Friday, September 12, 2014
Baby bear performs flag pole dance before stealing golfer's ball
This baby black bear was spotted at the 15th hole of the Mountainside Golf Course at the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort in British Columbia, Canada.
YouTube link.
YouTube link.
Woman pulled gun on lawn maintenance worker for waking her up by making too much noise
A Florida woman is accused of threatening to shoot a lawn maintenance worker because he woke her up, according to the Ormond Beach Police Department.
Police said Gina Briggs, 26, pointed the gun at the victim because he was making too much noise on Oriole Circle on Monday morning.
Briggs later told detectives that she would have shot the worker in the head, but didn’t because she forgot to load the gun.
YouTube link.
Briggs was booked at the Volusia County Jail and charged with one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one count of carrying a concealed firearm.
Police said Gina Briggs, 26, pointed the gun at the victim because he was making too much noise on Oriole Circle on Monday morning.
Briggs later told detectives that she would have shot the worker in the head, but didn’t because she forgot to load the gun.
YouTube link.
Briggs was booked at the Volusia County Jail and charged with one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one count of carrying a concealed firearm.
China tells Dalai Lama to have respect for reincarnation
China has repeated a call to the Dalai Lama to respect what it said was the historic practice of reincarnation, after the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader implied in an interview he may be the last to hold the position.
The Dalai Lama, in an interview at the weekend, said the tradition of the post could end with him, adding the Tibetan Buddhism was not dependent on a single person.
The Dalai Lama, 79, has stated previously that he will not be reborn in China if Tibet is not free and that no one, including China, has the right to choose his successor "for political ends".
China has previously warned the Dalai Lama he has no right to abandon the tradition of reincarnation. China, which regards the Dalai Lama as a dangerous separatist, has ruled Tibet with an iron fist since Communist troops marched in 1950. The Dalai Lama fled into exile in India in 1959 after an abortive uprising against Chinese rule. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a daily news briefing that when it came to the reincarnation of living Buddhas, including the Dalai Lama, China had a "set religious procedure and historic custom".
"China follows a policy of freedom of religion and belief, and this naturally includes having to respect and protect the ways of passing on Tibetan Buddhism," Hua said. "The title of Dalai Lama is conferred by the central government, which has hundreds of years of history. The (present) 14th Dalai Lama has ulterior motives, and is seeking to distort and negate history, which is damaging to the normal order of Tibetan Buddhism." In 1995, after the Dalai Lama named a boy in Tibet as the reincarnation of the previous Panchen Lama, the second highest figure in Tibetan Buddhism, China put that boy under house arrest and installed another in his place.
Many Tibetans spurn the Chinese-appointed Panchen Lama as a fake. Traditionally, high lamas, Buddhist priests, can take years to identify a child deemed to be a reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, a search usually limited to Tibet. Tibetans fear that China will use the issue of the Dalai Lama's religious succession to split Tibetan Buddhism, with one new Dalai Lama named by exiles and one by China after his death. China says its rule has brought much needed development to poor and backward Tibet. Exiles and rights groups accuse China of failing to respect Tibet's unique religion and culture and of suppressing its people.
China has previously warned the Dalai Lama he has no right to abandon the tradition of reincarnation. China, which regards the Dalai Lama as a dangerous separatist, has ruled Tibet with an iron fist since Communist troops marched in 1950. The Dalai Lama fled into exile in India in 1959 after an abortive uprising against Chinese rule. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a daily news briefing that when it came to the reincarnation of living Buddhas, including the Dalai Lama, China had a "set religious procedure and historic custom".
"China follows a policy of freedom of religion and belief, and this naturally includes having to respect and protect the ways of passing on Tibetan Buddhism," Hua said. "The title of Dalai Lama is conferred by the central government, which has hundreds of years of history. The (present) 14th Dalai Lama has ulterior motives, and is seeking to distort and negate history, which is damaging to the normal order of Tibetan Buddhism." In 1995, after the Dalai Lama named a boy in Tibet as the reincarnation of the previous Panchen Lama, the second highest figure in Tibetan Buddhism, China put that boy under house arrest and installed another in his place.
Many Tibetans spurn the Chinese-appointed Panchen Lama as a fake. Traditionally, high lamas, Buddhist priests, can take years to identify a child deemed to be a reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, a search usually limited to Tibet. Tibetans fear that China will use the issue of the Dalai Lama's religious succession to split Tibetan Buddhism, with one new Dalai Lama named by exiles and one by China after his death. China says its rule has brought much needed development to poor and backward Tibet. Exiles and rights groups accuse China of failing to respect Tibet's unique religion and culture and of suppressing its people.
Mystery as women woke up to find their knickers removed and hanging from trees
In an unusual incident that has left villagers in the Gokwe South District of Zimbabwe, shocked, women in Chibarirwa and Demawatema last week woke up without their panties while their babies’ nappies miraculously disappeared. The strange incident was confirmed by Headman Madzivazvido, under whose jurisdiction the two villages fall.
Sources said the undergarments and nappies were found hanging from trees in a bushy area. They said the incident is still the talk of the two remote villages. “The areas are isolated and bushy. There are no homes nearby hence it is difficult to pinpoint someone as the culprit. Some women from both villages claim they just woke up in the morning to find that their undergarments had been stripped off while they were asleep,” said the source.
The source said other villagers said their panties and their children’s nappies vanished from the lines where they had left them to dry after washing. All victims were later asked to identify their panties, the source said. “The majority were able to positively identify their clothes and their children’s nappies though all were reluctant to take them as they suspected witchcraft,” said the source. Headman Madzivazvido said when he received the report, he quickly sought spiritual intervention. “I received a report about the strange incident last week and we are trying to seek answers from spirit mediums and local prophets in our area.
“They are telling us that the ancestral spirits are the ones behind the whole issue,” he said. Headman Madzivazvido, however, said the incident could be an act of mischief by a naughty villager. He said he does not subscribe to the notion that ancestral spirits could strip women of their panties. The village head said when he reported the matter to the police, they told him it needed a cultural solution. “The police told me they could not handle the matter as they felt no law had been broken. They advised me to deal with the matter culturally,” he said.
Sources said the undergarments and nappies were found hanging from trees in a bushy area. They said the incident is still the talk of the two remote villages. “The areas are isolated and bushy. There are no homes nearby hence it is difficult to pinpoint someone as the culprit. Some women from both villages claim they just woke up in the morning to find that their undergarments had been stripped off while they were asleep,” said the source.
The source said other villagers said their panties and their children’s nappies vanished from the lines where they had left them to dry after washing. All victims were later asked to identify their panties, the source said. “The majority were able to positively identify their clothes and their children’s nappies though all were reluctant to take them as they suspected witchcraft,” said the source. Headman Madzivazvido said when he received the report, he quickly sought spiritual intervention. “I received a report about the strange incident last week and we are trying to seek answers from spirit mediums and local prophets in our area.
“They are telling us that the ancestral spirits are the ones behind the whole issue,” he said. Headman Madzivazvido, however, said the incident could be an act of mischief by a naughty villager. He said he does not subscribe to the notion that ancestral spirits could strip women of their panties. The village head said when he reported the matter to the police, they told him it needed a cultural solution. “The police told me they could not handle the matter as they felt no law had been broken. They advised me to deal with the matter culturally,” he said.
Warning against touching possum poo due to risk of bacteria linked to flesh-eating ulcers
People in Australia are being warned to avoid touching possum faeces because of the risk of being exposed to a bacteria linked to flesh-eating ulcers.
Infectious disease researchers at Victoria's Barwon Health have found that possums can carry the buruli bacteria, which can cause major skin ulcers in humans.
Barwon Health Associate Professor Daniel O'Brien said possum faeces is rich in the bacteria.
He said there needs to be more research into whether contact with possum faeces is what causes buruli ulcers, also known as Bairnsdale ulcers, in humans. "What we know in areas where we're getting infections and possums are infected is that their possum poo does carry a large amount of the organism," he said. "What we do think is a good public health measure is to remove the possum faeces from the area as much as possible and wash your hands as much as you can after that to minimise potential exposures."
The infection starts as a painless or itchy pimple, which then breaks down to form an ulcer. If untreated, the ulcer can spread. Professor O'Brien said although curable, the condition can be serious. "The treatment is really quite difficult," he said. "It often involves a long period of antibiotics which can be difficult to take and often involves surgery." He said people have been infected in Victoria's Gippsland region and the Bellarine Peninsula, and most recently in the Mornington Peninsula.
No infected possums have been detected in metropolitan Melbourne. Professor O'Brien said a better understand of the bacteria's transmission is needed. "The most important thing for me is that we can prevent this infection, because at the moment we can treat it but we don't really know how to prevent it," he said. "When you see young kids coming into the clinic with really nasty ulcers on their arm ... what we really need to do is stop them getting it in the first place."
He said there needs to be more research into whether contact with possum faeces is what causes buruli ulcers, also known as Bairnsdale ulcers, in humans. "What we know in areas where we're getting infections and possums are infected is that their possum poo does carry a large amount of the organism," he said. "What we do think is a good public health measure is to remove the possum faeces from the area as much as possible and wash your hands as much as you can after that to minimise potential exposures."
The infection starts as a painless or itchy pimple, which then breaks down to form an ulcer. If untreated, the ulcer can spread. Professor O'Brien said although curable, the condition can be serious. "The treatment is really quite difficult," he said. "It often involves a long period of antibiotics which can be difficult to take and often involves surgery." He said people have been infected in Victoria's Gippsland region and the Bellarine Peninsula, and most recently in the Mornington Peninsula.
No infected possums have been detected in metropolitan Melbourne. Professor O'Brien said a better understand of the bacteria's transmission is needed. "The most important thing for me is that we can prevent this infection, because at the moment we can treat it but we don't really know how to prevent it," he said. "When you see young kids coming into the clinic with really nasty ulcers on their arm ... what we really need to do is stop them getting it in the first place."
Dog sacrificed its life to save six rail passengers from electrocution
As the Gummidipoondi-Chennai Central local train in Tamil Nadu, India, arrived at 8.45pm on September 3, the passengers jumped out as normal.
Many were going home, some others had to catch connecting buses and trains. Six commuters came out of Central station, paused for a few minutes, and were greeted by the warm earthy smell that emanates minutes after a downpour. All of them reached home that night.
They probably would not have. In those few minutes that these six men had paused, a few metres away, an Indian mongrel barked, then jumped into a puddle of water and became lifeless. Seconds later, the commuters realised that the pool of water in which they were about to step had a live wire snapped from an electrical line. The dog had barked to warn them not to step forward. When it saw that the commuters paid no heed, it took its final leap.
Death came instantly, but commuters were stunned by what they saw as an act of supreme sacrifice. The dog that died left behind a litter of 10-day-old pups. Residents of the area adopted all of them, but, probably because of the mother's absence, two died. "On Wednesday night, a broken high voltage wire fell in a pool of collected rainwater inside the railway premises. The frantic dog kept barking but people shooed it away. It dashed ahead, jumped in the water, and gave up its life," said Dawn Williams, general manager, Blue Cross. People informed Railway Protection Force inspector N Alagar Swamy, who cordoned off the area.
"When RPF personnel reached the spot, they found a litter of puppies. We rescued them and gave them to Blue Cross," said Swamy. As the news about the dog's death spread, Blue Cross volunteers received a huge response for adopting the pups. "Long after they were adopted, we continue to receive calls," Williams said. Two of the pups died shortly after being adopted. The rest of the pups are well. "We had two dogs earlier. Both died recently. When we went to the Blue Cross to adopt a dog, people told us about the pup's mother who had saved human lives. We immediately adopted them," said Pradeepa, who adopted two dogs.
They probably would not have. In those few minutes that these six men had paused, a few metres away, an Indian mongrel barked, then jumped into a puddle of water and became lifeless. Seconds later, the commuters realised that the pool of water in which they were about to step had a live wire snapped from an electrical line. The dog had barked to warn them not to step forward. When it saw that the commuters paid no heed, it took its final leap.
Death came instantly, but commuters were stunned by what they saw as an act of supreme sacrifice. The dog that died left behind a litter of 10-day-old pups. Residents of the area adopted all of them, but, probably because of the mother's absence, two died. "On Wednesday night, a broken high voltage wire fell in a pool of collected rainwater inside the railway premises. The frantic dog kept barking but people shooed it away. It dashed ahead, jumped in the water, and gave up its life," said Dawn Williams, general manager, Blue Cross. People informed Railway Protection Force inspector N Alagar Swamy, who cordoned off the area.
"When RPF personnel reached the spot, they found a litter of puppies. We rescued them and gave them to Blue Cross," said Swamy. As the news about the dog's death spread, Blue Cross volunteers received a huge response for adopting the pups. "Long after they were adopted, we continue to receive calls," Williams said. Two of the pups died shortly after being adopted. The rest of the pups are well. "We had two dogs earlier. Both died recently. When we went to the Blue Cross to adopt a dog, people told us about the pup's mother who had saved human lives. We immediately adopted them," said Pradeepa, who adopted two dogs.
Over 100 killer spiders bought over the internet found in abandoned Irish house
Over 100 killer spiders have been found in an abandoned house in Co Carlow.
The horror infestation was discovered in recent weeks after a member of the public raised the alarm and called in a local animal refuge.
Among the lethal critters found crawling in the house were black widows, funnel-web spiders, scorpions and tarantulas.
National Exotic Animal Sanctuary (NEAS) manager Kevin Cunningham: "We received a call from Carlow about a gentleman who had vacated a house and left over 100 spiders behind. "We had to go in with an expert, catalogue all the species and have the potentially lethal ones like the black widow and funnel-web spiders - which can kill you - destroyed.
"The man had bought the spiders over the internet and had them delivered to him and this is a growing problem that we are seeing here. Many of the spiders would just give a nasty bite but some like the funnel-web spider were a cause of concern. There were also dozens of dead spiders found around the room and the worryingly from postage boxes found on the premises, the spiders were posted from abroad.
"Imagine if they got out of the packaging while in transit. This is not an isolated case. All around Ireland, there are people with tigers, bears and poisonous snakes as pets. It's been going on a long time and we need to put the brakes on." The NEAS say new laws are now needed to stop the influx of dangerous and exotic animals being bought over the internet for pets.
National Exotic Animal Sanctuary (NEAS) manager Kevin Cunningham: "We received a call from Carlow about a gentleman who had vacated a house and left over 100 spiders behind. "We had to go in with an expert, catalogue all the species and have the potentially lethal ones like the black widow and funnel-web spiders - which can kill you - destroyed.
"The man had bought the spiders over the internet and had them delivered to him and this is a growing problem that we are seeing here. Many of the spiders would just give a nasty bite but some like the funnel-web spider were a cause of concern. There were also dozens of dead spiders found around the room and the worryingly from postage boxes found on the premises, the spiders were posted from abroad.
"Imagine if they got out of the packaging while in transit. This is not an isolated case. All around Ireland, there are people with tigers, bears and poisonous snakes as pets. It's been going on a long time and we need to put the brakes on." The NEAS say new laws are now needed to stop the influx of dangerous and exotic animals being bought over the internet for pets.
Wagtail in Tesco store given last-minute reprieve following threat to bring in marksmen to shoot it
A bird that made its home in a Tesco supermarket in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, has been given a last-minute reprieve after the store threatened to shoot it.
Tesco considered bringing in marksmen to kill the wagtail in its Great Yarmouth branch, but have now announced that it will continue attempting to release the bird.
The feathered friend, a common wagtail, has been flitting around the store for some time, and has become known to customers. Staff made repeated attempts to get the bird outside by laying down traps, nets, opening windows and even trying to lure it out with food. But the nimble creature stayed put and the supermarket giant said it had to draw a line and was bringing in professionals to shoot the bird. However, after a public outcry over the plight of the bird, the supermarket changed its decision.
A Tesco spokesman said: Our goal is always to release any birds which have found their way into our stores, while ensuring we maintain our high standards of hygiene. In spite of repeated efforts to free the bird including laying down traps, deploying nets and opening windows, we have been unsuccessful so far. We’re going to continue to try to release the bird over the next few weeks.” The supermarket giant was granted a licence to remove the bird by shooting it from Natural England on the grounds of protecting public health, but plans to bring marksmen into the store have now been shelved.
A spokesman for Natural England said licences, such as the one granted to Tesco, were issued “occasionally” but only when environment bosses were “satisfied” all other methods had been exhausted. The spokesman said: “Fouling by birds can contaminate foods destined for human consumption, constituting a serious health risk. As such, licences are occasionally issued to remove birds to protect public health and safety, where those measures do not harm the conservation status of the species. Natural England must be satisfied all reasonable non-lethal methods - such as trapping and scaring - have been tried and proven ineffective before a licence to remove the bird is issued.”
The feathered friend, a common wagtail, has been flitting around the store for some time, and has become known to customers. Staff made repeated attempts to get the bird outside by laying down traps, nets, opening windows and even trying to lure it out with food. But the nimble creature stayed put and the supermarket giant said it had to draw a line and was bringing in professionals to shoot the bird. However, after a public outcry over the plight of the bird, the supermarket changed its decision.
A Tesco spokesman said: Our goal is always to release any birds which have found their way into our stores, while ensuring we maintain our high standards of hygiene. In spite of repeated efforts to free the bird including laying down traps, deploying nets and opening windows, we have been unsuccessful so far. We’re going to continue to try to release the bird over the next few weeks.” The supermarket giant was granted a licence to remove the bird by shooting it from Natural England on the grounds of protecting public health, but plans to bring marksmen into the store have now been shelved.
A spokesman for Natural England said licences, such as the one granted to Tesco, were issued “occasionally” but only when environment bosses were “satisfied” all other methods had been exhausted. The spokesman said: “Fouling by birds can contaminate foods destined for human consumption, constituting a serious health risk. As such, licences are occasionally issued to remove birds to protect public health and safety, where those measures do not harm the conservation status of the species. Natural England must be satisfied all reasonable non-lethal methods - such as trapping and scaring - have been tried and proven ineffective before a licence to remove the bird is issued.”
Campaigner arrested for 'blowing a whistle' after silent vigil held for lobsters outside restaurant
Animal rights activists claim a campaigner was arrested for 'blowing a whistle' after a silent vigil was held for lobsters outside a Cambridge restaurant.
About 15 protesters gathered at the Riverbar, Quayside to protest over the boiling of live lobsters.
The vigil was held on Saturday halfway through the event, and veteran activist Joan Court, 95, spoke to campaigners about the culinary practice. Edmund Maile, of Animal Rights Cambridge and the United Shellfish Front, said: "One protester was arrested for blowing a whistle. She was released from custody around 4am the next morning with no charge.
"Lobsters are sensitive and intelligent creatures who are persecuted in ways which would be deemed unacceptable in other species, and this campaign, through appealing to the conscience of restauranteurs and members of the public, is designed to challenge this injustice." He added: "Although our group does not encourage or partake in unlawful behaviour, any kind of activity that may be regarded an 'extreme' response to animal abuse is unlikely to be significant when compared to the harm that millions of lobsters suffer."
Agnes Trzak, PhD researcher of social justice, said: "We, the public, would find it unacceptable and outrageous if other species were to be killed in the same place we bring our families for a pleasant dining experience." A Cambridgeshire police spokesman said: "A 49-year-old woman was arrested for a public order offence at 7pm and has been bailed until September 14."
The vigil was held on Saturday halfway through the event, and veteran activist Joan Court, 95, spoke to campaigners about the culinary practice. Edmund Maile, of Animal Rights Cambridge and the United Shellfish Front, said: "One protester was arrested for blowing a whistle. She was released from custody around 4am the next morning with no charge.
"Lobsters are sensitive and intelligent creatures who are persecuted in ways which would be deemed unacceptable in other species, and this campaign, through appealing to the conscience of restauranteurs and members of the public, is designed to challenge this injustice." He added: "Although our group does not encourage or partake in unlawful behaviour, any kind of activity that may be regarded an 'extreme' response to animal abuse is unlikely to be significant when compared to the harm that millions of lobsters suffer."
Agnes Trzak, PhD researcher of social justice, said: "We, the public, would find it unacceptable and outrageous if other species were to be killed in the same place we bring our families for a pleasant dining experience." A Cambridgeshire police spokesman said: "A 49-year-old woman was arrested for a public order offence at 7pm and has been bailed until September 14."
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