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Post by Vespertilio on Jun 10, 2008 1:13:59 GMT -5
This just made me laugh (not the injury, just the "vicious" dog's actions). www.620wtmj.com/news/local/19490999.htmlA teenager from Milwaukee is in critical condition but stable condition after running in to a tree while being chased by a rottweiler. The boy, who's 17, was walking with two friends when he got scared by a Rottweiler that was chained to a tree. The dog broke out of the chain and started chasing the boy when he ran into the tree and suffered a skull fracture. When the dog came up to the boy afterward, it licked him on the face.Milwaukee Police gave the owner a citation for not having the dog fenced in while it was unattended.
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Post by Aedh on Jun 29, 2008 15:28:57 GMT -5
Censorship Alive And Well![/i] SANTA FE, N.M. (June 28) - A New Mexico appeals court on Friday ruled against a Los Alamos man who wanted to change his name to a phrase containing a popular four-letter obscenity. The man appealed after a state district judge in Bernalillo County refused his request to change his name to "F--- Censorship!" Judge Nan Nash ruled that the proposed name change was "obscene, offensive and would not comport with common decency."
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Post by Libby on Jul 25, 2008 4:28:01 GMT -5
There's the most enormous gibbous moon I think I've ever seen, rising outside at the moment...and it's... orange! Unfortunately my camera just wouldn't be able to do it justice...more's the pity...it would make a great picture for somebody with a telephoto lens. I wonder what our wode-wearing ancestors used to think? It's easy to see how nature and 'religion' become intertwined. I love these orange moons. Naturally, there's a 'scientific' explanation but I like all the mythology better! home.hiwaay.net/~krcool/Astro/moon/moonorange/
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Post by Aedh on Jul 26, 2008 23:38:07 GMT -5
"The Devil God Made Me Do It!"
The man who is serving a life sentence for the shooting of Pope John Paul II is requesting clemency, following the Pope's revelation that the third secret of Fatima was a prophetic vision of his assassination attempt. Mehmet Ali Agca argues that since his crime was "preordained," he should be absolved of all responsibility." Experts in both canon law and Italian criminal law are skeptical about the 43-year-old Turk's claim. (Marina Jimenez, "Assailant asks Pope's clemency, cites Fatima". National Post (Canada)/Reuters, May 30).
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Post by Aedh on Jul 27, 2008 20:32:16 GMT -5
Knickers For Burma!! [/b]
BANGKOK — Women in several countries have begun sending their panties to Myanmar embassies in a culturally insulting gesture of protest against the recent brutal crackdown there, a campaign supporter said Friday.
"It's an extremely strong message in Burmese and in all Southeast Asian culture," said Liz Hilton, who supports an activist group that launched the "Panties for Peace" drive earlier this week.
The group, Lanna Action for Burma, says the country's superstitious generals, especially junta leader Gen. Than Shwe, also believe that contact with women's underwear saps them of power.
To widespread international condemnation, the military in Myanmar, also known as Burma, crushed mass anti-regime demonstrations recently and continues to hunt down and imprison those who took part.
Hilton said women in Thailand, Australia, Singapore, England and other European countries have started sending or delivering their underwear to Myanmar missions following informal coordination among activist organizations and individuals.
"You can post, deliver or fling your panties at the closest Burmese Embassy any day from today. Send early, send often!" the Lanna Action for Burma Web site urges.
"So far we have had no response from Burmese officials," Hilton said.
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Post by Aedh on Jul 30, 2008 13:58:26 GMT -5
We read to-day that Prince Charles of Britain has ordered foie gras removed from royal menus, and instructed kitchen staff at his official residences to cease serving the delicacy, winning praise from PETA ("People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals"). Well played, Windsor! Now, about those furry hats on your mum's guards ... And of course this only adds another future headline to the already-busy notorious British tabloid press. "Prince Caught Engaging In Secret Pate Orgy! Blonde Waitresses Give Royal Service in Kensington Foie Frenzy--see pictures, Page Three!"
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Post by Aedh on Aug 2, 2008 10:06:18 GMT -5
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Post by Aedh on Aug 2, 2008 11:52:59 GMT -5
A hoax it may be. Jeff Corwin of the "Animal Planet" network has weighed in on it, and there's a mild brew-ha-ha going on, with, apparently, some controversy among the first few people responsible for pictures. Update ... www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,396182,00.html
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Post by Aedh on Aug 3, 2008 23:58:14 GMT -5
Montauk Monster Update!
From the Chigago Tribune:
William Wise, director of Stony Brook University's Living Marine Resources Institute, after looking at the photo and consulting with a fellow biologist (who knows land creatures), disagrees [with Long Island animal control officers over what the thing is].
He knows what it isn't.
A raccoon. ("The legs appear to be too long in proportion to the body.")
A sea turtle. ("Sea turtles do not have teeth.")
A rodent. ("Rodents have two huge, curved incisor teeth in front of their mouths.")
He said the general body shape looks like a dog or other canine ("Coyote?"). But that the "prominent eye ridge and the feet" don't match.
He said the feet and face look "somewhat ovine" -- that would be like a sheep -- but sheep don't have sharp teeth.
Wise's best, educated guess: "A talented someone who got very creative with latex."
In other words, a fake -- which would place Wise with the skeptics. (Many of whom believe the image could have been manipulated with computer software.)
Personally, I tend to agree with Wise. If the pics were Photoshopped I think we'd know by now. I personally think they're real pics of a fake thing.
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Post by Aedh on Aug 9, 2008 4:40:26 GMT -5
"Wanted: Very Large Pump. Contact Parish Office."Tue Aug 5, 3:00 PM ET ROME (Reuters) - Catholic nuns and priests in Italy are following their flocks to the beach this summer, establishing an inflatable church and a beach-convent in the sands to lure sunbathers. The 30-metre (98 ft) long blow-up church -- staffed by priests ready to take confession -- will debut on Saturday on the Adriatic coast in the Molise region, an organizer said. "There will be four or five people singing, with music about God," said Chiara Facci with Catholic group Sentinelli del Mattino. Night time activities, which will not include Mass, will run from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. The first attempt to inaugurate the inflatable church last month on the holiday island of Sardinia failed after strong winds, (the structure had to be deflated hastily because winds threatened to lift it into the sky) forced organizers to relocate, she said. Big cities like Rome and Milan empty in August, when Italians head to the beach for summer holidays, leaving streets empty and many businesses closed. Churches are hardly immune, and also see their congregations thin. On the Mediterranean coast, nuns from a convent near the southern Italian city of Naples have relocated to beach cabins to join holidaymakers saying the rosary. An adjoining altar was set up under two tents. "The concept of a beach-convent is something that is appreciated by vacationers and the nuns themselves," priest Antonio Rungi, who helped spearheaded the initiative, told Italian news agency ANSA.
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Post by Libby on Sept 6, 2008 18:38:22 GMT -5
The cult of the size 00 strikes again! All I can think is that they lead pretty miserable lives...I mean, what's life about if you can't have chocolate?
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Post by Aedh on Sept 17, 2008 3:00:03 GMT -5
Hahahaha! I love it when a plan comes together!!
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Post by Libby on Sept 17, 2008 14:09:32 GMT -5
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Post by Vespertilio on Sept 27, 2008 7:25:11 GMT -5
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Post by Aedh on Sept 30, 2008 9:53:48 GMT -5
People once believed that life was sacred. They now believe it's inconvenient.
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Post by Aedh on Sept 30, 2008 12:10:23 GMT -5
An exchange with a credit card company as reported in a local paper. "Matthew House" is the name of a residence which is run as a nonprofit business, and the director, a Ms Paz, has a Business Visa card in the business's name. She recently had to order a part which didn't arrive, so she called ... this is a condensed version.
VISA LADY: Are you calling about [the part number] for Matthew House?
MS PAZ: Yes, that is my business account. I am the executive director.
VL: I'm sorry but I must talk to Matthew as we are not allowed to discuss anything with anyone whose name is not on the card.
MP: That is impossible as Matthew House is our business name. There is no Matthew.
VL: There is no Matthew so you just used his card?
MP: No. Matthew House is a business.
VL: I understand. May I speak to Mr House, please?
MP: There is no Mr House. There is no Matthew. Matthew House is the business's name and that is the name on our business card.
VL: I understand. But do you understand that we can only speak to the person whose name is on the card?
MP: I understand. But there is no Matthew House.
VL: So this is a stolen card?
MP: No, it's a business card.
VL: I'm sorry, but if the card is stolen I need to put you in contact with another department.
[Call is put through to fraud division, whereupon Ms Paz explains again why she is calling.]
FRAUD MAN: Is this for Matthew House?
MP: Yes. Matthew House is our business and I am the executive director.
FM: Thank you. May I speak to Mr House? Is he available?
MP: That's the problem. There is no Matthew House.
FM: If Mr House is not available, has he passed on and you are using his card?
MP: No. There is no Mr House. There never was a Mr House and there never was a Matthew.
FM: So why are you using his card?
[MP bursts out laughing]
FM: What is so funny?
MP: This whole thing. If I were not having this conversation with you alll I would never have believed this was possible. All I wanted was a delivery date and I'm talking to the fraud division!
FM: Well, if you would call Mr House to the phone I would like to talk to him. You know, fraud is a very serious thing.
[By this point, Ms Paz reported she was laughing so hard she could barely speak.]
MP: Never mind. Mr House will just to go to work every day to make sure he meets the truck! Thank you for all your time.
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Post by Libby on Oct 1, 2008 14:19:27 GMT -5
Rooburger...just no! ;D
Mind you, Andrew ate guinea pig steaks when he was in Bolivia (actually stayed on the farm where the little furry ones were roaming about) Don't think they have much in the way of 'enteric fermentation'
Oh yes...I laughed my socks off at the Matthew House thing.
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Post by Aedh on Oct 24, 2008 16:57:45 GMT -5
From the UK desk ... [/i]
Britain's Bristol City Council warned residents in government housing in September to always leave their sheds unlocked. Otherwise, thieves would have to break the doors down to get inside, and taxpayers would be stuck with the repair bills. (The Daily Telegraph, 9-30-08)
And a Government-funded poster campaign, introduced in August, aims to encourage those waiting for municipal buses to do Pilates-type movements to improve physical fitness. Among the suggestions: standing on one leg, pointing the toes forward, clenching the buttocks. (The Daily Mail, 8-17-08)
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Post by Mirabilis on Oct 28, 2008 14:21:21 GMT -5
Not exactly weird but....I don't know whether to laugh or cry!!! Employees at the local Starbucks, at Washington and Frank Phillips Boulevards, confirmed the sighting of Christian Bale, movie actor and cult figure, who dropped into the store last week to pick up a drink.
An employee, who wished to remain anonymous, said although he wasn’t in the store at the time, other workers speculated that Bale was in the area to research a movie role.
Bale’s film credits include “Empire of the Sun,” “American Psycho,” “3:10 To Yuma,” “Batman Begins,” “The Dark Knight” and the upcoming film “Terminator Salvation,” according to IMDb.com. “Killing Pablo,” currently in production, is due out next year.www.examiner-enterprise.com/articles/2008/10/25/business/bus519.txt
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Post by Aedh on Oct 28, 2008 20:50:38 GMT -5
Not exactly weird but....I don't know whether to laugh or cry!!! Employees at the local Starbucks, at Washington and Frank Phillips Boulevards, confirmed the sighting of Christian Bale, movie actor and cult figure, who dropped into the store last week to pick up a drink.
An employee, who wished to remain anonymous, said although he wasn’t in the store at the time, other workers speculated that Bale was in the area to research a movie role.I take comfort in the fact that if he had to "research" a SARSbucks we was obviously not that familiar with them. Viva Caffe Nero!!
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Post by Mirabilis on Oct 30, 2008 15:35:05 GMT -5
Freaky! 'Freak' hail causes flood chaos
Emergency services described the scenes as 'absolute chaos'
Severe flooding, which left a Devon town virtually cut off, was caused by a "freak" overnight hailstorm, the Met Office has said.
Devon and Somerset Fire Service described the situation after 1ft (0.3m) of hail fell in the Ottery St Mary area as "absolute chaos".
A woman in labour was one of the dozens of people rescued from flooded homes and cars, said police.
They warned motorists that road conditions were "treacherous".
Rail services have also been affected.
Cars in the town were left tightly packed in ice after about 1ft (0.3m) of hail fell in just two hours between 0100 and 0300 GMT.
The storm has been described as a "freak event" by the Met Office, which said the weather which hit the town was "hugely localised".
"It seemed to be centred on Ottery St Mary," a spokesman said.
Rhianne Thorneywood, whose house had flooded in minutes, told BBC News: "I've never seen lightning like it, and rain.
"We didn't realise it was hail and snow until I looked out and saw what I thought was foam floating on the water, but it was ice."
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said 25 people were rescued from flooded homes in Ottery St Mary and Feniton.
They were taken to the hospital in Ottery St Mary, which is being used as a shelter for people who have nowhere else to go.
Susanne Reed, from the fire control centre, said it was the worst flooding she had seen in 25 years.
"It has been absolute chaos, it started just after midnight when we were out rescuing people stuck in their cars in flood water.
"It got worse and worse and one crew got stuck in a 6ft (1.8m) [hail] drift," she said.
Juliet Hall, who was pregnant, was in labour and on her way to hospital when she was rescued by police and coastguards from the flooded A30 near Ottery St Mary.
She was taken to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital by ambulance and gave birth earlier to her son, Nathan.
The hospital said both mother and child are doing well.
The Environment Agency said two vehicles fell into Ottery St Mary's Firs Brook, one getting wedged on top of the other, which may have exacerbated the flooding.
Car owner Martin Ashfield said: "I woke up this morning and the car was missing. It had obviously floated away.
"The Environment Agency called me and told me where it was."
Elizabeth Devay, who was staying with five members of her family in a caravan near Ottery St Mary, said: "We heard a lot of rain and huge hailstones hitting the caravan roof.
"When we opened the door there were floods outside the caravan knee deep with the hail floating on top. By the time we got out of the door it was up to our waist."
John and Joan Burrows, who farm nearby, lost about 30 sheep. Joan said: "Others are sheltering on the old railway line and we're hoping they don't try and jump in the water."
The town had been preparing for a carnival this weekend, ahead of its annual Tar Barrel Rolling festival on 5 November.
Devon and Cornwall Police warned motorists that roads in the area were "treacherous" and a number of routes have been closed because of flooding or ice.
Rail services in Devon have also been disrupted.
In Boscastle in Cornwall six premises were flooded overnight because of a blocked storm drain.
The Environment Agency has flood warnings in place on the Rivers Otter, Axe, Clyst, Coly, Culm, Isle and Yarty in Devon.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/7700167.stm
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Post by Mirabilis on Nov 12, 2008 12:41:54 GMT -5
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Post by Aedh on Nov 18, 2008 0:48:33 GMT -5
Dublin Public Works ... ;D
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Post by Aedh on Nov 19, 2008 8:51:02 GMT -5
Or not-so-weird, maybe ... Leave it to the Dutch; you can now, apparently, get your cigarette fix out of a pop-top can. Just have yourself a Ciggy on the rocks!Wonder how that would taste with a splash of Scotch ... ?
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Post by Aedh on Nov 19, 2008 9:42:27 GMT -5
I read this ... not uninteresting ... until I came to the bit about the "English Collective of Prostitutes." There's a Bints' Union? That must make some TUC meetings interesting! ;D UK Promises Sex Trade Crackdown.
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Post by Aedh on Nov 23, 2008 10:02:35 GMT -5
Caution to hairdressers ...
Dateline, LITTLE ROCK, Ark;[/i] An Arkansas man has been sentenced to prison for fatally shooting a stylist who was taking too long to braid his hair.
Thirty-year-old Kerry Rendall Wilson of Little Rock was sentenced Friday to 24 years for second-degree murder. He will be eligible for parole in six years.
Wilson's lawyer says his client was high on marijuana dipped in formaldehyde when 39-year-old Henrietta Jones was killed in November 2007.
But the lawyer, Bill James, says one of the woman's sons actually killed her.
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Post by Aedh on Nov 23, 2008 10:05:16 GMT -5
EG Alert: "Cancel This Guy's Insurance!!"
DENVER, Colorado; A daredevil hopes to propel himself across a southern Colorado canyon using a jet pack powered by hydrogen peroxide.
Eric Scott tells the Rocky Mountain News for a story Saturday that he's never traveled as far as he wants to on Monday: 1,500 feet.
The Royal Gorge is more than 1,100 feet deep. A bridge spanning it was the site of a deadly stunt in 2003 when a parachute jumper miscalculated and fell.
Scott works for Denver-based Jet P.I. The company developed a jet pack for stunts and promotions that is based on one developed in the 1960s for the military.
The original one could fly for only about 20 seconds. The new one can go for more than 30 seconds at faster than 70 mph.
.................
Hydrogen peroxide? Maybe there really is such a thing as "Blonde Power" after all!!
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Post by Aedh on Dec 9, 2008 9:02:53 GMT -5
I'll put this here since it was passed on to me as true ... if it isn't, it should have been.
For a prank, some students in Montana released three goats in their school. The goats were labelled, 1, 2, and 4.
School officials spent most of the day looking for Number Three.
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Post by Mirabilis on Dec 19, 2008 13:06:08 GMT -5
McRock on!! ;D MSPs set to salute rockers AC/DC AC/DC are about to be paid a glowing tribute at Holyrood in recognition of the rock band's Scottish roots.
South of Scotland MSP Christine Grahame has lodged a parliamentary motion calling for the achievements of the group to be acknowledged.
Founding members Angus and Malcolm Young were born in Glasgow before the family moved to Australia in 1963.
And former frontman Bon Scott was born in Kirriemuir, where there is a memorial plaque in his honour.
AC/DC were formed in 1973 and have sold more than 150 million records worldwide, with songs such as Highway to Hell, Back in Black and For Those About to Rock (We Salute You).
In 2003, the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Glasgow gig
They recently released a new album called Black Ice and will play Hampden Park in Glasgow next year as part of a world tour.
Ms Grahame's motion - entitled AC/DC, We Salute You - calls on the Scottish Parliament to recognise the band's Scottish roots; note that their popularity continues to grow and welcome their forthcoming performance in Scotland; and to acknowledge the musical inspiration the band has provided to thousands of Scottish musicians.
Ms Grahame said: "It is clear Scott had a strong sense of his identity, from the 'Scotland forever' tattoo he had on his arm to his playing the bagpipes on the AC/DC track It's a long way to the top.
"When they played Glasgow in 1978 the whole band wore the Scotland national football strip as their concert took place just ahead of the World Cup finals and it would be fitting if they were to do the same when the band play Hampden national football stadium next June.
"After 35 years AC/DC are still contributing to music and giving fans enjoyment worldwide.
"I think they have long deserved official recognition from their homeland for that major musical contribution and my parliamentary motion will go some way towards recognising that."
Angus and Malcolm Young are guitarists and songwriters in AC/DC. Bon Scott died of alcohol poisoning in 1980, aged 33. news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/7792166.stm
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Post by Vespertilio on Jan 21, 2009 2:00:07 GMT -5
It had to happen eventually-- Human Tipping!!! www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/01/20/national/a082802S35.DTLCow knocks over woman on bike, steps on her legs(01-20) 17:52 PST Boulder, Colo. (AP) -- A woman escaped serious injury and refused medical treatment after a cow knocked her down and walked on her legs. Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks ranger Pete Taylor said the woman was riding her bicycle along the South Boulder Creek Trail on Monday when she encountered the cow and stopped to let the animal cross. Instead, the cow knocked the woman over and stepped on her legs. Taylor said the woman wasn't seriously hurt. Her name was not released. The cow had left the area by the time rangers arrived, but other people warned fellow bikers and hikers on the trail about the animal. Boulder Mountain Bike Alliance vice president Jason Vogel called the incident "odd, rare and random."
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