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Thursday, May 20, 2010
Why the long faces?
It may be a festival of film, but it was two former television stars who grabbed the limelight at Cannes yesterday.
Twins Igor and Grichka Bogdanoff, the popular hosts of '80s French sci-fi series Temps X, now aged in their 60s, were barely recognisable on the red carpet, thanks to the incredible amount of cosmetic surgery both appear to have undergone.
Twins Igor and Grichka Bogdanoff, the popular hosts of '80s French sci-fi series Temps X, now aged in their 60s, were barely recognisable on the red carpet, thanks to the incredible amount of cosmetic surgery both appear to have undergone.
Scientists devise algorithm to detect sarcasm
A computer algorithm capable of identifying sarcasm in written text has been developed by Israeli researchers. The novel formula could pave the way for more sophisticated communication between humans and computers – the Holy Grail of artificial intelligence.
Devised by computer scientists at The Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the algorithm has been programmed to recognise sarcasm in lengthy texts by analysing patterns of phrases and punctuation often used to indicate irony.
In tests on 66,000 product reviews posted on the Amazon shopping website, the algorithm had an impressive 77 per cent success rate in picking out sarcastic comments – arguably higher than some humans. The researchers "trained" the algorithm to recognise sarcasm by teaching it nearly 5,500 sentences from Amazon reviews that human volunteers had marked as either sarcastic or non-sarcastic.
The sarcastic phrases from the pool of Amazon reviews used for the research included "Great for insomniacs", "Are these iPods designed to die after two years?" and "Defective by design". From its learned list of sarcastic phrases, the algorithm was taught to recognise patterns of words commonly used by writers to show that they do not mean to be taken literally.
You can read all of the science here. Pdf document warning.
Devised by computer scientists at The Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the algorithm has been programmed to recognise sarcasm in lengthy texts by analysing patterns of phrases and punctuation often used to indicate irony.
In tests on 66,000 product reviews posted on the Amazon shopping website, the algorithm had an impressive 77 per cent success rate in picking out sarcastic comments – arguably higher than some humans. The researchers "trained" the algorithm to recognise sarcasm by teaching it nearly 5,500 sentences from Amazon reviews that human volunteers had marked as either sarcastic or non-sarcastic.
The sarcastic phrases from the pool of Amazon reviews used for the research included "Great for insomniacs", "Are these iPods designed to die after two years?" and "Defective by design". From its learned list of sarcastic phrases, the algorithm was taught to recognise patterns of words commonly used by writers to show that they do not mean to be taken literally.
You can read all of the science here. Pdf document warning.
Geometry teacher who used Obama assassination to teach angles placed on leave
A Jefferson County teacher who used as an example the shooting of President Barack Obama while teaching lines and angles to his geometry class has been placed on paid administrative leave and faces possible termination, Superintendent Phil Hammonds said.
Hammonds said his office has been flooded with phone calls from all over the nation since it was reported that Corner High School geometry teacher Gregory Harrison used the assassination example while teaching. The calls were mainly from people who were upset because the school district had taken no action against the teacher.
The teacher was questioned by Birmingham's Secret Service office, but was released without federal charges after officials there found he wasn't a viable threat to security.
Hammonds said the district has suffered great embarrassment by the teacher's "lack of judgment."
"As a district, we are embarrassed by his actions and what he said," Hammonds said. "There is nothing that can be said to rationalize what was said. We take this very seriously. There is no place in our society for a person to make these comments."
Hammonds said he will investigate the matter further, and will talk to students and teachers before recommending to the board what to do with the teacher. Hammonds said termination is a possibility.
Hammonds said his office has been flooded with phone calls from all over the nation since it was reported that Corner High School geometry teacher Gregory Harrison used the assassination example while teaching. The calls were mainly from people who were upset because the school district had taken no action against the teacher.
The teacher was questioned by Birmingham's Secret Service office, but was released without federal charges after officials there found he wasn't a viable threat to security.
Hammonds said the district has suffered great embarrassment by the teacher's "lack of judgment."
"As a district, we are embarrassed by his actions and what he said," Hammonds said. "There is nothing that can be said to rationalize what was said. We take this very seriously. There is no place in our society for a person to make these comments."
Hammonds said he will investigate the matter further, and will talk to students and teachers before recommending to the board what to do with the teacher. Hammonds said termination is a possibility.
New photocopy rules introduced in Tibet
People in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa will have to register their names if they want to make photocopies. City shopkeepers say the authorities are particularly concerned about material printed in Tibetan.
This appears to be an attempt to prevent ordinary people from printing political pamphlets and other documents. It suggests the security forces still have a tight grip on the city, two years after serious riots.
Individuals wanting to photocopy documents will have to show their ID cards and have the information recorded. Companies will have to register their names and addresses, the number of copies they want and provide the name of the manager in charge of the work.
The police say they will carry out checks and punish any shop that does not abide by the new regulation.
This appears to be an attempt to prevent ordinary people from printing political pamphlets and other documents. It suggests the security forces still have a tight grip on the city, two years after serious riots.
Individuals wanting to photocopy documents will have to show their ID cards and have the information recorded. Companies will have to register their names and addresses, the number of copies they want and provide the name of the manager in charge of the work.
The police say they will carry out checks and punish any shop that does not abide by the new regulation.
Cat eyelids from sheep stomach procedure may be world first
A New Zealand vet is undertaking a revolutionary surgery this week - using sheep stomach lining to make artificial eyelids for a cat. The operation will be trialled on Cammy, a one-year-old cat with eyelid agenesis, a common defect that stops animals' eyelids from forming.
Lower Hutt's Pet Vet will complete the $1400 operation for free. Before the surgery Cammy's eyes were extremely sore and may have had to be removed. Store owner and veterinarian Gary Cullen worked on Cammy's left eye in November and will complete the surgery on the right eye this week. He said the two-hour operation was a world first.
"I just had an inspiration. As soon as we started the operation it all felt right. This is such phenomenal material, the eye will be pretty much normal once it is properly healed."
The stomach lining from the sheep promotes healing by grafting with the cat's skin and working with the feline's biology. It supports the growth of cells and is eventually replaced by natural tissue. Once the operation is successful, Pet Vet plans on publishing the new surgery for veterinarians worldwide.
Lower Hutt's Pet Vet will complete the $1400 operation for free. Before the surgery Cammy's eyes were extremely sore and may have had to be removed. Store owner and veterinarian Gary Cullen worked on Cammy's left eye in November and will complete the surgery on the right eye this week. He said the two-hour operation was a world first.
"I just had an inspiration. As soon as we started the operation it all felt right. This is such phenomenal material, the eye will be pretty much normal once it is properly healed."
The stomach lining from the sheep promotes healing by grafting with the cat's skin and working with the feline's biology. It supports the growth of cells and is eventually replaced by natural tissue. Once the operation is successful, Pet Vet plans on publishing the new surgery for veterinarians worldwide.
Crows take a cigarette break in the Maldives
A pair of crows have been photographed taking a break on a holiday island with a packet of cigarettes.
Holidaymakers Tony and Judie Ellis watched as the crow alighted on the roof of a water villa next to theirs and calmly began extracting the cigarettes from the packet. As Judie, 53, rushed to get her camera to record the scene on the Maldives two more crows arrived and picked up the cigarettes in their beaks.
Judie, of Crowborough, (really), East Sussex, said: 'The crow which flew past with the cigarettes seemed to be dishing them out to the others.
'It was taking the cigarettes out of the packet and putting them on the roof of the water villa. Then the other crows were picking them up. It was amazing that they seemed to have them in their beaks the right way round.'
Holidaymakers Tony and Judie Ellis watched as the crow alighted on the roof of a water villa next to theirs and calmly began extracting the cigarettes from the packet. As Judie, 53, rushed to get her camera to record the scene on the Maldives two more crows arrived and picked up the cigarettes in their beaks.
Judie, of Crowborough, (really), East Sussex, said: 'The crow which flew past with the cigarettes seemed to be dishing them out to the others.
'It was taking the cigarettes out of the packet and putting them on the roof of the water villa. Then the other crows were picking them up. It was amazing that they seemed to have them in their beaks the right way round.'
Fox attacks man at auto repair shop
A fox attacked a man outside an auto repair shop in Tyrone, Georgia – just east of Atlanta – and the attack is caught on surveillance tape. In the video Walter Wilson tried to kick away a fox after it got his arm. But that didn’t stop the fox.
Wilson said, “He got back up came back for more and this time I was able to kick him pretty hard under the throat.” After that kick, the scraggly wild animal twitches on the ground but 14 seconds later, it gets back up, turns around and heads straight for the auto shop.
The owner shut it out but the fox still wouldn’t leave them alone. It ran under wooden pallets then came out and attacked a worker next door. They hit it with the fire extinguishers and then it went crazy and bit one of the other workers.
Tyrone Police Officer Todd Ruth says he decided he needed to stop the fox from hurting anyone else when it ran out of the building right towards him. “I didn’t know when he was going to jump up so I just decided to go ahead and take the shot.” One shot and the fight was over. The fox was dead. Now Wilson is recovering from puncture wounds and rabies shots - about 20 in all.
Wilson said, “He got back up came back for more and this time I was able to kick him pretty hard under the throat.” After that kick, the scraggly wild animal twitches on the ground but 14 seconds later, it gets back up, turns around and heads straight for the auto shop.
The owner shut it out but the fox still wouldn’t leave them alone. It ran under wooden pallets then came out and attacked a worker next door. They hit it with the fire extinguishers and then it went crazy and bit one of the other workers.
Tyrone Police Officer Todd Ruth says he decided he needed to stop the fox from hurting anyone else when it ran out of the building right towards him. “I didn’t know when he was going to jump up so I just decided to go ahead and take the shot.” One shot and the fight was over. The fox was dead. Now Wilson is recovering from puncture wounds and rabies shots - about 20 in all.
Chinese restaurant manager swallows cockroach to destroy evidence
A restaurant manager in China swallowed a cockroach that was discovered in a customer's dish to destroy evidence. The incident took place when Huang Xiaogang and friends were having their meal at a restaurant in Caidian of Wuhan province recently.
Huang found a black creature in the bowl of mushrooms and picked it up with his chopsticks. To his surprise that tiny black thing was a dead cockroach and complained to the restaurant manager.
The manager said that the insect had been "sterilised in high temperature" and was not dirty anymore. Assuring Huang that the insect would not cause any harm to their health, he picked it up and swallowed it.
The manager later told health officers that he was afraid that the customers would demand high compensation that is why he swallowed the cockroach to destroy evidence. He then waived off Huang's bill of 570 Yuan.
Huang found a black creature in the bowl of mushrooms and picked it up with his chopsticks. To his surprise that tiny black thing was a dead cockroach and complained to the restaurant manager.
The manager said that the insect had been "sterilised in high temperature" and was not dirty anymore. Assuring Huang that the insect would not cause any harm to their health, he picked it up and swallowed it.
The manager later told health officers that he was afraid that the customers would demand high compensation that is why he swallowed the cockroach to destroy evidence. He then waived off Huang's bill of 570 Yuan.
Angry pig bites farmer's genitals and leaves him fighting for his life
A farmer has been left fighting for his life after a pig bit him in the private parts.
Romanian Mihail Popescu, 53, is in a critical condition after being attacked by the angry pig.
The animal refused to let go until emergency services arrived at Bihor, in western Romania.
Emergency doctors said the farmer had almost died after suffering severe blood loss.
Romanian Mihail Popescu, 53, is in a critical condition after being attacked by the angry pig.
The animal refused to let go until emergency services arrived at Bihor, in western Romania.
Emergency doctors said the farmer had almost died after suffering severe blood loss.
Porsche driver abducts child after dandelion attack
A 47-year-old man is under investigation for abducting a young boy and hauling him to a police station for throwing dandelions at his Porsche, Lower Saxony police reported on Tuesday.
At around 8:10 am on Monday, a local bus driver called emergency services after witnessing a man force a boy into his car in the town of Hittfeld, just south of Hamburg.
But as officers were beginning to start a manhunt for kidnapping, the Porsche driver arrived at the station with a “totally terrified” eight-year-old boy, police spokesman Jan Krüger said in a statement.
The man had reportedly been driving down the street when the boy and another eight-year-old friend threw dandelions at his fancy car.
“Out of rage over this ‘dangerous joke’ the man quickly stopped and dragged one of the boys in his car to bring him to the police,” Krüger said. “He only realised later just how badly he scared both eight-year-olds.”
Both children were “somewhat” comforted by their parents at the station, he added. Now police have instigated criminal proceedings against the Porsche owner for false imprisonment.
At around 8:10 am on Monday, a local bus driver called emergency services after witnessing a man force a boy into his car in the town of Hittfeld, just south of Hamburg.
But as officers were beginning to start a manhunt for kidnapping, the Porsche driver arrived at the station with a “totally terrified” eight-year-old boy, police spokesman Jan Krüger said in a statement.
The man had reportedly been driving down the street when the boy and another eight-year-old friend threw dandelions at his fancy car.
“Out of rage over this ‘dangerous joke’ the man quickly stopped and dragged one of the boys in his car to bring him to the police,” Krüger said. “He only realised later just how badly he scared both eight-year-olds.”
Both children were “somewhat” comforted by their parents at the station, he added. Now police have instigated criminal proceedings against the Porsche owner for false imprisonment.
Ghostbusters called in over case of libraries' disappearing funds
New York's public libraries are facing the worst budget cuts in their history. Who are they going to call? Ghostbusters, of course.
With proposed funding cuts of almost US$37m (£26m), which officials predict would force the closure of 10 libraries, reduce opening hours at remaining branches and mean the loss of 736 members of staff, campaigners are asking concerned supporters to write to their elected officials about the cuts and to donate to the cause. The latest step in the campaign to raise awareness about the budget cuts, however, was a little more dramatic.
Readers in the New York Public Library's 100-year-old reading room were startled to see three "ghosts" settle down among them. One of the ghosts was initially stopped by a security guard (Guard: "Sir, what are you doing?" Ghost: "Um … haunting the library"), but seeing that the apparitions, clad in white sheets with holes for their eyes, weren't causing a disturbance – one was reading a book, one perusing the dictionary, one using the internet – people returned to their work. Minutes later, four Ghostbusters entered the room, chased the ghosts around desks and delighted tourists and herded them out into the streets.
The re-enactment was created by Improv Everywhere, whom the firm the library asked to stage a "mission" on its property "to remind people of how great the NYPL is" and to publicise its Don't Close the Book campaign.
With huge gallery of photos.
With proposed funding cuts of almost US$37m (£26m), which officials predict would force the closure of 10 libraries, reduce opening hours at remaining branches and mean the loss of 736 members of staff, campaigners are asking concerned supporters to write to their elected officials about the cuts and to donate to the cause. The latest step in the campaign to raise awareness about the budget cuts, however, was a little more dramatic.
Readers in the New York Public Library's 100-year-old reading room were startled to see three "ghosts" settle down among them. One of the ghosts was initially stopped by a security guard (Guard: "Sir, what are you doing?" Ghost: "Um … haunting the library"), but seeing that the apparitions, clad in white sheets with holes for their eyes, weren't causing a disturbance – one was reading a book, one perusing the dictionary, one using the internet – people returned to their work. Minutes later, four Ghostbusters entered the room, chased the ghosts around desks and delighted tourists and herded them out into the streets.
The re-enactment was created by Improv Everywhere, whom the firm the library asked to stage a "mission" on its property "to remind people of how great the NYPL is" and to publicise its Don't Close the Book campaign.
With huge gallery of photos.
Foxconn calls on monks and counsellors to stem suicides
Foxconn, the Taiwanese maker of the Apple iPhone, has hired counsellors and brought in Buddhist monks for its workers after a spate of suicides. This year, seven employees have killed themselves and two have tried.
The deaths, at Foxconn's manufacturing campus in Shenzhen, southern China, have raised concerns about worker treatment. Foxconn is part of Hon Hai Precision, the world's largest maker of consumer electronics. It is also one of the biggest overseas employers in China.
The company was taking the issue very seriously, even though local government investigations had not blamed the deaths on working conditions, company spokesman Edmund Ding said. To prevent further suicides, the Fortune 500 company has hired 100 counsellors and invited monks to help workers at the new Employee Care Centre and trained its medical staff to provide emotional support.
It has also introduced a reward system for employees who spot colleagues with emotional problems. Hotlines have also been set up for workers, many of whom come from the countryside and are away from their families. The company will also provide more recreational activities such as films, talent shows and sport.
The deaths, at Foxconn's manufacturing campus in Shenzhen, southern China, have raised concerns about worker treatment. Foxconn is part of Hon Hai Precision, the world's largest maker of consumer electronics. It is also one of the biggest overseas employers in China.
The company was taking the issue very seriously, even though local government investigations had not blamed the deaths on working conditions, company spokesman Edmund Ding said. To prevent further suicides, the Fortune 500 company has hired 100 counsellors and invited monks to help workers at the new Employee Care Centre and trained its medical staff to provide emotional support.
It has also introduced a reward system for employees who spot colleagues with emotional problems. Hotlines have also been set up for workers, many of whom come from the countryside and are away from their families. The company will also provide more recreational activities such as films, talent shows and sport.
Druids hired to cut road accidents
Motorway bosses have hired a full-time team of druids to build a series of mini Stonehenge monuments to drain 'negative energy' from accident blackspots.
The team - which has secretly been working for Austrian authorities for two years - is said to have reduced fatal accidents at one notorious crash site to zero after restoring its "terrestrial radiation."
Chief engineer Harald Dirnbacher from Austria's motorway authority ASFINAG explained: ""We were really sceptical at first and certainly didn't want people to know what we were doing, so we kept it secret."
But now the trial results are so impressive officials are spreading the scheme nationwide. One blackspot's fatal accident rate fell from an average of six per year to nothing after the druid treatment, where they search for negative radiation with dowsing rods.
But the druids warn that they could be fighting a losing battle as the biggest cause of radiation disruption is mobile phone masts.
Senior druid Ilmar Tessmann explained: "It is a big job. Evert one of these masts spreads negative radiation over an area of 120 to 200 miles. "
The team - which has secretly been working for Austrian authorities for two years - is said to have reduced fatal accidents at one notorious crash site to zero after restoring its "terrestrial radiation."
Chief engineer Harald Dirnbacher from Austria's motorway authority ASFINAG explained: ""We were really sceptical at first and certainly didn't want people to know what we were doing, so we kept it secret."
But now the trial results are so impressive officials are spreading the scheme nationwide. One blackspot's fatal accident rate fell from an average of six per year to nothing after the druid treatment, where they search for negative radiation with dowsing rods.
But the druids warn that they could be fighting a losing battle as the biggest cause of radiation disruption is mobile phone masts.
Senior druid Ilmar Tessmann explained: "It is a big job. Evert one of these masts spreads negative radiation over an area of 120 to 200 miles. "
David Cameron becomes West Papuan hero
A province of Indonesia watched the outcome of the UK general election with great interest. Since David Cameron became the UK's prime minister, the tribespeople of West Papua have been celebrating.
They hope Mr Cameron will help them in their bid to gain independence from Indonesia. David Cameron previously met an exiled West Papuan, Benny Wenda, who now lives in the UK.
Soon after being granted political asylum in the UK in 2002, Mr Wenda began campaigning for independence for West Papua from Indonesia. He set up the Free West Papua Campaign which raises awareness of alleged human rights abuses in the region.
Albert Tabuni, a human rights activist, has described the announcement as "happy news" for the people of West Papua. Mr Tabuni said: "All over the highlands people are celebrating. We hope that Mr David Cameron will see our messages and help us."
They hope Mr Cameron will help them in their bid to gain independence from Indonesia. David Cameron previously met an exiled West Papuan, Benny Wenda, who now lives in the UK.
Soon after being granted political asylum in the UK in 2002, Mr Wenda began campaigning for independence for West Papua from Indonesia. He set up the Free West Papua Campaign which raises awareness of alleged human rights abuses in the region.
Albert Tabuni, a human rights activist, has described the announcement as "happy news" for the people of West Papua. Mr Tabuni said: "All over the highlands people are celebrating. We hope that Mr David Cameron will see our messages and help us."
Lotto winner Michael Carroll wants dustbin job back
A notorious National Lottery millionaire from Norfolk says he wants to work as a dustman again after losing his fortune. Michael Carroll, of Downham Market, was 19 when he won £9.7m in November 2002.
Mr Carroll, dubbed the "Lotto lout" by the tabloids because of his life of petty crime, collected his jackpot still wearing an electronic tag. He said: "I need some money don't I? I can't keep on going on as I have been.
"It will get me back into reality instead of the rollercoaster I've been on for the last eight years." He said he preferred working outside, but added he was now more unfit than he had been when he gave up the job in 2002.
When father-of-two Mr Carroll was jailed for affray in 2006, Norwich Crown court heard he had 42 previous offences recorded since 1997. Just before he was jailed he admitted that he had spent £1.2m of his lottery fortune on cocaine but added that he had stopped taking drugs.
Asked if he regretted what he had done since winning the jackpot, Mr Carroll said: "When you give nine million pounds to a 19-year-old what do you think is going to happen?"
Veolia Environmental Services, which runs the bin service, said: "We are not recruiting for operatives in the area."
Video.
Mr Carroll, dubbed the "Lotto lout" by the tabloids because of his life of petty crime, collected his jackpot still wearing an electronic tag. He said: "I need some money don't I? I can't keep on going on as I have been.
"It will get me back into reality instead of the rollercoaster I've been on for the last eight years." He said he preferred working outside, but added he was now more unfit than he had been when he gave up the job in 2002.
When father-of-two Mr Carroll was jailed for affray in 2006, Norwich Crown court heard he had 42 previous offences recorded since 1997. Just before he was jailed he admitted that he had spent £1.2m of his lottery fortune on cocaine but added that he had stopped taking drugs.
Asked if he regretted what he had done since winning the jackpot, Mr Carroll said: "When you give nine million pounds to a 19-year-old what do you think is going to happen?"
Veolia Environmental Services, which runs the bin service, said: "We are not recruiting for operatives in the area."
Video.
Britain's oldest fisherman celebrates 70 years at sea despite not eating fish and not being able to swim
The oldest fishermen in Britain celebrated 70 years of netting seafood despite never tasting his catch – because he doesn’t eat fish.
Bill Hocking began fishing in May 1940 as 11-year-old boy and is still hauling lobster and crabs 70 years later.
He starts work at 5am every morning and works seven days a week, weather permitting in the seas off Looe in Cornwall.
He has now retired from gruelling 36-hour trawling trips, because of his age, yet he still goes out to sea in a boat by himself each day to haul in lobster and crab.
But, despite being Britain’s longest serving fisherman, Bill says he doesn’t eat fish and his favourite food is beef.
“I’m not a fish eater as such. I’m not keen on shellfish and I don’t really like any fish to be quite honest. Farmers like fish, I like beef.”
Full story with lots of photos here.
Bill Hocking began fishing in May 1940 as 11-year-old boy and is still hauling lobster and crabs 70 years later.
He starts work at 5am every morning and works seven days a week, weather permitting in the seas off Looe in Cornwall.
He has now retired from gruelling 36-hour trawling trips, because of his age, yet he still goes out to sea in a boat by himself each day to haul in lobster and crab.
But, despite being Britain’s longest serving fisherman, Bill says he doesn’t eat fish and his favourite food is beef.
“I’m not a fish eater as such. I’m not keen on shellfish and I don’t really like any fish to be quite honest. Farmers like fish, I like beef.”
Full story with lots of photos here.
Woman died after doctors failed to spot toilet brush in her buttock
A mother died after doctors repeatedly failed to spot a toilet brush handle embedded in her buttock. Cindy Corton, 35, was left with the bizarre injury after a drunken fall in a friend's bathroom in 2005.
She was twice seen by hospital staff in the aftermath of the incident and an X-ray was carried out. But an inquest heard it took Mrs Corton, of Sleaford, Lincolnshire, two years to convince doctors that the handle was lodged in flesh of her bottom.
Photo from here.
By then what should have been a routine procedure to remove it had become much more dangerous. After two unsuccessful operations in 2007, Mrs Corton underwent further, much riskier surgery and died from massive blood loss at Nottingham's Queen's Medical Centre in June last year.
Recording a narrative verdict, coroner Stuart Fisher criticised Dr Killian Mbewe, who first examined Mrs Corton at Grantham hospital. After the inquest, husband Peter Corton said: "Cindy got a very poor service from the NHS. I'm sure she would have got better treatment in foreign countries."
She was twice seen by hospital staff in the aftermath of the incident and an X-ray was carried out. But an inquest heard it took Mrs Corton, of Sleaford, Lincolnshire, two years to convince doctors that the handle was lodged in flesh of her bottom.
Photo from here.
By then what should have been a routine procedure to remove it had become much more dangerous. After two unsuccessful operations in 2007, Mrs Corton underwent further, much riskier surgery and died from massive blood loss at Nottingham's Queen's Medical Centre in June last year.
Recording a narrative verdict, coroner Stuart Fisher criticised Dr Killian Mbewe, who first examined Mrs Corton at Grantham hospital. After the inquest, husband Peter Corton said: "Cindy got a very poor service from the NHS. I'm sure she would have got better treatment in foreign countries."
Dog owner who picked up wrong poo wins council battle
A Wearside great-grandmother has won her fight against a £50 fine for picking up the wrong dog mess. Pam Robson was accused by Sunderland Council wardens of failing to clean up after Derik, her Labrador, in a field in Houghton-le-Spring in January. The council said the 60-year-old had picked up mess from a different dog.
When she refused to pay a fixed penalty notice she was threatened with court action, but after speaking to her MP and a solicitor the case was dropped. Mrs Robson, or Thurlow Way, Houghton-le-Spring, said she had been talking to her daughter on her mobile phone when her dog ran off and relieved itself. After she cleared up she was approached by two men, one wearing a city council jerkin. She said: "He said it was the wrong mess and that he was going to issue me with a fine for £50.
Photo from here.
"I picked up the other mess too and put it in the bag but he said I'd still be fined." Later she received a £50 fixed penalty notice threatening court action and a criminal record if she did not pay. "It felt like the worst kind of bullying," she said. "I felt as if my integrity was being questioned, so I wrote to my MP, Fraser Kemp, and also went to see a solicitor.
"He told me to let the council take it to court and then we'd show them up for how ridiculous it was." Sunderland City Council then wrote to Mrs Robson, saying: "Officers at the time were satisfied that an offence had been committed. However it appears you may have collected faeces belonging to another dog.I have considered your appeal regarding this offence, and can advise that on this occasion the council will not be pursuing the non payment of the fixed penalty notice in the magistrates courts."
When she refused to pay a fixed penalty notice she was threatened with court action, but after speaking to her MP and a solicitor the case was dropped. Mrs Robson, or Thurlow Way, Houghton-le-Spring, said she had been talking to her daughter on her mobile phone when her dog ran off and relieved itself. After she cleared up she was approached by two men, one wearing a city council jerkin. She said: "He said it was the wrong mess and that he was going to issue me with a fine for £50.
Photo from here.
"I picked up the other mess too and put it in the bag but he said I'd still be fined." Later she received a £50 fixed penalty notice threatening court action and a criminal record if she did not pay. "It felt like the worst kind of bullying," she said. "I felt as if my integrity was being questioned, so I wrote to my MP, Fraser Kemp, and also went to see a solicitor.
"He told me to let the council take it to court and then we'd show them up for how ridiculous it was." Sunderland City Council then wrote to Mrs Robson, saying: "Officers at the time were satisfied that an offence had been committed. However it appears you may have collected faeces belonging to another dog.I have considered your appeal regarding this offence, and can advise that on this occasion the council will not be pursuing the non payment of the fixed penalty notice in the magistrates courts."
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