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Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Funeral home offers drunk drivers free burial
The owner of a north Georgia funeral home has quite a deal if you plan to drink and drive on New Year's Eve. Sign an agreement, and you can qualify for a free burial.
It's a freebie that no one has signed up to accept.
"In today's society, you have to go to the extreme sometimes to get their attention," says Barry Miller, owner of McGuire Jennings Miller Funeral Home in Rome.
Long before he opened his first funeral home, Miller lost a loved one who was killed by a drunk driver.
The pain of that memory is driving his offer. Between now and noon on Thursday, you can sign an agreement admitting you plan to get behind the wheel while intoxicated on New Year's Eve. Crash and kill yourself while impaired, and the funeral home will give you a casket, flowers, burial, and a bronze marker, all for free.
Miller doesn't expect anyone will ever take him up on the offer ... "We want to make people stop and think," says Miller. "I'm doing this to motivate someone to make the right decision."
With news video.
It's a freebie that no one has signed up to accept.
"In today's society, you have to go to the extreme sometimes to get their attention," says Barry Miller, owner of McGuire Jennings Miller Funeral Home in Rome.
Long before he opened his first funeral home, Miller lost a loved one who was killed by a drunk driver.
The pain of that memory is driving his offer. Between now and noon on Thursday, you can sign an agreement admitting you plan to get behind the wheel while intoxicated on New Year's Eve. Crash and kill yourself while impaired, and the funeral home will give you a casket, flowers, burial, and a bronze marker, all for free.
Miller doesn't expect anyone will ever take him up on the offer ... "We want to make people stop and think," says Miller. "I'm doing this to motivate someone to make the right decision."
With news video.
Granny, 109, born before there was cake
When she was born only white settlers could eat cake, Africans did not know what it was. The railway was still under construction, there were eno roads and the region that is Kenya was then known as British East Africa Protectorate. Last week, she savoured a cream-coated cake to mark her 109th birthday and recalled milestones in her life that sound like chapters in the history of Kenya.
Rocking her head slowly to the tune of gospel music playing from a radio, Naomi Wanjiku Nduru bared a toothless gum in a broad smile as she joked, "I still feel like a girl".
During her birthday, celebrated at a house in Bangladesh Estate, Nakuru, she was surrounded by grandchildren and great grandchildren who revelled in the presence of their family scion.
Speaking in a shrill voice in Kikuyu language, Wanjiku acknowledges that she is one of few people in the world to attain 100 plus years. Her husband and five children have all passed away, leaving her under the care of her grandchildren.
According to Wanjiku’s granddaughter, Jane Wacuka, her grandmother was born on December 19, 1900 at Gatundu in Kiambu. The date of birth was specifically recorded by European missionaries who worked in the area then and she managed to keep the record.
Kenya was declared a British colony when she was 20 years old. Then, she recalls, the only money available were cent coins which had a hole in the middle.
Rocking her head slowly to the tune of gospel music playing from a radio, Naomi Wanjiku Nduru bared a toothless gum in a broad smile as she joked, "I still feel like a girl".
During her birthday, celebrated at a house in Bangladesh Estate, Nakuru, she was surrounded by grandchildren and great grandchildren who revelled in the presence of their family scion.
Speaking in a shrill voice in Kikuyu language, Wanjiku acknowledges that she is one of few people in the world to attain 100 plus years. Her husband and five children have all passed away, leaving her under the care of her grandchildren.
According to Wanjiku’s granddaughter, Jane Wacuka, her grandmother was born on December 19, 1900 at Gatundu in Kiambu. The date of birth was specifically recorded by European missionaries who worked in the area then and she managed to keep the record.
Kenya was declared a British colony when she was 20 years old. Then, she recalls, the only money available were cent coins which had a hole in the middle.
China unveils 'fastest train' in world
China unveiled what it touted as the fastest rail link in the world on Saturday.
The train will run between the cities of Guangzhou and Wuhan. At an average speed of 217 miles per hour, the high-speed train reduces the 664 mile ride from ten and a half hours to just three hours.
Full story here and here.
The train will run between the cities of Guangzhou and Wuhan. At an average speed of 217 miles per hour, the high-speed train reduces the 664 mile ride from ten and a half hours to just three hours.
Full story here and here.
Indian man stages own kidnapping to fund holiday
A man in the Indian capital, Delhi, faked his own kidnapping to fund a holiday with his girlfriend in Macau, police said. Pawan Verma, 22, demanded a ransom of nearly $43,000 from his businessman father. Mr Verma had a taste for high-life and had run up a debt of $18,000.
"Pawan's girlfriend demanded he take her to Macau on New Year's eve. He hatched a plan to fake his own abduction with the help of a friend, Himanshu Kumar," said deputy commissioner of police Jaspal Singh.
"Due to his limited earnings, he had accumulated a huge debt but he wanted to fulfil his girlfriend's wish.
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On Saturday, Mr Verma's father, Ram Sahay Verma, complained to the police that his younger son had been abducted and that he had received a ransom call. The police laid a trap and arrested Mr Verma when he turned up to collect his own ransom, police said.
"The [ransom] calls and SMS [text messages] were being made from Verma's mobile. Verma's elder brother Punit accompanied us to deliver the ransom. Six hours later a man in black jacket came to pick up the bag," Mr Singh said. "Punit was shocked to find it was his own brother."
Police said Verma's father would have to decide if he wanted to pursue a criminal case against his son. "If the father, who is a complainant in the case, decides to withdraw the complaint, the son can walk free with the orders of the court," a police officer said.
"Pawan's girlfriend demanded he take her to Macau on New Year's eve. He hatched a plan to fake his own abduction with the help of a friend, Himanshu Kumar," said deputy commissioner of police Jaspal Singh.
"Due to his limited earnings, he had accumulated a huge debt but he wanted to fulfil his girlfriend's wish.
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On Saturday, Mr Verma's father, Ram Sahay Verma, complained to the police that his younger son had been abducted and that he had received a ransom call. The police laid a trap and arrested Mr Verma when he turned up to collect his own ransom, police said.
"The [ransom] calls and SMS [text messages] were being made from Verma's mobile. Verma's elder brother Punit accompanied us to deliver the ransom. Six hours later a man in black jacket came to pick up the bag," Mr Singh said. "Punit was shocked to find it was his own brother."
Police said Verma's father would have to decide if he wanted to pursue a criminal case against his son. "If the father, who is a complainant in the case, decides to withdraw the complaint, the son can walk free with the orders of the court," a police officer said.
Volunteers wanted for free holiday in return possibly for diarrhoea
A US company is offering free holidays in Mexico and Guatemala for volunteers on a diarrhoea drug programme.
Vaccine manufacturer Intercell is offering up to $1,500 (£938) to cover flights and accommodation. In return, the volunteers - being recruited in the UK and Germany - will wear vaccine patches, and give blood and faeces samples.
The trial is in a part of the world where travellers' diarrhoea is rife. A total of 1,800 volunteers are needed.
Intercell's clinical director, Nigel Thomas, said: "We are looking for people who have already planned to go to Mexico or Guatemala and think this would add another interesting aspect.
"It is almost like going on a package holiday. They will be met by a concierge who will take them to their hotel and arrange for them to give their first blood sample within 48 hours."
Volunteers will be discounted if they have already received a cholera or diarrhoea vaccine, or if they have already developed diarrhoea travelling in a developing country in the past year.
Vaccine manufacturer Intercell is offering up to $1,500 (£938) to cover flights and accommodation. In return, the volunteers - being recruited in the UK and Germany - will wear vaccine patches, and give blood and faeces samples.
The trial is in a part of the world where travellers' diarrhoea is rife. A total of 1,800 volunteers are needed.
Intercell's clinical director, Nigel Thomas, said: "We are looking for people who have already planned to go to Mexico or Guatemala and think this would add another interesting aspect.
"It is almost like going on a package holiday. They will be met by a concierge who will take them to their hotel and arrange for them to give their first blood sample within 48 hours."
Volunteers will be discounted if they have already received a cholera or diarrhoea vaccine, or if they have already developed diarrhoea travelling in a developing country in the past year.
China opens 'women only' car park, with wider parking bays
A shopping centre in China's Hebei province has built a car park with wider spaces that it says is designed especially to suit women drivers.
The women-only car park in Shijiazhuang city is also painted in pink and light purple to appeal to female tastes.
Official Wang Zheng said the car park was meant to cater to women's "strong sense of colour and different sense of distance".
The parking bays are one metre (3ft) wider than normal spaces, he said.
The Wanxiang-Tiancheng shopping centre had also "installed signs and security monitoring equipment that corresponded more to women's needs", he said.
Female parking attendants have been trained to help guide women drivers into their parking spaces. The bays also have extra lighting.
The women-only car park in Shijiazhuang city is also painted in pink and light purple to appeal to female tastes.
Official Wang Zheng said the car park was meant to cater to women's "strong sense of colour and different sense of distance".
The parking bays are one metre (3ft) wider than normal spaces, he said.
The Wanxiang-Tiancheng shopping centre had also "installed signs and security monitoring equipment that corresponded more to women's needs", he said.
Female parking attendants have been trained to help guide women drivers into their parking spaces. The bays also have extra lighting.
Israeli man granted record 11th divorce
A 50-year-old man from Jerusalem has been granted a divorce for the 11th time, a new Israeli record for Jews according to a Rabbinical court. He told the court he usually divorced his wives every two years and looked for a new bride immediately after.
The man said he regretted his first divorce as it had begun a never-ending search for the next "experience". His newest ex-wife said that since they married he had not worked and had lived off her income, amassing large debts. The previous Jewish Israeli record for divorces by one person was seven.
Announcing the country's record 11th divorce, the Rabbinical Court Administration said: "It turns out that the popular divorcee courts his wives in a persuasive and sensitive way.
"But after a short time on both sides they get annoyed with each other and after the courting, fights begin. Despite his 50 years, he has no grey hair and despite his much experience in marriage, he plans to marry again," the statement added.
The man has one son from a previous marriage, but the court said he had not paid any child support to his ex-wife.
He told the court he had never experienced any difficulty in finding a new bride. "I send out a hook in all directions, and the fish come on their own."
The man said he regretted his first divorce as it had begun a never-ending search for the next "experience". His newest ex-wife said that since they married he had not worked and had lived off her income, amassing large debts. The previous Jewish Israeli record for divorces by one person was seven.
Announcing the country's record 11th divorce, the Rabbinical Court Administration said: "It turns out that the popular divorcee courts his wives in a persuasive and sensitive way.
"But after a short time on both sides they get annoyed with each other and after the courting, fights begin. Despite his 50 years, he has no grey hair and despite his much experience in marriage, he plans to marry again," the statement added.
The man has one son from a previous marriage, but the court said he had not paid any child support to his ex-wife.
He told the court he had never experienced any difficulty in finding a new bride. "I send out a hook in all directions, and the fish come on their own."
Banksy wiped out by scorned graffiti legend 'King Robbo'
Britain’s most notorious graffiti artist may be accustomed to art world adulation but Banksy’s latest work has landed him in an old fashioned street fight. The aerosol painter from Bristol stands accused of disrespecting a graffiti legend by modernising a 24-year-old work by “King Robbo” in Camden, North London.
On Christmas Day, a few days after Banksy’s latest spray paint spree, Robbo responded in kind by obliterating the artist’s work with 3ft high silver letters spelling out his name.
According to graffiti folklore this spat is not the first disagreement between Banksy and King Robbo. The 1980s pioneering vandal recounted a story in London Handstyles, a book on graffiti published in 2009, in which he claimed to have confronted the now-famous artist.
“I was out one night with a load of old writers and got introduced to Banksy,” King Robbo said. “He asked what I wrote and I told him, he cockily replied ''never heard of you'' so I slapped him and said, ''You may not of heard of me but you will never forget me.'”
Banksy, whose works have sold for as much as £288,000 at auction, painted a series of images last week on walls under Camden Street Bridge, directly behind the British Transport Police building in Camden Town.
Robbo apparently took umbrage at the manipulation of his mural, accessible only by water, that had been in place since 1985. He came out of retirement four days later.
On Christmas Day, a few days after Banksy’s latest spray paint spree, Robbo responded in kind by obliterating the artist’s work with 3ft high silver letters spelling out his name.
According to graffiti folklore this spat is not the first disagreement between Banksy and King Robbo. The 1980s pioneering vandal recounted a story in London Handstyles, a book on graffiti published in 2009, in which he claimed to have confronted the now-famous artist.
“I was out one night with a load of old writers and got introduced to Banksy,” King Robbo said. “He asked what I wrote and I told him, he cockily replied ''never heard of you'' so I slapped him and said, ''You may not of heard of me but you will never forget me.'”
Banksy, whose works have sold for as much as £288,000 at auction, painted a series of images last week on walls under Camden Street Bridge, directly behind the British Transport Police building in Camden Town.
Robbo apparently took umbrage at the manipulation of his mural, accessible only by water, that had been in place since 1985. He came out of retirement four days later.
Parents urged to show jobless graduates tough love
With graduate unemployment at its highest for more than a decade, the lure of the parental nest has never been stronger. But mollycoddling mothers and fathers should resist the urge to make home too comfortable for their recently qualified offspring, according to government guidance.
A manual published yesterday instructs parents to show a bit of "tough love" as they try to encourage their children to get a job. That means making them do their own washing and ironing, emptying the fridge of student-friendly snacks and cutting back on handouts.
The guide, produced by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, also has blunt advice for those with lofty ambitions. "Yes, some people will make it as actors and scriptwriters," it says, "but many just waste away the years."
"Do" and "Don't" lists aim to help anxious parents "motivate not alienate". Dos include allowing your child to relax once they graduate – though a few weeks with their feet up should not slide into a few months. Parents should also arrange a regular update of progress.
On the don't list is perhaps the worst sin: nagging. "It might work in some circumstances, but most young people want a job and know there is a lot of competition," the guide says. "Nagging can make young people feel more stressed and makes failure to get a job worse".
There are times when it doesn't pay to be "too supportive". "Sometimes, it really is necessary to show tough love," says the guide. "If you are making life too comfortable at home, why would they get a job? If you are providing free board and lodgings, a well-stocked fridge, washing and ironing done, plus an allowance, there's not much drive there. So cut back to help increase their motivation."
A manual published yesterday instructs parents to show a bit of "tough love" as they try to encourage their children to get a job. That means making them do their own washing and ironing, emptying the fridge of student-friendly snacks and cutting back on handouts.
The guide, produced by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, also has blunt advice for those with lofty ambitions. "Yes, some people will make it as actors and scriptwriters," it says, "but many just waste away the years."
"Do" and "Don't" lists aim to help anxious parents "motivate not alienate". Dos include allowing your child to relax once they graduate – though a few weeks with their feet up should not slide into a few months. Parents should also arrange a regular update of progress.
On the don't list is perhaps the worst sin: nagging. "It might work in some circumstances, but most young people want a job and know there is a lot of competition," the guide says. "Nagging can make young people feel more stressed and makes failure to get a job worse".
There are times when it doesn't pay to be "too supportive". "Sometimes, it really is necessary to show tough love," says the guide. "If you are making life too comfortable at home, why would they get a job? If you are providing free board and lodgings, a well-stocked fridge, washing and ironing done, plus an allowance, there's not much drive there. So cut back to help increase their motivation."
Use sand to help young boys write, says government
Nurseries and childminders are to be told to encourage three- and four-year-old boys to write using materials such as chocolate powder and coloured sand in a bid to stop them falling behind girls.
Government guidance being sent out next month will include advice to set up role-play activities specially designed to interest the youngest boys, such as builders taking phone messages and writing up instructions, post office workers filling in forms, and waiters taking orders.
It is designed to tackle the "stubborn" gender gap among young children. According to official data, more than one in six boys cannot write his own name or simple words such as "mum", "dad" or "cat" after a year of school. Half as many girls have the same problem.
Boys will also be encouraged to make marks on the floor and walls outside.
The Department for Children, Schools and Families said: "Some boys don't enjoy writing or see it as relevant – but teachers and practitioners can make it fun and relevant. The guidance will offer practical examples about how to do this.
"Because boys don't seem to be as interested as girls in drawing and mark-making, it is important that practitioners ensure that this doesn't then result in limited access to resources such as paper, crayons, paint etc, and insufficient opportunities or encouragement for boys to write."
Government guidance being sent out next month will include advice to set up role-play activities specially designed to interest the youngest boys, such as builders taking phone messages and writing up instructions, post office workers filling in forms, and waiters taking orders.
It is designed to tackle the "stubborn" gender gap among young children. According to official data, more than one in six boys cannot write his own name or simple words such as "mum", "dad" or "cat" after a year of school. Half as many girls have the same problem.
Boys will also be encouraged to make marks on the floor and walls outside.
The Department for Children, Schools and Families said: "Some boys don't enjoy writing or see it as relevant – but teachers and practitioners can make it fun and relevant. The guidance will offer practical examples about how to do this.
"Because boys don't seem to be as interested as girls in drawing and mark-making, it is important that practitioners ensure that this doesn't then result in limited access to resources such as paper, crayons, paint etc, and insufficient opportunities or encouragement for boys to write."
Woman's 999 call over playful cat
A woman made an emergency 999 call to Greater Manchester Police (GMP) to say her cat was "doing her head in" because it was playing with string.
The force has released audio footage of the call to remind people that the 999 service should not be abused. The woman said it was an emergency as it had "been going on for two hours".
Between Christmas Eve and Boxing Day, GMP said it received 1,377 999 calls, but only a fraction were genuine emergencies.
In another call a man contacted emergency services to say he was stuck on a patch of ice in a street in Bolton and was too scared to go forwards or backwards.
The force has released audio footage of the call to remind people that the 999 service should not be abused. The woman said it was an emergency as it had "been going on for two hours".
Between Christmas Eve and Boxing Day, GMP said it received 1,377 999 calls, but only a fraction were genuine emergencies.
In another call a man contacted emergency services to say he was stuck on a patch of ice in a street in Bolton and was too scared to go forwards or backwards.
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