Friday, December 26, 2008

Police use tobacco spit to nab burglar

A trail of tobacco spit has led investigators to a suspect in at least five burglaries across eastern Oklahoma, police said.

Randy Lee Shoopman Jr., 33, was charged with 11 counts of second-degree burglary after a sample of his DNA matched that taken from expectorant left behind at the scene of several burglaries in Oklahoma, said officer Brad Robertson, a spokesman for the Tahlequah police department.

Shoopman was taken into custody December 19 in Merced, Calif., on an unrelated stolen property charge, Robertson said.

Investigators also said Shoopman may be involved in break-ins at businesses across eastern Oklahoma and in Missouri.

Stilwell police detective Chad Smith said he was investigating the burglary of an insurance company in September when he noticed a tobacco stain on papers in the ransacked office.

"None of the ladies that worked there chewed tobacco," Smith said. "You could tell that the stains were from the suspect."

Smith said he sent a sample of the spit to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation for testing. Detectives in Tahlequah who were investigating Shoopman as a possible suspect in a string of burglaries obtained a warrant to get a DNA sample from him.

The sample linked him to at least five burglaries in which the suspect also left behind tobacco spit, Robertson said. Shoopman was released on bail before the DNA match was obtained.
The evidence helps build a strong case for prosecutors, said Shannon Otteson, assistant district attorney in Adair County.

"Eyewitness testimony is unreliable at best. Even video tape surveillance is sometimes grainy. But this is pretty good," Otteson said. "Through this guy's bad habit, we could possibly solve several different burglaries."

Oklahoma officials hoped to have Shoopman extradited from California soon to face charges, said Otteson.

A telephone message left on December 24 with Shoopman's attorney in Muskogee was not immediately returned.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Man held for stealing his own van

A Detroit motorist was stopped and handcuffed by police on suspicion of stealing what turned out to be his own van.

Bloomfield Township Police Chief Kirt Bowden said he witnessed the traffic stop on Monday from his office window and worried something was amiss when he noticed the van wasn't new and the driver appeared to be in his 70s.

WJBK-TV in Detroit reported the motorist recently had spotted the van he reported stolen and was told by Detroit police he could take it back.

Bowden said it appears the van still was listed as stolen in the Law Enforcement Information Network when the man was stopped by his officers about 15 miles northwest of Detroit.

A Detroit police spokesman said the department is looking into the incident.

Eatery makes you pay for food you waste

Your mother may have told you to clean your plate. Well, now one local restaurant is taking that a step further. They’re charging customers for food they don’t finish.

At Hayashi Ya restaurant in New York, it's all you can eat for $26.95, unless your eyes are bigger than your stomach and then — like the sign says - it will cost you 3% extra.

The manager said he implemented the extra cost two years ago to help with the restaurant’s bottom line.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Most bizarre complaints witnessed by travel agents

Travel agents are known for arranging proper traveling for people, but the complaints attended by them will make us witness the funny or
may be the sad side of their work.

Travel specialists from around the world have now compiled a list of the most bizarre complaints by travelers, who can go to any extent to get compensation.

One travel agent received a complaint from a tourist at a top African game lodge overlooking a waterhole, who spotted a visibly aroused elephant and complained that the sight of this rampant beast ruined his honeymoon by making him feel "inadequate".

Another wacky complaint had a group of UFO-believers, who were holding a conference at a Novotel hotel, express their fears of being infiltrated by aliens because the locks on the meeting room doors had not been changed.

There was also a complaint filed by a guest at a Novotel in Australia who complained his soup was too thick and strong. He was inadvertently slurping the gravy at the time.

Another Aussie hotel was told by a football star that his hotel room overlooking Sydney's Manly beach was unsuitable because the sound of the sea kept him awake.

Other complaints included a panic-stricken dumb woman who called reception and angrily protested that she was locked in her room. Staff later discovered that the woman, who had never stayed in a hotel before, had read the "do not disturb" sign on the inside doorknob and assumed she should not open it.

According to one British travel company's survey, some travelers complained of not enjoying going away on holiday because foreigners "didn't want to speak English".

World record for stripping down to your underpants

More than a hundred people achieved a world record on November 13 by stripping down to their underpants in London's St Pancras station.

The 116 participants at St Pancras International Station, London, took the record for the largest gathering of people in only their underpants, reports Times Online.

The act was done to mark Guinness World Records Day, and the event was organised by Pants to Poverty.

Other record attempts included an effort in Fulwood, Lancashire, to make the world's largest cup of tea, complete with the biggest tea bag.

In Belfast, there was a precarious bid to set the record for the most people to run in high-heels.

Saturday, October 18, 2008

World record sandwich? Iranians eat evidence...

Workers prepare the sandwich:

Iran failed on Friday to register what it said would be the world's largest sandwich in the Guinness book of World Records after people rushed forward and began eating it -- before it was measured.

Event organizers had planned to stuff the 1,500-meter-long sandwich with 700 kg of ostrich meat and 700 kg of chicken, and display it in a park in the capital Tehran.

But as the sandwich was being measured, chaos ensued. The giant snack was gone in minutes, a Reuters witness said, leaving the three Guinness representatives present with a dilemma.

One of the event's organizers said video footage of the sandwich would be sent to Guinness officials.

"We still think the sandwich will be recorded in the Guinness book because of all the evidence and footage that we will send them," Parvin Shariati said.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Man offers Lamborghini as part of deal to sell 1.1million pounds home

Room with a view no longer applies to home sellers, as a businessman who hopes to sell off his 1.1million-pound home offers to throw in his Lamborghini as part of the deal.

Internet tycoon Rick Hill, 30, hopes that his 152,000-pound car will attract prospective buyers, and help him sell off his luxurious six-bedroom house.

"It is a bit of a novelty but I am offering the ultimate lifestyle package. It's a dream home," the Daily Star quoted him as saying.

"I want to retire and am looking for a simpler life. I feel I have been there and done it with the big house and the cars.

"It is time to move on and let someone else enjoy them," he said.

The house in Hockley, near Southend, Essex, has a pool, gym and games rooms, conservatory and two bathrooms.

Big bums and felony don't mix!

A man in Germany prevented a bank from being looted by the same woman robber for the second time when he recognised her enormous bottom, and called the police.

Police officials in Norf have revealed that Sandra Meiser had fled with 28,000 dollars when she robbed the bank for the first time.

Witnesses at the time had suggested that the armed raider was a woman with "very large" backside, they say.

According to them, a 61-year-old man saw the same bottom as they stood in a queue at the same branch weeks later.

"He called the police and they arrested her and found her ski mask and handgun in her jacket. He said he recognised her bottom straight away - he'd never forget something that big," the Daily Telegraph quoted a worker as saying.

Meiser is facing up to 10 years in jail on robbery and firearms charges, while the witness has landed a 10,000-dollar reward.

Meet the toy-mad Brit who has a collection of two million Lego bricks!

A toy-mad Briton has the biggest-ever private collection of Lego toys - containing over two million bricks.

Darren Smith, 32, started collecting the colourful building blocks aged five when he was given a set by his parents as a Christmas present.

His childhood love for Lego has turned into an incredible collection of more than 2,000,000 bricks.

Smith has broken the previous British record held by Phil Traviss, 50, from Yarm in North Yorkshire, who has 500,000 pieces at his home.

Darren of Exeter, Devon and a data analyst by profession said that his favourites Lego figures are the Star Wars characters - particularly C3PO and Darth Vadar.

"I love all Lego but I'm obsessed with the Star Wars stuff. To this day my favourite piece is a gold C3PO limited edition which I keep in a safe place," Telegraph quoted Darren, as saying.

His collection includes over 2,000 sets of pirates, police, cowboys, astronauts, Vikings and super heroes such as Indiana Jones, Spiderman and Batman.

He also has Lego cars, bikes, helicopters, trains, dinosaurs, robots, fire stations, footballers, aliens, Harry Potter and farm animals.

Darren keeps his 50,000 pounds collection in his three-bed home, that fills large garage and a specially converted loft.

"'I love Lego - the colours and the shapes are timeless. Some people might think it's sad but everyone wants to see the collection," he said.

Darren received his first set in 1981 but admits he only went public with his huge collection aged 27 when he joined a club for AFOLs - adult fans of Lego.

"When I was five my parents gave a me a Lego town and I loved it straight away. I was fascinated. As I got older I used to be a bit coy about it but when I turned 27, I joined the Brickish Association, which is a club for adults.

"It was great because I realised I wasn't the only adult in the country who was mad about Lego," he added.

Darren said that he has spent up to 50,000 pounds on Lego but he keeps the cost of his hobby down by scouring jumble and car boot sales for cheap sets.

As well as individual characters and bricks he now builds large models including a 5ft Lego Winnie the Pooh and a 3ft Piglet.

He has started to display many of his creations at exhibitions across the country and is currently working on a major show to be held in Swindon, Wilts.

Gypsy predicted Brit couple's 4mln Pounds lottery win!

A British couple in England have clinched an over four-million-pound lottery win following the prediction by a gypsy.

Gary and Ann Henry of Coronation, near Bishop Auckland, said that an old lady claiming to be a gypsy had come to their roadside burger bar, and predicted the imminent win.

"It was about two weeks ago and it was a horrible wet day. This little old lady, who looked as though she was aged in her 70s came into the bar. She told me some things about my family that were spot on. She also said I was going to have a win on the lottery," the Telegraph quoted Ann, 50, as saying.

"She said she could see the number four but didn't know how many noughts were after it. She said it was maybe 4,000 pounds. She said she was a true gypsy and that she would be back in the area around Christmas time to see if it had come true.

"She said a lot of people claim to be gypsies but that she really was. I do believe in things like this but I didn't really think much of it. We always play the lottery anyway, it wasn't as if I rushed out to buy a ticket," Ann added.

The win, however, turned out to be bitter sweet for the couple, for Henry's brother Jeff Smith lost his life to liver cancer on the same day as they won the lottery.

Husband Gary, 47, a Lib Dem councillor with Wear Valley District Council, said: "There were mixed emotions because just that morning Jeff died. We felt a little bit guilty that we wanted to celebrate in the circumstances."

He revealed: "The main thing I want to do with the money is to build my own house. We will both be cutting back on working and one of my sons and one of Ann's will look after the snack bar."

Monday, September 22, 2008

The Lady's manor in Britain that was turned into a brothel!

A Brit couple, claiming to help people with sex life 'problems', secretly ran a porn club at their cottage on an aristocrat's estate.

The film starred Louise Loder, 30, having sex with a variety of men and she ran the Cleopatra Club with partner Stephen Warr, 51 - charging members a monthly rate.

They also fitted out the cottage with a pole-dancing stage and cubicles.

Now, Lady Charlotte Townshend is asking the tenants to leave after learning orgies were filmed in the cottage.

Managers of the 15,000-acre Melbury Estate in Dorset have got a court order to evict the couple and their two kids.

"Lady Charlotte thinks we're disgusting. But we did nothing illegal. She's a snob," the Sun quoted Louise, as saying.

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Hotel guest slapped with 5,700 pounds bill for 27-hour sex hotline chat!

A London hotel guest raked up a whopping bill of 5,700 pounds - after spending 27 hours on a premium sex hotline.

Anthony M, 22, however, could not pay his bill after checking out of the hotel.

According to the police, he is the same man wanted in Hannover since February, where he checked into a local hotel and "forgot" to pay the bill upon leaving.

However, Anthony, from Leverkusen, said he couldn't keep track of time while on phone.

"I was sitting in my hotel at night and suddenly became horny, so I called a sex hotline. I did not keep track of time, it was like a movie. I just kept going," the Sun quoted him, as saying.

And after the hotel workers came to know about the horrific bill, they came to Anthony's door seeking an explanation.

"They said I have good stamina," he explained proudly.

Later, he was also quizzed by police, but Anthony's lawyer Burkhard Benecken blamed the hotel.

"The hotel exhibited substantial negligence. If you do not limit guests from accessing high-cost sex hotlines, then you are being careless and should be responsible for any damages," he said.

Meet the world's meanest boyfriend!

A German man was so tight-fisted that he left his girlfriend to cool her heels in the prison, just because he didn't want to pay a fine of just 390 dollars.

Magdalena Czerwinska called beau Max Schuster for help when she was sentenced to 15 days in prison for theft and had pay a fine to walk free.

But, Schuster refused to pay the measly sum saying he would rather save the 390 dollars for himself.

"He said he didn't feel like coming to pay the fine and so she is still stuck in jail," News.com.au quoted a police spokesman in Wanne-Eickel, as saying.

The spokesman added: "People are very worried in the current economic climate and they have to make whatever savings they can. He saw not paying the fine as a simple saving."

11month baby girl helps unconscious mum by answering cell phone!

Eleven-month-old British baby girl Amelia Boyle might not be old enough understand what cellular phones are meant for, but she recently helped raise the alarm that her mother had collapsed unconscious by using a mobile.

Millie, as the baby is lovingly called, picked up the ringing mobile and answered the call when her mother Elizabeth, 20, fainted in the hall of their home.

The dialler was Millie's grandmother Linda Wright, who knew that the baby was not allowed to play with the cell phone.

She immediately understood that something wrong might have happened with Elizabeth, who has a history of fainting and fitting, and dialled 999.

Elizabeth woke up in her home in Braintree, Essex, to hear police and ambulance crews at her door.

Though she told the police that had not called them, the officers broke down the door to get in and help.

A few minutes later three paramedics arrived to examine her, but she did not need hospital treatment.

"I went upstairs to get Millie some clothes. I came downstairs again and I was going to get her dressed up as normal. She was crawling around playing with some toys when I suddenly fainted between the hallway and the living room blocking the stairway," the Telegraph quoted Elizabeth as saying.

"My mum phoned me back on the home phone and when she didn't get through, she tried on the mobile, then the home phone again.

"I am so lucky to have Millie.

"Millie does not seem to be fazed by it. She must have watched me open the phone - she is not usually allowed to play with it because she tends to stick it in her mouth.

"She is a very clever little girl. I was proud of her anyway but now she is even more special," she added.

Her mother said: "If Millie hadn't answered the phone, I wouldn't have known what had happened."

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Indian woman, 55, delivers quadruplets

A 55-year-old Indian woman, who conceived through artificial insemination in her country, has delivered two-months premature quadruplets in Italy.

The woman, who has lived in Suzzara in Italy for 15 years, has given birth to four boys last week in the Italian city of Mantua, "La Gazzetta di Mantova" newspaper reported last week.

The babies were weighing between 750 and 980 grammes and are in incubators at the hospital but are doing well, the report said.

"We have been waiting for this moment for 15 years," the babies' 38-year-old father Pabla Maghar Singh, who is a metal worker, said.

"We are really very happy," he said. The babies have been named Manav, Manmeet, Roshan and Radveer.

The doctors of the hospital, where the babies were delivered, said the last case of this kind in their hospital goes back about thirty years ago.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Dog guards owner's body for six weeks

A German shepherd dog stayed by the body of its owner for six weeks after he committed suicide in remote grasslands in Colorado, The Denver Post has reported.

The loyal dog, named Cash, survived by eating mice and rabbits, and apart from being dehydrated and skinny, was found to be in good shape, the report has said.

The dog, still guarding her owner Jake Baysinger, 25, was found last Sunday by a rancher checking his cattle. Baysinger went missing June 28 and is now believed to have shot himself in the head the day he left.

The report quoted investigators as saying that the dog probably kept coyotes from eating her owner's body.

"She's been such a good dog. I knew that if she was there, she was doing her best to take care of Jake," said Baysinger's wife, Sara Baysinger.

The family credits Cash for helping authorities find the missing man and helping to bring closure to the family.

"At least we know it's over now. We'd been looking for my husband for six weeks, and this isn't how we wanted it to end, at least we can close this," Sara Baysinger said.

"It was a relief to know that there's an end and that we still have a part of Jake."

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Man faces jail for having sex with sleeping wife!

London, Aug 5 (ANI): A Brit man has been arrested for having sex with his wife - while she was asleep.

The 28-year-old was taken into custody after his wife claimed that she had woken 30 times in the past year to find him making love, reports the Sun.

The wife has accused him of taking advantage of the fact that she is a very heavy sleeper.

She told the cops that she confronted her husband several times, telling him that she felt like she was being raped.

The man has reportedly admitted having sex and taking nude photos of her while she slept in Fort Collins, Colorado. (ANI)

Friday, August 8, 2008

English 'Lord' puts life up for sale on eBay

An eccentric British millionaire has put his entire life up for sale on the Internet - including his title of Lord of the Manor of Warleigh - in the hope of converting his assets into cash.

David Piper, a hotelier who made headlines six years ago after advertising for a wife to become his "lady of the manor", wants to sell his west of England existence on the auction site eBay and move to London to be closer to his children.

He is selling two hotels, two Bentleys, a collection of paintings and his title of Lord of the Manor - which he bought along with a large estate for one million pounds ($2 million).

"This sale is brought about as the present lord has been diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer," the advertisement for the sale explains.

"For sale as a whole or in part... can include David, the existing eccentric lord of the manor, physically as well to a suitable purchaser."

Piper, who is well known in his hometown of Plymouth for his antics, is hoping to raise up to 4 million pounds, although he estimates that the total value of the estates was as much as 6 million before property prices fell.

More than 100 bids have been received so far, with the current offer standing at 1.3 million pounds. Bidding closes on August 11.

Piper's move follows that of Ian Usher, a British-born man living in Perth, Australia who earlier this year auctioned off all his worldly goods, including his home. He ended up raising much less than he had hoped - barely making $380,000.

Piper's attempt six years ago to find a bride ended in minor disaster.

More than 2,000 young women answered his advertisement in the International Herald Tribune newspaper and he chose a 32-year-old American divorcee to try out to be his lady. She arrived with her two young children, but fled the manor after only a few days, unable to go through with the union.

As part of his new venture, Piper said he was offering to introduce whoever purchased his life to some of the women whose applications he turned down.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Cat's yowling saves owner from fire

INDEPENDENCE, MISSOURI: A 97-year-old woman says her cat's early morning yowling saved her from a house fire.

Grace George, of Independence, said her cat Boo Boo's yowling from an open bedroom window early morning on July 30th woke her up from a sound sleep.

``I got so aggravated,'' George said. ``I didn't know why she was doing that.''

George picked up the black and gold brindle, a stray she had taken in about 15 years earlier, and felt her way through the dark house until she reached the kitchen.

It was just 4 a.m., and she wanted more sleep. So she started to put the cat outside.

Then she smelled smoke. ``I knew I had to get out of the house,'' said George, seated Thursday on a sofa in her daughter's house, just down the block.

George ran toward the street in the rain, and flagged down the third car she saw.

``Thank God it was a lady,'' she said. ``All I had on was bikini underwear and a tank top.''

Firefighters got Boo Boo out of the house safely and administered oxygen.

For now, George and her heroic cat are staying with George's daughter.

George told her daughter, ``I'm going to get her a special treat, a can of salmon. That's $2.''

``No,'' Patty Young said. ``It's up to five.'' The Independence Fire Department believes lightning caused the fire.

Israeli parents forget daughter at airport...

An Israeli couple going on a European vacation remembered to take their duty-free shopping and their 18 suitcases, but forgot their 3-year-old daughter at the airport, police said on August 4.

The couple and their five children were late for a charter flight to Paris on Sunday and made a mad dash to the gate. In the confusion, their daughter got lost.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said a policeman found her wandering in the duty-free area at Ben-Gurion airport, Israel's bustling main international air portal. He said the officer alerted airline staff, but the flight had already taken off.

Israeli media said the parents were an ultra-Orthodox Jewish couple but did not give their names.

Rosenfeld said the parents were unaware they had boarded the aircraft with only four children instead of five until they were informed by cabin staff after 40 minutes in the air.

The child, accompanied by an airline staffer, took the next flight to Paris where she was safely reunited with her parents.

Rosenfeld said police would question the couple when they return from vacation, on suspicion of parental negligence.

Friday, August 1, 2008

Naked war breaks out between Germany and Poland

Decades after the Second World War, the Germans and Poles are at war again. This time, it's a “naked” battle.

A resort shared by Germany and Poland has sparked a row between citizens of the two countries after Polish sunbathers objected to Germans stripping off on the famous Usedom beach.

While Germans love nothing more than letting it all hang out in the sunshine, it's the opposite for the Poles who prefer to cover up and keep their modesty.

According to leading German website BILD.com , the liberal Germans are outraged by their Polish neighbours and their conservative ways. They have vowed to hang on to their freedom by simply refusing to cover up any of their white bits.

“It's a nudist beach. It's terrible that the Poles come overdressed and stare,” British newspaper Daily Star quoted 44-year-old German Elke Bernholz as telling the popular portal.

Added fellow German Ines Mller: “You feel like an ape in a zoo. The Poles come with their binoculars, stare and swear.”

But, Poles think that the proud Germans have no shame. “It's horrible. We would never bathe naked. We are Catholic,” said 28-year-old Anja, a resident of Poland.

However, authorities hope to put an end to the saucy war by displaying signs in both languages clearly explaining which areas are naked and which are not.

Friday, July 11, 2008

Love candles set hotel ablaze

A Taiwanese man's show of love for his girlfriend backfired, well, literally, after an arrangement of candles reading I Love You started a blaze in a hotel.

The couple found their room aflame when they walked in 40 minutes after the man called Lin had set the candles alight, according to local media reports.

"Lin was arrested later and brought to trial," the China Post newspaper said. He was charged with endangering public safety.

Lin, a frozen-food deliveryman, agreed to pay the suburban Taipei hotel T$120,000 ($35,400) for damage caused by the blaze on May 31, media reported.

A county prosecutor later suspended the indictment in exchange for an apology letter and a donation of T$30,000 to a family and children fund, media and a county spokesman said.

Japanese woman wins over thief with tea

A Japanese woman and her six-month-old baby escaped unhurt from a knife-wielding thief this week after the mother calmed him down with a cup of tea and a chat.

The 30-year-old Tokyo woman was walking along a corridor in her apartment building with her daughter on Monday when a man brandishing a knife demanded money, a newspaper report said.

When the housewife told him she had none, the man barged into her apartment.

Hoping to calm him, the woman made the thief a cup of tea, whereupon he put his knife away and began a 20-minute monologue about his life.

The woman then gave the man 10,000 yen ($93.34) and ran outside to call the police from a pay phone, the report said.

Police rushed to the scene, but the thief had fled and is still being sought.

Woman passes driving test after 27 years and 450 lessons

A 62-year-old woman has finally passed her driving test - 27 years after her first lesson.

Teresa Clarke, of Wroxham, Norfolk, UK, spent 15,000 pound in fees, had 450 hours of tuition from 20 instructors and failed 12 previous tests and cancelled a further 35 and had 50 mock exams.

She had her first lesson in 1981 shortly before American president Ronald Reagan was shot and Prince Charles married Lady Diana Spencer.

However, Clarke was lucky for the 13th time, thanks to the help of her stepson, who runs a driving school, she finally was allowed to ditch her L-plates last month.

"It took a long time for it to sink in when I was told I had passed. I was so happy I kissed the woman instructor," the Telegraph quoted her, as saying.

Clarke, a former shop assistant who is 5ft tall and has to sit on a cushion to reach the steering wheel, has admitted that she was a hopeless learner because she found it very difficult to concentrate for long period of time.

She was such a disaster that many instructors refused to carry on teaching her after a few lessons - either too scared or too frustrated to continue.

However, then Richard Minkler, her stepson from her first marriage, stepped in and offered her his best instructor.

She was given 56 hours instruction in a two week intensive course and told to give up coffee and tea to aid her concentration.

"I was little upset after I failed my first couple of tests - but I never really got disheartened," she said.

"I was very persistent and I always knew I would pass one day. Now my dream has come true and I am just delighted.

"I used to fail my tests on all sorts of different things although my main problem was my lack of concentration.

"I used to have at least three cups of strong Italian coffee every day and when I stopped it really improved my driving by helping me to concentrate."

"My previous one three years ago ended up refusing to teach me anymore after I failed my test with him.

"He just said, 'I am awfully sorry, but you are no good. You will never pass'. His comments upset me and I am delighted to have proved him wrong," she added.

Monday, June 30, 2008

A gathering of Elizabeths

The world's most famous Elizabeth didn't show, but about 400 others did.

The northern Illinois community of Elizabeth tried, on June 28, to set a world record for the largest Gathering of Elizabeths. Women with Elizabeth in any part of their name were allowed in; one participant has Elizabeth as a last name.

The event drew women from more than 20 US states. Those participating had to show a copy of a birth certificate or driver's license.

"We did invite Queen Elizabeth II, but she politely declined," said Susan Gordy, who helped organize the event.

Elizabeth Taylor was also invited but did not reply, Gordy said. The event was designed to celebrate the community and honor famous Elizabeths, including one of the women for whom the community of about 700 people was named.

In 1832, Elizabeth Armstrong, one of at least three Elizabeths living in the Apple River Fort settlement, played a prominent role in defending the community during an attack in the Black Hawk War, a battle between Native Americans and settlers for land in the area, according to Gordy, who works at the Apple River Fort Historic Site.

Armstrong and the other Elizabeths were praised for their courage and honored in the naming of the town, Gordy said.

Gordy said the community plans to submit an application to Guinness World Records.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Laughing over comedy show lands man in jail

A man who fell off the sofa while laughing too hard at a comedian on TV had to spend a night naked in a cell.

Chris Cocker from Blackburn, Australia, laughed so hard while watching a BBC TV's Have I Got News For You that he fell off the sofa, but the thud vexed a neighbour, who in turn called the police.

"I fell off the settee in hysterics and hit the floor and got myself up and started carrying on watching the telly and the next thing I know there was a knock on the door," Brisbane Times quoted Cocker, as telling BBC.

It was the police, but Mr Cocker was not happy to see them and refused to co-operate.

"The bit where I lost it the most was when I shut the door and the policeman had stuck his foot in the doorway and was refusing to let me shut my own front door," he added.

The police was forced to pepper-sprayed Cocker, bundled him into a police van and take him to a police station where he said he was stripped naked and made to spend a night in a jail cell

However, Lancashire Police said the officers used the pepper spray after fearing for their safety when Mr Cocker became aggressive.

Friday 13th safer than an average Friday

Unlucky for some?

Dutch statisticians have established that Friday 13th, a date regarded in many countries as inauspicious, is actually safer than an average Friday.

A study published on Thursday by the Dutch Centre for Insurance Statistics (CVS) showed that fewer accidents and reports of fire and theft occur when the 13th of the month falls on a Friday than on other Fridays. “I find it hard to believe that it is because people are preventatively more careful or just stay home, but statistically speaking, driving is a little bit safer on Friday 13th,” CVS statistician Alex Hoen said.

In the last two years, Dutch insurers received reports of an average 7,800 traffic accidents each Friday, the CVS study said. But the average figure when the 13th fell on a Friday was just 7,500.

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Vandals taught a lesson...with verse

Call it poetic justice: More than two dozen young people who broke into Robert Frost's former home for a beer party and trashed the place are being required to take classes in his poetry as part of their punishment.

Using ‘The Road Not Taken' and another poem as jumping-off points, Frost biographer Jay Parini hopes to show the vandals error of their ways — and redemptive power of poetry.

"I guess I was thinking that if these teens had a better understanding of who Robert Frost was and his contribution to our society, that they would be more respectful of other people's property in the future and would also learn something from the experience," said prosecutor John Quinn.

The vandalism occurred at the Homer Noble farm in Ripton, Vermont, US, where Frost spent more than 20 summers before his death in 1963. Now owned by Middlebury College, the unheated farmhouse on a dead-end road is used occasionally by the college and is open in the warmer months.

On December 28, a 17-year-old former Middlebury College employee decided to hold a party and gave a friend $100 to buy beer. Word spread. Up to 50 people descended on the farm, the revelry turning destructive after a chair broke and someone threw it into the fireplace.

When it was over, windows, antique furniture and china had been broken, fire extinguishers discharged, and carpeting soiled with vomit and urine. Empty beer cans and drug paraphernalia were left behind. The damage was put at $10,600.

Twenty-eight people were charged, mostly with trespassing. About 25 entered pleas — or were accepted into a program to wipe their records clean — provided they underwent the Frost instruction.

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Chinese cabbie helps thief rob own home...

A Chinese cabbie unwittingly became the getaway car driver for a thief who robbed his own home.

Shen, of Huainan city, picked up the passenger at a bus stop at around 3 am and helped him load the things he was carrying into the boot of the cab.

That was when he noticed the man also had in his possession a fish without a tail - just like the one waiting in the freezer at Shen's home, reports the Daily Telegraph.

"I noticed he had a fish without a tail, and I thought how much it looked like the fish in my freezer at home. But then I laughed at myself for even having the thought," he said.

He put it down to freaky coincidence.

However, when he returned home, he was not prepared for the sight waiting for him.

He revealed that he had found his house broken into and his possessions - including the tail-less fish - missing.

Police later arrested a 56-year-old man who faces charges of burglary and theft.

Saturday, May 31, 2008

A homeless woman sneaked into a man's house and lived undetected in his closet for a year...

A homeless woman who sneaked into a man's house and lived undetected in his closet for a year was arrested in Japan after he became suspicious when food mysteriously began disappearing.

Police found the 58-year-old woman on Thursday, May 29th, hiding in the top compartment of the man's closet and arrested her for trespassing, police spokesman Hiroki Itakura from southern Kasuya town said yesterday.

The resident of the home installed security cameras that transmitted images to his mobile phone after becoming puzzled by food disappearing from his kitchen over the past several months.

One of the cameras captured someone moving inside his home Thursday after he had left, and he called police believing it was a burglar. However, when they arrived they found the door locked and all windows closed.

"We searched the house ... checking everywhere someone could possibly hide," Itakura said. "When we slid open the shelf closet, there she was, nervously curled up on her side."

The woman told police she had no place to live and first sneaked into the man's house about a year ago when he left it unlocked.

She had moved a mattress into the small closet space and even took showers, Itakura said, calling the woman "neat and clean."

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Thief crawls through mail flap

A thief broke into the headquarters of Austria's ruling political party last month by wriggling through a post flap in the front door.

The burglar squeezed through the 35x35cm hole early on April 17th and stole laptops, mobile phones, notebooks and cash before crawling out, Catherina Straub, spokeswoman for the Social Democrats, said. "It is such a tiny door for post and newspapers, he must have obviously been extremely small," she said, adding that the culprit had not been caught.

She said it was unlikely the robbery was politically motivated and that the data stolen was not sensitive.

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Nagging really does wonders on men

Women who think that they are wasting their time and energy nagging their husbands should reassess their opinion, for a new study has found that nagging does work on men.

The study by US researchers found that the mental fatigue generated by a continuous stream of questions or orders leaves men susceptible to persuasion.

In other words, the researchers say, it leaves most males too tired to oppose.

In one experiment, the researchers tried to convince a group of students to sanction one month's summer holiday rather than three.

Half the students came to the study fresh, while the other half given a mentally-draining task ahead of time were more willing to sacrifice two months of holiday, the researchers found.

The team says that other tips to win over your man include not wavering when making your pitch ums and ahs sound less convincing not giving too many choices and meeting face to face.

Moreover, flattery and mirroring the body language of the person being persuaded also helps in convincing the person.

"Avoid engaging in argument or doing battle with sales people when your mental batteries are low. Or, if you are trying to be persuasive, strike when your target is low on mental energy," New Scientist quoted the researchers, as saying.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Drivers fined for slow-drive

China opened the world's longest cross-sea bridge last week aiming to cut travel time between two major ports, but hundreds of drivers have been fined already for, unexpectedly, driving too slow to enjoy the view.

The 36-km (22.4 miles) structure spans Hangzhou Bay in the booming province of Zhejiang, designed to slash travel time between its port city of Ningbo and the financial hub Shanghai from four hours to two and a half.

But since its opening on May 1, police have fined more than 300 drivers, most for driving too slowly or illegal parking on the emergency lanes while enjoying the ocean view and taking photos, local media reported on Monday.

"I just wanted to drive a bit slowly and enjoy the sea breeze. Is that wrong?" Zhejiang's official news portal (www.zjol.com.cn) quoted an unnamed driver as complaining.

Long lines of cars carrying whole families eager to see the bridge and sea vista have caused serious traffic problems and led to a series of accidents, the news portal said.

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

300-pound jail inmate complains being ill-fed

BENTONVILLE, ARKANSAS: An inmate awaiting trial on a murder charge is suing the county, complaining he has lost more than 100 pounds (45 kilograms) because of the jailhouse menu.

Broderick Lloyd Laswell says he isn't happy that he's down to 308 pounds (140 kilograms) after eight months in the Benton County jail. He has filed a federal lawsuit complaining the jail doesn't provide inmates with enough food.

According to the suit, Laswell weighed 413 pounds (187 kilograms) when he was jailed in September. Police say he and a co-defendant fatally beat and stabbed a man, then set his home on fire.

"On several occasions I have started to do some exercising and my vision went blurry and I felt like I was going to pass out," Laswell wrote in his complaint. "About an hour after each meal my stomach starts to hurt and growl. I feel hungry again."

But Laswell then goes on to complain that he undertakes little vigorous activity.

"If we are in a small pod all day (and) do next to nothing for physical exercise, we should not lose weight," the suit says. "The only reason we lost weight in here is because we are literally being starved to death."

The suit also asks that the county be ordered to serve hot meals. The jail has served only cold food for years.

The meals, provided through Aramark Correctional Institution Services, average 3,000 calories a day, jail Capt. Hunter Petray told The Morning News of northwest Arkansas for a story last week.

A typical Western diet consists of 2,000 to 3,000 calories a day. Laswell's suit was filed without a lawyer in US District Court in Fayetteville.

Monday, May 5, 2008

When diamonds become girls' worst friends

Diamonds may be forever. But what's a girl to do when she gets dumped or divorced and those rings, necklaces and love gifts lose their emotional sparkle?

Help is just a click away on new Web sites that provide an outlet for selling jewelry from past relationships, sharing break-up stories and helping broken hearts heal.

"You go through a divorce. What do you do with that ring? Maybe you have a child you can pass it on to. Maybe you don't. It just sits there," said Marie Perry of Los Angeles, who with her stepdaughter Megahn Perry runs such a website.

"We wanted to create a platform in the community where people can get in contact with others with similar needs," Perry told. Three months after its launch with the slogan "You Don't Want It. He Can't Have It Back," the Web site has 3,000 registered users and more than 600 postings of rings, bracelets and earrings for sale -- all with a personal tale attached.

"Studs from a Dud," rites one woman, selling a pair of cubic zirconia earrings given to her three years ago. Six months later, she says, the boyfriend dumped her over the phone -- while she was recovering from brain surgery.

"Oops," writes another, selling a white gold wedding band. "Hey, Mom and Dad, remember that time I got married really young? Sorry about that. I can't pay you back for the wedding, but I'll split whatever I get for these with you. Deal?"

"We wanted to keep the tone fun and tongue in cheek. There are some bitter women but most stories are really light-hearted although a few are about people who have been in an abusive situation. But now they are ready to move on," said Perry.

The idea was born when Megahn Perry, a Los Angeles actress and writer, was looking for a safe, reliable place to sell a wedding set after an amicable divorce and realised others might have boyfriend jewelry languishing in drawers or with attendant memories that make them too painful to wear.

The local pawn shop proved an unattractive option. So she teamed up with her stepmother Marie, researched the market and found a gap in it. New Orleans students, Allison Wasserman and Elizabeth Rothbeind, set up a similar venture in April after a teary afternoon sorting out photographs, jewelry and other mementos of an ex-boyfriend.

With the motto "Don't Get Mad - Break Even," it offers independent appraisals of jewelry, matches buyers with sellers, and provides a social network.

Although aimed at women, the Web sites welcome men. "Some men thought it was going to be another male-bashing site but that's not what we're trying to do," said Perry. But she admits the "He Can't Have It Back" slogan has rankled some who believe jewelry should be returned to the giver.

"Etiquette says that if the engagement is broken off, you should absolutely give the ring back. But sometimes the man says no, and sometimes it depends on circumstances," she said.

As one woman posting a diamond ring for $3,500 wrote: "Beautiful ring came with the wrong man. Decided to sell to regain the money that I spent finishing payments on the ring that my ex didn't."

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

US woman uploads divorce rant to YouTube...

YouTube sure has entered people's lives in a 'big' way - a woman has uploaded her divorce rant to the video-sharing website, making it the world's first YouTube divorce writ to millions of people.

The video, by New York's sometime actor and playwright Tricia Walsh-Smith, 52, has attracted 2.9 million viewers and offers to appear on US TV shows such as Today and The View.

The video, in which Walsh-Smith shows tearful ranting about her sexless marriage to a man 24 years her senior, attracted more than 7000 comments on YouTube, which were almost all scathing.

Many comments criticize her as a narcissistic gold-digger who has given her husband ample grounds for divorce.

Her emotional and tearful six-minute rant was apparently recorded in a fit of pique in an attempt to humiliate her estranged husband, Broadway producer Philip Smith.

"We never had sex. He said it was because he had high blood pressure," News.com.au quoted her, as stating.

"Then last year I found Viagra, porn movies and condoms," she added.

She complains bitterly that her husband plans to leave his 64 million dollars fortune to his adult daughters and that he wants to evict her from their nine-room Manhattan apartment.

"I am an idiot, I am the biggest f...ing idiot in the world," she cried.

Walsh-Smith found "a girl with a camera" in the phone book and taped the YouTube monologue after being served with an eviction notice.

"I decided that if I was going to go down, I'd go down screaming," she said.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Cross-dressing maids add spice to Tokyo cafes

"Welcome home, Master," a group of French maids sings out, bowing deeply to a customer entering their maid cafe.

This could be any of the dozens of maid cafes dotting Tokyo's Akihabara district, where geeks engage in role-play with girls dressed as French maids. But don't be fooled by the frilly pinafores: all of the maids here are men.

In this novelty-hungry market catering to Japan's free-spending computer and comic book fans, cafe owners are coming up with ever more exotic formulas to satisfy booming demand.

"I do this for a change since I have an ordinary job," Miyuu Kurusu, one of the cross-dressing maids working at the cafe, said. "I love talking to people, enjoy wearing cute costumes and get a kick out of it when people tell me I'm pretty."

It all started when the manager of "Hibari Tei" cafe, named after a bird, asked a few cross-dressing men to fill in for women working at a different maid cafe. To his surprise, no customer found out they were being served by a male waiter.

Maid cafes generally do not offer sexual services. Customers order typical cafe fare as coffee, tea and sandwiches, served by girlish maids.

Maid cafes first emerged in Akihabara some six years ago. They have grown into a booming business and are a core part of the Japanese "otaku" or "nerd" industry believed to be worth nearly $2 billion.

A jumbo 'brake'

Need to halt an unruly elephant. Apply the 'brake'.

That's what a smalltown innovator in Kerala province of India has come out with: a metallic 'brake' to halt unruly elephants, which the mahout (elephant keeper) can apply sitting atop the jumbo to stop the animal from running amok.

Bhaskaran, who designed the elephantine brake, claims that the device could rein in even the mightiest of tuskers but elephant experts are sceptical of its efficacy.

The device consists of an iron lock to be put on the forelimbs of the animal with a cable linked to it which can be used as a lever by the mahout when necessary.

The device will not be a hitch for the jumbos to move freely in normal circumstances, Bhaskaran claimed.

A furniture shop supervisor in Vadakkancherry, Kerala, Bhasksaran said he was prompted to work on the device following reports of increasing cases of elephant violence in Kerala, especially during the temple festival season in summer.

Though he had written to India's Ahmedabad-based National Innovation Foundation about his invention, he was asked to first get the device approved by recognised veterinarians in the state.

On contacting some vets, they found some flaws in the device, which Bhaskaran is now trying to improve to make it suitable for all types of jumbos.

UK cops hand out gun permits to 7-yr-olds

Police have given gun licences to children aged just seven. A Daily Mirror investigation discovered 5,343 under-18s got permits in last two years because of a legal loophole. All youngsters have to do is fill in a form and attend a routine police interview to get a licence.

These include permits for .22 rifles, .243 rifles, .410 pistols, .410 shotguns and 12-bore semi automatic shotguns. Anti-gun campaigners branded the figures "scandalous." Sussex police handed out most gun licences to kids. It issued 403 permits to children - including four nine-year-olds, three 10-year-olds and 20 11-year-olds.

Fed up with politics, man eats vote...

Ballot stuffing took on a new meaning in Italy's parliamentary election on Sunday, April 13, when a man ate his ballot paper in protest at the country's politicians.

Police in Naples said they had charged the 41-year-old businessman with destroying election materials.

He said all Italian politicians and politics "are crap" and that he was protesting "against the system."

Thief deposits loot with victim

Three days after stealing a rare collection of coins, a thief in Germany took them to the bank for safe keeping -- and delivered them into the hands of the man he had robbed.

"I don't think the thief was expecting that," said a spokesman for police in the western city of Dortmund on April 15th. Soon after the thief made the deposit, a bank worker handling the coins recognized them as the set worth some 50,000 euros ($80,000) that had been stolen from his house.

Police tracked down the 36-year-old suspect and arrested him, securing a haul of other stolen goods in the process.

'What are you staring at?'

An Italian man has been given a suspended jail sentence for staring too intensely at a woman sitting in front of him on a train.

A judge sentenced the man in his 30s, whose name was not revealed, to 10 days in prison and a 40 euro ($63) fine after a 55-year old woman filed a complaint for sexual harassment.

His lawyer said on Friday he would appeal the sentence. The court will explain its verdict later.

The two met on two separate occasions in 2005 on a commuter train going from Lecco, a town in northern Italy, to Milan.

The first time, the man sat next to the woman but she felt he had moved too close for comfort. The next day, the man sat in front of the same woman and according to her complaint, stared at her for the whole journey.

The two did not speak.

Sunday, April 6, 2008

New Zealand school to ban birthday cakes

A New Zealand school is to ban children sharing birthday cake as the government introduces new guidelines to restrict unhealthy food being sold to pupils, a report said on Friday.

Oteha Valley School in Auckland has told parents not to allow their children to bring birthday cakes to school for friends to share, The New Zealand Herald reported on Friday.

The school said the ban had been introduced because the government was implementing new healthy eating guidelines for schoolchildren in June.

Oteha Valley principal Megan Bowden said many families would consider the number of cakes being brought into classes as unhealthy.

"In a lot of schools, you have gluts of birthdays," Bowden said.

"There are lots and lots of children born in September and October, and you might in a class have four birthday cakes in a week."

A Ministry of Education spokesman said government guidelines only restricted what types of food could be sold from shops at schools and did not include food brought from home.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Millionaire to keep working as cleaner

A Scottish cleaner who won a record bingo jackpot over the Easter weekend said she would return to work as normal on Tuesday (today).

Soraya Lowell, 38, won the national jackpot of 1,167,795 pounds at a bingo hall in Coatbridge, north Lanarkshire.

"I don't intend to give up my job. I like the girls I work with, and they have already said to me 'don't pack it in,'" she said.

"I haven't slept at all but I will be back at work on Tuesday (March 25th) as usual." The mother-of-four from Hamilton, Lanarkshire, said her husband Frankie didn't believe her when she rang home with the news.

Her oldest children have already asked her to buy them cars. Steve Baldwin, of the National Bingo Game, said Sunday's win was the biggest ever.

"We are thrilled for Soraya and look forward to presenting her with her record-breaking cheque," he said.

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Judge okays college's ban on female teachers

Leaders of a prominent Southern Baptist seminary in Dallas, USA, who believe women are biblically forbidden from teaching men were within their rights when they told a female professor to leave, a federal judge has ruled.

Sheri Klouda was the only female professor teaching at the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary’s School of Theology when officials decided not to renew her contract in 2006.

Klouda claimed seminary officials breached an oral contract guaranteeing she would remain employed if her performance was favourable.

Seminary officials maintain Klouda was not dismissed but was told she would not be granted tenure. They said their actions were based on ecclesiastical decisions protected under the First Amendment’s religion clauses.

US district judge John McBryde agreed, dismissing Klouda’s claims. "I’m disappointed by the outcome but...it wasn’t totally unexpected," Klouda said.

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Mustang: Lost in 1970, found in 2008...

A man in Los Angeles is getting his stolen Mustang back 38 years after it was taken.

The vehicle has an extra 300,000 miles (482,780 kilometres) and a different paint job, but Eugene Brakke's 1965 Mustang is evidently running just fine.

Brakke reported the car stolen to Burbank police in May 1970. One month later, a Long Beach teenager named Judy Smongesky received the car as a high school graduation gift from her father, who had bought it at a used car dealer.

Smongesky, who now lives in San Diego, said Thursday she had been driving and maintaining the car for nearly four decades and only learned that it had been stolen when she recently prepared to sell it. San Diego police verified the car was hot.

"It's his car, even though he had it for four years and I had it for 38," Smongesky said. "He seems like a real nice gentleman, though."

Brakke found out Smongesky had twice rebuilt the engine and painted the Mustang from its old gold colour to silver-blue.

"He wasn't too happy with that," Smongesky said. The pair planned to meet up to transfer the car soon. "It was hard but it was the right thing to do," Smongesky said. "I haven't really cried yet, but when he drives it away, I think I'll fall apart."

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Hopes go up the air...quite literally

It is the one moment every man wants to get right -- and which London floor-fitter Lefkos Hajji could hardly have got more wrong.

The luckless 28 year-old's dreams of giving his sweetheart, Leanne, 26, the ultimate proposal have literally vanished into thin air. Hajji, of Hackney, east London, had concealed a $12,000 engagement ring inside a helium balloon.

The idea was that she would pop the balloon as he popped the question. But as he left the shop, on March 14, a gust of wind pulled the balloon from his hand and he watched the ring -- and quite possibly the affections of his girlfriend -- sailing away over the rooftops. "I couldn't believe it," he told The Sun newspaper.

Book returned after more than 100 years!

A Finnish library-goer apparently thought 'better late than never' and quietly returned a book on loan for more than 100 years to a library in Vantaa, in southern Finland.

The library had long since lost track of the loan but welcomed back to its collections the bound copy of a 1902 volume of Vartija, an active religious monthly periodical at the time. "We are unclear when exactly it was borrowed and who returned it. There weren't any documents with it," librarian Minna Saastamoinen said.

"There is an old note attached to the book which says there is a fine of 10 pennies a week for late returns," she added. The library sticker inside the cover, and the old-fashioned handwriting on it, showed the book was last officially loaned out at the beginning of the last century, she said.

Man releases fish, catches it 25 years later...

Some people catch fish and release them. Bill Wengert releases them and then catches them a quarter-century later.

In April 1983, Wengert and other state Game and Fish Department biologists stocked some 12,000 young trout in the Flaming Gorge Reservoir in southwest Wyoming, USA.

Game and Fish spokeswoman Lucy Wold said Wengert was ice fishing recently on the 91-mile (146-kilometer)-long reservoir and caught a 23-inch (58-centimeter) Mackinaw trout, a type of lake trout.

Wengert noticed the trout's right pelvic fin had been clipped, indicating it was a hatchery fish that had been stocked. Examining historical stocking data, Wengert determined the fish was stocked on April 14, 1983.

I may have actually clipped the fins on this very fish, and I know I was driving the barge when the fish were stocked, nearly 25 years ago," Wengert said.

Wengert, a 35-year veteran of the agency, estimated the trout was 26 years old because stocked fish spend a year in a hatchery before being released. But he said it was very skinny, weighing only 2.5 pounds (1.13 kilograms), compared to another trout released at the same time that weighed 17 pounds (7.7 kilograms) when it was caught in 2004.

He said the trout will allow fishery biologists "an opportunity to learn more about fish genetics, age and growth of lake trout in the reservoir."

Winemaker's nose insured for $8 million...

The Lloyd's of London insurance market has insured the nose of a leading wine maker and taster for 5 million euros ($7.9 million), covering the Bordeaux producer against the loss of his nose and sense of smell.

Lloyd's is famous for creating policies for giant corporations but also for insuring celebrity limbs, from Fred Astaire's legs to the hands of Rolling Stones' Keith Richards.

It said on Tuesday that Ilja Gort, the Dutch owner of Chateau de la Garde in Bordeaux, producer of Tulipe Wines, said his nose could distinguish millions of different scents and was essential to guarantee the quality of his wines. "The nose and sense of smell of a winemaker are as important as the fingers of a chef," Jonathan Thomas, lead underwriter at Watkins Syndicate who co-insured the policy.

Lloyds worked with Allianz Nederland and British reinsurance broker Benfield to create the policy, co-insured by Watkins.

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Priti and my 18th Wedding Anniversay photographs...taken on Sunday, March 16th, 2008...



Priti and my marriage has entered adulthood today (Sunday, March 16th). We are celebrating our 18th Wedding Anniversary today.

There has been a miraculous improvement in Priti's health between today and exactly eight weeks ago when (on Sunday, January 20th) she was admitted to Apollo Hospital ICU in a very critical condition and put on life support. She was on life support for the next four days.

We are celebrating our marriage anniversary today because of Priti's miraculous recovery caused by the prayers, wishes and support of hundreds of friends, relatives and office colleagues - and due to the dedicated efforts of our team of doctors and the wonders of modern medical science. After five weeks in hospital and three weeks on dialysis thereafter, she is completely cured of septecemia and recovering her strength gradually. Hopefully, her kidneys will also recover in due course.

I am thankful for all the support my family has received that has enabled us to see this day...and enabled our family to be together to take the attached photographs.

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Standing tall...


Eight feet tall and one of the world’s tallest men, Dharmendra Singh, poses in front of the Taj Mahal in Agra, India.

16-year-old delivers second set of triplets!

A 16-year-old girl from Argentina is now a mother to seven children after giving birth to triplets for the second time.

Pamela, who comes from the remote town of Leones in the central Argentine province of Cordoba, had her first set of triplets at the age of 15, when she was already having a son, whom she gave birth at 14, reports BBC .

Both sets of triplets are all girls and were born prematurely.

Pamela's case has now triggered a debate across Argentina, with the teenager's promiscuity being talked about in the South American country's cafes and bars.

Provincial authorities have supported Pamela's family by donating land and building them a house when the first set of triplets was born.

However, Pamela's mum, who supports her daughter and grandchildren by cleaning houses, said that they would now have to seek more assistance from the government.

According to some Argentines, Pamela needs more advice on contraception.

Sunday, February 24, 2008

My wife has returned home this evening...


After 36 days in hospital (out of which 13 days were in ICU - the first 4 days of which were on life-support systems), Priti has returned home this evening (at 8 p.m.).

Priti is completely cured of septicemia and all her major organs, excepting for her kidneys, are functioning normally. By God's grace, her kidneys will also recover - until then she will be on twice a week dialysis.

Five weeks ago, this time, we had no assurance from the doctors whether Priti would leave the ICU alive. The marvels of modern medical science, coupled with prayers and good wishes from innumerable friends, relatives, office colleagues, SOS-India children and mothers and countless well wishers have brought Priti back to her family. My thanks to all of you.

My thanks also to the relatives and friends who have donated the innumerable pints of blood that were required during the early days of the crisis. Thanks also to all those who extended moral and physical help (including night stay duty) - and to the relatives and my Campus Law Centre friends for their direct and indirect financial support.

God bless you all!

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Priti's Septicemia is almost cured...she has moved from bed to wheelchair...


Happiness...Priti's TLC count, this morning, has come down below the critical 11,000 mark - it is now 10,700. The blood poisoning seems to have been cured, though we will observe the count for a couple of days more for stability.

Priti is clear that her kidneys have started functioning a bit. The doctors have to confirm. A biopsy is planned.

Yesterday, after three and a half weeks of being in a horizontal position, Priti moved from bed to wheelchair.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Priti is making slow but steady progress...

Priti is making slow but steady progress. Her TLC count had come down to 14,800 three days ago - but then shot up to 16,200 the next day (after dialysis), giving us a bit of a scare. However, it came down to 13,300 the day after, and, this morning, after a very early morning dialysis, has come down further to 12,700. We are within reach of normalcy - which will be indicated by a TLC count of 11,000.

Doctors have discovered a thyroid problem - this could have been the reason for her sluggishness and lethargy and lack of appetite. It is being treated...in fact, this morning, Priti is extremely chirpy, God bless her! She is also eating well.

The prayers and wishes of all our friends, relatives and well wishers are working very well...I request you all to keep up the good work. I thank the children and mothers of SOS Children's Villages around the country and my co-workers for their regular prayers for my wife recovery.

Priti's kidneys are showing some movement towards recovery (in terms of urea and cretinine indicators). It is early days yet - but I am convinced that they will recover.

Priti's stay in hospital has been extended. She will not come home this week but, maybe, early next week. The antibiotic treatment will continue until the TLC count stabilises below 11,000. The alternate day dialysis will continue until the kidneys show stronger recovery.

Priti's BP, platelet count and HB count are stable and normal.

Thank you so much for your support. And those who gave blood - thanks again.

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Priti's septicemia is almost cured...she is talking and eating normally...


Priti's TLC count is now down to 14,300 - just 3,300 points away from absolute normalcy. At this rate, she should be cured and out of the hospital by Tuesday/Wednesday. Her HB count is a normal 9.3. Her platelet count is 1,20,000...which is also high enough and good.

Priti's urea and cretinine counts are high - her kidneys are still not doing the job they are supposed to do. Therefore, alternate day dialysis continues - the next one being today.

We are hoping and praying that her kidneys resume functioning in a week or two.

Saturday, February 9, 2008

Update on my wife's condition...


Priti is making steady progress, thanks to the wishes and prayers of innumerable friends and well wishers. Her TLC is down to 17,100 - down from 80,000 over two weeks ago. The requirement is 11,000 - this will show that the septicemia (blood poisoning) is out of her system. Hopefully, she will reach this figure in 3/4 days. Her BP is steady at 130. Her platelet count is maintained at an excellent 1,50,000. Her HB count is 9.8 - better than her normal count of just 7.4 earlier. She has stopped vomiting out bile - her liver seems to have recovered and she has started eating reasonably from yesterday.

Priti was slightly depressed for a couple of days - she was not talking, eating or opening her eyes. This has changed a bit yesterday - she is responding to family and friends. All that is now needed is for her kidneys to resume functioning. Until then she is on alternate day dialysis - to remove toxins from her system.

If the TLC count comes down to 11,000 in 3/4 days, she could be discharged from hospital and return home by middle/end of next week.

Family, friends and well wishers (including the vast SOS family worldwide - the organisation I work for) have rallied behind my daughters and me in our hour of crisis with prayers, blood donations and even financial support. I would like to place on record my thanks to my law college friends, some of who are now leading judges and lawyers of India, who organised a collection drive to help meet a part of Priti's hospitalisation costs. May God bless all my family members and friends for caring so much.

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Priti is out of ICU...

Priti being transferred to her room...

Priti has been moved out of ICU after a 13 day stay and is now comfortably settled in her own private room in Apollo Hospital.

The prayers and wishes of friends, relatives, office colleagues, neighbours, acquaintances and well wishers (not to mention the large numbers of blood donations) have ensured that she is out of danger - she is no longer critical.

Priti's TLC is down to 24,000 (it was 80,000+ last week). This means that the septicemia is slowly but surely receding.

Her platelet count has gone up from under 20,000 to 1,77,000 (without the support of any plasma or platelet transfusion in the last 3 days). Her blood pressure is finally stable (it has gone up to 120+ from under 70).

Priti's HB is 8.9 - it was only 7.4 yesterday, but a blood transfusion in the evening has pushed it up.

We are now waiting for her kidneys to start functioning again. A MR scan two days ago indicated that the collapse has been "acute" - so the recovery may take a little longer. She needs dialysis every alternate day. Please pray for her complete recovery.

I thank all friends, relatives, office colleagues, neighbours, acquaintances and well wishers for their support and prayers.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Priti is critical...


On Saturday, January 19th, Priti - my beloved wife of 18 years - underwent a minor gynecological operation in a reputed hospital near our home. The operation was a success. Priti was scheduled to return home the next morning.

While Priti rested in her room with my mother-in-law sitting by her bedside, my two daughters and I went to a nearby restaurant for a celebratory lunch.

Our happiness was terribly premature. Destiny has not been kind to us. On Saturday evening, hours after the operation, Priti had to be rushed to the ICU in a critical state. Apparantly, a blood transfusion post-surgery caused a severe reaction in Priti's body - some of her organs (kidneys and lungs) had shut down and her blood had got badly infected - she had become a victim of blood poisoning (septicemia).

On Sunday morning, she was shifted to one of the best hospitals in Delhi (Apollo) - and she has been in the ICU there ever since, on life-support. She remains extremely critical. Please please pray for her.

She may have a surgery tomorrow morning.

Friends, relatives and office colleagues have overwhelmed us with their support. We have received innumerable pints of blood - more has been committed.

Priti's life hangs on a thread - my daughters Piya and Panvi and I need your prayers.

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Squeezed!

Lost man survives a week by eating snow

A Japanese climber lost in the mountains for more than a week in frigid conditions survived by eating snow before making his way down to a ski resort on January 11, Japanese media said.

Masayuki Nakamura headed into the Azuma mountain range about 240 km (150 miles) north of Tokyo on December 30, saying he planned to be back on January 2. But he became disoriented in the snow and wandered the area for more than a week, reports said. He had no mobile phone and his food supply ran out after a few days. A ski resort employee found Nakamura walking along a road close to the ski hills Friday, Kyodo news agency said.

He was taken to hospital suffering from mild frostbite. "I really thought I was done for, so I was truly happy that I made it," Kyodo news agency quoted him as telling a reporter. "I never want to climb a mountain again."

Stressed? Go for e-curse

Greeks fed up with their pesky neighbours, old flames, the government, or society in general can find release in a new Internet site that posts e-curses for free.

"Have you been dumped, harassed or angered? Why not unload with a curse?" offers e-curse.com , which currently has more than 150 entries.

Most postings on the site are from jilted lovers but there are also contributions aimed at Greek taxi drivers - a favourite target - banks, the public sector and even Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis.

"May his next pasta meal give him salmonella poisoning," one user rants against the premier, whose love of food is a popular barb among opposition media.

In Athens, locals usually relieve stress through a variety of offensive hand gestures, most frequently whilst caught in one of the capital's trademark traffic jams.

"Studies by Eurostat show that Greeks have gone from being positive and relaxed to having the worst stress in Europe over job uncertainty and the collapse of traditional social structures," sociology professor George Piperopoulos told the daily Ethnos , which publicised the site on January 12.

Boss fires staff for not smoking...

The owner of a small German computer company has fired three non-smoking workers because they were threatening to disturb the peace after they requested a smoke-free environment.

The manager of the 10-person IT company in Buesum, told the Hamburger Morgenpost newspaper that he had fired the trio because their non-smoking was causing disruptions.

Germany introduced non-smoking rules in pubs and restaurants on January 1, but Germans working in small offices are still allowed to smoke.

"I can't be bothered with trouble-makers," Thomas was quoted saying. "We're on the phone all the time and it's just easier to work while smoking. Everyone picks on smokers these days. It's time for revenge. I'm only going to hire smokers from now on."