Saturday, February 28, 2009
Clark Little Photography
Clark Little grew up on the north shore of the Hawaiian island Oahu. He has dedicated his life to producing photographs of the inside of waves.
Man used fake money to buy fake drugs
A Johnson City man has been arrested after police said he used counterfeit money to purchase fake OxyContin pills from an undercover officer.
Unicoi County Sheriff’s deputies arrested 21-year-old Kyle Kochelek on Tuesday and charged him with criminal conspiracy with schedule II drugs, forgery and criminal simulation.
Investigator Frank Rogers said the officer met with several people at a mobile home park and arranged for Kochelek and another man to come to Unicoi to buy 76 OxyContin pills for $4,875.
Officers say it was “obviously bad money” with some bills printed on just one side. Authorities also tracked down the device believed used to make the counterfeit money.
Unicoi County Sheriff’s deputies arrested 21-year-old Kyle Kochelek on Tuesday and charged him with criminal conspiracy with schedule II drugs, forgery and criminal simulation.
Investigator Frank Rogers said the officer met with several people at a mobile home park and arranged for Kochelek and another man to come to Unicoi to buy 76 OxyContin pills for $4,875.
Officers say it was “obviously bad money” with some bills printed on just one side. Authorities also tracked down the device believed used to make the counterfeit money.
Parrots teach man to speak again
A US fireman who lost his power of speech in a traffic accident has been taught to speak again by parrots. Brian Wilson, from Damascus, Maryland, suffered life-threatening injuries in the accident 14 years ago. He also lost his ability to speak.
But he now claims that the chatter of pet parrots confounded the bleak outlook of doctors, who were convinced that he would spend the rest of his life in bed at a nursing home.
"Two birds taught me to talk again," he said. "I had such a bad head injury I was never supposed to talk any more than a two-year-old."
But two of the birds that he had had as pets since he was a child "just kept talking to me and talking to me. Then all of a sudden, a word popped out, then two, then more."
To show his gratitude to the birds who helped him on the path to rehabilitation, Mr Wilson has devoted his life to feathered pets whose owners are no longer able or want to keep them.
He now shares his home with about 80 brightly plumed exotic birds, from snow-white cockatoos to scarlet or blue and green macaws to African grey parrots. He has set up a foundation called the Wilson Parrot Foundation, which also offers the services of the birds to entertain at birthday parties and corporate events.
But he now claims that the chatter of pet parrots confounded the bleak outlook of doctors, who were convinced that he would spend the rest of his life in bed at a nursing home.
"Two birds taught me to talk again," he said. "I had such a bad head injury I was never supposed to talk any more than a two-year-old."
But two of the birds that he had had as pets since he was a child "just kept talking to me and talking to me. Then all of a sudden, a word popped out, then two, then more."
To show his gratitude to the birds who helped him on the path to rehabilitation, Mr Wilson has devoted his life to feathered pets whose owners are no longer able or want to keep them.
He now shares his home with about 80 brightly plumed exotic birds, from snow-white cockatoos to scarlet or blue and green macaws to African grey parrots. He has set up a foundation called the Wilson Parrot Foundation, which also offers the services of the birds to entertain at birthday parties and corporate events.
Cypriots and U.N. soldiers in asparagus standoff
U.N. peacekeepers have upset traditional wild asparagus harvesters on the ethnically divided island of Cyprus by preventing them from entering a buffer zone to gather the tasty shoots.
U.N. soldiers, restricting access to the buffer zone which splits the island from east to west after Cyprus was divided in a Turkish invasion in 1974 triggered by a Greek-inspired coup, say they are only doing their job, but residents are livid.
"This is unacceptable behaviour and I have demanded that action is taken," said Nicos Kotziambashis, leader of the Greek Cypriot village of Mammari which has been particularly hit by the U.N. ban."The situation is explosive."
"It is not something we particularly like to do but unfortunately if the asparagus is found in the buffer zone the peacekeepers have to do their job, which is to regulate access to that part of the territory," a U.N. spokesman said.
Plentiful rains ensured a bumper crop of "aggrelia" this year exacerbating the standoff between soldiers and the army of locals who flock to pick asparagus, which tied in green and red burgundy bunches, sells for up to four euros at local markets.
Asparagus harvesting has never been for the faint-hearted with pickers crawling into dense thorn bushes to pick the delicate shoots from the undergrowth.
U.N. soldiers, restricting access to the buffer zone which splits the island from east to west after Cyprus was divided in a Turkish invasion in 1974 triggered by a Greek-inspired coup, say they are only doing their job, but residents are livid.
"This is unacceptable behaviour and I have demanded that action is taken," said Nicos Kotziambashis, leader of the Greek Cypriot village of Mammari which has been particularly hit by the U.N. ban."The situation is explosive."
"It is not something we particularly like to do but unfortunately if the asparagus is found in the buffer zone the peacekeepers have to do their job, which is to regulate access to that part of the territory," a U.N. spokesman said.
Plentiful rains ensured a bumper crop of "aggrelia" this year exacerbating the standoff between soldiers and the army of locals who flock to pick asparagus, which tied in green and red burgundy bunches, sells for up to four euros at local markets.
Asparagus harvesting has never been for the faint-hearted with pickers crawling into dense thorn bushes to pick the delicate shoots from the undergrowth.
Surgeons remove wrong breast in operation
A woman went into an operating theatre to have her left breast removed — and woke to find her right one had been taken off by mistake.
Anne Bouton, 65, was left deeply traumatised after the bungled operation to treat a tumour.
She said: “The evening before a nurse clearly marked my left breast, also making clear that the right breast should be left untouched.”
Sylvie Négrier — director of the Léon Bérard cancer centre in Lyon, France — blamed a “human and team error”. She said: “There were five people in the operating theatre but no-one spotted the mistake.”
Anne Bouton, 65, was left deeply traumatised after the bungled operation to treat a tumour.
She said: “The evening before a nurse clearly marked my left breast, also making clear that the right breast should be left untouched.”
Sylvie Négrier — director of the Léon Bérard cancer centre in Lyon, France — blamed a “human and team error”. She said: “There were five people in the operating theatre but no-one spotted the mistake.”
Headdress made of mice and rat carcasses
'I know not everybody likes mice and rats but they can be beautiful. I think the headdress is really cute,' said French designer Charlie Le Mindu, 22.
'It is better to make rats and mice beautiful than give them to the snakes. I'm actually a vegetarian.'
'It is better to make rats and mice beautiful than give them to the snakes. I'm actually a vegetarian.'
Thieves use cat to trigger Somaliland stampede
Thieves caused chaos outside a Somaliland mosque late on Thursday when they took advantage of a power cut to throw a stray cat into the crowd, triggering a stampede so they could rob worshippers.
Large screens had been set up outside Hargeisa's packed Ali Matan Mosque so thousands of people could watch a sermon by Sheikh Moustafa Hagi Ismael Hassan, one of the Horn of Africa country's most senior Muslim clerics.
But when a short circuit cast the downtown area into darkness, the sheikh said gangsters hurled a feral cat into the centre of the crowd, causing a commotion. During the stampede, the robbers grabbed mobile phones and money.
"A number of people were wounded, most of them beggars," Hassan told said. "I've sent them to hospital for treatment."
Large screens had been set up outside Hargeisa's packed Ali Matan Mosque so thousands of people could watch a sermon by Sheikh Moustafa Hagi Ismael Hassan, one of the Horn of Africa country's most senior Muslim clerics.
But when a short circuit cast the downtown area into darkness, the sheikh said gangsters hurled a feral cat into the centre of the crowd, causing a commotion. During the stampede, the robbers grabbed mobile phones and money.
"A number of people were wounded, most of them beggars," Hassan told said. "I've sent them to hospital for treatment."
Missing mobile phone found inside fish
A businessman who lost his mobile phone on a beach was amazed when it turned up — in the belly of a massive cod. Andrew Cheatle thought his Nokia handset had been lost at sea after it slipped from his pocket.
But a week later his girlfriend’s mobile rang and it was fisherman Glen Kerley saying he’d found the phone in a 25lb fish. Andrew got the handset back, dried it out — and amazingly it still works.
Andrew, 45, said: “I was messing about with my dog and my phone must have fallen out and been swept out in the swell. I kept calling it but I gave up hope after a couple of days.”
He was shopping for a new phone with girlfriend Rita Smith, 33, when her mobile went off. She told him: “Your old mobile number is calling my phone.”
Andrew continued: “She said some guy was going on about my phone and a cod so she handed it over to me and he told me where he had found it. I thought he was winding me up but he assured me he had caught a cod that morning and was gutting it for his fish stall and that my Nokia was inside it — a bit worse for wear.
“I didn’t believe him but went to meet him and found it was my phone — a bit smelly and battered — but incredibly it still worked after I let it dry out.”
But a week later his girlfriend’s mobile rang and it was fisherman Glen Kerley saying he’d found the phone in a 25lb fish. Andrew got the handset back, dried it out — and amazingly it still works.
Andrew, 45, said: “I was messing about with my dog and my phone must have fallen out and been swept out in the swell. I kept calling it but I gave up hope after a couple of days.”
He was shopping for a new phone with girlfriend Rita Smith, 33, when her mobile went off. She told him: “Your old mobile number is calling my phone.”
Andrew continued: “She said some guy was going on about my phone and a cod so she handed it over to me and he told me where he had found it. I thought he was winding me up but he assured me he had caught a cod that morning and was gutting it for his fish stall and that my Nokia was inside it — a bit worse for wear.
“I didn’t believe him but went to meet him and found it was my phone — a bit smelly and battered — but incredibly it still worked after I let it dry out.”
Miss Whiplash in river car ordeal
Former brothel keeper Lindi St Clair has been rescued after being trapped upside down in her car in a river for almost 24 hours.
Ms St Clair, once known as Miss Whiplash, left the road near the village of Risbury in Herefordshire and went 15ft (4.5m) down an embankment.
The alarm was raised at about 1500 GMT on Friday and the operation to rescue the 57-year-old took nearly two hours.
She was conscious when found and has been flown to hospital. Her condition is not known but it is believed she was suffering from hypothermia and serious multiple injuries.
Ms St Clair claimed a number of MPs and other senior public figures were among her clients in the 1980s and at one time was pursued through the courts for non-payment of income tax.
She once stood for Parliament campaigning for more liberal sex laws and later moved to Herefordshire where she is believed to have been running a duck farm.
Ms St Clair, once known as Miss Whiplash, left the road near the village of Risbury in Herefordshire and went 15ft (4.5m) down an embankment.
The alarm was raised at about 1500 GMT on Friday and the operation to rescue the 57-year-old took nearly two hours.
She was conscious when found and has been flown to hospital. Her condition is not known but it is believed she was suffering from hypothermia and serious multiple injuries.
Ms St Clair claimed a number of MPs and other senior public figures were among her clients in the 1980s and at one time was pursued through the courts for non-payment of income tax.
She once stood for Parliament campaigning for more liberal sex laws and later moved to Herefordshire where she is believed to have been running a duck farm.
Mother's kiss may have killed baby
A mother whose baby girl died shortly after her birth has said she was devastated to learn she may have passed on a deadly infection to her daughter through kisses.
Ruth Schofield's baby Jennifer was just 11 days old when her vital organs failed and she died in hospital.
She had been infected by Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) passed on by her mother, Ruth, either by kissing or breastfeeding, an inquest was told.
Miss Schofield said she did not have the words to describe the shock of her new-born daughter's death. "It was soul destroying," she said. "I don't want any family to have to go through the devastation I have."
Lancaster coroner Dr James Adeley said Miss Schofield, 35, of Lancaster, probably caught HSV in the late stages of pregnancy.
But he said no-one could be blamed for failing to identify the virus and recorded a narrative verdict.
Ruth Schofield's baby Jennifer was just 11 days old when her vital organs failed and she died in hospital.
She had been infected by Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) passed on by her mother, Ruth, either by kissing or breastfeeding, an inquest was told.
Miss Schofield said she did not have the words to describe the shock of her new-born daughter's death. "It was soul destroying," she said. "I don't want any family to have to go through the devastation I have."
Lancaster coroner Dr James Adeley said Miss Schofield, 35, of Lancaster, probably caught HSV in the late stages of pregnancy.
But he said no-one could be blamed for failing to identify the virus and recorded a narrative verdict.
'Radioactive' paedophile suspect on the run
A "radioactive" suspected sex offender has gone on the run after failing to attend his trial for child pornography offences.
A judge has issued a warrant for the arrest of Thomas Leopold, a college principal, amid warnings from doctors that he is contaminated with a "dangerous" level of radiation.
The 42-year-old was due to face trial for downloading indecent images of children but fled Britain after receiving large doses of radiotherapy treatment for a thyroid condition.
Southwark Crown Court heard that Mr Leopold could harm anyone he comes into contact, due to the radiation.
Judge John Price said: "Please warn officers that when he is arrested he might be radioactive."
He added: "This is not a joke."
A judge has issued a warrant for the arrest of Thomas Leopold, a college principal, amid warnings from doctors that he is contaminated with a "dangerous" level of radiation.
The 42-year-old was due to face trial for downloading indecent images of children but fled Britain after receiving large doses of radiotherapy treatment for a thyroid condition.
Southwark Crown Court heard that Mr Leopold could harm anyone he comes into contact, due to the radiation.
Judge John Price said: "Please warn officers that when he is arrested he might be radioactive."
He added: "This is not a joke."
Ryanair may charge £1 for toilet use
Irish budget airline Ryanair has said it is considering charging passengers for using the toilet while flying.
Chief executive Michael O'Leary told the BBC that the Dublin-based carrier was looking at maybe installing a "coin slot on the toilet door".
Ryanair aims to offer low basic ticket prices, and then charge extra for items such as checking in at the airport or for additional luggage.
"One thing we have looked at in the past, and are looking at again, is the possibility of maybe putting a coin slot on the toilet door, so that people might actually have to spend a pound to spend a penny in future," he said. He added: "I don't think there is anybody in history that has got on board a Ryanair aircraft with less than a pound."
But Rochelle Turner, head of research at Which? Holiday, said: "It seems Ryanair is prepared to plumb any depth to make a fast buck and, once again, is putting profit before the comfort of its customers.
"Charging people to go to the toilet might result in fewer people buying overpriced drinks on board, though - that would serve Ryanair right."
With news video.
Chief executive Michael O'Leary told the BBC that the Dublin-based carrier was looking at maybe installing a "coin slot on the toilet door".
Ryanair aims to offer low basic ticket prices, and then charge extra for items such as checking in at the airport or for additional luggage.
"One thing we have looked at in the past, and are looking at again, is the possibility of maybe putting a coin slot on the toilet door, so that people might actually have to spend a pound to spend a penny in future," he said. He added: "I don't think there is anybody in history that has got on board a Ryanair aircraft with less than a pound."
But Rochelle Turner, head of research at Which? Holiday, said: "It seems Ryanair is prepared to plumb any depth to make a fast buck and, once again, is putting profit before the comfort of its customers.
"Charging people to go to the toilet might result in fewer people buying overpriced drinks on board, though - that would serve Ryanair right."
With news video.
Five-year-old boy tries to burn house down because he is too scared to live there
A five-year-old boy whose home in Swindon is under attack from teenagers tried to burn his house down because he is too scared to continue living there.
Jimmy Davis set fire to the curtains when he found a lighter downstairs and gutted his bedroom in the hope that it would destroy the house and force his family to move out.
Firefighters extinguished the blaze before it spread to the rest of the house but all the belongings in his room were completely destroyed.
Jimmy has been forced to cower in his bedroom as teenagers torment his father Sydney and throw stones and bricks at the house.
Mr Davis, 65, has been targeted for abuse since confronting the gang with a plank of wood last year – which saw him dragged into court for possessing an offensive weapon. Pauline Davis, 43, said: "We keep speaking to him asking him why he did it and he said 'because I want to move, mum'.
"That's what he told the police – he'd done it because he wants daddy and mummy to move. Jimmy is scared to go outside because of all the youths that hang around on the estate."
Jimmy Davis set fire to the curtains when he found a lighter downstairs and gutted his bedroom in the hope that it would destroy the house and force his family to move out.
Firefighters extinguished the blaze before it spread to the rest of the house but all the belongings in his room were completely destroyed.
Jimmy has been forced to cower in his bedroom as teenagers torment his father Sydney and throw stones and bricks at the house.
Mr Davis, 65, has been targeted for abuse since confronting the gang with a plank of wood last year – which saw him dragged into court for possessing an offensive weapon. Pauline Davis, 43, said: "We keep speaking to him asking him why he did it and he said 'because I want to move, mum'.
"That's what he told the police – he'd done it because he wants daddy and mummy to move. Jimmy is scared to go outside because of all the youths that hang around on the estate."
Friday, February 27, 2009
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