Some Indian English

February 25, 2012 at 2:21 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

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THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

U.S. Marine turns millionaire as he strikes it rich on first visit to Las Vegas: “Corporal Alexander Degenhart was in Las Vegas for the first time when he decided to visit the world famous strip’s iconic Bellagio Casino. The 26-year-old put $100 – around £60 – in a slot machine and after roughly 10 minutes, was up by just $90. But he then had a twist of amazing luck – scooping the jackpot, with his $90 total rocketing to a life changing $2,882,808.32. Corp Degenhart is said to have not understood what had happened until a fellow squaddie broke the news to him that he was now a millionaire. The marine was reportedly on a break from his training at Nellis Air Force Base, which lies around seven miles north east of the Nevada city. Incredibly, Corp Degenhart has revealed he will continue to serve in the armed forces despite his new found millions – having recently re-enlisted for another four years. The staggering win last Sunday came on Bally Technologies’ Money Vault machine”

Unusual obituary: “When 93-year-old Josie Annello died at home, her son put a obituary in the local paper, alongside a happy, smiling photo of his mother. Describing her as supportive and compassionate,Tampa Tribune readers thought it seemed like a loving public tribute, until they reached the third line, which read: ‘She is survived by her Son, ‘A.J.’, who loved and cared for her; Daughter ‘Ninfa’, who betrayed her trust, and Son ‘Peter’, who broke her heart.’ The death notice, published on February 14, publicly revealed an ugly spat between Angelo ‘A.J.’ Anello, who wrote and placed the obituary, and his brother and sister. The Tampa Bay Times have revealed the family quarrel was over money with Angelo Anello, 63, and his sister, Ninfa Simpson, 65, both accusing each other of stealing from their elderly mother. But Mr Angelo alleged ‘They are so riddled with guilt, what they are doing is pointing fingers at me.’ The both agreed that the eldest brother Peter Anello, has not spoke to the family for 25 years.”

Cat massages dog: “Who else but a cat could give a four-footed back massage without breaking bones or striking a terribly awkward-looking pose? In an adorable video posted to YouTube a gray kitten is caught carefully kneading the back of a slumbering, albeit audibly snoring, pug.Not the couple’s first YouTube debut, the kitten and pug – who’s identified as Toby – have a history of back massages where the gray puff ball climbs on his back for some intense kneading. Toby snores and the cat gets to work, sometimes gripping with all four paws in and out below his collar line. Kneading, a common behaviour seen among kittens and adult cats, is described by some as being both a juvenile habit recalled from their earlier days nursing as well a later sexual behaviour. It’s believed by some to also be a sign of affection and shown when the cat’s not under stress and in good spirits.”

Better waiters coming? “According to the Wall Street Journal, restaurants are pouring resources into training their staff to move from a textbook manner to something more nuanced and situational, depending on who is eating, what the tables’ dynamics are and the diners’ moods. The key to the individualised approach is to be able to ‘read’ a table within just seconds. If children are at the table, don’t make a fanfare of bringing a dessert menu, if one diner seems tearful and upset, spread the word among staff to give that table space. Rather than interrupting a conversation with a word, some are trained to place a hand on the table to lift diners’ eyes to theirs, writes the Journal. According to a study by market research firm NPD, restaurant numbers are more or less flat-lining and will grow by just one per cent – slower than population growth – by 2019. That worrying prospect, combined with increasing customer awareness of just what goes on in kitchens and beyond the walls of the dining room thanks to TV reality chef shows and food channels, is making diners more powerful than ever, says the Journal.”

‘Sex bomb’ cafe-owner leaves wives seething: “A SULTRY barmaid’s desire to serve coffee and beer in risque attire has left the womenfolk of a small Italian town frothing. Laura Maggi, 34, emerged as a national celebrity after shots of her in skimpy white lace and figure-hugging PVC mushroomed on the internet, prompting the Italian press to describe her as a sex bomb. Maggi now has a dedicated Facebook page with more than 5000 fans and men arriving in their droves to her bar, which she has owned for eight years, in the town of Bagnolo Mella in the northern region of Lombardy. But her choice of work outfits has left wives and girlfriends fuming, led by the female major of the town. “I wouldn’t allow my husband to go there,” Cristina Almici laughed, bemoaning Maggi’s growing fame for casting the area in an unflattering light. The stampede to see Maggi is causing traffic problems in the town, with cars parked illegally as lusting patrons rush to be served by the seductive barista — or at least buy her glamor calendar.”

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