Friday, September 28, 2012
Man offers his alligators to swim at children's pool parties
Although critics argue that mixing alligators and 8-year-olds is bad parenting, Florida alligator wrangler Bob Barrett calls it a party. And for $175, Barrett will bring a gator directly to a home.
Tampa-area parents looking for something more than a clown or pizza for their children's birthday parties now need look no further than Barrett's Alligator Attraction, which will bring an alligator straight to their backyard pool to swim with the children. "It just took off like wildfire, Barrett said. "Everybody loves having the gator pool parties."
Barrett runs The Alligator Attraction of Madeira Beach, Fla., where visitors can pay to hold and feed rescued baby gators. He says the inspiration for his party idea came when business was sluggish in the summer and he saw other options that were available for children's parties. "If you're 9, 10 or 11 years old, you've already had the 'jumparoo' house, the bounce house, you've had the pizza party, you've had the clown party,"
YouTube link.
Barrett said. "You get to have a pool party with a gator. It's a very popular party." This is all safe, said Barrett, who tapes the baby gators' mouths shut before the party. He says that because the muscles they use to open their mouths are weak, there is virtually no risk of children being bitten. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has determined that Barrett isn't doing anything illegal, but added in a statement, "We will say that this is not something that we encourage."
Tampa-area parents looking for something more than a clown or pizza for their children's birthday parties now need look no further than Barrett's Alligator Attraction, which will bring an alligator straight to their backyard pool to swim with the children. "It just took off like wildfire, Barrett said. "Everybody loves having the gator pool parties."
Barrett runs The Alligator Attraction of Madeira Beach, Fla., where visitors can pay to hold and feed rescued baby gators. He says the inspiration for his party idea came when business was sluggish in the summer and he saw other options that were available for children's parties. "If you're 9, 10 or 11 years old, you've already had the 'jumparoo' house, the bounce house, you've had the pizza party, you've had the clown party,"
YouTube link.
Barrett said. "You get to have a pool party with a gator. It's a very popular party." This is all safe, said Barrett, who tapes the baby gators' mouths shut before the party. He says that because the muscles they use to open their mouths are weak, there is virtually no risk of children being bitten. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has determined that Barrett isn't doing anything illegal, but added in a statement, "We will say that this is not something that we encourage."
Man charged with domestic battery after washing swearing girlfriend's mouth out with dishwashing liquid
Angered that his girlfriend ignored his demands to stop cursing, a Florida man allegedly washed her mouth out with dishwashing liquid, police allege. John Vincent Caruso, 26, was arrested following a confrontation with Stephanie Madewell, 20, in the Hudson home they share with their two children.
Madewell told Pasco County Sheriff's Office deputies that she had been arguing with Caruso when he warned that, "if she raised her voice again he would put soap in her mouth." While Madewell was seated on a couch, Caruso "came up behind her" and "put a bottle of liquid dish soap in her mouth and squeezed the bottle," according to a sheriff's report.
Madewell, who said that the Dawn soap "went into her mouth and throat," told deputies that as she sought to knock the bottle out of Caruso's hand, he pulled it out of her mouth, slicing her lip in the process. A deputy reported that Madewell had a cut on her upper lip, and that there was "dried up dish soap on her right cheek/chin and down her neck into her bra and shirt."
When questioned by a deputy, Caruso "admitted he squirted soap into Stephanie's mouth," according to a criminal complaint charging him with domestic battery. Caruso was booked into the Pasco County jail, where he remains in custody. Before he was arrested, Caruso told an investigator that his parents used to put soap in his mouth. He added that he "will still put soap in his mouth now out of respect for his parents."
Madewell told Pasco County Sheriff's Office deputies that she had been arguing with Caruso when he warned that, "if she raised her voice again he would put soap in her mouth." While Madewell was seated on a couch, Caruso "came up behind her" and "put a bottle of liquid dish soap in her mouth and squeezed the bottle," according to a sheriff's report.
Madewell, who said that the Dawn soap "went into her mouth and throat," told deputies that as she sought to knock the bottle out of Caruso's hand, he pulled it out of her mouth, slicing her lip in the process. A deputy reported that Madewell had a cut on her upper lip, and that there was "dried up dish soap on her right cheek/chin and down her neck into her bra and shirt."
When questioned by a deputy, Caruso "admitted he squirted soap into Stephanie's mouth," according to a criminal complaint charging him with domestic battery. Caruso was booked into the Pasco County jail, where he remains in custody. Before he was arrested, Caruso told an investigator that his parents used to put soap in his mouth. He added that he "will still put soap in his mouth now out of respect for his parents."
Police not fooled by cross-dressing bank robber
Police in Ceres, California, have identified a man they say donned a black mini skirt and tights to rob a bank. An officer recognized the cross-dressing criminal, and say Leonard Brown Jr. is on the run.
He went to great lengths, officers say, dressing in drag from head to toe. He donned a black wig and carried a purple purse.
Just a block from the bank, the SWAT team searched an apartment complex. Neighbours say they concentrated on one apartment in particular. They didn't find the suspect, but they did find his disguise stuffed in a dumpster. He reportedly wore flats, not heels.
Video link.
The drag had some completely fooled, but not to the police, who say one officer, familiar with Brown sans wig, took one look at the surveillance and knew it was him. Police believe Brown may be hiding out in the Merced area.
He went to great lengths, officers say, dressing in drag from head to toe. He donned a black wig and carried a purple purse.
Just a block from the bank, the SWAT team searched an apartment complex. Neighbours say they concentrated on one apartment in particular. They didn't find the suspect, but they did find his disguise stuffed in a dumpster. He reportedly wore flats, not heels.
Video link.
The drag had some completely fooled, but not to the police, who say one officer, familiar with Brown sans wig, took one look at the surveillance and knew it was him. Police believe Brown may be hiding out in the Merced area.
Disgruntled woman smeared dog poo over neighbour's front door and car
A Natick, Massachusetts, woman in the midst of a day-long dispute with her neighbour on Monday spread dog faeces all over the woman's front door and car, authorities said. Lisa Hanson, 39, was arrested after the 6:15 p.m. incident according to a police report filed in Framingham District Court.
Police went to that address for a report of a neighbour dispute, according to a report filed by Natick Officer James Keohane. Keohane wrote that he was greeted by Hanson's neighbour on the front porch. "I then looked at the house. The door was completely covered in dog waste," he said in the report. "It was everywhere." The woman said she and Hanson have been having a lengthy dispute, and the woman had called police earlier in the day after Hanson yelled at her.
The incident that led to the dog faeces being spread on the door started when the woman cleaned up the yard and left a pile of brush and a barrel of Hanson's dog's waste in the driveway. "The next thing the victim saw out her window was the defendant carrying the red barrel walking back toward the victim's front door," said Keohane. "The defendant then stopped at the walkway and started to throw the waste in the barrel at the victim's front door."
After covering the door, Hanson then threw the dog droppings on the woman's Lexus. Police arrested Hanson, of 10 Rice St., and charged her with vandalizing property, intimidation of a witness and disorderly conduct. Prosecutors did not ask for any bail for Hanson, and Judge Robert Greco released her. When asked if she wanted a court-appointed lawyer, Hanson declined. "I don't believe I need a lawyer. It's all over dog poop, sir," Hanson said. Hanson is due back in court on Oct. 9 for a pretrial conference.
Police went to that address for a report of a neighbour dispute, according to a report filed by Natick Officer James Keohane. Keohane wrote that he was greeted by Hanson's neighbour on the front porch. "I then looked at the house. The door was completely covered in dog waste," he said in the report. "It was everywhere." The woman said she and Hanson have been having a lengthy dispute, and the woman had called police earlier in the day after Hanson yelled at her.
The incident that led to the dog faeces being spread on the door started when the woman cleaned up the yard and left a pile of brush and a barrel of Hanson's dog's waste in the driveway. "The next thing the victim saw out her window was the defendant carrying the red barrel walking back toward the victim's front door," said Keohane. "The defendant then stopped at the walkway and started to throw the waste in the barrel at the victim's front door."
After covering the door, Hanson then threw the dog droppings on the woman's Lexus. Police arrested Hanson, of 10 Rice St., and charged her with vandalizing property, intimidation of a witness and disorderly conduct. Prosecutors did not ask for any bail for Hanson, and Judge Robert Greco released her. When asked if she wanted a court-appointed lawyer, Hanson declined. "I don't believe I need a lawyer. It's all over dog poop, sir," Hanson said. Hanson is due back in court on Oct. 9 for a pretrial conference.
Filmmaker arrested after sending teenager onto street with fake grenade launcher to test police response time
A Phoenix filmmaker has been arrested for allegedly videotaping his nephew dressed in a sheet while pointing a fake grenade launcher at passing cars in an apparent terrorist hoax to test police-response time after the Aurora, Colo., movie theatre massacre. Police arrested Michael Turley, 39, on Monday after a nearly two-month investigation. The filmmaker faces charges of knowingly giving a false impression of a terrorist act, endangerment and contributing to the delinquency of his minor nephew, 16.
Police said they responded one minute after they first received calls, but the video, which Turley allegedly filmed July 28 and then posted on YouTube, apparently shows the fake terrorist roaming around a busy intersection for 15 minutes. "They told us they were just making a movie," Phoenix Police Department spokesman James Holmes said, adding that there was no arrest that day. "We deemed it a pretty dumb action but we didn't know what their real intent was, so we initiated an investigation," Holmes said.
Turley apparently posted the video on YouTube two days after filming. He called it "Dark Knight Shooting Response, Rocket Launcher Police Test." "The Anonymous Filmmaker explores how the Phoenix Police Department reacts days after the event at the Century 16 Movie Theatre in Aurora, Colorado where a gunman, James Holmes, killed 12 people and injured 58 more at the premiere of Batman The Dark Knight Rises," the video description said.
YouTube link.
Police spokesman Holmes said authorities became aware of the video a few weeks after they were called to the scene. "We reviewed it and at that point we realized they were intentionally endangering the public to prove a point," Holmes said. Police said Turley's nephew faces pending charges. They have not released his name. "There are a lot of bad things going on around the world," Holmes said. "And by referring to the shootings in Aurora, he took those victims and families and he connected them to something that was completely idiotic and dangerous."
Police said they responded one minute after they first received calls, but the video, which Turley allegedly filmed July 28 and then posted on YouTube, apparently shows the fake terrorist roaming around a busy intersection for 15 minutes. "They told us they were just making a movie," Phoenix Police Department spokesman James Holmes said, adding that there was no arrest that day. "We deemed it a pretty dumb action but we didn't know what their real intent was, so we initiated an investigation," Holmes said.
Turley apparently posted the video on YouTube two days after filming. He called it "Dark Knight Shooting Response, Rocket Launcher Police Test." "The Anonymous Filmmaker explores how the Phoenix Police Department reacts days after the event at the Century 16 Movie Theatre in Aurora, Colorado where a gunman, James Holmes, killed 12 people and injured 58 more at the premiere of Batman The Dark Knight Rises," the video description said.
YouTube link.
Police spokesman Holmes said authorities became aware of the video a few weeks after they were called to the scene. "We reviewed it and at that point we realized they were intentionally endangering the public to prove a point," Holmes said. Police said Turley's nephew faces pending charges. They have not released his name. "There are a lot of bad things going on around the world," Holmes said. "And by referring to the shootings in Aurora, he took those victims and families and he connected them to something that was completely idiotic and dangerous."
Four-year-old boy stole keys before crashing family car
The mother of a four-year-old boy from southern Sweden was stunned to learn that the toddler had stolen the keys to her car while she slept before crashing the vehicle into a pick-up truck. While his mother slept soundly on Tuesday morning in their home in Gärsnäs, southern Sweden, the child carried out his daring auto theft and took to the streets.
Not long after, there was a knock at the front door of the woman’s house. Outside, a local shopkeeper was standing with the woman’s four-year-old, who had been found over 400 metres away after causing in a minor car accident. “When she explained that my son had been out driving the car I thought it was a terrible joke at first. I couldn’t believe it was true,” the mother said.
The four-year-old travelled almost half a kilometre and succeeded in making three right turns before crashing into a truck, a journey that baffled the police and the boy’s mother. “I have no idea how he managed, he’s never driven a car before,” she said. The boy’s mother was also shocked to learn that her son had even managed to get into the car, let alone drive it.
“I had the car keys in my jacket pocket and it was hanging so high that I thought he couldn’t reach it. But he did. Don’t ask me how, I was asleep,” the woman said. Meanwhile, local police were bamboozled by the story, having never before encountered such a young and reckless driver before. “It’s quite a feat to go 400-500 metres and make three right turns,” said Lars-Bertil Mårtensson of the local police. The police have chosen not to report the incident to authorities, but are glad that no one was injured.
Not long after, there was a knock at the front door of the woman’s house. Outside, a local shopkeeper was standing with the woman’s four-year-old, who had been found over 400 metres away after causing in a minor car accident. “When she explained that my son had been out driving the car I thought it was a terrible joke at first. I couldn’t believe it was true,” the mother said.
The four-year-old travelled almost half a kilometre and succeeded in making three right turns before crashing into a truck, a journey that baffled the police and the boy’s mother. “I have no idea how he managed, he’s never driven a car before,” she said. The boy’s mother was also shocked to learn that her son had even managed to get into the car, let alone drive it.
“I had the car keys in my jacket pocket and it was hanging so high that I thought he couldn’t reach it. But he did. Don’t ask me how, I was asleep,” the woman said. Meanwhile, local police were bamboozled by the story, having never before encountered such a young and reckless driver before. “It’s quite a feat to go 400-500 metres and make three right turns,” said Lars-Bertil Mårtensson of the local police. The police have chosen not to report the incident to authorities, but are glad that no one was injured.
908 Nigerian female pilgrims held in Saudi Arabia under law that prohibits women under 45 travelling without close male relative
Saudi Arabian authorities have held more than 900 Nigerian women on the annual Hajj pilgrimage under a law that prohibits women under 45 to travel without a first-degree male relative. Nigeria’s National Hajj Commission has reported that 908 female pilgrims were held at King Abdulaziz Airport in the Saudi city of Jeddah.
The commission also stated that the pilgrims have been held in poor conditions, and some of them need “urgent medical attention.” According to Article 5 of the Saudi law on applications for a Hajj visa, all women are required to travel for Hajj with a Mahram (a first-degree male relative), and the proof of kinship must be submitted with the application form.
However, women over the age of forty-five may travel without a Mahram with an organized group on the condition that they carry a no objection letter notarized by husband, son or brother, authorizing the pilgrim to travel with the named group, the law stipulates. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Riyadh Abubakar Shehu Bunu filed a formal complaint with the Saudi foreign affairs office, calling on Riyadh to release the Nigerian women.
“They are stopping women particularly between the ages of 25 and 35 without a male relative. Those over 45 are not a concern to the Saudi authorities,” Bunu stated. The Nigerian National Hajj Commission also said that under an agreement between Abuja and Riyadh, Nigerian women could travel to Mecca for Hajj pilgrimage even if they were accompanied by local Hajj committee officials. Saudi authorities even stopped women who were entering the country with their husbands just because their surnames did not match those of their husbands, according to the commission report. “Islam allows wives to bear the names of their parents and not necessarily that of their husbands,” the report said.
The commission also stated that the pilgrims have been held in poor conditions, and some of them need “urgent medical attention.” According to Article 5 of the Saudi law on applications for a Hajj visa, all women are required to travel for Hajj with a Mahram (a first-degree male relative), and the proof of kinship must be submitted with the application form.
However, women over the age of forty-five may travel without a Mahram with an organized group on the condition that they carry a no objection letter notarized by husband, son or brother, authorizing the pilgrim to travel with the named group, the law stipulates. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Riyadh Abubakar Shehu Bunu filed a formal complaint with the Saudi foreign affairs office, calling on Riyadh to release the Nigerian women.
“They are stopping women particularly between the ages of 25 and 35 without a male relative. Those over 45 are not a concern to the Saudi authorities,” Bunu stated. The Nigerian National Hajj Commission also said that under an agreement between Abuja and Riyadh, Nigerian women could travel to Mecca for Hajj pilgrimage even if they were accompanied by local Hajj committee officials. Saudi authorities even stopped women who were entering the country with their husbands just because their surnames did not match those of their husbands, according to the commission report. “Islam allows wives to bear the names of their parents and not necessarily that of their husbands,” the report said.
Mighty moose may be oldest such artwork in the world
A gigantic Stone Age chalk carving of a two kilometre-long moose could be the oldest ever discovered in the world, scientists in Russia believe.
The massive moose, carved into a hillside in the Southern Urals like Britain's Cerne Abbas Giant, is understood to have been carved by prehistoric man up to 8,000 years ago.
Archaeologists from the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Institute believe the moose was a message to primitive man's gods, as it can only be seen from above.
"We originally thought that the object, though large in size, was rather primitive - just two lines of large stones with smaller stones piled between them. Now it is clear that more complicated crushed stone and loam were used, among other things. Why this was done is still a mystery," said senior researcher Stanislav Grigoryev.
The massive moose, carved into a hillside in the Southern Urals like Britain's Cerne Abbas Giant, is understood to have been carved by prehistoric man up to 8,000 years ago.
Archaeologists from the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Institute believe the moose was a message to primitive man's gods, as it can only be seen from above.
"We originally thought that the object, though large in size, was rather primitive - just two lines of large stones with smaller stones piled between them. Now it is clear that more complicated crushed stone and loam were used, among other things. Why this was done is still a mystery," said senior researcher Stanislav Grigoryev.
Letters lay in forgotten postbox for 23 years
Bosses at Birmingham New Street Station are investigating a first class mystery – how this dog-eared bundle of letters lay in a forgotten postbox for 23 years. The undelivered mail was discovered when the box – taped-up and taken out of service decades ago – was recently removed as part of renovation work at the station. Workers cannot understand how the letters, some dating back to 1989, escaped the notice of postmen. But Royal Mail will now try and reunite the lost post – including a charity cheque – with its rightful recipients.
It is believed the box was sealed following complaints passengers had caught their fingers in the narrow flap. It was then de-commissioned as stations beefed-up security. A board was placed over the mouth and ‘out of action’ sign slapped on the front, but vandals later removed the sign and seal. Sited next to the WH Smith store in New Street’s main assembly area, the postbox became a forgotten piece of station furniture.
One worker said: “We didn’t know it was there, to be honest. It was unbelievable to find the thing stuffed with old letters.” It was only when some of the dusty correspondence was opened that stunned staff realised how long the envelopes had lain unnoticed. The post includes around a dozen letters, the oldest dating back to 1989, two postcards to Australia and a charity cheque. Network Rail is currently searching for answers – but not the intended recipients of the missing mail.
“With the greatest will in the world,” said a spokesman, “We’re not in the mail delivery business. For security reasons, there haven’t been mailboxes at stations for years, but we don’t know when postmen stopped emptying this one.” Royal Mail is equally baffled by the discovery and will now try to get the post to the rightful addresses. A spokesman stressed: “We would not seal the box with letters still in it. We believe customers continued to post letters, oblivious to the fact it was not being emptied.”
There are more photos here.
It is believed the box was sealed following complaints passengers had caught their fingers in the narrow flap. It was then de-commissioned as stations beefed-up security. A board was placed over the mouth and ‘out of action’ sign slapped on the front, but vandals later removed the sign and seal. Sited next to the WH Smith store in New Street’s main assembly area, the postbox became a forgotten piece of station furniture.
One worker said: “We didn’t know it was there, to be honest. It was unbelievable to find the thing stuffed with old letters.” It was only when some of the dusty correspondence was opened that stunned staff realised how long the envelopes had lain unnoticed. The post includes around a dozen letters, the oldest dating back to 1989, two postcards to Australia and a charity cheque. Network Rail is currently searching for answers – but not the intended recipients of the missing mail.
“With the greatest will in the world,” said a spokesman, “We’re not in the mail delivery business. For security reasons, there haven’t been mailboxes at stations for years, but we don’t know when postmen stopped emptying this one.” Royal Mail is equally baffled by the discovery and will now try to get the post to the rightful addresses. A spokesman stressed: “We would not seal the box with letters still in it. We believe customers continued to post letters, oblivious to the fact it was not being emptied.”
There are more photos here.
Horrified woman found 'furry creature' in Tesco sandwich
A horrified woman bit into a supermarket sandwich –and discovered she had eaten a chunk of a ‘hairy creature’ inside. Katie Crabtree, 31, was shocked to discover what she believes was a small, dead rodent in her pre-packaged sandwich bought from Tesco at Portwood in Stockport. The mother-of-two tucked into the bacon and chicken meal and swallowed a chunk, only to then realise there was a ‘furry object’ inside the bread.
Katie Offerton, said: "I took a bite and saw this big black thing in it, but I thought it was just burned bacon and swallowed it. Then I saw there was something horrible in the sandwich. It was black and had hair – and I could see a little paw. It was horrendous. I felt so sick and now I can’t eat another packaged sandwich because I just think of that horrible thing."
Katie blasted the supermarket giant after following up her initial complaint with the store and head office. Tesco sent an apology letter and said it would investigate, as well as offering her £10 compensation. Katie added: "I chased it up a few times with the store and head office but nobody seemed to know what was happening. In the end they gave me a £10 voucher.
"I think they’ve fobbed me off. They need to find out what happened to this sandwich in case something needs to be done where it was made." But the supermarket chain insisted they were urgently investigating the find. A spokesman for Tesco said: "We take any case of this kind very seriously. Sadly, on this occasion, our food safety procedures didn’t work as they should have done. We have apologised to our customer and are urgently investigating the matter with our supplier."
Katie Offerton, said: "I took a bite and saw this big black thing in it, but I thought it was just burned bacon and swallowed it. Then I saw there was something horrible in the sandwich. It was black and had hair – and I could see a little paw. It was horrendous. I felt so sick and now I can’t eat another packaged sandwich because I just think of that horrible thing."
Katie blasted the supermarket giant after following up her initial complaint with the store and head office. Tesco sent an apology letter and said it would investigate, as well as offering her £10 compensation. Katie added: "I chased it up a few times with the store and head office but nobody seemed to know what was happening. In the end they gave me a £10 voucher.
"I think they’ve fobbed me off. They need to find out what happened to this sandwich in case something needs to be done where it was made." But the supermarket chain insisted they were urgently investigating the find. A spokesman for Tesco said: "We take any case of this kind very seriously. Sadly, on this occasion, our food safety procedures didn’t work as they should have done. We have apologised to our customer and are urgently investigating the matter with our supplier."
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