Sunday, January 23, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
Montana allows drunk riding
The Montana Department of Transportation started a legal debate with an advert urging drinkers to get a lift home. The public safety video featured a horse picking up a rider at a bar.
It was meant to act as a metaphor to encourage drinkers to seek alternative means of getting home. But in a state well known for its horse culture it is being taken literally.
Curious residents calling Helena Police have been told that riding a horse while under the influence is legal. The law in Montana carefully defines a vehicle, and excludes those running under real horse power.
The video shows a savvy horse carefully obeying traffic laws on a night-time journey through town before stopping in front of a bar to pick up a rider who has enjoyed a drink or two.
It was meant to act as a metaphor to encourage drinkers to seek alternative means of getting home. But in a state well known for its horse culture it is being taken literally.
Curious residents calling Helena Police have been told that riding a horse while under the influence is legal. The law in Montana carefully defines a vehicle, and excludes those running under real horse power.
The video shows a savvy horse carefully obeying traffic laws on a night-time journey through town before stopping in front of a bar to pick up a rider who has enjoyed a drink or two.
Doll rescued on Yarra River
A COUPLE floating down Melbourne's Yarra River on inflatable dolls have been rescued after getting into trouble.
Australian police say the 19-year-old couple had just passed Pound Bend Tunnel at Warrandyte North when the water became turbulent and the woman lost control of her grip on the doll about 4.30pm (AEDT) on Sunday.
The woman grabbed hold of a tree that was floating in the river. The man stayed with her and they yelled for help, police say. A passer-by contacted triple zero and police and SES went to the scene.
A kayaker took life jackets to the pair and the SES attended with a boat and rescued the pair. They were checked by ambulance officers but did not require medical attention.
Police say the fate of the dolls is unknown.
NOT made in Scotland
The owners of a number of tartan souvenir shops have been fined £4,500 for selling Chinese-made cashmere clothes from a shelf with the label "Made in Scotland". Gold Brothers, which owns stores in Edinburgh's Royal Mile, had already pleaded guilty to a criminal charge of "misleading" customers.
It follows two test purchases in 2009 by trading standards officers. Sentence was passed at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.
Gold Brothers, which pleaded guilty last month, was trading as Abercrombie Cashmere. Having established the garments were of Chinese origin, officers visited the store on 15 September 2010 and 293 cashmere jumpers were seized. They were all described on the "shelf-edge label" as Scottish but were subsequently identified as having been imported from China.
Read More HERE
It follows two test purchases in 2009 by trading standards officers. Sentence was passed at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.
Gold Brothers, which pleaded guilty last month, was trading as Abercrombie Cashmere. Having established the garments were of Chinese origin, officers visited the store on 15 September 2010 and 293 cashmere jumpers were seized. They were all described on the "shelf-edge label" as Scottish but were subsequently identified as having been imported from China.
Read More HERE
Irish Cup draw blunder
The draw for the sixth round of the JJB Irish Cup was thrown into confusion after one of the numbers was called out twice during the live TV broadcast. The problem arose when the Irish FA's senior clubs chairman Robert Cupples mistakenly called out the number 10 after drawing ball six from the cup. Moments later the real number 10 was drawn and supervising IFA official Andy Johnston knew a blunder had been made.
Watch the video HERE
Watch the video HERE
Thursday, January 13, 2011
River turned bright green
It was at first unknown what had caused the river to change colour so dramatically, but it soon emerged that it was the result of someone adding fluorescein to the water.
However, the culprits have still not been caught almost three weeks after the incident.
The colouring lasted several hours and no fish were harmed or coloured by the dye, which is commonly used as a tracer agent in water studies.
A study conducted at Environment Canada’s Pacific Environmental Science Centre in North Vancouver confirmed that the water was not toxic.
One hiker who saw the unusually-coloured water while walking by the river, Tyson Elder of Victoria, British Columbia, told The Sun: 'We had been hiking all day so to see something so bright and unexpected was kind of unnerving, especially because it is a popular tourist destination.
Read More
However, the culprits have still not been caught almost three weeks after the incident.
The colouring lasted several hours and no fish were harmed or coloured by the dye, which is commonly used as a tracer agent in water studies.
A study conducted at Environment Canada’s Pacific Environmental Science Centre in North Vancouver confirmed that the water was not toxic.
One hiker who saw the unusually-coloured water while walking by the river, Tyson Elder of Victoria, British Columbia, told The Sun: 'We had been hiking all day so to see something so bright and unexpected was kind of unnerving, especially because it is a popular tourist destination.
Read More
Fox shoots man
MOSCOW (Reuters) – A wounded fox shot its would be killer in Belarus by pulling the trigger on the hunter's gun as the pair scuffled after the man tried to finish the animal off with the butt of the rifle, media said Thursday.
The unnamed hunter, who had approached the fox after wounding it from a distance, was in hospital with a leg wound, while the fox made its escape, media said, citing prosecutors from the Grodno region.
"The animal fiercely resisted and in the struggle accidentally pulled the trigger with its paw," one prosecutor was quoted as saying.
Fox-hunting is popular in the picturesque farming region of northwestern Belarus which borders Poland.
The unnamed hunter, who had approached the fox after wounding it from a distance, was in hospital with a leg wound, while the fox made its escape, media said, citing prosecutors from the Grodno region.
"The animal fiercely resisted and in the struggle accidentally pulled the trigger with its paw," one prosecutor was quoted as saying.
Fox-hunting is popular in the picturesque farming region of northwestern Belarus which borders Poland.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Pantomime breaks Geneva Convention
In the Glasgow Pavilion Theater's production The Magical Adventures of Robin Hood, character Nurse Poltis originally wore an outfit with red crosses on the hat and tunic.
But bosses were forced to change the outfit after being contacted by the British Red Cross – who revealed they were breaking the Geneva Convention and could face prosecution.
Under the Convention, unauthorised use of the Red Cross emblem is illegal.
Nurse Poltis’ outfit now features green crosses instead.
A spokesman for the organization said they had ‘no desire to be the villains of the pantomime’ but they have ‘a very serious obligation to protect the Red Cross emblem.’
They added: ‘When we contacted the theatre management, they quickly changed the cross on the nurse's costume to green and we applaud them for that.’
Video HERE
But bosses were forced to change the outfit after being contacted by the British Red Cross – who revealed they were breaking the Geneva Convention and could face prosecution.
Under the Convention, unauthorised use of the Red Cross emblem is illegal.
Nurse Poltis’ outfit now features green crosses instead.
A spokesman for the organization said they had ‘no desire to be the villains of the pantomime’ but they have ‘a very serious obligation to protect the Red Cross emblem.’
They added: ‘When we contacted the theatre management, they quickly changed the cross on the nurse's costume to green and we applaud them for that.’
Video HERE
Friday, January 07, 2011
Homeless man with amazing voice lands radio jobs
A homeless man is seeing job offers pour in, after a YouTube video of him showing off his incredible voice became a viral hit.
Ted Williams used to work as a radio announcer, but hard times saw him jobless, homeless and holding a sign begging for cash at the side of a road in Ohio.
And that's where he was found when he recently became the subject of a viral video after a journalist noticed his sign, boasting he had a "God-given gift of a great voice".
After the exchange of a few dollars, Williams released his silky smooth FM voice saying things like: "we'll be right back with more after these words" for the camera.
Now, after gaining more than 4 million views on YouTube, the job offers are pouring in… we just wish we could get him to read Newslite stories to us at night.
Williams says that in the past he had problems with drugs and alcohol, but is now two years clean.
His first live radio gig is due to be on WNCI's Morning Zoo and bosses at the station say they are trying to find him some work.
Ted Williams used to work as a radio announcer, but hard times saw him jobless, homeless and holding a sign begging for cash at the side of a road in Ohio.
And that's where he was found when he recently became the subject of a viral video after a journalist noticed his sign, boasting he had a "God-given gift of a great voice".
After the exchange of a few dollars, Williams released his silky smooth FM voice saying things like: "we'll be right back with more after these words" for the camera.
Now, after gaining more than 4 million views on YouTube, the job offers are pouring in… we just wish we could get him to read Newslite stories to us at night.
Williams says that in the past he had problems with drugs and alcohol, but is now two years clean.
His first live radio gig is due to be on WNCI's Morning Zoo and bosses at the station say they are trying to find him some work.
Wednesday, January 05, 2011
Trash saver
NEW YORK — Authorities in New York City say a man who tried to jump to his death from his ninth floor apartment was saved by a heap of trash bags that had gone uncollected since last week's blizzard.
Fire officials say the 26-year-old was taken to Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan shortly after noon on Sunday. He was listed in critical but stable condition.
Vangelis "Angelo" Kapatos landed on his back after jumping from his ninth-floor window. No one was home and he left no note, the New York Post reported.
Fire officials say the 26-year-old was taken to Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan shortly after noon on Sunday. He was listed in critical but stable condition.
Vangelis "Angelo" Kapatos landed on his back after jumping from his ninth-floor window. No one was home and he left no note, the New York Post reported.
Coffee spill causes hijack alert
A PILOT'S spilled coffee accidentally triggered a hijacking alert and caused a United Airlines flight from Chicago to Frankfurt, Germany, to make an unscheduled stop in Canada.
A Transport Canada report said United Flight 940 was diverted to Toronto and landed safely at Pearson International Airport. The coffee sent out distress signals including code 7500, which means hijacking or unlawful interference.
Read more
A Transport Canada report said United Flight 940 was diverted to Toronto and landed safely at Pearson International Airport. The coffee sent out distress signals including code 7500, which means hijacking or unlawful interference.
Read more
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Shcools with no pupils
Two more primary schools in Wales are technically open despite having no pupils. Last week Education Minister Leighton Andrews said Carmarthenshire council's decision to keep Capel Iwan, near Newcastle Emlyn, open was "bonkers."
Now Gwynedd and Ceredigion councils have confirmed they each have a primary school without pupils.
The councils said both would now be closed after parents had withdrawn their children. Although Ysgol Abergynolwyn near Tywyn in Gwynedd and Mydroilyn Primary School near Llanarth in Ceredigion were earmarked for closure in the future, they were due to welcome pupils back in September. But parents have decided to send their children elsewhere.
Both councils said the statutory process to close them was now underway. Most staff at the schools have been redeployed, although a caretaker is still employed at Ysgol Abergynolwyn for an hour each day.
Both authorities, however, will still need to fund maintenance of the schools. Ceredigion council said the costs were "relatively minimal - but difficult to quantify precisely, at this stage".
Carmarthenshire Council came under fire recently after it emerged Ysgol Capel Iwan would open next term even though it had no pupils. Parents of the five children due to return to the school in September withdrew their children amid concerns it would be closed the following year.
Now Gwynedd and Ceredigion councils have confirmed they each have a primary school without pupils.
The councils said both would now be closed after parents had withdrawn their children. Although Ysgol Abergynolwyn near Tywyn in Gwynedd and Mydroilyn Primary School near Llanarth in Ceredigion were earmarked for closure in the future, they were due to welcome pupils back in September. But parents have decided to send their children elsewhere.
Both councils said the statutory process to close them was now underway. Most staff at the schools have been redeployed, although a caretaker is still employed at Ysgol Abergynolwyn for an hour each day.
Both authorities, however, will still need to fund maintenance of the schools. Ceredigion council said the costs were "relatively minimal - but difficult to quantify precisely, at this stage".
Carmarthenshire Council came under fire recently after it emerged Ysgol Capel Iwan would open next term even though it had no pupils. Parents of the five children due to return to the school in September withdrew their children amid concerns it would be closed the following year.
Shcool
Workers have misspelled the word school on a road approaching a high school in North Carolina in the US. Crews painted "shcool" on the approach road to Southern Guilford High School.
The road had been recently repaved and crews were working to mark out the school zones.
The company that was responsible said it had "made a mistake" and it would be fixed. A spokesperson said the paint was "interim paint" used before the final paint is applied.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Korean Soccer fans are Chinese actors
The paranoia of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il seems to know no bounds. Case in point – in Brazil’s 2-1 win over North Korea today, ESPN analyst Martin Tyler made a rather odd observation.Tyler claimed that a group that appeared to be North Koreans, weren’t actually North Koreans, but rather “handpicked Chinese Actors.” Reports have said these “fans” were Chinese actors, acting on behalf of China as a way to support its long-time ally. Roughly 1,000 Chinese citizens, “including musicians and actors, to cheer for the North Koreans,” the report said.
They were conspicuously missing from the North Koreans match against Nigeria last Sunday. But they made it to today’s match.
One can only speculate why the North Koreans have to borrow fans, but can the North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il really be so paranoid not to allow any real North Korean to come and support their own athletics teams, fearing they might want to move to South Africa?
Thursday, June 10, 2010
World's biggest burger
An Australian cafe is claiming a world record after cooking a giant hamburger with an 81 kg (178 lb) patty that took 12 hours to cook and four men to flip.
The monster burger cooked up by Sydney cafe owners, Joe and Iman El-Ajouz, weighed in at 90 kg in total, eclipsing the previous record of 84 kg, set in Michigan in the United States.
"Just flipping the patty was the main challenge for us, but it all went well," Iman El-Ajouz told Reuters.
"My husband had to prepare special metal holders and a metal plate, he had one at the bottom one at the top, locked them together and they flipped the burger with that," she added.
The giant burger contained the giant beef patty, 120 eggs, 150 slices of cheese, 1.5 kg of beetroot, 2.5 kg of tomatoes and almost 2 kg of lettuce all topped off with a special sauce on a giant sesame seed bun. It was eaten by employees at the cafe.
The variety of burger will be on the menu at the cafe for the next year in order to meet the conditions for a Guinness world record, but will set hungry patrons back around A$1,500 ($1,220).
Friday, November 20, 2009
Cafe stolen
A roadside cafe weighing two and a half tonnes has been stolen from a lay-by in West Yorkshire, England.
Michelle Palmers had been running the Tip Top Tasters cafe on Halifax Road in Keighley for a year, when it disappeared overnight on Tuesday.
The cafe contained catering equipment worth thousands of pounds and Ms Palmers has offered a reward for its safe return.
West Yorkshire Police said its officers were investigating the theft.
Ms Palmers discovered the portable building had gone when she arrived for work at 0630 BST on Wednesday.
She said: "For the size of it you wouldn't think it would go so easily. No one seems to have seen anything."
Michelle Palmers had been running the Tip Top Tasters cafe on Halifax Road in Keighley for a year, when it disappeared overnight on Tuesday.
The cafe contained catering equipment worth thousands of pounds and Ms Palmers has offered a reward for its safe return.
West Yorkshire Police said its officers were investigating the theft.
Ms Palmers discovered the portable building had gone when she arrived for work at 0630 BST on Wednesday.
She said: "For the size of it you wouldn't think it would go so easily. No one seems to have seen anything."
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Woman passes 950th driving test
A South Korean woman is celebrating after passing the written exam for a driving licence - on her 950th attempt. After four years of trying, 68-year-old Cha Sa-soon finally managed to secure the 60 out of 100 points needed to pass the test.The grandmother has spent more than 5m won ($4,200, £2,600) on application fees for the test. Now Mrs Cha, who lives in Jeonju, 130 miles (210km) south of Seoul, must pass the practical test to get on the road.
According to the Korean Driver's Licence Agency, the 50-minute written test consists of 50 multiple-choice questions on road regulations and car maintenance. Mrs Cha had been trying to pass it since 13 April 2005, the Korea Times reported.
She wanted a licence so that she could use a vehicle to sell vegetables and other goods, the newspaper said. And her determination to pass the test has made her well-known at the Jeonju centre.
"She is really famous here. Not only agency employees but even some test-takers know her. Her challenging spirit is really amazing," one official was quoted as saying.
Speaking in February - after her 775th failure - Mrs Cha had appeared undaunted.
"I believe you can achieve your goal if you persistently pursue it," she told Reuters news agency. So don't give up your dream, like me. Be strong and do your best."
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