Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Indian police hire hypnotist to 'cure addictions'
Police in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh have sought the help of a hypnotist to help their men give up drinking alcohol and smoking. Senior officers believe that alcoholism has become a problem in the force with reports of drunk policemen on duty coming in from parts of the state. Last week, a local TV channel showed a policeman passing out after drinking alcohol in the capital, Raipur.
India's policemen are overworked and many suffer from stress. Recently, the local police hired hypnotist VL Soni for a 30-minute session with some 200 policemen who were "alcoholic, overweight or depressed". After the session ended, Mr Soni announced that all the policemen who attended the session "would soon get rid of their habit of consuming alcohol". Participants said the session was "dramatic".
YouTube link.
They said Mr Soni called up a policeman "on the mobile phone and soon hypnotised him". He also made another policeman sing folk songs during the session, and also showed a film clip on hypnotism. Participants also said that a cigarette was lit up and the smoke blown at a policeman, who "began to feel nauseous". "This is exactly what is going to happen to anyone who boozes after this session," Mr Soni reportedly told the gathering.
"This is a kind of meditation. The policemen will have to practise it at home as well. They will soon give up their addiction to alcohol. Whenever they go to drink, they will feel nauseous." Encouraged by the session, senior Raipur police official Deepanshu Kabra now wants to rope in the hypnotist to help his men "get rid of extra fat and hypertension". The police is also contemplating using the hypnotist during interrogation of suspects "for solving important cases", an official said.
India's policemen are overworked and many suffer from stress. Recently, the local police hired hypnotist VL Soni for a 30-minute session with some 200 policemen who were "alcoholic, overweight or depressed". After the session ended, Mr Soni announced that all the policemen who attended the session "would soon get rid of their habit of consuming alcohol". Participants said the session was "dramatic".
YouTube link.
They said Mr Soni called up a policeman "on the mobile phone and soon hypnotised him". He also made another policeman sing folk songs during the session, and also showed a film clip on hypnotism. Participants also said that a cigarette was lit up and the smoke blown at a policeman, who "began to feel nauseous". "This is exactly what is going to happen to anyone who boozes after this session," Mr Soni reportedly told the gathering.
"This is a kind of meditation. The policemen will have to practise it at home as well. They will soon give up their addiction to alcohol. Whenever they go to drink, they will feel nauseous." Encouraged by the session, senior Raipur police official Deepanshu Kabra now wants to rope in the hypnotist to help his men "get rid of extra fat and hypertension". The police is also contemplating using the hypnotist during interrogation of suspects "for solving important cases", an official said.
Medieval medallion found in baby shark in Malaysia
A baby shark being prepared for lunch gave a Malaysian family a big surprise - an ancient artifact believed to be dated long before the Portuguese conquest of Malacca. Housewife Suseela Menon, from Klebang, made the priceless discovery while filleting the fish for lunch.
It is believed to be a medallion worn by the Portuguese soldiers, presumably as a divine protection, during their conquests in this part of the world in the 16th century. One side of the medallion is a profile of a woman's head with a crown and encircled by a halo and an inscription that is unclear. The other side is a crucifix with an engraved inscription that reads ANTONII.
Checks with a local historian revealed the head engraving could be that of Queen Elizabeth, the consort of King Denis I of Portugal during his reign from 1271 to 1336. Suseela said she immediately cleaned the medallion and preserved it in a box. “I bought two sharks from the wet market and was taken aback upon discovering the object inside the stomach of one of the fishes,” said the 47-year-old mother-of-two.
Suseela had wanted to prepare shark curry for her husband. “Finally, my husband decided not to eat the fish as the object seems to be a religious item,” she said. The medallion is 7.4cm long, 6cm wide and weighs 10g. “My husband feels it is a blessing for the family to have the medallion coming to our home from beneath the sea. We will always cherish it,” said Suseela.
It is believed to be a medallion worn by the Portuguese soldiers, presumably as a divine protection, during their conquests in this part of the world in the 16th century. One side of the medallion is a profile of a woman's head with a crown and encircled by a halo and an inscription that is unclear. The other side is a crucifix with an engraved inscription that reads ANTONII.
Checks with a local historian revealed the head engraving could be that of Queen Elizabeth, the consort of King Denis I of Portugal during his reign from 1271 to 1336. Suseela said she immediately cleaned the medallion and preserved it in a box. “I bought two sharks from the wet market and was taken aback upon discovering the object inside the stomach of one of the fishes,” said the 47-year-old mother-of-two.
Suseela had wanted to prepare shark curry for her husband. “Finally, my husband decided not to eat the fish as the object seems to be a religious item,” she said. The medallion is 7.4cm long, 6cm wide and weighs 10g. “My husband feels it is a blessing for the family to have the medallion coming to our home from beneath the sea. We will always cherish it,” said Suseela.
Cambodia bans spit-roasting whole cows in public
Spit-roasting whole cattle on the streets of Phnom Penh has been banned after claims it glorifies violence. The familiar sight of restaurateurs across the city cooking bovines outside their eateries to entice patrons could soon be a thing of the past.
The government has issued a directive telling businesses to keep their roasts out of the public eye. The decision followed a meeting of the supreme council of the Mohanikaya Buddhist order late last year during which it was decided that roasting carcasses in public glorified the killing of animals.
'Grilling cows in front of the restaurants is a show of support for violence in a country that believes in the Buddhist religion,' council member Chhoeng Bunchhea said.
'It can instill the ideas of a massacre to a child and push them to commit violence in society,' he said. 'We want a non violent culture and happiness in society.' The directive technically came into force last month but has been widely ignored, the report said, leading officials to plan to step up enforcement.
The government has issued a directive telling businesses to keep their roasts out of the public eye. The decision followed a meeting of the supreme council of the Mohanikaya Buddhist order late last year during which it was decided that roasting carcasses in public glorified the killing of animals.
'Grilling cows in front of the restaurants is a show of support for violence in a country that believes in the Buddhist religion,' council member Chhoeng Bunchhea said.
'It can instill the ideas of a massacre to a child and push them to commit violence in society,' he said. 'We want a non violent culture and happiness in society.' The directive technically came into force last month but has been widely ignored, the report said, leading officials to plan to step up enforcement.
Police called after unknown drunk man found to have urinated in 3-year-old's bed
A family in Stenungsund, western Sweden, got a disturbing shock when they found a drunk man asleep in their three-year-old’s bed. The father of the family woke up on Sunday morning and took his dog for a walk, before returning home and switching on the television, unaware a man was sharing his son’s bed just metres away.
“I was watching TV when the three-year-old came down and said there’s someone in my bed. He’d told his big brother that he thought it was a ghost,” the father said. The man got up to investigate, and discovered a drunk man passed out in the three-year-old’s bed. On closer inspection, it was discovered that the man had urinated on the mattress, and on himself.
This prompted the man to call police, after taking the family out of their rooms and onto the landing. The urination was the final straw for the father, who stated that he wouldn’t have involved police otherwise. “We didn’t report the matter to the police, but when we saw what he’d done in the bed we reconsidered,” the man said.
Police at Västra Götaland have apprehended the man, who claimed he was on his way to the pub at three in the morning when he became tired and simply walked in through the home’s unlocked door. “When we are at home, I didn’t think we needed to have the doors locked, but we certainly will from now on,” said the father. The man is suspected by police of trespassing.
“I was watching TV when the three-year-old came down and said there’s someone in my bed. He’d told his big brother that he thought it was a ghost,” the father said. The man got up to investigate, and discovered a drunk man passed out in the three-year-old’s bed. On closer inspection, it was discovered that the man had urinated on the mattress, and on himself.
This prompted the man to call police, after taking the family out of their rooms and onto the landing. The urination was the final straw for the father, who stated that he wouldn’t have involved police otherwise. “We didn’t report the matter to the police, but when we saw what he’d done in the bed we reconsidered,” the man said.
Police at Västra Götaland have apprehended the man, who claimed he was on his way to the pub at three in the morning when he became tired and simply walked in through the home’s unlocked door. “When we are at home, I didn’t think we needed to have the doors locked, but we certainly will from now on,” said the father. The man is suspected by police of trespassing.
Study finds upper classes are 'more likely to lie and cheat'
Members of the upper classes are more likely to lie, cheat and even break the law than people from less privileged backgrounds, a study has found. In contrast, members of the "lower" classes appeared more likely to display the traditional attributes of a gentleman. It suggests that the traditional notion of the upper class “cad” or “bounder” could have a scientific basis. But psychologists at the University of California in Berkeley, who carried out the study, also suggested that the findings could help explain the origins of the banking crisis – with self-confident, wealthy bankers more likely to indulge in reckless behaviour.
The team lead by Dr Paul Piff, asked several groups of people from different social backgrounds to perform a series of tasks designed to identify different traits such as honesty and consideration for others. Each person was asked a series of questions about their wealth, schooling, social background, religious persuasions and attitudes to money in an attempt to put them into different classes. The tasks included asking participants to pretend to be an employers conducting a job interview to test whether they would lie or sidestep awkward facts in pay negotiation. They were told that the job might become redundant within six months but were encouraged conceal this from the interview candidate.
There was also an online game involving rolling dice in which participants they were asked to report their own score, thinking they would be in line for a cash prize for a higher score – and that no one was checking. Members of another group were given a series of made-up scenarios in which people spoke about doing something unethical at work to benefit themselves and then questioned to assess how likely they were to do likewise. The scientists also carried out a series of observations at a traffic junction in San Francisco. Different drivers’ social status was assessed on the basis of what car they were driving as well as visible details such as their age. Those deemed to be better off appeared more likely to cut up other drivers and less likely to stop for pedestrians.
Overall the study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, concluded that those from richer or powerful backgrounds appeared greedier, more likely to lie in negotiation and more likely to cheat. Being in a higher social class – either by birth or attainment – had a “causal relationship to unethical decision-making and behaviour”, they concluded. Dr Piff concluded that having an elevated social rank were more likely to display “self focused” behaviour patterns than those from more modest backgrounds, were less aware of others, and were less good at identifying the emotions of others. He said that the findings appeared to bear out the teachings of Aristotle, Plato and Jesus that greed is at the root unethical behaviour.
The team lead by Dr Paul Piff, asked several groups of people from different social backgrounds to perform a series of tasks designed to identify different traits such as honesty and consideration for others. Each person was asked a series of questions about their wealth, schooling, social background, religious persuasions and attitudes to money in an attempt to put them into different classes. The tasks included asking participants to pretend to be an employers conducting a job interview to test whether they would lie or sidestep awkward facts in pay negotiation. They were told that the job might become redundant within six months but were encouraged conceal this from the interview candidate.
There was also an online game involving rolling dice in which participants they were asked to report their own score, thinking they would be in line for a cash prize for a higher score – and that no one was checking. Members of another group were given a series of made-up scenarios in which people spoke about doing something unethical at work to benefit themselves and then questioned to assess how likely they were to do likewise. The scientists also carried out a series of observations at a traffic junction in San Francisco. Different drivers’ social status was assessed on the basis of what car they were driving as well as visible details such as their age. Those deemed to be better off appeared more likely to cut up other drivers and less likely to stop for pedestrians.
Overall the study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, concluded that those from richer or powerful backgrounds appeared greedier, more likely to lie in negotiation and more likely to cheat. Being in a higher social class – either by birth or attainment – had a “causal relationship to unethical decision-making and behaviour”, they concluded. Dr Piff concluded that having an elevated social rank were more likely to display “self focused” behaviour patterns than those from more modest backgrounds, were less aware of others, and were less good at identifying the emotions of others. He said that the findings appeared to bear out the teachings of Aristotle, Plato and Jesus that greed is at the root unethical behaviour.
Council defends new breed of zebra crossing
When is a zebra crossing not a zebra crossing? When it is a rather groovy road marking that has appeared close to a Bristol school. In an effort to make the roads around a primary school and nursery safer for children, the city council has painted in three "zebra skin print" crossings. But the black and white markings are not official zebra crossings, leading to claims that motorists may be confused and lives could be put at risk.
The council says the aim is to improve the route between Whitehall primary and a nearby nursery. The local authority added dropped kerbs and three zebra skin markings to highlight the position of the crossings, which it judged to be the safest place to cross. The Association of British Drivers is not impressed. A spokesman, Hugh Bladon, said: "I can't understand what the highways people are playing at. The marking is very misleading and extremely dangerous. It has been painted where there is a dropped kerb which implies it is a pedestrian crossing. I think it has created an accident waiting to happen."
Photo from SWNS.
A resident, Patrick Lawrence, has similar misgivings, saying: "The 'pretend' crossing is sure to cause confusion for motorists and pedestrians. Neither motorist nor pedestrian will really understand what the road markings mean. "A pedestrian, possibly a child going to school, may think they have priority on the pretend zebra crossing, while at the same time a motorist may be aware that the markings in the road mean nothing at all and so ignore them." Geoff Trudgeon, who walks with his three-year-old son, Arthur, in the neighbourhood each morning, said: "I saw the crossing and wondered if it was the right place to cross."
Bristol city council defended the new scheme, claiming the "fun markings" would encourage young people to cross the road in the safest place. A council spokeswoman said: "Children's reaction to the crossings has been as the team expected – exactly as it is at any crossing. They stop, wait, look and listen for oncoming traffic. The unusual markings are having a very positive impact on drivers however, who are slowing and stopping around the school – certainly an improvement on previous behaviour. The message is that the road around the school is a child-friendly space and cars must take care."
The council says the aim is to improve the route between Whitehall primary and a nearby nursery. The local authority added dropped kerbs and three zebra skin markings to highlight the position of the crossings, which it judged to be the safest place to cross. The Association of British Drivers is not impressed. A spokesman, Hugh Bladon, said: "I can't understand what the highways people are playing at. The marking is very misleading and extremely dangerous. It has been painted where there is a dropped kerb which implies it is a pedestrian crossing. I think it has created an accident waiting to happen."
Photo from SWNS.
A resident, Patrick Lawrence, has similar misgivings, saying: "The 'pretend' crossing is sure to cause confusion for motorists and pedestrians. Neither motorist nor pedestrian will really understand what the road markings mean. "A pedestrian, possibly a child going to school, may think they have priority on the pretend zebra crossing, while at the same time a motorist may be aware that the markings in the road mean nothing at all and so ignore them." Geoff Trudgeon, who walks with his three-year-old son, Arthur, in the neighbourhood each morning, said: "I saw the crossing and wondered if it was the right place to cross."
Bristol city council defended the new scheme, claiming the "fun markings" would encourage young people to cross the road in the safest place. A council spokeswoman said: "Children's reaction to the crossings has been as the team expected – exactly as it is at any crossing. They stop, wait, look and listen for oncoming traffic. The unusual markings are having a very positive impact on drivers however, who are slowing and stopping around the school – certainly an improvement on previous behaviour. The message is that the road around the school is a child-friendly space and cars must take care."
Virgin Atlantic cabin crew taught how to whisper
Virgin Atlantic has appointed a 'whispering coach' to ensure cabin crew do not disturb the highest-paying passengers on flights. Crew will learn how to whisper to Upper Class passengers at a volume of between twenty and thirty decibels on a special, day-long training course. Sir Richard Branson's airline says that the measure will have a "calming effect" on passengers in its new, fanciest ever Upper Class suite.
Virgin's Upper Class passengers pay around £6,000 per person for return flights from London to New York. The airline says its new whispering strategy has been "formulated with input from speech experts" and trialled on test-flights and with several focus groups. Virgin's customer service training supervisor Richard Fitzgerald has been designated the new whispering coach.
He says his brief is to ensure the most relaxing night's sleep possible for the airline's high rollers. Mr Fitzgerald will train flight attendants how best to "engage with passengers", coaching them on the optimum "tone, volume and sentiment" to adopt. The airline trumpeted: "His specialist training will also ensure that no passenger is unduly disturbed whilst sleeping and that all passengers wake up and arrive at their destination feeling rested and refreshed."
It said that its 'Magic Touches' training ethos will also see crew learning how to be tactile, 'read' passengers and wake them comfortably as part of "the most luxurious way to travel by air". Mr Fitzgerald said: "The crew are now trained to whisper at tones between twenty and thirty decibels due to its calming effect and the fact that it won't disturb other passengers whilst lights are out. It is incredibly important that all Virgin Atlantic's cabin crew have their skills honed in order to provide the most comfortable experience possible for our passengers."
Virgin's Upper Class passengers pay around £6,000 per person for return flights from London to New York. The airline says its new whispering strategy has been "formulated with input from speech experts" and trialled on test-flights and with several focus groups. Virgin's customer service training supervisor Richard Fitzgerald has been designated the new whispering coach.
He says his brief is to ensure the most relaxing night's sleep possible for the airline's high rollers. Mr Fitzgerald will train flight attendants how best to "engage with passengers", coaching them on the optimum "tone, volume and sentiment" to adopt. The airline trumpeted: "His specialist training will also ensure that no passenger is unduly disturbed whilst sleeping and that all passengers wake up and arrive at their destination feeling rested and refreshed."
It said that its 'Magic Touches' training ethos will also see crew learning how to be tactile, 'read' passengers and wake them comfortably as part of "the most luxurious way to travel by air". Mr Fitzgerald said: "The crew are now trained to whisper at tones between twenty and thirty decibels due to its calming effect and the fact that it won't disturb other passengers whilst lights are out. It is incredibly important that all Virgin Atlantic's cabin crew have their skills honed in order to provide the most comfortable experience possible for our passengers."
Hospital hit with £20,000 repair bill after flying wheelchair smashes into MRI scanner
A hospital is facing a £20,000 bill to repair damage caused by a wheelchair which was flung across a room by powerful magnets in an MRI machine. It is thought a nurse had pushed the metal chair into the room to collect a patient despite warning signs not to enter. It was instantly picked up and sent crashing into the scanner - where a patient had been lying moments before. The patient and a radiographer, who were in the room at the time, were unharmed.
The incident at Southampton General Hospital in Hampshire put the MRI scanner out of action for two days. Bosses have blamed human error for the incident and have launched an investigation to make sure the same mistake doesn't happen again. The hospital insider added: "This could have easily ended with a double fatality. "The force of those powerful magnets are so strong that they wouldn't have had a chance to get out of the way. I just cannot understand how this was allowed to happen. Everybody working in the hospital is aware of the strength of the machine and there are so many signs warning people not to enter while a scan is taking place.
"The nurse was shouted at to get out but they still continued into the room and the wheelchair just shot across the room. It slammed into the scanner and was bent round into the part where the patient lies. It's a miracle nobody was hurt or killed and something needs to be done to ensure all auxiliary nurses are aware of the dangers so this doesn't happen again." University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust confirmed that the incident caused £20,000 damage to the machine and put it out of action for two days.
A spokesman added: "This incident was a result of human error by a member of our staff. Although no patients or staff were injured or affected, it is something we are taking very seriously. We will continue to investigate to ensure all staff adhere to the stringent safety measures we have in place across the trust." MRI stands for magnetic resonance imaging. The machine, which can cost up to £1million, contains large tubes fitted with a series of powerful magnets.
The incident at Southampton General Hospital in Hampshire put the MRI scanner out of action for two days. Bosses have blamed human error for the incident and have launched an investigation to make sure the same mistake doesn't happen again. The hospital insider added: "This could have easily ended with a double fatality. "The force of those powerful magnets are so strong that they wouldn't have had a chance to get out of the way. I just cannot understand how this was allowed to happen. Everybody working in the hospital is aware of the strength of the machine and there are so many signs warning people not to enter while a scan is taking place.
"The nurse was shouted at to get out but they still continued into the room and the wheelchair just shot across the room. It slammed into the scanner and was bent round into the part where the patient lies. It's a miracle nobody was hurt or killed and something needs to be done to ensure all auxiliary nurses are aware of the dangers so this doesn't happen again." University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust confirmed that the incident caused £20,000 damage to the machine and put it out of action for two days.
A spokesman added: "This incident was a result of human error by a member of our staff. Although no patients or staff were injured or affected, it is something we are taking very seriously. We will continue to investigate to ensure all staff adhere to the stringent safety measures we have in place across the trust." MRI stands for magnetic resonance imaging. The machine, which can cost up to £1million, contains large tubes fitted with a series of powerful magnets.
Father and son celebrate 11th birthdays together at joint party
An improbable twist of fate saw schoolboy Seamus Clarke celebrate his 11th birthday just hours before his dad James. Seamus' father James marks his birthday today, on February 29, a date which only comes around every four years as a leap day.
While Mr Clarke is actually 44, in 2012 he will only ever have celebrated 11 birthdays on his actual birth date as one of a select batch of leap year babies. Despite missing out on a total of 33 birthdays since 1968, he admitted being born in a leap year does have its benefits. 'I'm used to missing out on my real birthday, but being born in a leap year did have its benefits when I was at school,' he said.
'You know what children are like - especially boys. We were always giving each other birthday bumps or beats. But I usually got away with it because on February 28 I'd tell them "it's my birthday tomorrow" and then on March 1 I'd say "my birthday was yesterday".'
Seamus turned 11 hours before on February 28, something he has enjoyed reminding his father of ahead of a planned joint party. 'Seamus finds it hilarious that he will turn 11 before me,' revealed James. 'He's been telling all of his friends at school and they have a good laugh - it's a real big deal for him.'
While Mr Clarke is actually 44, in 2012 he will only ever have celebrated 11 birthdays on his actual birth date as one of a select batch of leap year babies. Despite missing out on a total of 33 birthdays since 1968, he admitted being born in a leap year does have its benefits. 'I'm used to missing out on my real birthday, but being born in a leap year did have its benefits when I was at school,' he said.
'You know what children are like - especially boys. We were always giving each other birthday bumps or beats. But I usually got away with it because on February 28 I'd tell them "it's my birthday tomorrow" and then on March 1 I'd say "my birthday was yesterday".'
Seamus turned 11 hours before on February 28, something he has enjoyed reminding his father of ahead of a planned joint party. 'Seamus finds it hilarious that he will turn 11 before me,' revealed James. 'He's been telling all of his friends at school and they have a good laugh - it's a real big deal for him.'
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