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Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Japanese 'monsters' barge into rooms to scare 'naughty' children shitless straight
People dressed as a traditional local monster scared naughty children in Akita and told them to listen to their parents at an event held by the city tourism association. The costumes depicted the monster of the local "namahage" tradition, where people dressed as the monsters visit houses and admonish naughty children.
Keeping with the tradition, the event was also meant for parents struggling with children who constantly fight each other, watch TV and won't study, or otherwise cause child-rearing headaches.
Three families totalling 11 people participated in the event. Parents took their children to a hot spring inn to stay the night without telling them about the surprise to come. Suddenly, a namahage monster burst into the room, growling and thrashing around.
"Will you listen to your father?" asked a namahage monster of one child. Amidst sobs, and with all the power the child could muster, came the response: "Yes!" The event is also designed to let families experience the traditional namahage culture and to deepen familial bonds by letting parents "protect" their children from the monster.
Keeping with the tradition, the event was also meant for parents struggling with children who constantly fight each other, watch TV and won't study, or otherwise cause child-rearing headaches.
Three families totalling 11 people participated in the event. Parents took their children to a hot spring inn to stay the night without telling them about the surprise to come. Suddenly, a namahage monster burst into the room, growling and thrashing around.
"Will you listen to your father?" asked a namahage monster of one child. Amidst sobs, and with all the power the child could muster, came the response: "Yes!" The event is also designed to let families experience the traditional namahage culture and to deepen familial bonds by letting parents "protect" their children from the monster.
Argentinian woman survives 23-storey hotel fall
A woman has survived after falling from the 23rd floor of a hotel in the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires. Her fall was broken by a taxi, whose driver got out moments before the impact crushed the roof and shattered the windscreen.
Eyewitness said the woman had climbed over a safety barrier and leapt from a restaurant at the top of the Hotel Crowne Plaza Panamericano. She was taken to intensive care for treatment for multiple injuries.
The woman, who has not been named, is reported to be an Argentine in her 30s. The taxi driver, named by local media as Miguel, said he got out of his vehicle just before the impact after noticing a policeman looking up.
YouTube link.
"I got out of the car a second before. If I had not got out, I would have been killed," he said. "I was only 10 metres from the impact. It made a terrible noise," he added. The Hotel Crowne Plaza Panamericano overlooks the Obelisk, one of the best known landmarks in Buenos Aires.
Eyewitness said the woman had climbed over a safety barrier and leapt from a restaurant at the top of the Hotel Crowne Plaza Panamericano. She was taken to intensive care for treatment for multiple injuries.
The woman, who has not been named, is reported to be an Argentine in her 30s. The taxi driver, named by local media as Miguel, said he got out of his vehicle just before the impact after noticing a policeman looking up.
YouTube link.
"I got out of the car a second before. If I had not got out, I would have been killed," he said. "I was only 10 metres from the impact. It made a terrible noise," he added. The Hotel Crowne Plaza Panamericano overlooks the Obelisk, one of the best known landmarks in Buenos Aires.
Woman hangs 'devil dog' before burning it after it chewed her Bible
A US woman has been charged with animal cruelty after allegedly hanging her nephew's pit bull from a tree with an electrical cord and burning its body after it chewed on her Bible. Animal control officers said that 65-year-old Miriam Smith told them she killed a female dog named Diamond because it was a 'devil dog' and she worried it could harm neighbourhood children.
Smith's nephew left the one-year-old animal at the home he shared with his aunt during the recent winter weather while he went away. When he returned, he could find no trace of the dog and assumed she had broken the chain where she was usually tied at the front porch of the house.
An environmental enforcement officer came across the dog's body under a mound of dried grass, stinking of kerosene. The dog had an orange extension cord wrapped tightly around its neck and its body was partially burned.
Authorities said bail was not immediately set for Smith, who remains jailed in Spartanburg County, South Carolina after her weekend arrest. Smith is charged with ill treatment of animals in general, torture, according to an arrest warrant. She faces 180 days to five years in prison if convicted.
Smith's nephew left the one-year-old animal at the home he shared with his aunt during the recent winter weather while he went away. When he returned, he could find no trace of the dog and assumed she had broken the chain where she was usually tied at the front porch of the house.
An environmental enforcement officer came across the dog's body under a mound of dried grass, stinking of kerosene. The dog had an orange extension cord wrapped tightly around its neck and its body was partially burned.
Authorities said bail was not immediately set for Smith, who remains jailed in Spartanburg County, South Carolina after her weekend arrest. Smith is charged with ill treatment of animals in general, torture, according to an arrest warrant. She faces 180 days to five years in prison if convicted.
Water main break leaves car covered in ice
A car in Manhattan was trapped in a thick layer of ice from bumper to bumper like an ice sculpture. A private water service line ruptured under the street.
All the water came up and caused a puddle. The cars going back and forth splashed the water onto parked cars. One car got the worst of it.
To make matters worse, the owner of the car barely touched the back window and it collapsed.
YouTube link.
Crews eventually managed to steam the car out of its ice cube encasing.
All the water came up and caused a puddle. The cars going back and forth splashed the water onto parked cars. One car got the worst of it.
To make matters worse, the owner of the car barely touched the back window and it collapsed.
YouTube link.
Crews eventually managed to steam the car out of its ice cube encasing.
Australian couple find a gold lining to their mud-covered home
Tens of thousands of Queenslanders lost countless irreplaceable items during the recent floods, but for one lucky couple the floodwaters miraculously returned a long-lost treasure which disappeared five years ago. The chance discovery came after Gaele and Trevor Hare were cleaning their home at Fernvale, west of Brisbane. The Poole Rd house lived up to its street name after it was inundated twice, halfway up the walls. Mrs Hare said after the floodwaters receded last Wednesday they began a massive clean-up operation.
The couple was helped by about 50 volunteers, including 10 defence personnel from Ipswich's Amberley RAAF base. While members of 1 Squadron were clearing mud from the hallway floor Mrs Hare noticed something out of the corner of her eye. "I looked down, through the mud, and thought: `Don't tell me that's what I think it is'?'' she said. "I could see a gold circle filled with mud and just could not believe it, it was Trevor's wedding ring.''
Mrs Hare said more than five years ago she thought it would be a sensible idea to hide the ring while they were holidaying. "We were going on holidays and hid it so burglars, if they broke in, wouldn't steal it,'' she said of their trip to the United States. "When we got back we looked for it everywhere. I did such a good job I even hid it from myself. I had given up ever finding it again.''
Mr Hare also could not believe their good fortune and said he had also lost all hope of ever finding his ring. "Really, I had just expected to never see it again,'' he said. Although the couple said they were devastated by the damage caused by the flood, they managed to stay positive because of the generosity of the volunteers who had helped them start all over again.
The couple was helped by about 50 volunteers, including 10 defence personnel from Ipswich's Amberley RAAF base. While members of 1 Squadron were clearing mud from the hallway floor Mrs Hare noticed something out of the corner of her eye. "I looked down, through the mud, and thought: `Don't tell me that's what I think it is'?'' she said. "I could see a gold circle filled with mud and just could not believe it, it was Trevor's wedding ring.''
Mrs Hare said more than five years ago she thought it would be a sensible idea to hide the ring while they were holidaying. "We were going on holidays and hid it so burglars, if they broke in, wouldn't steal it,'' she said of their trip to the United States. "When we got back we looked for it everywhere. I did such a good job I even hid it from myself. I had given up ever finding it again.''
Mr Hare also could not believe their good fortune and said he had also lost all hope of ever finding his ring. "Really, I had just expected to never see it again,'' he said. Although the couple said they were devastated by the damage caused by the flood, they managed to stay positive because of the generosity of the volunteers who had helped them start all over again.
Grand piano found on sandbar in Miami bay
A grand piano recently appeared on a sandbar in Biscayne Bay, Miami. Whoever put it there placed it at the highest point of the sandbar so that it's not underwater during high tide. How and why the piano got there is a mystery. A grand piano weighs at least 650 pounds and is unwieldly to move, said Bob Shapiro, a salesman at Piano Music Center in Pembroke Park. ``You don't take it out there in a rowboat,'' Shapiro said.
This much is clear, however: The piano isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Unless it becomes a danger to wildlife or boaters, authorities have no plans to haul it away. ``We are not responsible for removing such items,'' said Jorge Pino, a spokesman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. ``Even a car can become a habitat for wildlife. Unless the item becomes a navigational hazard, the Coast Guard would not get involved.''
The marine patrols of both the North Miami Police Department and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said the same thing. From Quayside, the shape of the piano is visible to the naked eye, but with a pair of binoculars or a telephoto lense, seagulls can be seen landing on the instrument and water lapping at its legs.
LiveLeak link.
Throwing away a grand piano may seem like a waste of money, but it may not be. In decent condition, a used grand piano would cost at least $3,000 to $4,000. But many pianos wear out from the literally tons of pressure on the internal parts, and cheaper models aren't worth the cost of rebuilding. ``It could be worth nothing,'' Shapiro said. ``Pianos don't grow old gracefully. They just wear out.''
This much is clear, however: The piano isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Unless it becomes a danger to wildlife or boaters, authorities have no plans to haul it away. ``We are not responsible for removing such items,'' said Jorge Pino, a spokesman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. ``Even a car can become a habitat for wildlife. Unless the item becomes a navigational hazard, the Coast Guard would not get involved.''
The marine patrols of both the North Miami Police Department and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said the same thing. From Quayside, the shape of the piano is visible to the naked eye, but with a pair of binoculars or a telephoto lense, seagulls can be seen landing on the instrument and water lapping at its legs.
LiveLeak link.
Throwing away a grand piano may seem like a waste of money, but it may not be. In decent condition, a used grand piano would cost at least $3,000 to $4,000. But many pianos wear out from the literally tons of pressure on the internal parts, and cheaper models aren't worth the cost of rebuilding. ``It could be worth nothing,'' Shapiro said. ``Pianos don't grow old gracefully. They just wear out.''
Falling plaster halts council safety meeting
A board meeting in City Council chambers focusing on dangerous structures in San Antonio was cancelled on Monday morning — and the chambers were evacuated — after small chunks of plaster broke free from the lofty ceiling and fell with a thud near city employees.
Members of the city's Dangerous Structure Determination Board were discussing the Oaks on Bandera, an apartment complex on the Northwest Side where a stairway had collapsed on Jan. 7, fatally injuring a resident.
But the board did not have a chance to decide the fate of all the buildings in the complex. During the meeting, white and blue pieces of plaster broke free from the high, decorated ceiling in the council chambers.
The first piece that fell was small and light. But later, a larger piece landed with a loud thunk and almost struck a city employee who inspects dilapidated buildings in San Antonio. No one was injured.
Members of the city's Dangerous Structure Determination Board were discussing the Oaks on Bandera, an apartment complex on the Northwest Side where a stairway had collapsed on Jan. 7, fatally injuring a resident.
But the board did not have a chance to decide the fate of all the buildings in the complex. During the meeting, white and blue pieces of plaster broke free from the high, decorated ceiling in the council chambers.
The first piece that fell was small and light. But later, a larger piece landed with a loud thunk and almost struck a city employee who inspects dilapidated buildings in San Antonio. No one was injured.
Burglar with ill-fitting balaclava laughed out by KFC staff
A drunken masked man laughed out of Peterborough’s KFC restaurant as he attempted to rob it has been jailed. John Veitch (22), of Cardinal’s Gate, Werrington, Peterborough, demanded money from a supervisor working at KFC in London Road, Peterborough on 7th November. But Peterborough Crown Court heard that the Scottish factory worker was so drunk he had even put his balaclava on incorrectly, so he could only see out of one eye. When staff members behind the counter started laughing at him he left empty-handed.
Veitch, who has had an alcohol problem for a number of years, returned to the Peacock pub next door where he had been drinking for most of the afternoon where he was later arrested by police. The court jailed the “inept” crook for nine months on Friday after Veitch pleaded guilty to one count of attempted robbery. Craig McDougall, prosecuting, said: “At 9.45pm on Sunday, November 7, Matthew King, a supervisor at KFC was mopping up behind the counter. There were two other female members of staff in the restaurant at the time and one customer.
“The defendant walked in wearing a large anorak, balaclava and gloves to hide his identity. He went up to the counter and slammed his hands on the counter and shouted ‘Give me your money’. Mr King’s response was ‘You are joking aren’t you mate?’ The other members of staff in the restaurant started to laugh.
“The defendant said ‘Are you laughing at me?’ and Mr King said ‘yes’. The defendant then walked out of the restaurant. Mr King went to the Peacock pub next door to warn the landlord about what had happened. The landlord had spotted a suspicious individual in the pub and called the police. When they arrived he was arrested and his balaclava and gloves were found in his pocket.”
With CCTV video.
Veitch, who has had an alcohol problem for a number of years, returned to the Peacock pub next door where he had been drinking for most of the afternoon where he was later arrested by police. The court jailed the “inept” crook for nine months on Friday after Veitch pleaded guilty to one count of attempted robbery. Craig McDougall, prosecuting, said: “At 9.45pm on Sunday, November 7, Matthew King, a supervisor at KFC was mopping up behind the counter. There were two other female members of staff in the restaurant at the time and one customer.
“The defendant walked in wearing a large anorak, balaclava and gloves to hide his identity. He went up to the counter and slammed his hands on the counter and shouted ‘Give me your money’. Mr King’s response was ‘You are joking aren’t you mate?’ The other members of staff in the restaurant started to laugh.
“The defendant said ‘Are you laughing at me?’ and Mr King said ‘yes’. The defendant then walked out of the restaurant. Mr King went to the Peacock pub next door to warn the landlord about what had happened. The landlord had spotted a suspicious individual in the pub and called the police. When they arrived he was arrested and his balaclava and gloves were found in his pocket.”
With CCTV video.
Man hunted after sex attack on lamb
A man was spotted carrying out an indecent attack on a lamb which was later found dead, police said yesterday. The alleged assault took place in a field near Silverknowes Road in Edinburgh on Sunday morning.
The man is reported to be in his 20s, although police have not issued any description of the suspect. Officers hunting for the culprit said investigations were also taking place to find out whether the farm animal's death was linked to the incident.
A police spokesman urged anyone with information to contact them immediately. He said: "Lothian and Borders Police are investigating after a male was seen performing an indecent act on a lamb.
"The suspect fled the scene after being disturbed, at which time the lamb was found to be dead. Inquiries are now under way to determine whether the animal's death is linked to the incident."
The man is reported to be in his 20s, although police have not issued any description of the suspect. Officers hunting for the culprit said investigations were also taking place to find out whether the farm animal's death was linked to the incident.
A police spokesman urged anyone with information to contact them immediately. He said: "Lothian and Borders Police are investigating after a male was seen performing an indecent act on a lamb.
"The suspect fled the scene after being disturbed, at which time the lamb was found to be dead. Inquiries are now under way to determine whether the animal's death is linked to the incident."
Headteacher says sorry for excluding '24-year-old schoolboy'
A headteacher admitted yesterday that he made a mistake in excluding a 14-year-old boy from school because he believed he was actually 24. Prince Summerfield, whose family moved to the UK from Malawi, was sent home from the Petersfield school in Petersfield, Hampshire, after headteacher Nigel Poole became uncertain about his age.
The teenager is 5ft 8in (1.72m), weighs 10 stone (63.5kg) and wears an extra large uniform. But after his parents, David and Ennettie, produced evidence, including his Malawian birth certificate showing he was born on 24 September 1996, Poole decided to invite him back to school.
A school spokeswoman said: "Following extensive checks with the relevant authorities, the Summerfield family have been able to prove with complete authenticity that Prince is 14 and should be at secondary school. "Mr Poole has now contacted the family to admit his mistake and apologise for the upset caused.
"He has invited Prince back with immediate effect and promised to ensure his smooth reintegration." Poole said: "I am sorry for the upset this episode has caused. I am now satisfied that all necessary checks confirm Prince is actually 14 and am happy to welcome him back to TPS."
The teenager is 5ft 8in (1.72m), weighs 10 stone (63.5kg) and wears an extra large uniform. But after his parents, David and Ennettie, produced evidence, including his Malawian birth certificate showing he was born on 24 September 1996, Poole decided to invite him back to school.
A school spokeswoman said: "Following extensive checks with the relevant authorities, the Summerfield family have been able to prove with complete authenticity that Prince is 14 and should be at secondary school. "Mr Poole has now contacted the family to admit his mistake and apologise for the upset caused.
"He has invited Prince back with immediate effect and promised to ensure his smooth reintegration." Poole said: "I am sorry for the upset this episode has caused. I am now satisfied that all necessary checks confirm Prince is actually 14 and am happy to welcome him back to TPS."
Man who fathered child at 14 to become UK's youngest grandad at 29
A man will become the UK’s youngest ever grandfather when his 14-year-old daughter gives birth this summer. The 29-year-old was just 14 when he became a father himself in 1996. But he admitted he was “fuming” to discover his daughter, who has just started her GCSEs, is 11 weeks’ pregnant.
The dad – who has not been named to protect his young daughter – from South Wales, said: “It’s like history repeating itself. I quite like the idea of being the youngest grandad in Britain, but at the same time I’m fuming that she is pregnant. I know myself how tough it is being a teenage parent and now she has to go through the same thing. However, we’re all going to stand by her and we will welcome the little one into the family.
“I don’t feel like a grandad – I’ve not got grey hair and my hearing is top notch.” He added that his 47-year-old mother cannot wait to become a great-grandma. “She was 18 when she had me,” he said. “She was shocked when I told her the news, but she is happy now.
“Her own mum is alive, and so too is her grandmother, who will become a great-great-great grandmother. There can’t be too many families with six generations alive at the same time.” The UK’s youngest grandmother was 26 when her daughter, 12, gave birth at their home in Rotherham, South Yorks, in 1999.
The dad – who has not been named to protect his young daughter – from South Wales, said: “It’s like history repeating itself. I quite like the idea of being the youngest grandad in Britain, but at the same time I’m fuming that she is pregnant. I know myself how tough it is being a teenage parent and now she has to go through the same thing. However, we’re all going to stand by her and we will welcome the little one into the family.
“I don’t feel like a grandad – I’ve not got grey hair and my hearing is top notch.” He added that his 47-year-old mother cannot wait to become a great-grandma. “She was 18 when she had me,” he said. “She was shocked when I told her the news, but she is happy now.
“Her own mum is alive, and so too is her grandmother, who will become a great-great-great grandmother. There can’t be too many families with six generations alive at the same time.” The UK’s youngest grandmother was 26 when her daughter, 12, gave birth at their home in Rotherham, South Yorks, in 1999.
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