As well-wishing zombies and witches looked on, a couple got married at a haunted house where they work in Berea, Ohio, USA.
Tina Milhoane, 22, and Robert Seifer III, 24, exchanged vows on October 24th at the entrance to the haunted house's outdoor cemetery.
The groom made his entry in a hearse, emerging from a coffin borne by six pallbearers.
"It's weird watching your son get out of a coffin," said his father, Robert Seifer II. "Usually when you see someone in a coffin, they're going the other way - in, not out."
The minister, clad as the Grim Reaper, read The Lord's Prayer from a scroll clutched in bony-gloved hand.
"This is the sweetest wedding that I've ever been to," said co-worker Tim Perrien, his face caked in make-up. His date, Jessica Repas, was dripping with blood as the lead character in the horror move "Carrie".
The last word on the subject (see comment) has come in from the bride: "This was a very 'typical' wedding in a very 'unique' location"...Here's wishing the the newly weds a very long and happy married life!
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Thursday, October 25, 2007
New York seeks help of 720,000 ladybugs to kill pests
Ladybugs, 720,000 of them, have been released in the middle of New York City to help protect one of the city's biggest apartment complexes from pests. In the next days and weeks, they will crawl into plants, flowers and shrubs in the Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village complex in search of insects whose smell attracts them - soft-bodied, leaf-sucking aphids and mites. Buying the bugs - at $16.50 (euro11.5) for 2,000 - means the complex's owner, Tishman Speyer, can avoid using chemical insecticides.
``In most cases, we reach for a can of pesticide - and we kill not only the 'bad guys,' but the 'good guys,''' said Eric Vinje, owner of Planet Natural, which supplied the pest-killers.
``All we're doing here is putting more of the 'good guys' to tip the scale, to get some kind of pest population control.''
He said a ladybug can eat up to 50 pests a day, plus insect eggs.
A church on the move in Germany
A 660-tonne stone church was lifted lock stock and barrel on to a giant rolling platform in eastern Germany on October 22nd to make the 12-kilometre journey to its new home. The church in the village of Heuersdorf had to be moved because it was sitting on extensive deposits of lignite, or brown coal.
Mining work to extract the lignite, a fuel used in power generation plants, is expected to start soon. Packed tightly into a cradle of wooden supports, the 750-year-old church complete with tiled bell tower was separated from its foundations and lifted 1.5 metres to be placed on the rolling platforms.
It started its painstakingly slow journey to the village of Borna on October 24th and is expected to arrive by October 31st, said Regina Messinger of the Mibrag mining company that is moving the church in a project costing $4.2 million.
After 27 years, US couple gets wedding photos...
Karen and Mark Cline of Mansfield, USA, were teenagers when they got married and didn't have $150 to pay a photographer for their wedding photos.
But now they have the pictures, just in time for their 27th anniversary on Thursday.
Their photographer located Karen Cline last week at the diner where she works and surprised her with a photo album.
"About a month ago, I was just cleaning out some of my old things and I found it," said photographer Jim Wagner, who is now 80. "I knew she didn't have any money back then, and I just thought she might like to have it."
It was too much for Karen Cline. "I just stood there and cried and cried and hugged him," she said.
She said she was 18 at the time, and felt heartsick because she and her husband, who was 19, could not afford to pay Wagner. All they had was a single photo that someone else took.
Wagner said he was able to track down Karen Cline after running into her stepfather a few weeks ago. He said she immediately wrote him a check for $150 (euro 105.41).
But now they have the pictures, just in time for their 27th anniversary on Thursday.
Their photographer located Karen Cline last week at the diner where she works and surprised her with a photo album.
"About a month ago, I was just cleaning out some of my old things and I found it," said photographer Jim Wagner, who is now 80. "I knew she didn't have any money back then, and I just thought she might like to have it."
It was too much for Karen Cline. "I just stood there and cried and cried and hugged him," she said.
She said she was 18 at the time, and felt heartsick because she and her husband, who was 19, could not afford to pay Wagner. All they had was a single photo that someone else took.
Wagner said he was able to track down Karen Cline after running into her stepfather a few weeks ago. He said she immediately wrote him a check for $150 (euro 105.41).
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
With less dentists, Britons get desperate; extract own teeth themselves...
Falling numbers of state dentists in England has led to some people taking extreme measures, including extracting their own teeth, according to a new study released recently.
Others have used superglue to stick crowns back on, rather than stumping up for private treatment, said the study. One person spoke of carrying out 14 extractions on himself with pliers.
More typically, a lack of publicly-funded dentists means that growing numbers go private: 78% of private patients said they were there because they could not find a National Health Service dentist, and only 15% because of better treatment. “This is an uncomfortable read for all of us, and poses serious questions to politicians from patients," said Sharon Grant of the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health.
Overall, 6% of patients had resorted to self-treatment, according to the poll of 5,000 people, which found that one in five had decided against dental work because of the cost. One expert involved in compiling the study — carried out by England's Patient and Public Involvement Forums — came across three people in one morning who had pulled out teeth themselves.
Others have used superglue to stick crowns back on, rather than stumping up for private treatment, said the study. One person spoke of carrying out 14 extractions on himself with pliers.
More typically, a lack of publicly-funded dentists means that growing numbers go private: 78% of private patients said they were there because they could not find a National Health Service dentist, and only 15% because of better treatment. “This is an uncomfortable read for all of us, and poses serious questions to politicians from patients," said Sharon Grant of the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health.
Overall, 6% of patients had resorted to self-treatment, according to the poll of 5,000 people, which found that one in five had decided against dental work because of the cost. One expert involved in compiling the study — carried out by England's Patient and Public Involvement Forums — came across three people in one morning who had pulled out teeth themselves.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Parrot wakes up owner to shoot burglar
A parrot chirping "hello" woke his Texas owner up to find, and then shoot, a burglar in his garage on October 16th, police said. "I guess you could call him a stool pigeon," owner Dennis Baker told the Dallas Morning News.
It was the fifth time the home, which is also used as a locksmith shop, was burglarised this month.
So when Baker woke to the sounds of Salvador, his Mexican Red-headed parrot, saying "hello, hello" he knew something was wrong.
Baker grabbed his gun and shot the burglar in his garage at about 1:30 am. The man died at hospital, police said.
"I have tools in my garage, my house and my van," Mr Baker said. "They were coming here like they owned the place. I hate what happened, but somebody has to do what's necessary."
The bird also chirped "hello" when police arrived, Baker said. "Sometimes he says 'hi,' but you can't get him to speak on cue," Mr Baker said. "He has a mind of his own."
Texas has recently eased restrictions on people confronting intruders in their homes, businesses or cars. They are no longer obligated to retreat before responding with deadly force.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Humans had beach party 164,000 year ago!
In one of the earliest hints of "modern" living, humans 164,000 years ago put on primitive makeup and hit the seashore for steaming mussels, new archaeological finds show.
Call it a beach party for early man. But it is a beach party thrown by people who were not supposed to be advanced enough for this type of behavior. What was found in a cave in South Africa may change how scientists believe Homo sapiens marched into modernity.
Instead of undergoing a revolution into modern living about 40,000 to 70,000 years ago, as commonly thought, man may have become modern in stuttering fits and starts, or through a long slow march that began even earlier. At least that is the case being made in a study appearing in the latest issue of the journal "Nature" last week.
Researchers found three hallmarks of modern life at Pinnacle Point overlooking the Indian Ocean near South Africa's Mossel Bay: harvested and cooked seafood, reddish pigment from ground rocks, and early tiny blade technology. Scientific optical dating techniques show that these hallmarks were from 164,000 years ago, plus or minus 12,000 years.
"Together as a package this looks like the archaeological record of a much later time period," said study author Curtis Marean, professor of anthropology at the Institute of Human Origins at Arizona State University.
This means humans were eating seafood about 40,000 years earlier than previously thought. And this is the earliest record of humans eating something other than what they caught or gathered on the land, Marean said. Most of what Marean found were the remnants of brown mussels, but he also found black mussels, small saltwater clams, sea snails and even a barnacle that indicates whale blubber or skin was brought into the cave.
Then they put them over hot rocks to cook. When the food was done, the shells popped open in a process similar to modern-day mussel-steaming, but without the pot.
Marean also found 57 pieces of ground-up rock that would have been reddish- or pinkish-brown. That would be used for self-decoration and sending social signals to other people, much the way makeup is used now, he said.
Call it a beach party for early man. But it is a beach party thrown by people who were not supposed to be advanced enough for this type of behavior. What was found in a cave in South Africa may change how scientists believe Homo sapiens marched into modernity.
Instead of undergoing a revolution into modern living about 40,000 to 70,000 years ago, as commonly thought, man may have become modern in stuttering fits and starts, or through a long slow march that began even earlier. At least that is the case being made in a study appearing in the latest issue of the journal "Nature" last week.
Researchers found three hallmarks of modern life at Pinnacle Point overlooking the Indian Ocean near South Africa's Mossel Bay: harvested and cooked seafood, reddish pigment from ground rocks, and early tiny blade technology. Scientific optical dating techniques show that these hallmarks were from 164,000 years ago, plus or minus 12,000 years.
"Together as a package this looks like the archaeological record of a much later time period," said study author Curtis Marean, professor of anthropology at the Institute of Human Origins at Arizona State University.
This means humans were eating seafood about 40,000 years earlier than previously thought. And this is the earliest record of humans eating something other than what they caught or gathered on the land, Marean said. Most of what Marean found were the remnants of brown mussels, but he also found black mussels, small saltwater clams, sea snails and even a barnacle that indicates whale blubber or skin was brought into the cave.
Then they put them over hot rocks to cook. When the food was done, the shells popped open in a process similar to modern-day mussel-steaming, but without the pot.
Marean also found 57 pieces of ground-up rock that would have been reddish- or pinkish-brown. That would be used for self-decoration and sending social signals to other people, much the way makeup is used now, he said.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Monday, October 15, 2007
No male rulers for Kumbwada...
In six generations no man has ever spent more than a week as ruler of Kumbwada, a kingdom in Muslim northern Nigeria. All have died mysteriously just after ascending to the throne.
The father of Hadiza Ahmed, the current queen, was no exception. "My father decided to see if he could break the spell but he failed. In his first week on the throne he became so sick that he had to abdicate and was rushed out of the village. He died three weeks later," said Hadiza, during a recent interaction with representatives of the western media.
That was nine years ago and Hadiza, 55, has ruled this community of half a million people ever since, despite being part of a culture where leaders are normally men.
According to Hadiza, the curse of Kumbwada kingdom started more than two centuries ago when the warrior princess Magajiya Maimuna led her cavalry from Zaria, a town to the north and conquered the kingdom.
"After the conquest Maimuna decided to leave her brother here as ruler but he fell sick and died within a week. The same thing happened with her second brother and in the end she decided to stay herself and she ruled for 83 years," Hadiza said, adjusting the white veil covering her head and shoulders.
Despite the widely-held view in the conservative Muslim north that it is an abomination for a woman to lead traditional and religious institutions, Hadiza looks very much in charge of her domain.
"I don't face any resistance from my subjects, they obey my commands as they obey their God because I'm a fair ruler who ensures justice in my kingdom," she said as the muezzin called the noon prayers.
A handful of her male subjects led by the village's imam Musa Muhammad, who have come to pay homage, listen and nod submissively, clustered around the blue silk-upholstered chair that serves as Hadiza's throne.
The monarch is flanked by her eldest son Danjuma Salihu and her eldest daughter and heir apparent Idris who wears a purple muslin veil.
Danjuma, Hadiza's eldest child does not seem to bear any grudge against his younger half sister Idris, the declared heir to the throne.
"I know and everybody here knows that no man can rule this kingdom and survive. It is not in my own interest to be heir apparent," Salihu said.
Local people say the curse is linked to a large rock, visible from the village. No one goes there to find out more however as the few who did never returned.
Married to a local businessman, Hadiza is the only female chief who bore children, thanks to her three marriages before assuming the throne, which produced five children, three of them girls.
The people of the village believe that any woman who assumes the throne becomes barren.
"I'm the chief here but I discharge my domestic duties as a wife and mother. However my husband knows his limits, royalty is royalty," Hadiza said with a dignified smile.
Four hundred kilometres (250 miles) away in Kano, northern Nigeria's commercial hub and a flashpoint for sectarian and political strife, Muslim leaders frown at the idea of a woman leading a community.
"The fact that any man who assumes the throne dies in a week strongly suggests the use of black magic which Islam absolutely condemns," Aminuddeen Abubakar, a prominent Muslim cleric said. "Once there is evidence of magic in any situation Islam considers it a deviation which must be reversed."
However, Musa Muhammad, the imam of Kumbwada thinks differently. "This is an exceptional situation none of us can change. A woman chief is a necessity given our peculiar circumstances," Muhammad said.
The father of Hadiza Ahmed, the current queen, was no exception. "My father decided to see if he could break the spell but he failed. In his first week on the throne he became so sick that he had to abdicate and was rushed out of the village. He died three weeks later," said Hadiza, during a recent interaction with representatives of the western media.
That was nine years ago and Hadiza, 55, has ruled this community of half a million people ever since, despite being part of a culture where leaders are normally men.
According to Hadiza, the curse of Kumbwada kingdom started more than two centuries ago when the warrior princess Magajiya Maimuna led her cavalry from Zaria, a town to the north and conquered the kingdom.
"After the conquest Maimuna decided to leave her brother here as ruler but he fell sick and died within a week. The same thing happened with her second brother and in the end she decided to stay herself and she ruled for 83 years," Hadiza said, adjusting the white veil covering her head and shoulders.
Despite the widely-held view in the conservative Muslim north that it is an abomination for a woman to lead traditional and religious institutions, Hadiza looks very much in charge of her domain.
"I don't face any resistance from my subjects, they obey my commands as they obey their God because I'm a fair ruler who ensures justice in my kingdom," she said as the muezzin called the noon prayers.
A handful of her male subjects led by the village's imam Musa Muhammad, who have come to pay homage, listen and nod submissively, clustered around the blue silk-upholstered chair that serves as Hadiza's throne.
The monarch is flanked by her eldest son Danjuma Salihu and her eldest daughter and heir apparent Idris who wears a purple muslin veil.
Danjuma, Hadiza's eldest child does not seem to bear any grudge against his younger half sister Idris, the declared heir to the throne.
"I know and everybody here knows that no man can rule this kingdom and survive. It is not in my own interest to be heir apparent," Salihu said.
Local people say the curse is linked to a large rock, visible from the village. No one goes there to find out more however as the few who did never returned.
Married to a local businessman, Hadiza is the only female chief who bore children, thanks to her three marriages before assuming the throne, which produced five children, three of them girls.
The people of the village believe that any woman who assumes the throne becomes barren.
"I'm the chief here but I discharge my domestic duties as a wife and mother. However my husband knows his limits, royalty is royalty," Hadiza said with a dignified smile.
Four hundred kilometres (250 miles) away in Kano, northern Nigeria's commercial hub and a flashpoint for sectarian and political strife, Muslim leaders frown at the idea of a woman leading a community.
"The fact that any man who assumes the throne dies in a week strongly suggests the use of black magic which Islam absolutely condemns," Aminuddeen Abubakar, a prominent Muslim cleric said. "Once there is evidence of magic in any situation Islam considers it a deviation which must be reversed."
However, Musa Muhammad, the imam of Kumbwada thinks differently. "This is an exceptional situation none of us can change. A woman chief is a necessity given our peculiar circumstances," Muhammad said.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Vodka drip saves poisoned Italian in Australia...
Australian doctors used an intravenous feed of vodka to keep an Italian tourist alive after he consumed large quantities of a poisonous substance.
The 24-year-old man, in an apparent bid at self-harm, had swallowed ethylene glycol, found in antifreeze, which can cause death. Doctors administered pure alcohol, the conventional antidote, but exhausted the hospital's supply.
Desperate to continue the treatment the doctors at Mackay Base Hospital in Queensland state hooked up an intravenous feed of vodka, hospital officials said. "The patient was drip-fed about three standard drinks an hour for three days in the intensive care unit," Dr Todd Fraser said in a statement on 10th October.
"Fortunately for him he was in a medically induced coma for a good portion of that. By the time he woke up I think his hangover would have well and truly gone," Fraser said.
"The hospital's administrators were also very understanding when we explained our reasons for buying a case of vodka."
The Italian man was treated in the hospital two months ago and has since made a successful recovery. News of his treatment was only released on October 10th.
The 24-year-old man, in an apparent bid at self-harm, had swallowed ethylene glycol, found in antifreeze, which can cause death. Doctors administered pure alcohol, the conventional antidote, but exhausted the hospital's supply.
Desperate to continue the treatment the doctors at Mackay Base Hospital in Queensland state hooked up an intravenous feed of vodka, hospital officials said. "The patient was drip-fed about three standard drinks an hour for three days in the intensive care unit," Dr Todd Fraser said in a statement on 10th October.
"Fortunately for him he was in a medically induced coma for a good portion of that. By the time he woke up I think his hangover would have well and truly gone," Fraser said.
"The hospital's administrators were also very understanding when we explained our reasons for buying a case of vodka."
The Italian man was treated in the hospital two months ago and has since made a successful recovery. News of his treatment was only released on October 10th.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Gossip leads to nasty surprise for Czech couple
A Czech couple who decided to take a DNA test to squash persistent pub gossip and prove that their 10-month-old baby was their own got a nasty surprise.
The couple, from the southeastern town of Trebic, had some doubts about the child as her hair was blonde and they both had dark hair. Fellow drinkers' suspicions got on their nerves.
But the test showed neither of the parents had the same DNA as the baby, Czech news agency CTK reported October 3rd, suggesting a mix-up at the hospital.
The couple, from the southeastern town of Trebic, had some doubts about the child as her hair was blonde and they both had dark hair. Fellow drinkers' suspicions got on their nerves.
But the test showed neither of the parents had the same DNA as the baby, Czech news agency CTK reported October 3rd, suggesting a mix-up at the hospital.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
I will return to this blog after five days...
I am leaving for the airport for a five day business trip to Mumbai and Ahmedabad. I will get back to this blog on my return.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
International Non-Violence Day...
Today, the world celebrates International Non-Violence Day, on the occasion of the 138th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.His message: "I cannot teach you violence, as I do not myself believe in it. I can only teach you not to bow your heads before any one even at the cost of your life."
Monday, October 1, 2007
Wackiest path to record books...
Australian John Allwood smashed 40 watermelons with his head in just one minute. Using only one hand, Germany's Thomas Vogel unfastened 56 bras in 60 seconds.
When it comes to the world's weirdest achievers, nothing beats the ultimate accolade — a place in Guinness World Records for demonstrating bizarre skills.
Nothing is too wacky.
Can you catch 77 grapes in your mouth in under a minute, keep nine yo-yo's spinning at the same time, hold your breath for more than 14 minutes or throw a washing machine? Then Guinness has a spot for you.
The annual compendium, whose latest edition is published on September 28th, even has a section entitled Trivial Pursuits. Few would argue with the title as Guinness lists the globe's finest practitioners at putting the cover on a duvet, kicking yourself in the head and throwing paper aircraft into a bucket.
Italian Michele Santana wins an entry for typing 57 books backwards.
Indian yoga instructor GP Vijayakumar snorted eight fish up through his mouth and out of his nostrils in a minute. American Jackie Bibby shared his bath with 75 live western diamondback rattlesnakes.
The latest edition also has a four-page pullout of the world's grossest records.
China's Wei Shengchu gains notoriety for most acupuncture needles in the head and face.
When it comes to the world's weirdest achievers, nothing beats the ultimate accolade — a place in Guinness World Records for demonstrating bizarre skills.
Nothing is too wacky.
Can you catch 77 grapes in your mouth in under a minute, keep nine yo-yo's spinning at the same time, hold your breath for more than 14 minutes or throw a washing machine? Then Guinness has a spot for you.
The annual compendium, whose latest edition is published on September 28th, even has a section entitled Trivial Pursuits. Few would argue with the title as Guinness lists the globe's finest practitioners at putting the cover on a duvet, kicking yourself in the head and throwing paper aircraft into a bucket.
Italian Michele Santana wins an entry for typing 57 books backwards.
Indian yoga instructor GP Vijayakumar snorted eight fish up through his mouth and out of his nostrils in a minute. American Jackie Bibby shared his bath with 75 live western diamondback rattlesnakes.
The latest edition also has a four-page pullout of the world's grossest records.
China's Wei Shengchu gains notoriety for most acupuncture needles in the head and face.
Man steals 1,500 pairs of shoes, caught
A man in USA pleaded guilty of stealing more than 1,500 pairs of girls' shoes from schools in a deal that calls for prosecutors to recommend probation.
Erik D. Heinrich, 26, of Kenosha, Wisconsin, pleaded guilty on September 27th to three counts of burglary and was scheduled for sentencing on October 23.
He was arrested after a security video showed him entering North High School on May 20 and leaving with some items. Police tracked him through his vehicle registration, searched his home and a rented storage unit and found the shoes.
Police have said Heinrich worked for a cable company and collected keys to the schools as he responded to calls. He used the keys to break into three Waukesha public high schools and one middle school six times during the past two years, according to a criminal complaint.
Police discovered the break-in at North High School after several female students reported that the locks on their lockers had been cut and their shoes stolen.
Heinrich has a previous shoe-stealing conviction, in 2005, that was dismissed at prosecutors' request after he completed a year of probation, counseling and 50 hours of community service.
Erik D. Heinrich, 26, of Kenosha, Wisconsin, pleaded guilty on September 27th to three counts of burglary and was scheduled for sentencing on October 23.
He was arrested after a security video showed him entering North High School on May 20 and leaving with some items. Police tracked him through his vehicle registration, searched his home and a rented storage unit and found the shoes.
Police have said Heinrich worked for a cable company and collected keys to the schools as he responded to calls. He used the keys to break into three Waukesha public high schools and one middle school six times during the past two years, according to a criminal complaint.
Police discovered the break-in at North High School after several female students reported that the locks on their lockers had been cut and their shoes stolen.
Heinrich has a previous shoe-stealing conviction, in 2005, that was dismissed at prosecutors' request after he completed a year of probation, counseling and 50 hours of community service.
Russian woman's 12th baby weighs 7.75 kg
A small Russian city has welcomed a large new citizen: a 7.75-kilogram (17 pound, 1 ounce) baby whose mother had already delivered 11 other children.
Tatiana Khalina, 42, delivered the girl at a maternity clinic in Aleisk, a town of 30,000 people in the Altai region in southern Siberia, a nurse at the clinic said on September 27th.
Some Russian media reports said it was the heaviest baby on record, but that could not be confirmed.
Nurse Svetlana Gildeyeva said the birth went smoothly, and mother and the child were fine. She said the baby, Nadezhda, was transferred from the small clinic to a maternity hospital in Barnaul, a larger city.
The girl is developing normally, said Irina Kurdeka, a doctor at the Barnaul hospital.
The daily Moskovsky Komsomolets quoted the local social services chief, Marina Alistratova, as saying the family had modest means. She said Khalina's husband was on contract with a local military unit.
"We have presented them with a good washing machine, a food package and a card," Alistratova told the newspaper. "We will keep supporting them in the future."
Average weight for newborn babies is around 3.2 kilograms (7 pounds, 1 ounce), according to international statistics.
The Guinness Book of Records says the heaviest baby ever was born in the United States in 1879. It weighed 10.4 kilograms (23 pounds, 12 ounces) and died 11 hours after birth. The book also listed 10.2-kilogram (22 pounds, 8 ounces) babies born in Italy in 1955 and in South Africa in 1982.
Tatiana Khalina, 42, delivered the girl at a maternity clinic in Aleisk, a town of 30,000 people in the Altai region in southern Siberia, a nurse at the clinic said on September 27th.
Some Russian media reports said it was the heaviest baby on record, but that could not be confirmed.
Nurse Svetlana Gildeyeva said the birth went smoothly, and mother and the child were fine. She said the baby, Nadezhda, was transferred from the small clinic to a maternity hospital in Barnaul, a larger city.
The girl is developing normally, said Irina Kurdeka, a doctor at the Barnaul hospital.
The daily Moskovsky Komsomolets quoted the local social services chief, Marina Alistratova, as saying the family had modest means. She said Khalina's husband was on contract with a local military unit.
"We have presented them with a good washing machine, a food package and a card," Alistratova told the newspaper. "We will keep supporting them in the future."
Average weight for newborn babies is around 3.2 kilograms (7 pounds, 1 ounce), according to international statistics.
The Guinness Book of Records says the heaviest baby ever was born in the United States in 1879. It weighed 10.4 kilograms (23 pounds, 12 ounces) and died 11 hours after birth. The book also listed 10.2-kilogram (22 pounds, 8 ounces) babies born in Italy in 1955 and in South Africa in 1982.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Cop sacked for taking a second wife...another demoted for same reason
One policeman in mainly Muslim Malaysia has been sacked and another demoted -- both for taking a second wife.
A newspaper said on September 23rd that the pair, who were married abroad, had not sought prior approval from their respective commanders.
"In the force, we have to vet whom they (policemen) want to marry as a policy," the New Straits Times quoted the country's police chief, Musa Hassan, as saying.
"You can't just simply marry anyone for security reasons. They got married overseas and they didn't even inform they went overseas," he said. "Let this be a lesson to other police officers."
Just over half of Malaysia's 26 million people are Muslims. Islam says a man can take up to four wives if he is able to support them.
A newspaper said on September 23rd that the pair, who were married abroad, had not sought prior approval from their respective commanders.
"In the force, we have to vet whom they (policemen) want to marry as a policy," the New Straits Times quoted the country's police chief, Musa Hassan, as saying.
"You can't just simply marry anyone for security reasons. They got married overseas and they didn't even inform they went overseas," he said. "Let this be a lesson to other police officers."
Just over half of Malaysia's 26 million people are Muslims. Islam says a man can take up to four wives if he is able to support them.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Bank robber falls asleep on the job
A Turkish man who broke into a Cyprus bank to steal from the ATM machine was found fast asleep on the floor by a cleaner who raised the alarm, Cypriot police announced on September 17.
The cleaner stumbled over the suspect two hours before opening time and called in the police, who turned up to catch a tired man staggering out of the building.
Bank officials said the would-be robber tried to break into the ATM machine - after entering the building through a window - but could not crack the code to access the cash.
The 30-year-old Turkish national appeared before a Nicosia court where he was remanded in custody.
The cleaner stumbled over the suspect two hours before opening time and called in the police, who turned up to catch a tired man staggering out of the building.
Bank officials said the would-be robber tried to break into the ATM machine - after entering the building through a window - but could not crack the code to access the cash.
The 30-year-old Turkish national appeared before a Nicosia court where he was remanded in custody.
'Dead' man wakes up under autopsy knife
A Venezuelan man, who had been declared dead woke up in the morgue in excruciating pain after medical examiners began their autopsy.
Carlos Camejo, 33, was declared dead after a highway accident and taken to the morgue, where examiners began an autopsy only to realise something was amiss when he started bleeding. They quickly sought to stitch up the incision on his face.
"I woke up because the pain was unbearable," Camejo said, according to a report on September 14 in leading local newspaper "El Universal" .
His grieving wife turned up at the morgue to identify her husband's body only to find him moved into a corridor - and alive.
Carlos Camejo, 33, was declared dead after a highway accident and taken to the morgue, where examiners began an autopsy only to realise something was amiss when he started bleeding. They quickly sought to stitch up the incision on his face.
"I woke up because the pain was unbearable," Camejo said, according to a report on September 14 in leading local newspaper "El Universal" .
His grieving wife turned up at the morgue to identify her husband's body only to find him moved into a corridor - and alive.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Thursday, August 30, 2007
I will return to this blog after two weeks...
I am going to Thailand and China on a 17 day trip. I will resume updating this blog on my return.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
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Bar launches index-linked cocktails
A London bar is launching a series of index-linked vodka cocktails in a bid to promote Russian business in Britain.
Potemkin, one of the capital's leading vodka bars, has named five cocktails after the top Russian companies currently traded on the London Stock Exchange -- Tatneft, Rostelekom, Evraz, MMC Norilsk Nickel, and Surgutneftegas -- and will adjust alcohol levels according share price performance.
Entrepreneur Roger Shashoua developed the idea to promote his book "Dancing with the Bear" about making money in Russia.
"Most British people are unaware of just how successful Russian businesses are proving to be in London," he said in a statement. "This provides them with an opportunity to do their homework, and eat, drink, and make money."
Potemkin will assess the performance of the five companies on a weekly basis. If their share prices rise, so too will the alcohol used to prepare each cocktail.
The price will remain the same at 4.95 pounds per cocktail, but drinkers should be aware that, just like share values, alcohol content can fall as well as rise.
Potemkin, one of the capital's leading vodka bars, has named five cocktails after the top Russian companies currently traded on the London Stock Exchange -- Tatneft, Rostelekom, Evraz, MMC Norilsk Nickel, and Surgutneftegas -- and will adjust alcohol levels according share price performance.
Entrepreneur Roger Shashoua developed the idea to promote his book "Dancing with the Bear" about making money in Russia.
"Most British people are unaware of just how successful Russian businesses are proving to be in London," he said in a statement. "This provides them with an opportunity to do their homework, and eat, drink, and make money."
Potemkin will assess the performance of the five companies on a weekly basis. If their share prices rise, so too will the alcohol used to prepare each cocktail.
The price will remain the same at 4.95 pounds per cocktail, but drinkers should be aware that, just like share values, alcohol content can fall as well as rise.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Housewife hid $3 million in forex gains
A financially savvy Tokyo housewife who made 400 million yen ($3.44 million) trading in foreign exchange markets was fined by a Japanese court on August 24.
Yukiko Ikebe, 60, got a suspended jail sentence and was fined 34 million yen after she used relatives' names to make her gains look smaller and avoid paying tax, public broadcaster NHK said.
"She felt it was unfair to have to pay tax on her gains, when she made losses some years," NHK quoted the judge as saying. "She spent the money on kimonos and jewellery."
Forex trading has become more popular in recent years in Japan, where low interest rates have led retail investors to seek new sources of profit.
Yukiko Ikebe, 60, got a suspended jail sentence and was fined 34 million yen after she used relatives' names to make her gains look smaller and avoid paying tax, public broadcaster NHK said.
"She felt it was unfair to have to pay tax on her gains, when she made losses some years," NHK quoted the judge as saying. "She spent the money on kimonos and jewellery."
Forex trading has become more popular in recent years in Japan, where low interest rates have led retail investors to seek new sources of profit.
Friday, August 24, 2007
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The curse of the Pharaohs...
Last month a German handed in a package containing part of a Pharaonic carving to Egypt's embassy in Berlin, with a note saying his stepfather had suffered a "curse of the Pharaohs" for stealing it.
The note said the man felt obliged to return the carving to make amends for his late stepfather and enable his soul to rest in peace, Egypt's Supreme Council for Antiquities has announced.
The stepfather had stolen the piece while on a visit to Egypt in 2004 and on his return to Germany suffered paralysis, nausea, unexplained fevers and cancer before dying recently, the anonymous man said in the note.
The Egyptian embassy in Berlin had sent the fragment back to Egypt by diplomatic pouch and it had been handed over to the Supreme Council for Antiquities, where a committee of experts was trying to ascertain its authenticity, the statement said.
The belief in a curse that strikes down anyone who disturbs the tombs or mummies of ancient Egypt's Pharaohs has been around since the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922 and the subsequent death of the excavation's financier Lord Carnarvon.
The note said the man felt obliged to return the carving to make amends for his late stepfather and enable his soul to rest in peace, Egypt's Supreme Council for Antiquities has announced.
The stepfather had stolen the piece while on a visit to Egypt in 2004 and on his return to Germany suffered paralysis, nausea, unexplained fevers and cancer before dying recently, the anonymous man said in the note.
The Egyptian embassy in Berlin had sent the fragment back to Egypt by diplomatic pouch and it had been handed over to the Supreme Council for Antiquities, where a committee of experts was trying to ascertain its authenticity, the statement said.
The belief in a curse that strikes down anyone who disturbs the tombs or mummies of ancient Egypt's Pharaohs has been around since the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922 and the subsequent death of the excavation's financier Lord Carnarvon.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Father of 78 eyes two new wives
A one-legged Emirati father of 78 is lining up his next two wives in a bid to reach his target of 100 children by 2015, "Emirates Today" has reported.
Daad Mohammed Murad Abdul Rahman, 60, has already had 15 brides although he has to divorce them as he goes along to remain within the legal limit of four wives at a time.
"In 2015 I will be 68 years old and will have 100 children," the local tabloid quoted Abdul Rahman as saying. "After that I will stop marrying. I have to have at least three more marriages to hit the century."
The UAE newspaper splashed its front page with a picture of Abdul Rahman surrounded by his children, the eldest of whom is 36 years old and the youngest of whom is 20 days old. Two of his current three wives are also pregnant.
Abdul Rahman said his large family lived in 15 houses. He supports them with his military pension.
Daad Mohammed Murad Abdul Rahman, 60, has already had 15 brides although he has to divorce them as he goes along to remain within the legal limit of four wives at a time.
"In 2015 I will be 68 years old and will have 100 children," the local tabloid quoted Abdul Rahman as saying. "After that I will stop marrying. I have to have at least three more marriages to hit the century."
The UAE newspaper splashed its front page with a picture of Abdul Rahman surrounded by his children, the eldest of whom is 36 years old and the youngest of whom is 20 days old. Two of his current three wives are also pregnant.
Abdul Rahman said his large family lived in 15 houses. He supports them with his military pension.
Friday, August 17, 2007
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Burdened by debt single mother postal worker lottery-winner now richer than kings...
In the West, modern fairytales start here and never get any more glamorous, with a porky single-mum postal worker from a provincial Scottish town scaling odds of 76-million-to-one to become Britain's biggest-ever lottery winner and richer today than royal princes and pop stars.
Angela Kelly, daughter of a postman and a low-earning transport manager in a Glasgow postal office, has won a staggering £ 35.4 million, making her richer than Princes William and Harry and the massed ranks of many other celebrity millionaires.
Kelly can now expect to earn £ 21,000 per week in interest from her earnings. As a postal worker, she earned the same sum - £ 21,000 – in a whole year. It would have taken Kelly about 1,500 years to earn the amount of her win.
Kelly confessed on Wednesday, two days after she learnt she had won, that the multi-million-pound cheque came as she was heavily in the red. "I was in overdraft", the 40-year-old separated mother-of-one admitted, even as she described her sense of shock at her good fortune.
Sections of the British media described the down-at-heel postal worker as "the embodiment of Lady Luck - a Scottish postal worker picked out by the fickle finger of fate to become the UK's biggest National Lottery winner."
In an amazing turnaround, Kelly was, till last week, concerned like thousands of her mail office colleagues, with job security even as Britain's Royal Mail faces industrial action, swinging national cutbacks and consequently reduced pay cheques. Kelly said she had been preoccupied the morning she learnt of her lottery win with the reduced salary she expected at the end of the month. "Even one day less of pay makes a difference," she said. But now, Kelly is rich enough to bankroll the entire Royal Mail, if she chooses, quite apart from being rich enough to buy multiple stately homes, her own yacht, charter a plane or indulge in a champagne-fuelled life less ordinary.
Her stupendous win is the largest lottery payout ever in Britain. Kelly won after buying a £ 1.50 ticket on the Euromillions lottery, which is played across nine European countries – the UK, Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Portugal, France, Luxembourg, Spain and Switzerland. Recently, India's largest lottery operator lost out in its bid to run the UK's National Lottery.
Kelly's public appearance on Wednesday, before hundreds of journalists, made the UK gasp with the suppressed yearnings of the hundreds of thousands who play the National Lottery every week in the hope of winning millions.
Kelly said she was utterly "flabbergasted" at becoming the UK's biggest lottery winner. She described how she did not realise she had won until Monday, August 13, a full 48 hours after the winning number was announced. It was during a routine break while at work on Monday, she said, that she checked her ticket. She said she had to get five colleagues to check that she had won because she could not believe it. "I couldn't even say anything, I just pushed my chair back and put my head between my knees, I was so flabbergasted," Kelly said.
She said she only checked her lottery ticket after she read in a newspaper that the lottery windfall the cash had gone unclaimed. Kelly, who blew a small fraction of her extraordinary win on her first-ever indulgence – a manicure costing less than £ 50 – said she was still deciding how to spend her money. "I feel totally in limbo. I just need to sit down to get my thoughts together", she said.
Kelly's win is seen as one of the most remarkable in Britain and the continent. The biggest EuroMillions jackpot to date was £77 million, won by mother-of-six Dolores McNamara, of Limerick, Ireland, in July 2005.
Britain's 13-year experience of lottery sweepstakes has been alternately admiring and controversial. Many hail it has a success story that has made nearly 2,000 ordinary people into millionaires overnight and helped thousands of charitable causes. But many others have criticized it as a sneaky further means of government taxation, an excuse to top up government coffers and make gambling more socially acceptable and accessible.
The lottery's extraordinary purchase on the minds – and spending habits - of British and European punters has also been described as a vulgarity that enshrines the idea that money can buy happiness.
With some bankruptcies and the occasional suicide among lottery millionaires, the newest lottery-winner may have her work cut out trying to prove that sudden and unexpected monetary good fortune does not automatically bring moral hardship.
Angela Kelly, daughter of a postman and a low-earning transport manager in a Glasgow postal office, has won a staggering £ 35.4 million, making her richer than Princes William and Harry and the massed ranks of many other celebrity millionaires.
Kelly can now expect to earn £ 21,000 per week in interest from her earnings. As a postal worker, she earned the same sum - £ 21,000 – in a whole year. It would have taken Kelly about 1,500 years to earn the amount of her win.
Kelly confessed on Wednesday, two days after she learnt she had won, that the multi-million-pound cheque came as she was heavily in the red. "I was in overdraft", the 40-year-old separated mother-of-one admitted, even as she described her sense of shock at her good fortune.
Sections of the British media described the down-at-heel postal worker as "the embodiment of Lady Luck - a Scottish postal worker picked out by the fickle finger of fate to become the UK's biggest National Lottery winner."
In an amazing turnaround, Kelly was, till last week, concerned like thousands of her mail office colleagues, with job security even as Britain's Royal Mail faces industrial action, swinging national cutbacks and consequently reduced pay cheques. Kelly said she had been preoccupied the morning she learnt of her lottery win with the reduced salary she expected at the end of the month. "Even one day less of pay makes a difference," she said. But now, Kelly is rich enough to bankroll the entire Royal Mail, if she chooses, quite apart from being rich enough to buy multiple stately homes, her own yacht, charter a plane or indulge in a champagne-fuelled life less ordinary.
Her stupendous win is the largest lottery payout ever in Britain. Kelly won after buying a £ 1.50 ticket on the Euromillions lottery, which is played across nine European countries – the UK, Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Portugal, France, Luxembourg, Spain and Switzerland. Recently, India's largest lottery operator lost out in its bid to run the UK's National Lottery.
Kelly's public appearance on Wednesday, before hundreds of journalists, made the UK gasp with the suppressed yearnings of the hundreds of thousands who play the National Lottery every week in the hope of winning millions.
Kelly said she was utterly "flabbergasted" at becoming the UK's biggest lottery winner. She described how she did not realise she had won until Monday, August 13, a full 48 hours after the winning number was announced. It was during a routine break while at work on Monday, she said, that she checked her ticket. She said she had to get five colleagues to check that she had won because she could not believe it. "I couldn't even say anything, I just pushed my chair back and put my head between my knees, I was so flabbergasted," Kelly said.
She said she only checked her lottery ticket after she read in a newspaper that the lottery windfall the cash had gone unclaimed. Kelly, who blew a small fraction of her extraordinary win on her first-ever indulgence – a manicure costing less than £ 50 – said she was still deciding how to spend her money. "I feel totally in limbo. I just need to sit down to get my thoughts together", she said.
Kelly's win is seen as one of the most remarkable in Britain and the continent. The biggest EuroMillions jackpot to date was £77 million, won by mother-of-six Dolores McNamara, of Limerick, Ireland, in July 2005.
Britain's 13-year experience of lottery sweepstakes has been alternately admiring and controversial. Many hail it has a success story that has made nearly 2,000 ordinary people into millionaires overnight and helped thousands of charitable causes. But many others have criticized it as a sneaky further means of government taxation, an excuse to top up government coffers and make gambling more socially acceptable and accessible.
The lottery's extraordinary purchase on the minds – and spending habits - of British and European punters has also been described as a vulgarity that enshrines the idea that money can buy happiness.
With some bankruptcies and the occasional suicide among lottery millionaires, the newest lottery-winner may have her work cut out trying to prove that sudden and unexpected monetary good fortune does not automatically bring moral hardship.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Get paid to shed flab in Italy
Overweight residents of an Italian town will be paid to lose weight.
Men living in the northwestern Italian town of Varallo, which has 7,500 residents, will receive 50 euros ($70) for losing 4 kg (9 pounds) in a month. Women will get the same amount for shedding 3 kg (7 pounds).
If they can keep the weight off for 5 months, they will get another 200 euros ($280).
Men living in the northwestern Italian town of Varallo, which has 7,500 residents, will receive 50 euros ($70) for losing 4 kg (9 pounds) in a month. Women will get the same amount for shedding 3 kg (7 pounds).
If they can keep the weight off for 5 months, they will get another 200 euros ($280).
Monday, August 13, 2007
Goat crowned king of Ireland at ancient fair
Jimmy, a feisty white mountain goat, was crowned king of Ireland on August 10 at one of the country's oldest fairs.
Dating back centuries, the Puck Fair is an annual festival of drinking, music and dancing celebrated in the town of Killorglin in southern Ireland. Each year a male goat is caught in the surrounding mountains, paraded through the town to a beat of drums and pipes, and then placed in a 40-feet (12 metre) stand where he reigns as king for three days.
The origins of the fair are not totally known, but it always falls on August 10-12. One theory suggests mountain goats alerted residents of the town to an impending attack by English leader Oliver Cromwell's forces in the 17th century.
Another theory says it may have pre-Christian links due to the goat being a pagan fertility symbol like the god Pan.
Around 100,000 to 150,000 visitors are expected to attend this year. Precautions have been taken at the event, which also features separate horse and cattle fairs, due to a foot and mouth outbreak in England. Disinfectants have been used, and mats have been placed wherever there animals are displayed.
Jimmy himself will receive regal treatment, being fed regularly and checked by his own personal vet. At the end of 3 days, when he is dethroned, he is brought back up to the mountains and released to join his fellow nanny goats to resume his pastoral duties.
Dating back centuries, the Puck Fair is an annual festival of drinking, music and dancing celebrated in the town of Killorglin in southern Ireland. Each year a male goat is caught in the surrounding mountains, paraded through the town to a beat of drums and pipes, and then placed in a 40-feet (12 metre) stand where he reigns as king for three days.
The origins of the fair are not totally known, but it always falls on August 10-12. One theory suggests mountain goats alerted residents of the town to an impending attack by English leader Oliver Cromwell's forces in the 17th century.
Another theory says it may have pre-Christian links due to the goat being a pagan fertility symbol like the god Pan.
Around 100,000 to 150,000 visitors are expected to attend this year. Precautions have been taken at the event, which also features separate horse and cattle fairs, due to a foot and mouth outbreak in England. Disinfectants have been used, and mats have been placed wherever there animals are displayed.
Jimmy himself will receive regal treatment, being fed regularly and checked by his own personal vet. At the end of 3 days, when he is dethroned, he is brought back up to the mountains and released to join his fellow nanny goats to resume his pastoral duties.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Spanish thief saw himself as Robin Hood
Spain's most wanted thief, "The Loner," saw himself as a Robin Hood-style figure and said he robbed banks only because they stole from the public, his lawyer said on Thursday.
Accused of killing three policemen and holding up more than 30 banks, Jaime Jimenez Arbe was planning to move on to insurance companies when he was arrested last month, Spanish media reported, citing lawyer Jose Mariano Trillo-Figueroa.
"I am not a killer and if I was obliged to shoot at officers of the law, it was always against my will and in order to avoid being arrested," Jimenez said in a letter reproduced on the websites of newspapers El Pais and El Mundo.
Trillo-Figueroa said Jimenez, who robbed the banks disguised in a false beard and a wig, thinks of himself as Curro Jimenez, a Spanish 1970s television bandit in the style of Robin Hood.
“The Loner” was arrested in Portugal, armed with a submachinegun in preparation for another bank robbery.
Accused of killing three policemen and holding up more than 30 banks, Jaime Jimenez Arbe was planning to move on to insurance companies when he was arrested last month, Spanish media reported, citing lawyer Jose Mariano Trillo-Figueroa.
"I am not a killer and if I was obliged to shoot at officers of the law, it was always against my will and in order to avoid being arrested," Jimenez said in a letter reproduced on the websites of newspapers El Pais and El Mundo.
Trillo-Figueroa said Jimenez, who robbed the banks disguised in a false beard and a wig, thinks of himself as Curro Jimenez, a Spanish 1970s television bandit in the style of Robin Hood.
“The Loner” was arrested in Portugal, armed with a submachinegun in preparation for another bank robbery.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
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Telekom model waits 3 months for phone line from the company she endorses
A fashion model who features in a high-profile advertising campaign for Deutsche Telekom has threatened to seek another provider after waiting three months for the company to install a new phone line at her apartment.
The 27-year-old model, known as Dora, can be seen smiling brightly in posters across Germany for Telekom's new high speed connection service. But she told Bild newspaper on August 7 that she was fed up with waiting for her Berlin home to be connected.
"I'll give them another week but that's it. After that, I'm going to switch to another provider," the model said.
A Deutsche Telekom spokesman could not be reached for comment. But Bild quoted a Telekom official saying they would be in touch with Dora right away.
The 27-year-old model, known as Dora, can be seen smiling brightly in posters across Germany for Telekom's new high speed connection service. But she told Bild newspaper on August 7 that she was fed up with waiting for her Berlin home to be connected.
"I'll give them another week but that's it. After that, I'm going to switch to another provider," the model said.
A Deutsche Telekom spokesman could not be reached for comment. But Bild quoted a Telekom official saying they would be in touch with Dora right away.
British motorists can't read maps
As many as 11 million British motorists are unable to read a basic road map, according to a survey released on August 6.
The poll revealed over three quarters of British drivers were unable to identify the motorway map symbol, while only one per cent of motorists would pass the Cub Scout Map Reader badge test.
"It's pretty embarrassing the majority of Cub Scouts have better map-reading skills than the majority of the adult population," said Colin Batabyal, head of underwriting and business development at eSure, which carried out the survey.
Sixteen percent of British drivers have become so heavily reliant on satellite navigation systems that they have given up keeping a map in their car.
"It's time for motorists to take a refresher in map-reading skills," said Scott Sinclair of national mapping agency Ordnance Survey. "Technology is great but the batteries won't run out on a paper map.
The poll revealed over three quarters of British drivers were unable to identify the motorway map symbol, while only one per cent of motorists would pass the Cub Scout Map Reader badge test.
"It's pretty embarrassing the majority of Cub Scouts have better map-reading skills than the majority of the adult population," said Colin Batabyal, head of underwriting and business development at eSure, which carried out the survey.
Sixteen percent of British drivers have become so heavily reliant on satellite navigation systems that they have given up keeping a map in their car.
"It's time for motorists to take a refresher in map-reading skills," said Scott Sinclair of national mapping agency Ordnance Survey. "Technology is great but the batteries won't run out on a paper map.
Passenger smuggles monkey onto plane under hat
A man smuggled a monkey onto an airplane on August 6, stashing the fist-size primate under his hat until passengers spotted it perched on his ponytail, an airline official in New York said.
On a flight from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to New York's LaGuardia airport, people around the man noticed that a marmoset, which normally lives in forest and eats fruit and insects, had emerged from underneath his hat, Spirit Airlines spoksewoman Alison Russell said. The man's journey had begun in Lima, Peru.
“Other passengers asked the man if he knew he had a monkey on him,'' Russell said.
The monkey spent the remainder of the flight in the man's seat and behaved well, said Russell. She did not know how the monkey skirted detection in Lima and during the man's several-hour layover in Fort Lauderdale.
LaGuardia airport police were waiting for the man and his monkey when the plane landed, and he was taken for questioning. It was unclear if he would face any criminal charges.
The city's animal control agency said the monkey appeared healthy. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was planning to take it for disease testing and keep it quarantined for 31 days, CDC spokesman Tom Skinner said.
If the monkey is healthy it could wind up in a zoo.
On a flight from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to New York's LaGuardia airport, people around the man noticed that a marmoset, which normally lives in forest and eats fruit and insects, had emerged from underneath his hat, Spirit Airlines spoksewoman Alison Russell said. The man's journey had begun in Lima, Peru.
“Other passengers asked the man if he knew he had a monkey on him,'' Russell said.
The monkey spent the remainder of the flight in the man's seat and behaved well, said Russell. She did not know how the monkey skirted detection in Lima and during the man's several-hour layover in Fort Lauderdale.
LaGuardia airport police were waiting for the man and his monkey when the plane landed, and he was taken for questioning. It was unclear if he would face any criminal charges.
The city's animal control agency said the monkey appeared healthy. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was planning to take it for disease testing and keep it quarantined for 31 days, CDC spokesman Tom Skinner said.
If the monkey is healthy it could wind up in a zoo.
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Chocoholic squirrel steals treats from shop
A Finnish squirrel with a sweet tooth heads to a Finnish grocery shop at least twice a day to steal "Kinder Surprise" chocolate-shelled eggs.
The manager of the store in Jyvaskyla, central Finland, has named it the Kinder-squirrel, after the treats. It always goes after them, other sweets do not seem to interest it as much. The confectionary, which is intended for children, has a toy inside. It removes the foil carefully, eats the chocolate and leaves the store with the toy.
Unfortunately, the bushy-tailed thief does not clean up after itself, but leaves the wrappers behind.
The manager of the store in Jyvaskyla, central Finland, has named it the Kinder-squirrel, after the treats. It always goes after them, other sweets do not seem to interest it as much. The confectionary, which is intended for children, has a toy inside. It removes the foil carefully, eats the chocolate and leaves the store with the toy.
Unfortunately, the bushy-tailed thief does not clean up after itself, but leaves the wrappers behind.
Friday, August 3, 2007
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Cellphones light up operating room
The light from the cellphone screens allowed surgeons to complete an emergency appendix operation during a blackout in a city in central Argentina on July 21.
Leonardo Molina, 29, was on the operating table on July 21, when the power went out in the Policlinico Juan D Peron, the main hospital in Villa Mercedes, a small city in San Luis province.
"The generator, which should have been working correctly, didn't work," a hospital spokesman, whose name was not given, told TN television news station. "The surgeons and anesthetists were in the dark. A family member got some cellphones together from people in the hallway and took them in to provide light," he said.
Ricardo Molina, 39, Leonardo's brother, told La Nacion newspaper that the lights were out for an hour and his brother's anesthesia was wearing off.
Leonardo Molina, 29, was on the operating table on July 21, when the power went out in the Policlinico Juan D Peron, the main hospital in Villa Mercedes, a small city in San Luis province.
"The generator, which should have been working correctly, didn't work," a hospital spokesman, whose name was not given, told TN television news station. "The surgeons and anesthetists were in the dark. A family member got some cellphones together from people in the hallway and took them in to provide light," he said.
Ricardo Molina, 39, Leonardo's brother, told La Nacion newspaper that the lights were out for an hour and his brother's anesthesia was wearing off.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Railroads America - Strange Experiences
The builders of the western railroads in the United States had many adventures with the Indians and travellers over the completed lines not infrequently saw redmen making hostile demonstration against the locomotives that crossed the buffalo country and made it increasingly difficult for the hunters to bring in meat.The Central Pacific, invading the territory of the Paiutes and Shoshones, had fewer conflicts with the Indians than the Union Pacific, which built in the lands of the more warlike Sioux and Cheyennes. The Central made treaties with the redmen. As Collis P. Hunting-ton, the Vice-President, put it : "We gave the old chief a pass, good on passenger cars, and we told our men to let the common Indians ride on the freight cars whenever they saw fit." The Paiutes and Shoshones enjoyed these novel experiences and helped instead of hindering the running of the trains.
The Apaches of the southwest, although hostile to the surveyors and graders, made terms with the Southern Pacific when the road was built. It was the Indians of the plains, Sioux and Cheyennes, that took to the war-path against the locomotive.
The Union Pacific in Nebraska and Wyoming was built inside picket lines. "Every mile had to be run within range of the musket," said Chief Engineer Dodge. "In making the surveys numbers of our men, some of them the ablest and most promising, were killed; and during the construction our stock was run off by the hundred, I might say by the thousand; our cars and ranches burned. Graders and track-layers, tie-men and station-builders, had to sleep under guard, and have gone to their work with their picks and shovels and their mechanical tools in one hand and the rifle in the other, and they often had to drop one and use the other."
In 1867 the Indians of the northern plains banded together against the railroad. In the spring the Sioux attacked a surveying party near where the city of Cheyenne now stands, killed the leader, and drove off the others. On July twenty-third a band of three hundred Sioux swooped down upon another party working across the Red Desert, wounded the engineer in charge and stampeded the horses; the surveyors were barely able to escape to the neighboring station of the Overland Stage.
The following month Cheyennes made a sortie against the tracks near Plum Creek, some 230 miles from Omaha. The road was unguarded, and the Indians, making use of a telegraph wire, fastened a wooden tie to the rails. William Thompson, head lineman, with a repair gang of five, was sent from Plum Creek on a hand-car to see what had caused the telegraph break.
The Indians, wondering what would happen on the impeded track, sat around a campfire. The repair crew saw the fire, then saw the Indians, then jumped from the hand-car. The car struck the tie on the rails and was catapulted down a ravine. The white men went sprawling in every direction; one of the Cheyennes caught Thompson, shot him through the arm and tore off his scalp.
The Indians were delighted with their little experiment and now pried up a pair of rails, bent them, and piled more ties across the track. Presently a freight train came along, running at twenty-five miles an hour. The engine hit the barricade and leaped from the track, pulling with it the tender and five cars. Two of these cars were thrown clear over the locomotive, the others piled up on the engine and at once caught fire.
The Indians yelled with satisfaction and shot at any of the trainmen who crawled out from the debris, directing their attention to the wreck in front rather than to the caboose. William Kinney, the conductor of the train, and two others, were able to slip from the caboose unnoticed in the darkness. Another freight train was due from Plum Creek and must be flagged before it struck the wreck.
Charles Ratcliffe, a trainman, was hiding under the caboose when he saw an Indian approaching and, jumping up, dashed for safety. In front he saw the headlight of the second freight, a mile away. Over his shoulder he caught a glimpse of two Indians in pursuit. The conductor and his two companions were almost up with the approaching locomotive. Ratcliffe heard the engine whistle, signalling for the brakes. Would the train back away and leave him The Indians were on his heels. He shouted. The engineer heard him and waited. The Indians were daunted by the headlight, and Ratcliffe reached the locomotive and was pulled aboard. Back to Plum Creek steamed the second freight.
Word was telegraphed to Omaha. The people at Plum Creek, fearing an Indian raid, piled into the freight train to seek refuge at Elm Creek, eighteen miles to the east. Meantime the Indians plundered the wrecked train, set fire to all the cars, and danced around the blaze.
Thompson, the scalped lineman, managed to get to safety at the station of Willow Island to the west. The people of Plum Creek returned in the morning. By nightfall the Indians were riding away, with plenty of loot and a number of scalps.
The next year the Sioux wrecked a train between Alkali and Ogalalla in Nebraska, but the trainmen and passengers were able to stand the Indians off until a relief train arrived. In several instances Indians, planning an attack on the rails, were frightened away by the rush of the locomotive, running at full speed. Stations were surrounded, however, and horses and mules driven off ; and for a considerable time passengers on the Union Pacific, as well as the traincrews, went armed against surprise sorties of the Indians of the plains.
Locomotives have met with many strange adventures in the prairie and mountain country. Prairie and forest fires have swept across the tracks with the roar of a tornado. Trains have succeeded in running the gauntlet with full steam on and wetted roofs, but engineers are chary of plunging into such barriers of flame.
At Kiowa, Kansas, in 1878 a locomotive was swept from a railroad embankment by a water-spout and lost in a quicksand. In 1880 a thunder-storm and water-spout passed over the town of Monotony on the Kansas Pacific Railroad, washed away more than 6000 feet of track and covered the prairie with eight feet of water. An entire freight train vanished, being presumably engulfed in a land-slip. Snow has frequently blocked traffic on the western roads. In December, 1872, several Union Pacific trains, with 350 passengers, were snow-bound for two weeks between Percy and Cheyenne. Railroad officials were able to get food to the stranded cars, and the passengers made their way to a small station where they entertained themselves dancing in the back room of a grocery store to the music of a guitar, a mouth harmonicon and a fine-tooth comb.
In the winter of 1880 a train that had left Penn's Grove on the Delaware River Railroad bound for Woodbury, New Jersey, ran into snow-drifts which were said to be as high as the locomotive's smoke-stack. The engineer tried to push ahead, but his supply of coal ran low. The conductor telegraphed word of his dilemma to the president of the road, who sent back reply : "Use all the fence-rails you can lay your hands on, if your coal gives out. Throw in a barn or two, if necessary. If that fails, take all the pork offered at six dollars per hundred. Keep your steam up, and come through at any cost."
These orders were obeyed, and the train got to Woodbury late that night. As the road had been ploughed open it was decided to try to keep it so, and the train started back at midnight. Two hours later it stuck in a drift. The telegraph wires were down, and the conductor sent a messenger with a request for another engine. The second engine was sent out, but it also was stalled in the snow. Train and relief-engine were lost sight of for many hours, and were finally discovered by sleighs that hunted for them through the great drifts.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Man survives lightning strike, again!
Lightning can strike twice. Just ask American Don Frick, a resident of Hamlin.
Frick said he survived his second lightning strike on Friday, July 27th - 27 years to the day of his first - and emerged a bit shaken, with only a burned zipper and a hole in the back of his jeans. "I'm lucky I'm alive," Frick said in a phone interview two days later.
Frick was attending a festival when a storm came up quickly. He and six others sought refuge in a shed shortly before lightning struck the ground nearby. The strike sent a shock through Frick and four others.
"It put me up against the wall," said Frick, 68. "When I came to and realized I was alive, the first thing that came to my mind was that I'm pretty lucky."
None of the others were seriously injured.
Twenty-seven years earlier, Frick said he was driving a tractor-trailer when the antenna was struck by lightning, injuring his left side for weeks.
Frick said he survived his second lightning strike on Friday, July 27th - 27 years to the day of his first - and emerged a bit shaken, with only a burned zipper and a hole in the back of his jeans. "I'm lucky I'm alive," Frick said in a phone interview two days later.
Frick was attending a festival when a storm came up quickly. He and six others sought refuge in a shed shortly before lightning struck the ground nearby. The strike sent a shock through Frick and four others.
"It put me up against the wall," said Frick, 68. "When I came to and realized I was alive, the first thing that came to my mind was that I'm pretty lucky."
None of the others were seriously injured.
Twenty-seven years earlier, Frick said he was driving a tractor-trailer when the antenna was struck by lightning, injuring his left side for weeks.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Nude blonde, gold stilettos and a Ferrari...
A mysterious blonde paid a visit to a petrol station shop in the small eastern German town of Doemitz on July22nd - wearing nothing but a pair of golden stilettos and a thin gold bracelet.
The tall, slender woman strolled into the shop in the town of Doemitz on the warm afternoon and bought cigarettes, petrol station employee Ines Swoboda told reporters the next day. "I wasn't surprised because she's come in naked before - she's a very nice woman," Swoboda said, adding none of the other customers were bothered.
The woman could have faced charges of creating a public disturbance if anyone had complained. A quick-witted customer did, however, snap pictures of the woman believed to be about 30 years old as she walked back to a waiting Ferrari and climbed into the passenger seat. Several of those photos appeared in the German media on July 23rd.
The tall, slender woman strolled into the shop in the town of Doemitz on the warm afternoon and bought cigarettes, petrol station employee Ines Swoboda told reporters the next day. "I wasn't surprised because she's come in naked before - she's a very nice woman," Swoboda said, adding none of the other customers were bothered.
The woman could have faced charges of creating a public disturbance if anyone had complained. A quick-witted customer did, however, snap pictures of the woman believed to be about 30 years old as she walked back to a waiting Ferrari and climbed into the passenger seat. Several of those photos appeared in the German media on July 23rd.
Shoplifter leaves address for police
German police called to investigate a supermarket theft were surprised to discover the culprit had left his contact details with a shop assistant.
The 30-year-old thief, who was born in Liverpool, England, passed a note to the assistant which read in German: "Call the police, I've just stolen," a spokesman for the police in the town of Nienburg in Lower Saxony said on July 25th.
The shoplifter left the premises carrying a full bag of shopping in one hand and a pack of toilet paper under his arm. When officers called at his address, the man admitted his crime. He justified the act by saying he and his pregnant girlfriend were having cash flow problems because of a mistake by the social security office.
"You don't come across criminals like this every day," the spokesman said. "The man wouldn't say why he tipped us off."
The 30-year-old thief, who was born in Liverpool, England, passed a note to the assistant which read in German: "Call the police, I've just stolen," a spokesman for the police in the town of Nienburg in Lower Saxony said on July 25th.
The shoplifter left the premises carrying a full bag of shopping in one hand and a pack of toilet paper under his arm. When officers called at his address, the man admitted his crime. He justified the act by saying he and his pregnant girlfriend were having cash flow problems because of a mistake by the social security office.
"You don't come across criminals like this every day," the spokesman said. "The man wouldn't say why he tipped us off."
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Crazy Patents!
For the US Patents Office to issue a patent, the invention must be novel, non-obvious, and "useful." The standard for usefulness is certainly the weakest of the three - any possible utility, no matter how small, will suffice. And, useful does not necessarily mean commercially viable. In other words, you can get a patent on some crazy things that will never make it to the shelves of your local store. For instance:
Patent Number 5392735
"Marine Mammal Communication Device"
This Walt Disney patent contains detailed source code (about 17 pages worth) of what basically amounts to a dolphin size keyboard that translates keystrokes into sounds for both humans and other dolphins and perhaps "whales and porpoises" as well. They hope that once trained that a human will be able to simply speak to the Dolphins as well.
Patent Number 7108178
"Method of stopping a stolen car without a high-speed chase, utilizing a bar code"
The title alone earns the patent a place in this article. Part of the invention also requires that the rear wheel covers have bullets or knives installed in them, however the inventor also offers a method to disable the engine by remote control.
Patent Number 6142880
"Method of playing a bowling game"
This is basically bowling like it is today, but changing the scoring system to "eliminate the unfair advantage of scoring consecutive strikes with a multiplier effect".
Patent Number 5107620
"Electrified table cloth"
Designed to discourage bugs from crawling on a table cloth, the electrified table cloth shocks them, much like an invisible dog fence. I'm not sure this idea is so crazy - if anyone knows where to get one of these, please let me know.
Patent Number 7062320
"Device for the treatment of hiccups"
Appears to be a glass that shocks you when you drink from it, ostensibly stimulating specific nerves in an attempt to cure hiccups.
Patent Number 6994809
"Plug for and method of patching a hole in a wall"
Maybe not really crazy, but crazily obvious. This patent shows you how to patch a hole in a wall by cutting out a piece the same size as a pre-formed plug, and then inserting the plug and plastering over it.
Patent Number 5443036
"Method of exercising a cat"
In 1993 the US Patents Office issued this patent for using a laser pointer to exercise a cat (yes, by moving the laser pointer beam around and having the cat chase it). Come on now... Not only is this crazy to patent, but this idea had surely been thought of long before this patent came about. In fact, a bit of research turned up the book: "One Hundred and Eighty-Seven Ways to Amuse a Bored Cat" (Ballantine Books; May, 1982) that describes the exact same idea, but using a flashlight. Sorry guys - the use of a laser pointer for the same thing is obvious.
Update: There is something else that is truly amazing about this patent. Not only should this patent probably never have been issued, but it appears that the USPTO has issued what is essentially the same patent many times! See: Patent Number: 6505576 "Pet Toy"; Patent Number: 6557495 "Laser Pet Toy"; Patent Number: 6651591 "Automatic Laser Pet Toy And Exerciser"; Patent Number: 6701872 "Method And Apparatus For Automatically Exercising A Curious Animal"
Patent Number: 6826983
"Light Bulb Changer"
How many machines does it take to change a light bulb? Come on now, who is going to buy a machine, that looks like it weighs 100 pounds and costs plenty, to change light bulbs?
Patent Number: 6752088
"Eating counter apparatus for mobile vending vehicle"
This guy must have been sitting around with a hotdog cart, a park bench, and a welding torch, and decided he needed to patent something using only these three things.
Patent Number:6739074
"Tamper Resistant Institutional Shoe And Method"
A shoe with a transparent sole to prevent concealing contraband. Don't laugh just yet - these might be required on planes soon!
Patent Number: 6718554
"Hands free towel carrying system"
A towel with a neck loop. Seriously -- that's all it is. And it took until 2004 to patent such a thing. I wonder what other amazing inventions remain to be discovered???
Patent Number: 6650315
"Mouse device with a built-in printer"
The title is pretty self-explanatory. Yes, it takes very small paper. Maybe it could serve as a label maker -- that's about all I can think of.
Patent Number: 6368227
"Method of swinging on a swing"
So these fools think that in all the years of swinging no one has ever before thought to pull on the opposite chains and swing form side to side? Well, I guess they got the PTO to issue the patent, so I'm not sure who the fool really is... But, even so, what do these guys expect to do with this anyway? Are they going to go around and collect royalties from kids on the playground?
Patent Number: 4858627
"Smokers Hat"
A hat with an air intake, which filters and then expels the air. Looks pretty much like wearing the exhaust hood for a stove on your head.
Patent Number: 4455816
"Tricycle Lawnmower"
No, you aren't misreading anything. This really is a child's tricycle with a lawnmower attached. Real safe, eh?
Patent Number: 4300473
"Device For Moistening The Adhesive Coating On Postage Stamps and Envelopes"
Describes a device containing an applicator to moisten stamps. Check out this quote: "The applicator may be in the form of a human tongue". Boy, that's novel.
Patent Number: 4233942
"Animal Ear Protection"
A device for protecting the ears of animals, especially long-haired dogs, from becoming soiled by the animal's food while the animal is eating. OK, your pet might look better without dirty hair, but it's going to look pretty dumb wearing this thing.
Patent Number 5392735
"Marine Mammal Communication Device"
This Walt Disney patent contains detailed source code (about 17 pages worth) of what basically amounts to a dolphin size keyboard that translates keystrokes into sounds for both humans and other dolphins and perhaps "whales and porpoises" as well. They hope that once trained that a human will be able to simply speak to the Dolphins as well.
Patent Number 7108178
"Method of stopping a stolen car without a high-speed chase, utilizing a bar code"
The title alone earns the patent a place in this article. Part of the invention also requires that the rear wheel covers have bullets or knives installed in them, however the inventor also offers a method to disable the engine by remote control.
Patent Number 6142880
"Method of playing a bowling game"
This is basically bowling like it is today, but changing the scoring system to "eliminate the unfair advantage of scoring consecutive strikes with a multiplier effect".
Patent Number 5107620
"Electrified table cloth"
Designed to discourage bugs from crawling on a table cloth, the electrified table cloth shocks them, much like an invisible dog fence. I'm not sure this idea is so crazy - if anyone knows where to get one of these, please let me know.
Patent Number 7062320
"Device for the treatment of hiccups"
Appears to be a glass that shocks you when you drink from it, ostensibly stimulating specific nerves in an attempt to cure hiccups.
Patent Number 6994809
"Plug for and method of patching a hole in a wall"
Maybe not really crazy, but crazily obvious. This patent shows you how to patch a hole in a wall by cutting out a piece the same size as a pre-formed plug, and then inserting the plug and plastering over it.
Patent Number 5443036
"Method of exercising a cat"
In 1993 the US Patents Office issued this patent for using a laser pointer to exercise a cat (yes, by moving the laser pointer beam around and having the cat chase it). Come on now... Not only is this crazy to patent, but this idea had surely been thought of long before this patent came about. In fact, a bit of research turned up the book: "One Hundred and Eighty-Seven Ways to Amuse a Bored Cat" (Ballantine Books; May, 1982) that describes the exact same idea, but using a flashlight. Sorry guys - the use of a laser pointer for the same thing is obvious.
Update: There is something else that is truly amazing about this patent. Not only should this patent probably never have been issued, but it appears that the USPTO has issued what is essentially the same patent many times! See: Patent Number: 6505576 "Pet Toy"; Patent Number: 6557495 "Laser Pet Toy"; Patent Number: 6651591 "Automatic Laser Pet Toy And Exerciser"; Patent Number: 6701872 "Method And Apparatus For Automatically Exercising A Curious Animal"
Patent Number: 6826983
"Light Bulb Changer"
How many machines does it take to change a light bulb? Come on now, who is going to buy a machine, that looks like it weighs 100 pounds and costs plenty, to change light bulbs?
Patent Number: 6752088
"Eating counter apparatus for mobile vending vehicle"
This guy must have been sitting around with a hotdog cart, a park bench, and a welding torch, and decided he needed to patent something using only these three things.
Patent Number:6739074
"Tamper Resistant Institutional Shoe And Method"
A shoe with a transparent sole to prevent concealing contraband. Don't laugh just yet - these might be required on planes soon!
Patent Number: 6718554
"Hands free towel carrying system"
A towel with a neck loop. Seriously -- that's all it is. And it took until 2004 to patent such a thing. I wonder what other amazing inventions remain to be discovered???
Patent Number: 6650315
"Mouse device with a built-in printer"
The title is pretty self-explanatory. Yes, it takes very small paper. Maybe it could serve as a label maker -- that's about all I can think of.
Patent Number: 6368227
"Method of swinging on a swing"
So these fools think that in all the years of swinging no one has ever before thought to pull on the opposite chains and swing form side to side? Well, I guess they got the PTO to issue the patent, so I'm not sure who the fool really is... But, even so, what do these guys expect to do with this anyway? Are they going to go around and collect royalties from kids on the playground?
Patent Number: 4858627
"Smokers Hat"
A hat with an air intake, which filters and then expels the air. Looks pretty much like wearing the exhaust hood for a stove on your head.
Patent Number: 4455816
"Tricycle Lawnmower"
No, you aren't misreading anything. This really is a child's tricycle with a lawnmower attached. Real safe, eh?
Patent Number: 4300473
"Device For Moistening The Adhesive Coating On Postage Stamps and Envelopes"
Describes a device containing an applicator to moisten stamps. Check out this quote: "The applicator may be in the form of a human tongue". Boy, that's novel.
Patent Number: 4233942
"Animal Ear Protection"
A device for protecting the ears of animals, especially long-haired dogs, from becoming soiled by the animal's food while the animal is eating. OK, your pet might look better without dirty hair, but it's going to look pretty dumb wearing this thing.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Man finds out wife, not daughter, unfaithful
An Israeli man who hired a detective to find out whether his daughter was cheating on her husband was told by the investigator his wife was in fact the one being unfaithful, an Israeli newspaper reported on July 22nd.
The man had his daughter followed at the request of his son-in-law, who had been suspicious of his wife's behaviour. The daughter was found innocent but the private investigator managed to snap photographs of the mother and another man caught in the act, the Maariv daily said.
"I saved my daughter's marriage and at the same time, saved myself from a woman who had it all in life but chose another man," the man, who has since sought to end the marriage, was quoted as telling his lawyer.
The man had his daughter followed at the request of his son-in-law, who had been suspicious of his wife's behaviour. The daughter was found innocent but the private investigator managed to snap photographs of the mother and another man caught in the act, the Maariv daily said.
"I saved my daughter's marriage and at the same time, saved myself from a woman who had it all in life but chose another man," the man, who has since sought to end the marriage, was quoted as telling his lawyer.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
THEY REMARRIED 92 YEARS AFTER THEIR DIVORCE!
Age Carlson of Aalborg, Denmark, took to himself a wife at the age of twenty in 1811. Matrimony had a strange effect on Aage. He was seized with an irresistible wanderlust. After a long a conversation in which he tried in vain to induce his bride to share his nomadic life with him, Aage decided not to stand in the way of her happiness and divorced her. “I shall always love you,” he said in a tone of deep conviction. “But since you decline to roam the seven seas with me, it is only fair to give you a chance to find happiness with my successor.”
Aage left Denmark in 1811 and nothing further was heard from him during the remainder of the nineteenth century.
With the dawn of the twentieth century rumors reached the ex-Mrs. Carlson that her former husband, now a ship’s captain, was still alive and that he was thinking of settling down in his native country.
In 1903 Aage Carlson returned to Aalborg and called upon his ex-wife whom he had not seen in ninety-two years. Mrs. Carlson received him with dignity and reserve. When Aage learned that she had never remarried, he sank to his knees and delivered a proposal of remarriage couched in such ardent terms that her resistance melted away.
They remarried in 1903 and lived long enough to celebrate the rarest of all matrimonial events - the hundredth anniversary of their original wedlock. Both died a year later.
Aage left Denmark in 1811 and nothing further was heard from him during the remainder of the nineteenth century.
With the dawn of the twentieth century rumors reached the ex-Mrs. Carlson that her former husband, now a ship’s captain, was still alive and that he was thinking of settling down in his native country.
In 1903 Aage Carlson returned to Aalborg and called upon his ex-wife whom he had not seen in ninety-two years. Mrs. Carlson received him with dignity and reserve. When Aage learned that she had never remarried, he sank to his knees and delivered a proposal of remarriage couched in such ardent terms that her resistance melted away.
They remarried in 1903 and lived long enough to celebrate the rarest of all matrimonial events - the hundredth anniversary of their original wedlock. Both died a year later.
Saturday, July 21, 2007
The Mummy's Curse
The year was 1910. Egyptologist Douglas Murray was sought out by a diseased and ragged looking American. He told Murray he had an offer that would most likely be the most priceless and important find of his whole career, a mummy case, complete with mummy, of an ancient Egyptian high priestess of the temple of Ammon-Ra who supposedly lived in Thebes around 1600 BC.Murray was quick to write the American a check, drawn from the Bank of London, but the check was never cashed. The American died that night.
A colleague of Murray's told him the legend behind his new purchase. The ancient high priestess had held high office in the then feared Cult of the Dead, helping to turn the once rich and fertile land in the Valley of the Nile into a bare wasteland, a truly desolate place. Inscribed on the walls of her tomb were warnings of death and terror for anyone disturbing her resting place. Believing it was a load of poppycock, Murray laughed at the warning. Three days later, while on a hunting trip, his gun exploded in his hand, causing him months of almost constant pain spent in hospital. The wound eventually became infected, and fearing the gangrene would spread, his arm was amputated at the elbow.
When his health returned he set sail for England, mummy case and all. During the trip, two Egyptian servants who had handled the mummy case were found dead. They were considered to be young, strong, healthy men, so their deaths came very unexpectedly. Upon arriving in London, Murray took a good long look at his acquisition, and while examining the carved gold and painted image of the priestess, he later told friends that "the face seemed to come alive with a stare that chilled to the bone."
Murray decided t was time to get rid of the mummy case. A lady friend of his persuaded him to sell it to her, and within weeks her mother died, her lover left her, and she herself was diagnosed with what could only be called a 'wasting' disease. Was it perhaps the same disease to plague the American? Whatever it was, she insisted that Murray take it back.
He then gave it to a British museum, and it seemed that the 'curse' was no less effective there, either. A photographer dropped stone cold dead while photographing the mummy case, and the man in charge of the cases exhibit was soon found dead in his own bed. In light of these events, the museums head honcho's met privately and unanimously decided to give it to a prestigious New York museum. The case was sent with no fanfare, but the case never reached it's destination, for it sunk to the bottom of the sea along with the Titanic and almost 1500 souls in April of 1912.
Friday, July 20, 2007
Estonians win international wife-carrying tournament
Recently, a couple of Estonians were adjudged the best in an international wife-carrying championship in central Finland in which more than 50 couples from various states participated.
The championship organisers borrowed the idea from a 19th century outlaw, who recruited new members of his gang only after conducting special tests for power and smartness. Some of them kidnapped women from local villages.
The modern tournament covers a distance of 253.5 metres. Contestants have to carry their women across sand, pebble, grass and asphalt strips and one-metre-deep ditches filled with water.
Bachelors can also participate in the tournament and can borrow a wife from their friends or neighbours.
According to the rules, the wife cannot weigh less than 49 kgs. Otherwise, an extra load will be added.
The tournament includes a 100-metre individual race and a relay, in which women substitute relay batons. When the woman is passed from one contestant to another, the man has to stop and have a drink.
An Estonian couple made a record of 55.5 seconds in 2000. Their record has not been outdone.
Another Estonian couple won this year's tournament with 1 minute and 1.7 seconds. The winners received a beer keg, which weighs as much as the carried wife.
The championship organisers borrowed the idea from a 19th century outlaw, who recruited new members of his gang only after conducting special tests for power and smartness. Some of them kidnapped women from local villages.
The modern tournament covers a distance of 253.5 metres. Contestants have to carry their women across sand, pebble, grass and asphalt strips and one-metre-deep ditches filled with water.
Bachelors can also participate in the tournament and can borrow a wife from their friends or neighbours.
According to the rules, the wife cannot weigh less than 49 kgs. Otherwise, an extra load will be added.
The tournament includes a 100-metre individual race and a relay, in which women substitute relay batons. When the woman is passed from one contestant to another, the man has to stop and have a drink.
An Estonian couple made a record of 55.5 seconds in 2000. Their record has not been outdone.
Another Estonian couple won this year's tournament with 1 minute and 1.7 seconds. The winners received a beer keg, which weighs as much as the carried wife.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
In Big Apple, Botox over lunch...
Busy New Yorkers a bit worse for wear need only a lunch-time to look better, thanks to a drop-in Botox salon.
In the latest quick-fix indulgence for people on the run, a Botox-only boutique has opened off ritzy Park Avenue where shoppers and harried professionals can walk in for a jab of Botox to smooth away facial lines and be out within 30 minutes.
Plastic surgeons Andrew Elkwood and Michael Rose opened New York's first Botox boutique, Smoothmed, after realising their cosmetic surgery practice contained a group of people who wanted Botox but didn't want to wait for the five to ten-minute injections.
"In a lot of respects, the taboo of cosmetic surgery is leaving society, especially the injectables," Elkwood said. "What we wanted to do was make it very accessible, take it very seriously but give, administer it, in a comfortable atmosphere. A salon-like atmosphere. We do all the worrying on the back end."
Elkwood says patients' medical histories are reviewed before any treatment and all women are given a pregnancy test to ensure it is safe before receiving any shots of Botox, which is regarded by some as the fountain of youth
In the latest quick-fix indulgence for people on the run, a Botox-only boutique has opened off ritzy Park Avenue where shoppers and harried professionals can walk in for a jab of Botox to smooth away facial lines and be out within 30 minutes.
Plastic surgeons Andrew Elkwood and Michael Rose opened New York's first Botox boutique, Smoothmed, after realising their cosmetic surgery practice contained a group of people who wanted Botox but didn't want to wait for the five to ten-minute injections.
"In a lot of respects, the taboo of cosmetic surgery is leaving society, especially the injectables," Elkwood said. "What we wanted to do was make it very accessible, take it very seriously but give, administer it, in a comfortable atmosphere. A salon-like atmosphere. We do all the worrying on the back end."
Elkwood says patients' medical histories are reviewed before any treatment and all women are given a pregnancy test to ensure it is safe before receiving any shots of Botox, which is regarded by some as the fountain of youth
Fire-fighters cut holes in wrong house
Fire-fighters in Massachusetts drove to a vacant house on July 17th, cut holes in the roof and walls, and broke windows to test their tools and their proficiency only to discover it was the wrong house.
They were supposed to be two blocks away at a house slated for demolition.
The owners of the damaged home now want the town to pay for the mistake, but they are trying to keep a sense of humour about it.
“Accidents happen,'' said Jeffrey Luu, who owns the house in Braintree with his brother, Clayton. “Luckily, nobody got hurt,'' added Clayton Luu.
The home had been vacant since an electrical fire last year left a scorch mark up one side. The knee-high grass had not been cut in several weeks.
The owners were planning a renovation of the house just not this much of one.
The fire department is conducting an internal investigation, Deputy Chief John Donahue said in a statement, but officials otherwise remained tight-lipped and red-faced about the incident.
Meanwhile, the house where the fire-fighters were supposed to train was demolished later on the same day as scheduled.
They were supposed to be two blocks away at a house slated for demolition.
The owners of the damaged home now want the town to pay for the mistake, but they are trying to keep a sense of humour about it.
“Accidents happen,'' said Jeffrey Luu, who owns the house in Braintree with his brother, Clayton. “Luckily, nobody got hurt,'' added Clayton Luu.
The home had been vacant since an electrical fire last year left a scorch mark up one side. The knee-high grass had not been cut in several weeks.
The owners were planning a renovation of the house just not this much of one.
The fire department is conducting an internal investigation, Deputy Chief John Donahue said in a statement, but officials otherwise remained tight-lipped and red-faced about the incident.
Meanwhile, the house where the fire-fighters were supposed to train was demolished later on the same day as scheduled.
Monday, July 16, 2007
3,009 Chinese break skipping world record
A group of 3,009 people set a world record on July 12th in central China, becoming the largest group to skip rope at one time.
The participants ranged in age from 5 to 68, and skipped rope for three minutes. Officials of Guinness World Records were on hand in Changsha, the capital of Hunan province, and acknowledged the feat.
The previous record was set by 2,474 people on January 23, 2005, in Hong Kong.
The skipping ropes used July 12th will be sent to 30 elementary schools in rural Hunan.
The participants ranged in age from 5 to 68, and skipped rope for three minutes. Officials of Guinness World Records were on hand in Changsha, the capital of Hunan province, and acknowledged the feat.
The previous record was set by 2,474 people on January 23, 2005, in Hong Kong.
The skipping ropes used July 12th will be sent to 30 elementary schools in rural Hunan.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Elephant beats keeper for late meals
A Pakistani zoo is appealing for donations to help feed its sole elephant, Suzi, which gets angry and beats its keeper with a stick when its meals are late.
When Suzi is not fed on time it holds its master's cane in its trunk and starts beating him.
The zoo is hoping philanthropists and schools will "adopt" Suzi and pay for the elephant’s food - since the zoo does not have enough funds to feed Suzi.
When Suzi is not fed on time it holds its master's cane in its trunk and starts beating him.
The zoo is hoping philanthropists and schools will "adopt" Suzi and pay for the elephant’s food - since the zoo does not have enough funds to feed Suzi.
Stressed executives asked to smash hotel rooms
A Spanish hotel chain ran a competition for stressed executives to let off steam in a fashion usually reserved for rock stars - by smashing hotel rooms.
NH Hotels allowed 30 people chosen by a team of psychologists to help demolish the interior of the 11-year old NH Alcala hotel in central Madrid as part of its refurbishment. The chosen 30, armed with mallet and hard hat, were allowed to destroy any part of the 146-room building, from bringing down walls to smashing windows.
The demolition took place on July 3. The executives, reportedly, enjoyed themselves immensely. We hope their stress levels improved!
NH Hotels allowed 30 people chosen by a team of psychologists to help demolish the interior of the 11-year old NH Alcala hotel in central Madrid as part of its refurbishment. The chosen 30, armed with mallet and hard hat, were allowed to destroy any part of the 146-room building, from bringing down walls to smashing windows.
The demolition took place on July 3. The executives, reportedly, enjoyed themselves immensely. We hope their stress levels improved!
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Multiple loyalties
Jean Cavalier (1681-1740), a French baker, as a soldier fought for France, Italy, Holland and Britain - and in 1738 became a Major General in the British Army.
Twenty-three times lucky
Rudolf Slavitz (1810-99) of Vienna, Austria, had 23 children, 23 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.
Couldn't practice what he preached...
Horatio Alger, who made a fortune writing 119 books inspiring poor boys to labor diligently and save their pennies, died of poverty because he became a spendthrift.
Double standards
Sir Walter Raleigh was executed by King James-I of England for annoying Spain - yet for doing the same thing, Sir Francis Drake was knighted by Queen Elizabeth-I of England.
Overworked!
George Edmund Street, famed English architect, won a contest to design the Royal Courts of Justice in London in 1868, but died of exhaustion after drawing 3,000 successive plans for the structures.
Free bed for the world's tallest man
The world's tallest man will now be able to sleep with his new wife after a furniture company agreed to design and gift him a tailor-made bed.Bao Xishun, 56 years old and 7' 9" tall, of Inner Mongolia, China, is to marry 5' 6" Xia Shujuan, who is 29 years old, later this week.
However, the couple feared they would not be able to live together as they couldn't find furniture big enough for their new apartment.
After an exhaustive search and with the help of friends, they finally located a furniture company which agreed to make the couple a whole set of furniture. The same furniture company is also designing and gifting them a special size bed.
Friday, July 13, 2007
British wedding guest from Canada turns up a year early
Teacher Dave Barclay flew thousands of miles across the Atlantic to Wales to attend his friend's wedding, only to discover he was a year early.
Barclay, 34, was told about the wedding earlier in the year and assumed it was to take place in 2007. It was only when he had flown into Cardiff from Toronto, Canada, and rang the bridegroom seeking details of the venue that he discovered the wedding was in 2008.
The groom, Dave Best, had emailed his friend at the start of the year. He simply mentioned the date – July 6th – and Dave Barclay assumed it was in this year.
Barclay, who has been teaching in Toronto for three years spent 500 pounds ($1,015) on his premature flight.
At least it's assured him a mention in the wedding speeches next year.
Barclay, 34, was told about the wedding earlier in the year and assumed it was to take place in 2007. It was only when he had flown into Cardiff from Toronto, Canada, and rang the bridegroom seeking details of the venue that he discovered the wedding was in 2008.
The groom, Dave Best, had emailed his friend at the start of the year. He simply mentioned the date – July 6th – and Dave Barclay assumed it was in this year.
Barclay, who has been teaching in Toronto for three years spent 500 pounds ($1,015) on his premature flight.
At least it's assured him a mention in the wedding speeches next year.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Indian jackpot winner plans to open a college in Bahrain
An Indian teacher in Bahrain who won a jackpot wants to open a college in the country rather than spend the money on exotic holidays and shopping.
Elamurugu Soupramanien won the Ahli United Bank's 500,000 Bahraini Dinar ($1,329,783) grand prize last week. He will receive BHD 2,000 ($5319) every month for the next 20 years, courtesy the bank's My Hassad savings scheme.
The father of two believes the prize came as an answer to his prayers after his dream to open a college seemed to be collapsing, the Gulf Daily News has reported.
Soupramanien had applied to Bahrain's Education Ministry last month for a licence to start a university college in Bahrain. His application was accepted but he gave up hope when the Ministry, according to its rules, asked him to deposit BHD 100,000 as a guarantee.
Soupramanien had no idea how to raise such a big amount. He says he “prayed to God to show me a way."
When Ahli United Bank broke the news to him last week of his jackpot win – his prayers were answered.
Soupramanien set up the Indian Academy in 2005 jointly with his wife Gunavathy, who is an engineer. The institute offers private coaching to secondary school students and also runs distance education courses affiliated to three Indian Universities.
Soupramanien first arrived in Bahrain in 1995 to work as a French teacher with the Asian School.
Elamurugu Soupramanien won the Ahli United Bank's 500,000 Bahraini Dinar ($1,329,783) grand prize last week. He will receive BHD 2,000 ($5319) every month for the next 20 years, courtesy the bank's My Hassad savings scheme.
The father of two believes the prize came as an answer to his prayers after his dream to open a college seemed to be collapsing, the Gulf Daily News has reported.
Soupramanien had applied to Bahrain's Education Ministry last month for a licence to start a university college in Bahrain. His application was accepted but he gave up hope when the Ministry, according to its rules, asked him to deposit BHD 100,000 as a guarantee.
Soupramanien had no idea how to raise such a big amount. He says he “prayed to God to show me a way."
When Ahli United Bank broke the news to him last week of his jackpot win – his prayers were answered.
Soupramanien set up the Indian Academy in 2005 jointly with his wife Gunavathy, who is an engineer. The institute offers private coaching to secondary school students and also runs distance education courses affiliated to three Indian Universities.
Soupramanien first arrived in Bahrain in 1995 to work as a French teacher with the Asian School.
TECH TALK - Desperate but fearful? Dial R for Restroom
Can’t hold it but dread visiting a public restroom? At the push of a few buttons on your cell-phone (in the United States), you can now get a list of the nearest, cleanest public facilities at your disposal.
Mizpee is a new web service that lets users open a web browser on their phone to Mizpee.com or send a text message to get a list of nearby bathrooms, along with cleanliness ratings ranging from one to five (toilet-paper) rolls and user-generated comments.
Peter Olfe, who set up the advertisement-funded service for fledgling location-based mobile service Yojo Mobile, has said he was inspired to create the site after visiting a public bathroom “that was so dirty I had a splitting headache within two minutes.”
“I realized the demand for such information. Many don’t plan ahead, so it seemed like a natural service to provide,” he has explained.
The service is currently available in a list of US cities including San Francisco, New York, Seattle, Washington DC, Boston, and Chicago, but plans are afoot to ensure that Mizpee is available in every major city in USA within the next year.
Expansion is also planned to London, Paris and Beijing.
Mizpee is a new web service that lets users open a web browser on their phone to Mizpee.com or send a text message to get a list of nearby bathrooms, along with cleanliness ratings ranging from one to five (toilet-paper) rolls and user-generated comments.
Peter Olfe, who set up the advertisement-funded service for fledgling location-based mobile service Yojo Mobile, has said he was inspired to create the site after visiting a public bathroom “that was so dirty I had a splitting headache within two minutes.”
“I realized the demand for such information. Many don’t plan ahead, so it seemed like a natural service to provide,” he has explained.
The service is currently available in a list of US cities including San Francisco, New York, Seattle, Washington DC, Boston, and Chicago, but plans are afoot to ensure that Mizpee is available in every major city in USA within the next year.
Expansion is also planned to London, Paris and Beijing.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
A monk's life...
Monks in the hermit monastery of Ketho in Tibet alternate between 3 years, 3 months and 13 days of outside freedom - and 3 years, 3 months and 13 days of solitary confinement in a meditation cell.
Well built...
The Bridge of Stennaset in Sweden, with 2 arches 20 feet high, was built of stones without the use of mortar - yet it has endured for 179 years.
Dole or death!
Dulu Murad Khan, ruler of Rawalpindi in Pakistan, gave every beggar who accosted him either one hundred thousand rupees (about 2,500 dollars) – or death!
The death sentence was administered when Dulu Khan was short of funds – because he could not bear to say “no”!
The death sentence was administered when Dulu Khan was short of funds – because he could not bear to say “no”!
Monday, July 9, 2007
Baby snatched from mother finds family after 29 years
A baby girl who had been snatched by authorities from the arms of her mother, a political prisoner held by Argentina’s then-military regime, has been identified 29 years later, rights group “The Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo” announced last week.
The woman, Belen, is the daughter of Rosa Lujan Taranto and Horacio Antonio Altamiranda, who were kidnapped in May 1977 from their home on the outskirts of Buenos Aires. Rosa Lujan, who was seven months pregnant, was taken to the El Vesubio detention centre with her husband. Survivors say Lujan was taken to the Campo de Mayo Military Hospital in the capital, where she delivered her baby by Cesarean at eight months pregnant. After delivering her baby, Rosa was returned to the detention centre and killed; before she died she told other detainees she had not seen her baby and did not even know the sex of her child.
Rosa’s mother-in-law Irma Rojas brought her case to “The Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo” in April 1982.
The case is the 88th the group has helped solve. Investigators were able to establish that Belen was given up for adoption at three months of age by the Christian Family Movement. She had always known she was adopted and in 2005 contacted the Grandmothers, suspecting her identity might have something to do with families torn apart by political violence.
In the beginning of this month, genetic testing proved with a 99.99 percent level of accuracy that Belen was part of the Altamiranda Taranto family.
About 30,000 people – including leftists, leftist sympathizers and those merely suspected of sympathizing – were abducted, or abducted and killed, during Argentina’s last military dictatorship from 1976 to 1983.
A baby girl who had been snatched by authorities from the arms of her mother, a political prisoner held by Argentina’s then-military regime, has been identified 29 years later, rights group “The Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo” announced last week.
The woman, Belen, is the daughter of Rosa Lujan Taranto and Horacio Antonio Altamiranda, who were kidnapped in May 1977 from their home on the outskirts of Buenos Aires. Rosa Lujan, who was seven months pregnant, was taken to the El Vesubio detention centre with her husband. Survivors say Lujan was taken to the Campo de Mayo Military Hospital in the capital, where she delivered her baby by Cesarean at eight months pregnant. After delivering her baby, Rosa was returned to the detention centre and killed; before she died she told other detainees she had not seen her baby and did not even know the sex of her child.
Rosa’s mother-in-law Irma Rojas brought her case to “The Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo” in April 1982.
The case is the 88th the group has helped solve. Investigators were able to establish that Belen was given up for adoption at three months of age by the Christian Family Movement. She had always known she was adopted and in 2005 contacted the Grandmothers, suspecting her identity might have something to do with families torn apart by political violence.
In the beginning of this month, genetic testing proved with a 99.99 percent level of accuracy that Belen was part of the Altamiranda Taranto family.
About 30,000 people – including leftists, leftist sympathizers and those merely suspected of sympathizing – were abducted, or abducted and killed, during Argentina’s last military dictatorship from 1976 to 1983.
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