would electrocute and kill the exiting driver.
While staying in the pre-trial detention center, the criminal said that he also planned to make a device that would erase people’s memory with an electro-magnetic ray.
13-year-old held for murder and necrophilia
Chinese police have arrested a 13-year-old boy who allegedly killed a three-year-old girl and then had sex with her corpse on May 19. An official of the Haizhu district public security bureau in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, said: "We have arrested the boy and are interrogating him to determine the motive of the murder."
The police arrested the accused, whose real name has been withheld as he is a minor, on May 21, the official said. "A postmortem examination on May 21 confirmed that the girl was first killed and then sexually assaulted," he said.
According to the confession of the accused, he saw three-year-old Wang Xiaoyi playing near his apartment building while he was returning home from school on May 19. "He grabbed the girl and took her to his home while his parents were away. The accused tied the girl's hands and feet and forced her head into a basin full of water."
After Wang drowned to death, the 13-year-old allegedly had sex with her corpse before throwing it out of his fifth floor apartment. The accused confessed to the crime, admitting he had no accomplices.
Huang Aihua, a lawyer at the Guangzhou Hebang Law Firm, said the accused will not face criminal charges as he is a minor. "The court cannot punish anyone below the age of 14 with criminal sanctions," he said.
He, however, added that if found guilty, the accused will have to bear "civil liabilities". "The victim's family can request compensation for mental anguish, death and funeral charges."
The police arrested the accused, whose real name has been withheld as he is a minor, on May 21, the official said. "A postmortem examination on May 21 confirmed that the girl was first killed and then sexually assaulted," he said.
According to the confession of the accused, he saw three-year-old Wang Xiaoyi playing near his apartment building while he was returning home from school on May 19. "He grabbed the girl and took her to his home while his parents were away. The accused tied the girl's hands and feet and forced her head into a basin full of water."
After Wang drowned to death, the 13-year-old allegedly had sex with her corpse before throwing it out of his fifth floor apartment. The accused confessed to the crime, admitting he had no accomplices.
Huang Aihua, a lawyer at the Guangzhou Hebang Law Firm, said the accused will not face criminal charges as he is a minor. "The court cannot punish anyone below the age of 14 with criminal sanctions," he said.
He, however, added that if found guilty, the accused will have to bear "civil liabilities". "The victim's family can request compensation for mental anguish, death and funeral charges."
Knife man gets reduced sentence after dog bite to testicles
A 32-year-old man in southern Sweden found guilty of assaulting his ex-girlfriend has been granted a lower than usual sentence because of the suffering caused when he was bitten in the testicles by the woman's Rottweiler.
Helsingborg District Court sentenced the man to one and a half years in jail for aggravated assault after finding him guilty of stabbing his ex-girlfriend twice from behind with a knife. The court said he would have received a longer sentence had he not been severely bitten in course of the melee.
The attack took place on March 31st at an apartment in the southern Swedish city. According to the woman's version of events, her Rottweiler snapped into action after her assailant had begun wielding a knife.
During the attack the dog was stabbed twice in the throat, but not before it had succeeded in inflicting serious damage on the 32-year-old's scrotum.
The man in his turn claimed that his ex-girlfriend had set her dog on him and that he had acted in self-defence when he chose to stab the animal. He also denied stabbing his former girlfriend.
The court rejected both the self-defence claim and the assertion that he had not attacked the woman with a knife.
Helsingborg District Court sentenced the man to one and a half years in jail for aggravated assault after finding him guilty of stabbing his ex-girlfriend twice from behind with a knife. The court said he would have received a longer sentence had he not been severely bitten in course of the melee.
The attack took place on March 31st at an apartment in the southern Swedish city. According to the woman's version of events, her Rottweiler snapped into action after her assailant had begun wielding a knife.
During the attack the dog was stabbed twice in the throat, but not before it had succeeded in inflicting serious damage on the 32-year-old's scrotum.
The man in his turn claimed that his ex-girlfriend had set her dog on him and that he had acted in self-defence when he chose to stab the animal. He also denied stabbing his former girlfriend.
The court rejected both the self-defence claim and the assertion that he had not attacked the woman with a knife.
Contortionist holds bodyweight with mouth
Contortionist Iona Luvsandorj has smashed an endurance world record by holding her entire bodyweight on her mouth in an arduous backbend.
Iona, who is 28 and lives in West Hampstead, London, held a pose called the "Marinelli bend" for 33 seconds, beating the existing world record by 11 seconds.
The Marinelli is an inverted backbend where the whole body is supported by the mouth by gripping onto a short post that is held between the gums.
Teaser.
Iona was born and raised in Mongolia and has over 19 years of experience as a contortionist and has travelled the world performing in over 16 different countries at gala evenings, theatres, cabaret shows and on television.
Iona is implausibly bendy and is also capable of twisted headstands, scales and multiple body folds.
Iona was one of seven children born to a policeman and a nurse. She is currently studying for a law degree at Birbeck College, part of the University of London. She claims she is the only person in the UK who can do the Marinelli bend.
Iona, who is 28 and lives in West Hampstead, London, held a pose called the "Marinelli bend" for 33 seconds, beating the existing world record by 11 seconds.
The Marinelli is an inverted backbend where the whole body is supported by the mouth by gripping onto a short post that is held between the gums.
Teaser.
Iona was born and raised in Mongolia and has over 19 years of experience as a contortionist and has travelled the world performing in over 16 different countries at gala evenings, theatres, cabaret shows and on television.
Iona is implausibly bendy and is also capable of twisted headstands, scales and multiple body folds.
Iona was one of seven children born to a policeman and a nurse. She is currently studying for a law degree at Birbeck College, part of the University of London. She claims she is the only person in the UK who can do the Marinelli bend.
Grey squirrel hunter follows UK pie demand south
A pest controller on a mission to rid the UK of grey squirrels is moving south - to feed the demand for squirrel pie.
Paul Parker, 45, has helped catch and kill more than 22,000 grey squirrels in the past 18 months.
The father of three is a founder of conservation group the Red Squirrel Protection Partnership (RSPP), which says trapping and shooting is the only way to save the native reds from extinction.
His method has been so successful grey squirrels have been eradicated in many parts of Northumberland, and the reds have returned.
The Defra-funded group relies on an army of volunteers - many of them pensioners - to help spot and trap the squirrels. They have caught 22,622 greys so far.
Parker, from Newcastle, said: "We are hoping to move down south. We have asked landowners down there if they need any help to get rid of the greys, to educate them as to our methods and how we catch them, using spring loaded box traps and catch live traps."
Paul Parker, 45, has helped catch and kill more than 22,000 grey squirrels in the past 18 months.
The father of three is a founder of conservation group the Red Squirrel Protection Partnership (RSPP), which says trapping and shooting is the only way to save the native reds from extinction.
His method has been so successful grey squirrels have been eradicated in many parts of Northumberland, and the reds have returned.
The Defra-funded group relies on an army of volunteers - many of them pensioners - to help spot and trap the squirrels. They have caught 22,622 greys so far.
Parker, from Newcastle, said: "We are hoping to move down south. We have asked landowners down there if they need any help to get rid of the greys, to educate them as to our methods and how we catch them, using spring loaded box traps and catch live traps."
Security warning after pease pudding seized
Airport staff issued a security warning after a passenger tried to carry pease pudding on to a plane. The traditional northern snack – made from boiled split peas and ham fat – was confiscated from hand luggage at Newcastle International airport. It was part of the 450 litres of banned liquids seized by staff each day, including suntan lotion and jars of Marmite.
Chris Davis, the head of operations, said it was costing the airport a fortune in recycling and waste disposal. He said: "We're asking our customers to make sure they're aware of what can and can't be taken through the security search in their hand luggage."
Chris Davis, the head of operations, said it was costing the airport a fortune in recycling and waste disposal. He said: "We're asking our customers to make sure they're aware of what can and can't be taken through the security search in their hand luggage."
Liverpool school to have 12-word name after row
A new school is to have a whopping 12-word name because of a spat over what it should be called.
From September pupils face enrolling at Knowsley Park Centre for Learning – serving Prescot, Whiston and the wider community.
The far from catchy title – believed to be among the world’s longest school names – will be the name adopted by a new secondary in Prescot.
The school will be a combination of Prescot school and Whiston’s Higher Side comprehensive, one of seven new multi-million secondaries the council refer to as centres for learning. Governors have confirmed the mouthful name will be used on the school exterior as well as signs, stationery, marketing and letters.
From September pupils face enrolling at Knowsley Park Centre for Learning – serving Prescot, Whiston and the wider community.
The far from catchy title – believed to be among the world’s longest school names – will be the name adopted by a new secondary in Prescot.
The school will be a combination of Prescot school and Whiston’s Higher Side comprehensive, one of seven new multi-million secondaries the council refer to as centres for learning. Governors have confirmed the mouthful name will be used on the school exterior as well as signs, stationery, marketing and letters.
Woman jailed for enslaving sons' brides
A woman who used her three daughters-in-law as slaves and was preparing a similar fate for a fourth young woman was yesterday sentenced to seven years in jail.
Naseebah Bibi, who beat her victims and treated them "like dogs", was said by a judge at Preston crown court to have psychologically and physically traumatised the women, condemning them to live in fear.
She used her house in Blackburn, Lancashire, as a prison and factory, forcing her oldest son Fahim's wife to make clothes for 13 years and keeping the money from their sale. Nagina Akhtar was given little more than a month off for the births of each of her three children, and was beaten into doing cleaning and cooking chores when the clothing business collapsed.
Bibi was convicted earlier this year of falsely imprisoning Nagina between 1993 and 2006, Tazeem Akhtar from 2001 to 2003 and Nisbah Akhtar between 2005 and 2007. The women had come to Britain after arranged marriages to three of Bibi's six children, who are their cousins.
None of them spoke English, and Bibi's trial in April heard that they had seldom been allowed to leave the house. The brutality came to light after Nagina's three-year-old son told staff at his nursery that his grandmother had caused the severe bruising they had noticed on his mother's hands.
The judge said he had taken account of cultural differences and accepted that Bibi followed her own parents' views on arranged marriages. But he said: "That can be no excuse for the degree of cruelty and imprisonment to which the victims were subjected."
Naseebah Bibi, who beat her victims and treated them "like dogs", was said by a judge at Preston crown court to have psychologically and physically traumatised the women, condemning them to live in fear.
She used her house in Blackburn, Lancashire, as a prison and factory, forcing her oldest son Fahim's wife to make clothes for 13 years and keeping the money from their sale. Nagina Akhtar was given little more than a month off for the births of each of her three children, and was beaten into doing cleaning and cooking chores when the clothing business collapsed.
Bibi was convicted earlier this year of falsely imprisoning Nagina between 1993 and 2006, Tazeem Akhtar from 2001 to 2003 and Nisbah Akhtar between 2005 and 2007. The women had come to Britain after arranged marriages to three of Bibi's six children, who are their cousins.
None of them spoke English, and Bibi's trial in April heard that they had seldom been allowed to leave the house. The brutality came to light after Nagina's three-year-old son told staff at his nursery that his grandmother had caused the severe bruising they had noticed on his mother's hands.
The judge said he had taken account of cultural differences and accepted that Bibi followed her own parents' views on arranged marriages. But he said: "That can be no excuse for the degree of cruelty and imprisonment to which the victims were subjected."
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