Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Celebrating lottery winners accidentally blew up house
Two brothers who were celebrating a $75,000 winning Kansas lottery ticket by purchasing marijuana and meth accidentally blew up their house on Friday, said Sgt. Bruce Watts of the Wichita Police Department.
The explosion sent one of the brothers, a 27-year-old, to the hospital, where he remains in serious but stable condition with second-degree burns on his hands, arms and chest. The other brother was sent to jail, Watts said. The brothers were in a house in at about 7pm on Friday, Watts said.
One of the brothers went to the kitchen to refuel the butane torches they planned to use to light their bongs. He emptied a couple of large cans of butane lighter fluid, leaking butane into the air. “The butane vapor reached the pilot light in the furnace, and as you might expect, ka-boom,” Watts said. The victim was wearing a lottery T-shirt during the explosion.
The victim’s girlfriend loaded him and some children into a car and took him to the Via Christi Hospital on St. Francis emergency room, where she dropped him off and left. Officers went to the house with a warrant, where the other brother ran out, admitting he had marijuana and methamphetamine. He was arrested.
There's a news video here.
The explosion sent one of the brothers, a 27-year-old, to the hospital, where he remains in serious but stable condition with second-degree burns on his hands, arms and chest. The other brother was sent to jail, Watts said. The brothers were in a house in at about 7pm on Friday, Watts said.
One of the brothers went to the kitchen to refuel the butane torches they planned to use to light their bongs. He emptied a couple of large cans of butane lighter fluid, leaking butane into the air. “The butane vapor reached the pilot light in the furnace, and as you might expect, ka-boom,” Watts said. The victim was wearing a lottery T-shirt during the explosion.
The victim’s girlfriend loaded him and some children into a car and took him to the Via Christi Hospital on St. Francis emergency room, where she dropped him off and left. Officers went to the house with a warrant, where the other brother ran out, admitting he had marijuana and methamphetamine. He was arrested.
There's a news video here.
Couple getting affectionate in car crashed through home
A vehicle crashed into a home near Daytona Beach, Florida early on Friday morning.
Officials said 30-year-old Asia Walker was driving down Continental Drive at 5:30am, when she and her boyfriend were getting a little affectionate.
"She told the investigating trooper that her and the boyfriend were getting a little amorous and the trooper suspects that's probably why she lost control of the vehicle," said Florida Highway Patrol spokeswoman Kim Montes.
Walker lost control of the vehicle and slammed into an unoccupied home. The vehicle went all the way through the house. The impact was so dramatic, the pressure blew a window in another part of the house out.
YouTube link.
Florida Highway Patrol troopers said Walker was injured when debris fell inside the vehicle. She was taken to Halifax Medical Center to be checked out. Her boyfriend, Charles Phillips, was not hurt. Walker is charged with careless driving.
"She told the investigating trooper that her and the boyfriend were getting a little amorous and the trooper suspects that's probably why she lost control of the vehicle," said Florida Highway Patrol spokeswoman Kim Montes.
Walker lost control of the vehicle and slammed into an unoccupied home. The vehicle went all the way through the house. The impact was so dramatic, the pressure blew a window in another part of the house out.
YouTube link.
Florida Highway Patrol troopers said Walker was injured when debris fell inside the vehicle. She was taken to Halifax Medical Center to be checked out. Her boyfriend, Charles Phillips, was not hurt. Walker is charged with careless driving.
Taiwanese activists call for ban on force-fed divine pig contest
Animal rights advocates have rallied outside the Chingshui Zushi Temple in Sansia District, New Taipei City, urging an end to “divine pig” contests. Chanting “overweight pigs do not bring fortune” while parading a model of a cartoon pig on the bridge leading to the temple, the advocates urged passers-by to join their campaign to halt the practice, the last such contest in the Taipei metropolitan area.
“I would like to make it clear that we are not against the tradition of having pigs as offering to deities and immortals, but if you choose to do this, please buy pigs that are raised in a healthy way and slaughtered humanely,” Environmental and Animal Society Taiwan (EAST) director Chen Yu-min told the crowd. “Pigs normally grow to over 130lbs [60kg], but the divine pigs are force-fed and grow to 1,300lbs or more, then have their throats cut while they are conscious. This is unhealthy, cruel and inhumane,” Chen said. She said that all deities are merciful and would not appreciate offerings that cause suffering in living creatures.
“Don’t forget that Chingshui Zushi was a learned and much respected Buddhist master and a vegetarian,” Chen said. According to tradition, the heavier the pig that a devotee presents as an offering, the more sincere the devotee, though both Buddhist and Taoist teachings urge vegetarian offerings at religious rituals. While contests on the weight of divine pigs were once popular across the country, only a few temples still hold such events. In Sansia, seven family clans take turns each year to be in charge of raising such pigs, receiving certificates and medals according to the weight of the animals.
YouTube link Original unembeddable YouTube link.
According to EAST, there are 126 Chingshui Zushi temples across the country, but the Sansia temple is the only one still holding annual divine pig contests. Responding to the activists, the temple’s executive director Liu Chin-ta said that it may consider ending the divine pig contest in 2017. “Seven clans take turns to raise divine pigs, so each cycle lasts seven years. The current cycle started in 2010, and since we cannot just stop it, we have to wait until at least 2017 to put an end to the practice,” Liu said. “Of course, it’s up to the temple’s board of directors to make the final decision on the matter.”
“I would like to make it clear that we are not against the tradition of having pigs as offering to deities and immortals, but if you choose to do this, please buy pigs that are raised in a healthy way and slaughtered humanely,” Environmental and Animal Society Taiwan (EAST) director Chen Yu-min told the crowd. “Pigs normally grow to over 130lbs [60kg], but the divine pigs are force-fed and grow to 1,300lbs or more, then have their throats cut while they are conscious. This is unhealthy, cruel and inhumane,” Chen said. She said that all deities are merciful and would not appreciate offerings that cause suffering in living creatures.
“Don’t forget that Chingshui Zushi was a learned and much respected Buddhist master and a vegetarian,” Chen said. According to tradition, the heavier the pig that a devotee presents as an offering, the more sincere the devotee, though both Buddhist and Taoist teachings urge vegetarian offerings at religious rituals. While contests on the weight of divine pigs were once popular across the country, only a few temples still hold such events. In Sansia, seven family clans take turns each year to be in charge of raising such pigs, receiving certificates and medals according to the weight of the animals.
YouTube link Original unembeddable YouTube link.
According to EAST, there are 126 Chingshui Zushi temples across the country, but the Sansia temple is the only one still holding annual divine pig contests. Responding to the activists, the temple’s executive director Liu Chin-ta said that it may consider ending the divine pig contest in 2017. “Seven clans take turns to raise divine pigs, so each cycle lasts seven years. The current cycle started in 2010, and since we cannot just stop it, we have to wait until at least 2017 to put an end to the practice,” Liu said. “Of course, it’s up to the temple’s board of directors to make the final decision on the matter.”
Staff at Swedish air force base inadvertently made coffee using radiator water for two years
A dozen employees at an air force base in Blekinge in southern Sweden have been drinking coffee made with water used for central heating for the past two years after a pipe was connected wrongly.
The error was discovered only when the heating system was shut down for the installation of a district heating system.
"As the coffee is black and the radiator water is a bit brown, then we haven't noticed the difference," said Captain Catharina Bergsell, information officer at the F 17 squadron. She had however noticed that the coffee from the machine in the room where she works hadn't tasted that good. "When you drink coffee from a vending machine it always tastes a little different than fresh coffee and it may not have the best consistency. An espresso machine has one flavour and coffee from regular coffee beans has another."
The problem has been that the coffee machine was connected to the heating unit, a closed system which pumps around 200-300 litres of water between the radiators, instead of the drinking water. The radiators simply refilled automatically as staff continued to drink the heating system water. It remains unclear why the machine was connected to the heating system and the matter will be investigated.
Had the radiator not been switched off, the problem would most likely not have come to light. "No one had a clue about this until the water was turned off. Had that not happened, I reckon it would not have been noticed until there had been a change of supplier or some such," Catharina Bergsell said. The water in a closed system is usually considered bacteria free but it may still contain traces of metals, particularly iron but also lead, copper and manganese. Staff at the air force base will therefore undergo tests, but there have been to date no reports of personnel falling ill.
"As the coffee is black and the radiator water is a bit brown, then we haven't noticed the difference," said Captain Catharina Bergsell, information officer at the F 17 squadron. She had however noticed that the coffee from the machine in the room where she works hadn't tasted that good. "When you drink coffee from a vending machine it always tastes a little different than fresh coffee and it may not have the best consistency. An espresso machine has one flavour and coffee from regular coffee beans has another."
The problem has been that the coffee machine was connected to the heating unit, a closed system which pumps around 200-300 litres of water between the radiators, instead of the drinking water. The radiators simply refilled automatically as staff continued to drink the heating system water. It remains unclear why the machine was connected to the heating system and the matter will be investigated.
Had the radiator not been switched off, the problem would most likely not have come to light. "No one had a clue about this until the water was turned off. Had that not happened, I reckon it would not have been noticed until there had been a change of supplier or some such," Catharina Bergsell said. The water in a closed system is usually considered bacteria free but it may still contain traces of metals, particularly iron but also lead, copper and manganese. Staff at the air force base will therefore undergo tests, but there have been to date no reports of personnel falling ill.
Dodgy Dave spouts his usual bullshit in India
For anyone who's ever watched prime minister's questions it will come as no surprise that David Cameron has once again failed to give a straight answer to a simple question.
No Direction
During a Q&A session held at the Indian headquarters of Unilever in Mumbai yesterday morning, 'Call me Dave' was asked which of the firm’s brands were his favourite.
“I might get some of your brands wrong and mention the dishwasher liquid we use and find it is made by your competitor,” he replied. “So I’m going to do that thing that politicians always do when they get a really tough one and dodge the question.”
YouTube link.
No Dave, it wasn't 'a really tough one.' It was a complete lack of basic research and preparation on your part, you paragon of ineptitude. Cameron is in India leading what Downing Street says is the largest trade delegation taken on an overseas trip by a UK prime minister.
No Direction
During a Q&A session held at the Indian headquarters of Unilever in Mumbai yesterday morning, 'Call me Dave' was asked which of the firm’s brands were his favourite.
“I might get some of your brands wrong and mention the dishwasher liquid we use and find it is made by your competitor,” he replied. “So I’m going to do that thing that politicians always do when they get a really tough one and dodge the question.”
YouTube link.
No Dave, it wasn't 'a really tough one.' It was a complete lack of basic research and preparation on your part, you paragon of ineptitude. Cameron is in India leading what Downing Street says is the largest trade delegation taken on an overseas trip by a UK prime minister.
Strange slime baffles scientists at nature reserve
Scientists at a nature reserve in
Somerset have been baffled by a jelly-like slime which has appeared in a number
of locations at the site. Experts are divided over the origin of the jelly which has been found on
grass banks away from the water's edge at the RSPB's Ham Wall base.
Spokesman Tony Whitehead said although unknown, similar substances have been noted in historical records. Visitors are being asked to report findings but warned not to touch it. Scientific speculation as to the nature of the jelly is varied with one of the more favoured explanations that it is a form of cyanobacteria called Nostoc.
Others suggest that it is the remains of the regurgitated innards of amphibians such as frogs and toads and of their spawn. "In records dating back to the 14th Century it's known variously as star jelly, astral jelly or astromyxin," Mr Whitehead said. "In folklore it is said to be deposited in the wake of meteor showers."
Mr Whitehead added: "It's great that in this day and age that there are still mysteries out there. We've read a few articles now and much speculation. One suggested it was neither animal nor plant, and another that it didn't contain DNA, although it does give the appearance of something 'living'. Our reserve team will be looking out for the slime over the next few days, but if anyone can offer any explanations we'd be glad to hear."
Spokesman Tony Whitehead said although unknown, similar substances have been noted in historical records. Visitors are being asked to report findings but warned not to touch it. Scientific speculation as to the nature of the jelly is varied with one of the more favoured explanations that it is a form of cyanobacteria called Nostoc.
Others suggest that it is the remains of the regurgitated innards of amphibians such as frogs and toads and of their spawn. "In records dating back to the 14th Century it's known variously as star jelly, astral jelly or astromyxin," Mr Whitehead said. "In folklore it is said to be deposited in the wake of meteor showers."
Mr Whitehead added: "It's great that in this day and age that there are still mysteries out there. We've read a few articles now and much speculation. One suggested it was neither animal nor plant, and another that it didn't contain DNA, although it does give the appearance of something 'living'. Our reserve team will be looking out for the slime over the next few days, but if anyone can offer any explanations we'd be glad to hear."
Crown Prosecution Service unhappy with police dog's witness statement
When the Crown Prosecution Service demanded a witness statement in the name of a police force dog, officers
realised that it would be taking their canine skills a step too far. They wrote back explaining that PC Peach was in fact PD Peach, stressing that
PD stood for police dog but to no avail. Eventually, the exasperated handler completed a form as if it had been
written by the Alsatian, signing it with a paw print.
The statement read: “I chase him. I bite him. Bad man. He tasty. Good boy. Good boy Peach.” It stated that the age of the witness was “four” and that his number was PD4341. The document was pinned to the wall at West Midlands Police Station, much to the amusement of colleagues. One officer took a photograph of the statement and it soon appeared on Facebook and on several police Twitter accounts.
The CPS, however, failed to see the funny side and complained to the police that their mistake had been turned into a very public joke. PC Mark Tissington, of West Midlands Police, who is believed to have shared the original picture of the witness form, has referred himself to the internal discipline unit although sources suggested he was unlikely to be reprimanded.
Ian Edwards, chairman of the West Midlands branch of the Police Federation, said: “It's a difficult time for police and sometimes humour is a way of venting frustrations. I would urge our Professional Standards Department to be even-handed in the way they deal with it.” The CPS declined to comment.
The statement read: “I chase him. I bite him. Bad man. He tasty. Good boy. Good boy Peach.” It stated that the age of the witness was “four” and that his number was PD4341. The document was pinned to the wall at West Midlands Police Station, much to the amusement of colleagues. One officer took a photograph of the statement and it soon appeared on Facebook and on several police Twitter accounts.
The CPS, however, failed to see the funny side and complained to the police that their mistake had been turned into a very public joke. PC Mark Tissington, of West Midlands Police, who is believed to have shared the original picture of the witness form, has referred himself to the internal discipline unit although sources suggested he was unlikely to be reprimanded.
Ian Edwards, chairman of the West Midlands branch of the Police Federation, said: “It's a difficult time for police and sometimes humour is a way of venting frustrations. I would urge our Professional Standards Department to be even-handed in the way they deal with it.” The CPS declined to comment.
Disgruntled worker used fart gas to cause disgusting smell in procurator fiscal's office
Crown Office staff at the procurator fiscal’s office in Glasgow’s Ballater Street had been plagued by a mystery stench for the last fortnight. Court officials spent £9,000 trying to pinpoint the disgusting smell only to find it was caused by a disgruntled employee with a can of joke shop fart gas.
Drainage experts and pest control workers were brought in to try to pinpoint the origin of the pong, but were left baffled. After running up the £9,000 bill on the investigations, the source was eventually identified. A casual worker, who is believed to have been refused a modern apprenticeship with the department, was caught red-handed with the spray.
He was marched out of the building by security staff. A source said: “It smelled like something had died under the floorboards. Various drainage experts and pest control folk were brought in to try to sort out the problem, but they all failed to find anything. Then on Wednesday this guy was caught with a can of fart gas and everything fell into place.
“He was apparently annoyed about failing to secure an apprenticeship, but he has absolutely no chance now of a career in the fiscal’s office.” The Crown Office said: “Staff reported an unusual odour at the fiscal’s office in Glasgow. After investigation, the matter has been resolved.”
Drainage experts and pest control workers were brought in to try to pinpoint the origin of the pong, but were left baffled. After running up the £9,000 bill on the investigations, the source was eventually identified. A casual worker, who is believed to have been refused a modern apprenticeship with the department, was caught red-handed with the spray.
He was marched out of the building by security staff. A source said: “It smelled like something had died under the floorboards. Various drainage experts and pest control folk were brought in to try to sort out the problem, but they all failed to find anything. Then on Wednesday this guy was caught with a can of fart gas and everything fell into place.
“He was apparently annoyed about failing to secure an apprenticeship, but he has absolutely no chance now of a career in the fiscal’s office.” The Crown Office said: “Staff reported an unusual odour at the fiscal’s office in Glasgow. After investigation, the matter has been resolved.”
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