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The councils said both would now be closed after parents had withdrawn their children.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.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
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."
1,000 suitcases recovered
An Arizona couple are accused of stealing at least 1,000 pieces of luggage from the Phoenix airport and stashing — or at times, selling — the suitcases.Keith King, 61, and Stacy King, 38, were arrested at their home in Waddell Friday for allegedly stealing the luggage from Sky Harbor Airport, MyFoxPhoenix.com reported. They were charged with burglary and tampering with evidence.
Police say the Kings are suspected in an alleged scam involving at least 1,000 stolen suitcases and maybe even thousands of pieces of luggage.
A Sky Harbor Airport officer grew suspicious when he witnessed Keith King allegedly walking out with a bag a few weeks ago. Investigators say King visited the airport more than 60 times recently without ever boarding a plane, MyFoxPhoenix.com reported.
Neighbors say they noticed strange activity at the Kings' house.
"They'd take their trailer out at sunset, come home at 4 o'clock in the morning," said one neighbor, Eugene Huneycutt. "It was a horse trailer. They don't have horses over there, so it was very suspicious what was happening."
Another neighbor said the couple sold luggage at frequently-held yard sales.
Friday, October 23, 2009
848 mile golf course
Attention die-hard golfers! The world's longest golf course, spanning 848 miles, is now open!
Nullarbor Links, an 18-hole, 72-par golf course, stretches through several towns situated along the desolate Eyre Highway. Golfers play a hole in one town, then drive to the next tee which could be as far as 62 miles away.
To give golfers the "quintessential Australian experience," the course features a "somewhat rugged, outback-style, natural terrain fairway," which means there are very few manicured greens, or pristine fairways. The course could take as long as 4 days to complete.
”I think people are looking for an adventure, and an experience,” Alfie Caputo, the course's project manager, told News.com.au. ”This is the real Australia, it really is. They'll never play anything like this anywhere in the world.”
Thursday, October 22, 2009
2 mile long wedding veil
3rd video in :-)
Oct. 20: A woman in Lebanon claims she was married wearing the world’s longest veil. It measured 2 miles and 453 feet.
Oct. 20: A woman in Lebanon claims she was married wearing the world’s longest veil. It measured 2 miles and 453 feet.
Monday, October 05, 2009
Irish police ticket Mr. Driving licence
Irish police have received an international award for their search for the country's worst motorist.
Earlier this year it emerged that officers had issued 50 driving tickets to a Mr Prawo Jazdy, which is Polish for "driving licence".
At the Ig Nobel ceremony in the US the force topped the literature category.
The prize was accepted by Karolina Lewestam, "a Polish citizen and holder of a Polish driver's licence", who is a graduate student at Boston University.
She "expressed her good wishes to the Irish police service".
The aim of the Ig Nobel awards is to honour achievements that "first make people laugh and then make them think". It is organised by the magazine Annals of Improbable Research.
Designers of a bra that turns into gas masks and a team who found that named cows produce more milk were among the other award winners.
Irish police had to send out a memo to officers in the force explaining what was behind the repeat offender.
"Prawo Jazdy is actually the Polish for driving licence and not the first and surname on the licence," read a letter from June 2007 from an officer working within the Garda's traffic division.
"Having noticed this, I decided to check and see how many times officers have made this mistake.
"It is quite embarrassing to see that the system has created Prawo Jazdy as a person with over 50 identities."
The officer added that the "mistake" needed to be rectified immediately and asked that a memo be circulated throughout the force.
Earlier this year it emerged that officers had issued 50 driving tickets to a Mr Prawo Jazdy, which is Polish for "driving licence".
At the Ig Nobel ceremony in the US the force topped the literature category.
The prize was accepted by Karolina Lewestam, "a Polish citizen and holder of a Polish driver's licence", who is a graduate student at Boston University.
She "expressed her good wishes to the Irish police service".
The aim of the Ig Nobel awards is to honour achievements that "first make people laugh and then make them think". It is organised by the magazine Annals of Improbable Research.
Designers of a bra that turns into gas masks and a team who found that named cows produce more milk were among the other award winners.
Irish police had to send out a memo to officers in the force explaining what was behind the repeat offender.
"Prawo Jazdy is actually the Polish for driving licence and not the first and surname on the licence," read a letter from June 2007 from an officer working within the Garda's traffic division.
"Having noticed this, I decided to check and see how many times officers have made this mistake.
"It is quite embarrassing to see that the system has created Prawo Jazdy as a person with over 50 identities."
The officer added that the "mistake" needed to be rectified immediately and asked that a memo be circulated throughout the force.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
World Gurning Champion 2009
Gordon Blacklock has been crowned the winner of the annual World Gurning Championships.
Mr Blacklock, who lives in the village of Egremont - where the event took place - had been taking part for 13 years before winning.
Former champion and record-holder Tommy Mattinson was unable to take part this year. The event dates back in 1297 at the Egremont Crab Apple Fair.
The apples there were so bitter that people would pull faces and gurning was born.
Mr Blacklock, who lives in the village of Egremont - where the event took place - had been taking part for 13 years before winning.
Former champion and record-holder Tommy Mattinson was unable to take part this year. The event dates back in 1297 at the Egremont Crab Apple Fair.
The apples there were so bitter that people would pull faces and gurning was born.
Naked ramblings of a German
Germany is traditionally tolerant of nudity, but a plan to give naked ramblers their own wilderness path is still some way from the sunny uplands. A campsite manager, Heinz Ludwig, aims to establish Germany's first official naked ramblers' footpath - an 18km (11-mile) route in the Harz Mountains.
"But some people are against - it is not directly supported by the community," he told BBC News. "I want people to calm down, then we'll try again next year."
But he says fans of Freikoerperkultur - Free Body Culture, or FKK for short - have expressed support for the scheme. It would attract naturists to the Wippra and Dankerode areas, in the central German mountain range. Fully-clothed walkers would be free to use the path, too.
"It's a secluded area, away from traffic," Mr Ludwig said. "In the GDR [former communist East Germany] people used to bathe there, too."
He says some keen naturists have already tested the trail. The plan is to open it officially next May.
A sign has been put up warning those averse to naturism that they might prefer to go elsewhere.
"If you don't want to see people with nothing on then you should refrain from moving on," it reads.
"But some people are against - it is not directly supported by the community," he told BBC News. "I want people to calm down, then we'll try again next year."
But he says fans of Freikoerperkultur - Free Body Culture, or FKK for short - have expressed support for the scheme. It would attract naturists to the Wippra and Dankerode areas, in the central German mountain range. Fully-clothed walkers would be free to use the path, too.
"It's a secluded area, away from traffic," Mr Ludwig said. "In the GDR [former communist East Germany] people used to bathe there, too."
He says some keen naturists have already tested the trail. The plan is to open it officially next May.
A sign has been put up warning those averse to naturism that they might prefer to go elsewhere.
"If you don't want to see people with nothing on then you should refrain from moving on," it reads.
Saturday, September 05, 2009
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
One-way mayhem
There has been traffic chaos in two Paris suburbs after their feuding mayors declared the same busy road one-way, but in opposite directions.
Patrick Balkany, the conservative mayor of Levallois-Perret, initially made the D909 one-way to reduce the amount of commuter traffic through his district.
But Gilles Catoire, the Socialist mayor of neighbouring Clichy-la-Garenne, said this increased congestion in his area.
He made his section of the road one-way in the opposite direction.
With the contradictory road-signs in place, the unsurprising result was gridlock, prompting the deployment of municipal and national police to direct traffic away from the area.
"What Clichy has done is not a long-term solution, but it is a response to a unilateral decision by the town of Levallois," Clichy's deputy mayor, Alain Fournier, was quoted as saying by AFP news agency.
But Mr Balkany insisted: "The mayor of Clichy has taken a position that is unreasonable and is hurting his own constituents."
Thousands of motorists pass between the two suburbs each day on their way into and out of the French capital.
Patrick Balkany, the conservative mayor of Levallois-Perret, initially made the D909 one-way to reduce the amount of commuter traffic through his district.
But Gilles Catoire, the Socialist mayor of neighbouring Clichy-la-Garenne, said this increased congestion in his area.
He made his section of the road one-way in the opposite direction.
With the contradictory road-signs in place, the unsurprising result was gridlock, prompting the deployment of municipal and national police to direct traffic away from the area.
"What Clichy has done is not a long-term solution, but it is a response to a unilateral decision by the town of Levallois," Clichy's deputy mayor, Alain Fournier, was quoted as saying by AFP news agency.
But Mr Balkany insisted: "The mayor of Clichy has taken a position that is unreasonable and is hurting his own constituents."
Thousands of motorists pass between the two suburbs each day on their way into and out of the French capital.
Jail threat for donkey bloggers
Two bloggers from Azerbaijan are facing up to five years in jail after posting a video of a donkey giving a news conference on YouTube.
Shortly after the video was released, Andnan Hajizade and Emin Milli were held on hooliganism charges following a scuffle in a restaurant. Their lawyer says the arrests were politically motivated.
But authorities insist they are investigating a simple criminal case.
In the video, the donkey extols the benefits of living in Azerbaijan and praises the government for its positive attitude towards donkeys. The video was seen by many as a send-up of government news conferences, which critics say are often little more than propaganda events.
"This incident is definitely politically motivated," said the bloggers' lawyer, Isakhan Ashurov. My clients did not beat anybody, quite the opposite."
The Azerbaijani government denies that the bloggers' arrest was politically motivated.
"People are not arrested in Azerbaijan because of political activity," said Ali Hasnov, a senior adviser to President Ilham Aliyev, in a statement. There was a scuffle between some young people and some of them were injured. Law enforcement agencies are investigating the case and will give an impartial assessment," he added.
Shortly after the video was released, Andnan Hajizade and Emin Milli were held on hooliganism charges following a scuffle in a restaurant. Their lawyer says the arrests were politically motivated.
But authorities insist they are investigating a simple criminal case.
In the video, the donkey extols the benefits of living in Azerbaijan and praises the government for its positive attitude towards donkeys. The video was seen by many as a send-up of government news conferences, which critics say are often little more than propaganda events.
"This incident is definitely politically motivated," said the bloggers' lawyer, Isakhan Ashurov. My clients did not beat anybody, quite the opposite."
The Azerbaijani government denies that the bloggers' arrest was politically motivated.
"People are not arrested in Azerbaijan because of political activity," said Ali Hasnov, a senior adviser to President Ilham Aliyev, in a statement. There was a scuffle between some young people and some of them were injured. Law enforcement agencies are investigating the case and will give an impartial assessment," he added.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
French army sets fire to Marseilles
The French army were branded 'imbeciles' after a shelling exercise set fire to a suburb of Marseille. The government spoke of its fury as hundreds of residents were evacuated from one of the worst wildfires in recent years.
The Foreign Legion conducted the artillery practice depsite scorching summer temperatures - meaning virtually every shell that landed on a hillside started a fire. Dozens of buildings were destroyed in the blazes hit the eastern Trois-Ponts suburb including a retirement home housing 120 pensioners .
No serious injuries were reported but residents had to be evacuated to nearby gyms and public buildings. The National Forestry Office reportedly said 400 to 500 houses were threatened by the fire over an five-mile front.
Thousands of acres of tinder dry scrub have already been ravaged for the flames. regional government prefect Michel Sappin branded the army "imbeciles" and demanded court martials for officers who ordered the exercise
In such weather conditions, with high winds, the army should refrain from carrying out shelling practice, he said.
The army apologised for its "terrible error."
The Foreign Legion conducted the artillery practice depsite scorching summer temperatures - meaning virtually every shell that landed on a hillside started a fire. Dozens of buildings were destroyed in the blazes hit the eastern Trois-Ponts suburb including a retirement home housing 120 pensioners .
No serious injuries were reported but residents had to be evacuated to nearby gyms and public buildings. The National Forestry Office reportedly said 400 to 500 houses were threatened by the fire over an five-mile front.
Thousands of acres of tinder dry scrub have already been ravaged for the flames. regional government prefect Michel Sappin branded the army "imbeciles" and demanded court martials for officers who ordered the exercise
In such weather conditions, with high winds, the army should refrain from carrying out shelling practice, he said.
The army apologised for its "terrible error."
Friday, July 10, 2009
'Rude' French are worst tourists
French tourists are the worst in the world, coming across as penny-pinching, rude and terrible at languages, according to a new survey.
The study by travel company Expedia asked 4,500 hotels worldwide to rank tourists on their behaviour.
Japanese tourists - seen as clean and tidy, polite, quiet and uncomplaining - came top for the third year running.
French travellers made amends on elegance - classed third - as well as for their discretion and cleanliness.
But the French were the least ready to try a new language, unlike US tourists who were most likely to swallow their pride and order a pizza, baguette or a paella in the local lingo.
Read the full article HERE
The study by travel company Expedia asked 4,500 hotels worldwide to rank tourists on their behaviour.
Japanese tourists - seen as clean and tidy, polite, quiet and uncomplaining - came top for the third year running.
French travellers made amends on elegance - classed third - as well as for their discretion and cleanliness.
But the French were the least ready to try a new language, unlike US tourists who were most likely to swallow their pride and order a pizza, baguette or a paella in the local lingo.
Read the full article HERE
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Stoned wallabies make crop circles
The mystery of crop circles in poppy fields in Australia's southern island state of Tasmania has been solved -- stoned wallabies are eating the poppy heads and hopping around in circles.
"We have a problem with wallabies entering poppy fields, getting as high as a kite and going around in circles," the state's top lawmaker Lara Giddings told local media on Thursday.
"Then they crash. We see crop circles in the poppy industry from wallabies that are high," she said.
Many people believe crop circles that mysteriously appear in fields around the world are created by aliens.
Poppy producer Tasmanian Alkaloids said livestock which ate the poppies were known to "act weird" -- including deer and sheep in the state's highlands.
"There have been many stories about sheep that have eaten some of the poppies after harvesting and they all walk around in circles," said field operations manager Rick Rockliff.
Australia produces about 50 percent of the world's raw material for morphine and related opiates.
"We have a problem with wallabies entering poppy fields, getting as high as a kite and going around in circles," the state's top lawmaker Lara Giddings told local media on Thursday.
"Then they crash. We see crop circles in the poppy industry from wallabies that are high," she said.
Many people believe crop circles that mysteriously appear in fields around the world are created by aliens.
Poppy producer Tasmanian Alkaloids said livestock which ate the poppies were known to "act weird" -- including deer and sheep in the state's highlands.
"There have been many stories about sheep that have eaten some of the poppies after harvesting and they all walk around in circles," said field operations manager Rick Rockliff.
Australia produces about 50 percent of the world's raw material for morphine and related opiates.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Pitt slow down
MOSCOW — Brad Pitt is accustomed to stopping passersby in their tracks. The Hollywood heartthrob's next job is slowing traffic in Siberia — or so Russian traffic police hope.
A Russian newspaper reports that cardboard cutouts of Pitt dressed as a traffic cop have been placed by the most dangerous intersections in the city of Omsk.
It's the latest move by authorities in their endless battle against speeding. Traffic accidents in Russia are among the highest in Europe.
The campaign seems to be working. Omsk officials say accidents are down as star-struck drivers ease off the gas to gaze at the unusual image.
The paper, Argumenty i Fakty, quotes Dmitry Ziryanov, a local official who came up with the idea as saying Pitt is "kind of like a colleague for us."
A Russian newspaper reports that cardboard cutouts of Pitt dressed as a traffic cop have been placed by the most dangerous intersections in the city of Omsk.
It's the latest move by authorities in their endless battle against speeding. Traffic accidents in Russia are among the highest in Europe.
The campaign seems to be working. Omsk officials say accidents are down as star-struck drivers ease off the gas to gaze at the unusual image.
The paper, Argumenty i Fakty, quotes Dmitry Ziryanov, a local official who came up with the idea as saying Pitt is "kind of like a colleague for us."
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