Friday, August 17, 2012
Australian woman perturbed by taxi driver with no trousers
A 21-year-old Perth woman on her way home from a night out with friends was picked up in early hours of Sunday morning by a driver who appeared to not be wearing trousers. Jessie Gravett booked a taxi using the Swan Taxis App at about 12.30am from a North Perth house and was shocked to discover the driver was apparently not wearing pants. Ms Gravett then captured photos of the man on her phone. He was also barefoot and his driver identification was allegedly hidden from view.
"There is possibly a legitimate reason for the lack of pants but I would think he would stop driving and be a professional about it. Not pick girls up," she said. "I didn't take much notice of the driver when I got in, just shut the door and confirmed my drop off address in Spearwood, 35 minutes away. I immediately messaged my friends so they could keep tabs on me. I didn't want to draw attention to his lack of pants because I was unsure how he would react. I was very uncomfortable.
"I put my keys between my fingers and unzipped my sharp studded boots because I wasn't sure what his intentions were and I wanted to be prepared in case I needed to defend myself." After arriving home safely she lodged a formally complaint and has submitted a statement to the Department of Transport. "When I called they [Swan Taxis] said he had someone else in the car already for another job so at least they had track of him," she added.
YouTube link.
When questioned about the incident Swan Taxis director Kevin Foley said the issue was now being investigated by the Department of Transport. The driver has told his superiors he was wearing shorts. According to the official taxi driver code of conduct distributed by the Department of Transport, a driver can be fined $200 for failing to wear regulation uniform, which must be "clean and in good repair" and must "wear the approved uniform in a neat and tidy manner".
"There is possibly a legitimate reason for the lack of pants but I would think he would stop driving and be a professional about it. Not pick girls up," she said. "I didn't take much notice of the driver when I got in, just shut the door and confirmed my drop off address in Spearwood, 35 minutes away. I immediately messaged my friends so they could keep tabs on me. I didn't want to draw attention to his lack of pants because I was unsure how he would react. I was very uncomfortable.
"I put my keys between my fingers and unzipped my sharp studded boots because I wasn't sure what his intentions were and I wanted to be prepared in case I needed to defend myself." After arriving home safely she lodged a formally complaint and has submitted a statement to the Department of Transport. "When I called they [Swan Taxis] said he had someone else in the car already for another job so at least they had track of him," she added.
YouTube link.
When questioned about the incident Swan Taxis director Kevin Foley said the issue was now being investigated by the Department of Transport. The driver has told his superiors he was wearing shorts. According to the official taxi driver code of conduct distributed by the Department of Transport, a driver can be fined $200 for failing to wear regulation uniform, which must be "clean and in good repair" and must "wear the approved uniform in a neat and tidy manner".
Parents concerned new lunch payment system will give their children the mark of the beast
A Lake Charles, Louisiana elementary school is trying to implement a new programme in their cafeteria. But a palm vein scanner is being met with much opposition from Moss Bluff Elementary parents. "I was very, very mad," said parent Mamie Sonnier. "Disappointed."
Many parents felt that way on Monday after reading a letter sent home with their children from the school. The letter introduced a new programme, the palm vein scanner, to move students through the lunch line at a faster rate. With almost 1,000 students, Principal Charles Caldarera says the system will reduce errors.
Sonnier says she's against the palm vein scanner because of her beliefs. "As a Christian, I've read the Bible, you know go to church and stuff," said Sonnier. "I know where it's going to end up coming to, the mark of the beast. I'm not going to let my kids have that." Caldarera says a lot of parents agree with her, but he says it's just technology. "I think a lot of this has to do with religious beliefs," said Caldarera.
"I think some people feel it's something with the Bible, mark of the beast. It's technology that is used throughout our lives. Everywhere." He says the system isn't on campus yet, so students' palms won't be scanned any time soon. But Sonnier says if the programme comes to campus, her children aren't participating and won't be around it either. "I'd probably pull them out of the school, and transfer them to another school," said Sonnier.
Video.
Many parents felt that way on Monday after reading a letter sent home with their children from the school. The letter introduced a new programme, the palm vein scanner, to move students through the lunch line at a faster rate. With almost 1,000 students, Principal Charles Caldarera says the system will reduce errors.
Sonnier says she's against the palm vein scanner because of her beliefs. "As a Christian, I've read the Bible, you know go to church and stuff," said Sonnier. "I know where it's going to end up coming to, the mark of the beast. I'm not going to let my kids have that." Caldarera says a lot of parents agree with her, but he says it's just technology. "I think a lot of this has to do with religious beliefs," said Caldarera.
"I think some people feel it's something with the Bible, mark of the beast. It's technology that is used throughout our lives. Everywhere." He says the system isn't on campus yet, so students' palms won't be scanned any time soon. But Sonnier says if the programme comes to campus, her children aren't participating and won't be around it either. "I'd probably pull them out of the school, and transfer them to another school," said Sonnier.
Video.
'Who's Your Daddy?' vehicle offers mobile paternity DNA tests
A 'Who's Your Daddy' van is travelling around New York City, offering men the chance to find out whether they are the father of a child. The owner and operator of the vehicle, Jared Rosenthal, is selling DNA tests, mostly to those who suspect youngsters may not actually be theirs. Costing between $299 and $575, men just have to give a cheek swab. Then there is a laboratory analysis and the paternity results are available in a couple of days.
Mr Rosenthal said: "They flag us down, they pull us over, they talk to us. Sometimes, because of the nature of the services, they want to be a little more discreet about it, but they do come or they'll call the number." Mr Rosenthal said he deals with all kinds of strange situations in his line of work.
"We have people that want to get the specimen from their spouse without them knowing about it. We deal with a lot of drama. It's constant drama," he said. One unidentified man, who was asked why he was taking the DNA test from the travelling truck, said: "I'm paying child support anyways and I would do it anyways. You just want to know." Mr Rosenthal went on: "There's a lot of difficult situations and tough moments and heartbreak," adding there are happy endings as well.
Video link.
"There's a lot of good news that we're able to deliver and there's a lot of happy moments." For example, the test helped a 44-year-old Harlem man find his long-lost 20-year-old daughter. Mr Rosenthal maintained that his credentials are legitimate and that his business is legal. He believes he is providing an essential service. "It's not something people talk about, but there is a big need for it," he said.
Mr Rosenthal said: "They flag us down, they pull us over, they talk to us. Sometimes, because of the nature of the services, they want to be a little more discreet about it, but they do come or they'll call the number." Mr Rosenthal said he deals with all kinds of strange situations in his line of work.
"We have people that want to get the specimen from their spouse without them knowing about it. We deal with a lot of drama. It's constant drama," he said. One unidentified man, who was asked why he was taking the DNA test from the travelling truck, said: "I'm paying child support anyways and I would do it anyways. You just want to know." Mr Rosenthal went on: "There's a lot of difficult situations and tough moments and heartbreak," adding there are happy endings as well.
Video link.
"There's a lot of good news that we're able to deliver and there's a lot of happy moments." For example, the test helped a 44-year-old Harlem man find his long-lost 20-year-old daughter. Mr Rosenthal maintained that his credentials are legitimate and that his business is legal. He believes he is providing an essential service. "It's not something people talk about, but there is a big need for it," he said.
Birthday surprise caused emergency police operation
An elaborate birthday surprise in Bielefeld, Germany led to an emergency police operation after a concerned member of the public called them.
Police rushed to rescue a man in a park with his head buried in a pile of sand, only to find a life-sized shop mannequin.
The kneeling dummy dressed in jeans and a shirt had a sign beside it saying, '50 na und?', (50 and what?).
"It was clearly a prank intended for someone's 50th birthday," said a police spokesman. "But the person who called us was clearly convinced by it and called us in good faith thinking they were helping someone in trouble," they added.
Police rushed to rescue a man in a park with his head buried in a pile of sand, only to find a life-sized shop mannequin.
The kneeling dummy dressed in jeans and a shirt had a sign beside it saying, '50 na und?', (50 and what?).
"It was clearly a prank intended for someone's 50th birthday," said a police spokesman. "But the person who called us was clearly convinced by it and called us in good faith thinking they were helping someone in trouble," they added.
Motorbike filmed in traffic with eight aboard
A man has been filmed driving a motorbike on a road in China, carrying eight people, including four children.
The driver does not seem to be aware of the dangers of travelling with so many people on board and calmly motors along a national road in Linxiang, in central China's Hunan province.
YouTube link.
Two girls sit on the front of the bike, with the driver behind them, while three women and two more children sit at the back.
China's traffic management department have warned of the dangers of crazy driving behaviour and have reminded drivers to bear the safety of others in mind.
The driver does not seem to be aware of the dangers of travelling with so many people on board and calmly motors along a national road in Linxiang, in central China's Hunan province.
YouTube link.
Two girls sit on the front of the bike, with the driver behind them, while three women and two more children sit at the back.
China's traffic management department have warned of the dangers of crazy driving behaviour and have reminded drivers to bear the safety of others in mind.
Giant catfish ransacked couple's home
A Chinese couple claim their home was ransacked by a giant catfish. Xu Xianmin and his wife claim the fish sneaked into their home, in Changji, Xinjiang Province, when their backs were turned.
They thought their one-room home was empty when they locked up to leave for their jobs as sanitation workers at 4am. But when they came back at 9.30am, it had been trashed. They thought they had been burgled until they saw something moving on the floor. "I thought my home had been ransacked by thieves. The table was turned over, and stacked plastic bottles were everywhere," said Xu.
"When I was picking up things from the other side of the table, I suddenly touched something cold and slippery, and it was moving!" After asking neighbours for help, they found a huge catfish on the floor. A baffled Xu added: "No thieves would leave a giant fish in the house while stealing nothing. And it's not possible that someone threw the fish in through the window, as the door and windows were locked.
"All we can imagine is that the catfish somehow sneaked into the house in the time between us opening the door and then leaving for work." To add to the mystery, the couple's home lies in a residential area with no river or pond nearby. A local aquatic expert said the catfish was at least three years old and would be able to survive out of water for a relatively long time.
They thought their one-room home was empty when they locked up to leave for their jobs as sanitation workers at 4am. But when they came back at 9.30am, it had been trashed. They thought they had been burgled until they saw something moving on the floor. "I thought my home had been ransacked by thieves. The table was turned over, and stacked plastic bottles were everywhere," said Xu.
"When I was picking up things from the other side of the table, I suddenly touched something cold and slippery, and it was moving!" After asking neighbours for help, they found a huge catfish on the floor. A baffled Xu added: "No thieves would leave a giant fish in the house while stealing nothing. And it's not possible that someone threw the fish in through the window, as the door and windows were locked.
"All we can imagine is that the catfish somehow sneaked into the house in the time between us opening the door and then leaving for work." To add to the mystery, the couple's home lies in a residential area with no river or pond nearby. A local aquatic expert said the catfish was at least three years old and would be able to survive out of water for a relatively long time.
Boy freed after getting head stuck in stone balcony
A Chinese boy gave himself and authorities a bit of a headache when he managed to get his head firmly lodged in a stone balustrade.
Firefighters were called to the scene of the accident on the stairway of a local government building in Hezhang Country on Sunday.
The team were forced to use hydraulic pliers to expand the gap in the balustrade before they could pull him to safety.
YouTube link.
The boy was finally released and tearfully reunited with his grandmother after being examined by doctors.
Firefighters were called to the scene of the accident on the stairway of a local government building in Hezhang Country on Sunday.
The team were forced to use hydraulic pliers to expand the gap in the balustrade before they could pull him to safety.
YouTube link.
The boy was finally released and tearfully reunited with his grandmother after being examined by doctors.
Man selling 36 inches of Scottish ginger hair
A ginger man is selling his mane of hair – all 36 inches of it. Timothy Price cut off the natural red locks he had been cultivating for 10 years. He has put the hair on sale for £600. Timothy, 29, said: “It would make a lovely wig.” The PhD student, from Aberdeen, has always refused to get his hair cut and last visited a barber in January 2002. His wife of four years Joy had never seen her husband without his thick mane of wavy hair.
Dad-of-two Timothy said: “I started growing my hair in university, which is pretty normal, and then I got used to it and I enjoyed the change of hairstyle. My wife hadn’t seen me without long hair so she was nervous to see what I’d look like when I got it cut. I have had great use of my hair so I am sure it could be of great use to someone else rather than me now.” Timothy said maintaining his hair only took up a small part of his day. He said: “I normally spent just 20 minutes getting all the tangles out of it and I would brush it and then I would let it dry naturally.”
He has now advertised his hair on internet sales site Gumtree. The advert describes it as: “Very beautiful and shiny, with a rare, rich color (sic) of vibrant red. Seller has not dyed his hair, no heat treatments, no curling irons, straighteners, blow dryers, etc. Seller has not used any chemical treatments of any kind. Hair is washed 2-3 times per week. Seller maintains a healthy diet and life-style and does not smoke or use any drugs.”
The bundle of hair – which is a few inches wide and weighs about 3.5oz – was cut in April at a hairdresser’s in Aberdeen. Timothy said he decided on the change because he is going from being a student in theology to a lecturer. He said: “I thought I would smarten up for any job interviews I may have. I wasn’t nervous when I got it cut, I was just ready for a change.” But Timothy admitted he could still be tempted to grow his hair long again one day. He added: “Maybe one day I would be tempted to grow it back because I did enjoy having such long hair.”
Dad-of-two Timothy said: “I started growing my hair in university, which is pretty normal, and then I got used to it and I enjoyed the change of hairstyle. My wife hadn’t seen me without long hair so she was nervous to see what I’d look like when I got it cut. I have had great use of my hair so I am sure it could be of great use to someone else rather than me now.” Timothy said maintaining his hair only took up a small part of his day. He said: “I normally spent just 20 minutes getting all the tangles out of it and I would brush it and then I would let it dry naturally.”
He has now advertised his hair on internet sales site Gumtree. The advert describes it as: “Very beautiful and shiny, with a rare, rich color (sic) of vibrant red. Seller has not dyed his hair, no heat treatments, no curling irons, straighteners, blow dryers, etc. Seller has not used any chemical treatments of any kind. Hair is washed 2-3 times per week. Seller maintains a healthy diet and life-style and does not smoke or use any drugs.”
The bundle of hair – which is a few inches wide and weighs about 3.5oz – was cut in April at a hairdresser’s in Aberdeen. Timothy said he decided on the change because he is going from being a student in theology to a lecturer. He said: “I thought I would smarten up for any job interviews I may have. I wasn’t nervous when I got it cut, I was just ready for a change.” But Timothy admitted he could still be tempted to grow his hair long again one day. He added: “Maybe one day I would be tempted to grow it back because I did enjoy having such long hair.”
Eight-year-old boy microwaved neighbour's cat
The RSPCA has launched an investigation after reports that an eight-year-old boy put his neighbour’s cat into a microwave. The owner claimed that he was upstairs in his home in Rochester when he heard the microwave being used. After coming downstairs, the owner found his neighbour’s eight-year-old son had put the cat in the microwave and was standing watching it inside.
The incident was reported to the RSPCA on Saturday and officers are now looking into the case. The owners of the cat took it to the PDSA charity for treatment and it is recovering but may have permanent internal damage to its organs from the microwave. RSPCA inspector Ray Bailey said: “This was an absolutely horrendous incident and all the more shocking because of the alleged involvement of such a young child.” As the child is under the age of ten, the RSPCA and the police are unable to prosecute him.
However Inspector Bailey has contacted the Youth Offending Team at Medway Police Station and Social Services regarding the incident. RSPCA senior prosecutions case manager Terry Stroud said: “This is clearly shocking incident and one that the RSPCA feels certainly needs to be investigated by the appropriate authorities to find out why this happened and to work to prevent this kind of cruelty happening again.”
The RSPCA has had to prosecute 82 juveniles over the past three years, for offences including kicking a hedgehog to death, kicking guinea pigs to death and stealing a pet chicken before torturing her and ripping her head off. The organisation has also carried out research into the reasons why young people harm animals. It showed that in the majority of cases the parents showed no concern about the harm to animals and the young people showed no remorse. The RSPCA said it is pushing for tougher penalties for those who commit the most serious crimes against animals.
The incident was reported to the RSPCA on Saturday and officers are now looking into the case. The owners of the cat took it to the PDSA charity for treatment and it is recovering but may have permanent internal damage to its organs from the microwave. RSPCA inspector Ray Bailey said: “This was an absolutely horrendous incident and all the more shocking because of the alleged involvement of such a young child.” As the child is under the age of ten, the RSPCA and the police are unable to prosecute him.
However Inspector Bailey has contacted the Youth Offending Team at Medway Police Station and Social Services regarding the incident. RSPCA senior prosecutions case manager Terry Stroud said: “This is clearly shocking incident and one that the RSPCA feels certainly needs to be investigated by the appropriate authorities to find out why this happened and to work to prevent this kind of cruelty happening again.”
The RSPCA has had to prosecute 82 juveniles over the past three years, for offences including kicking a hedgehog to death, kicking guinea pigs to death and stealing a pet chicken before torturing her and ripping her head off. The organisation has also carried out research into the reasons why young people harm animals. It showed that in the majority of cases the parents showed no concern about the harm to animals and the young people showed no remorse. The RSPCA said it is pushing for tougher penalties for those who commit the most serious crimes against animals.
No charges for man who had £1.3 million in cash hidden in bedroom
£1.3million was discovered by police in a man’s bedroom. Packed in bundles of £50 and £20 notes the haul of cash was discovered overflowing from suitcases and holdalls and stuffed into bedroom drawers in a house in Highley, near Bridgnorth, Shropshire owned by Phillip Hartill. Some of the money is considered to have been obtained through highway theft. Birmingham court ordered the seizure of £1.33million in cash after a successful application by West Midlands Police under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA).
The forfeiture, which is the biggest ever achieved by the force, follows an application by the West Midlands Police Economic Crime Unit (ECU). Despite initial criminal proceedings being dropped, officers pursued the cash seizure through POCA. The huge stash - which police believe is derived from crime - was discovered at the Shropshire home of Mr Hartill in December 2010, who has not been prosecuted.
Now the court has accepted the police proposition that the money should be considered to be the proceeds of haulage theft. The money was discovered by officers during a search warrant at an address in Highley in connection with an incident in the Black Country in November 2010, where a lorry driver had his load of televisions worth £250,000 stolen. The driver was later discovered dead in Dudley from a suspected heart attack.
Nine men were convicted for offences linked to the robbery of the driver in January 2012. During the inquiry officers searched the address in Highley and the cash was seized from a bedroom at the address. The occupant of the premises, Phillip Hartill, aged 56 was initially detained on suspicion of money laundering and handling stolen goods, but following extensive police questioning was released and no criminal charges were brought against him. However officers from the ECU proceeded with an inquiry and subsequent application under POCA to confiscate the money.
The forfeiture, which is the biggest ever achieved by the force, follows an application by the West Midlands Police Economic Crime Unit (ECU). Despite initial criminal proceedings being dropped, officers pursued the cash seizure through POCA. The huge stash - which police believe is derived from crime - was discovered at the Shropshire home of Mr Hartill in December 2010, who has not been prosecuted.
Now the court has accepted the police proposition that the money should be considered to be the proceeds of haulage theft. The money was discovered by officers during a search warrant at an address in Highley in connection with an incident in the Black Country in November 2010, where a lorry driver had his load of televisions worth £250,000 stolen. The driver was later discovered dead in Dudley from a suspected heart attack.
Nine men were convicted for offences linked to the robbery of the driver in January 2012. During the inquiry officers searched the address in Highley and the cash was seized from a bedroom at the address. The occupant of the premises, Phillip Hartill, aged 56 was initially detained on suspicion of money laundering and handling stolen goods, but following extensive police questioning was released and no criminal charges were brought against him. However officers from the ECU proceeded with an inquiry and subsequent application under POCA to confiscate the money.
Pavement thieves target street for second time
Thieves have stolen thousands of pounds worth of paving slabs from a street in a seaside town. More than 100 slabs, worth about £40 each, were taken from Cliff Parade, Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, some time between Monday and early Tuesday.
Council officers have cordoned off the area pending repairs and have appealed for witnesses who may have seen a lorry taking slabs away. The street was previously targeted by pavement thieves in 2004.
Senior highways maintenance officer Ken Evans said: "The likelihood is that the thieves used a lorry to take the slabs away, meaning members of the public may have seen the vehicle in the area. Often in these cases, thieves pose as workmen in order to carry out the theft without being detected or questioned by members of the public."
In 2004 the council reported that similar slabs were being stolen from the same street and from Bendricks Road, Barry, by thieves posing as council workers wearing high-visibility jackets. Many towns and cities across the UK have reported incidents of pavement thefts in recent years, believing the slabs are being stolen to be sold on for building work on private homes.
Council officers have cordoned off the area pending repairs and have appealed for witnesses who may have seen a lorry taking slabs away. The street was previously targeted by pavement thieves in 2004.
Senior highways maintenance officer Ken Evans said: "The likelihood is that the thieves used a lorry to take the slabs away, meaning members of the public may have seen the vehicle in the area. Often in these cases, thieves pose as workmen in order to carry out the theft without being detected or questioned by members of the public."
In 2004 the council reported that similar slabs were being stolen from the same street and from Bendricks Road, Barry, by thieves posing as council workers wearing high-visibility jackets. Many towns and cities across the UK have reported incidents of pavement thefts in recent years, believing the slabs are being stolen to be sold on for building work on private homes.
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