Wicked Thoughts

Pesky dog

Maybe a libertarian dog

..

..

THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

Women are LESS likely to be promoted to top roles if they are cheerful, new research suggests: “Being a female boss is nothing to smile about, new research has suggested, as women are less likely to be promoted to top roles if they are cheerful. Instead they need to be dominant, hard-lined and assertive to get selected, according to economists from Germany’s Technische Universitat Munchen (TUM). But even the most hard-working female employees may not reach the top because of gender stereotypes, the researchers said. The study found women bosses are thought to be good at negotiating, developing strategy and having particularly good networking skills to expand a business. But companies want bosses to be bossy – tough and uncompromising – while women are seen as being too cheerful, the study suggests. TUM economists conducted a series of invented scenarios with employees from various companies, involving ‘potential’ leaders.”

An egghead (above) who really is an egghead: “Stephen Kirchner was formerly a Senior Lecturer at the School of Finance and Economics, University of Technology, Sydney. His areas of expertise include monetary and fiscal policy, financial markets, trade and investment and Public Choice. Before joining the CIS, he was an economist with Action Economics, LLC and Director of Economic Research with Standard & Poor’s Institutional Market Services, based in Sydney and Singapore. He has also worked as an adviser to members of the Australian House of Representatives and Senate. He has lectured in economics at the University of New South Wales, Macquarie University and the University of Technology, Sydney. He has a BA (Hons) from the Australian National University, a Master of Economics (Hons) from Macquarie University and a PhD in economics from the University of New South Wales.”

Suspected murderer buried alive with victim in Bolivia: “VILLAGERS in Bolivia’s southern highlands have buried a man alive in the grave of the woman he is suspected of having raped and murdered. Police had identified 17-year-old Santos Ramos as the possible culprit in the attack on 35-year-old Leandra Arias Janco. Enraged, more than 200 community members seized Ramos and buried him alive alongside his alleged victim on Wednesday night, according to Mr Barrios. He said residents on Thursday blocked the road to the community, preventing police and prosecutors from reaching it. A local reporter for an indigenous radio station, who would only speak on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals, said that Ramos was tied up at the woman’s funeral. Mourners threw him into the open grave, placed the woman’s coffin in it and filled the grave with earth. Colquechaca is a town of 5000 inhabitants located 333 kilometres southeast of Bolivia’s capital, La Paz.”

Swedish princess Madeleine (above) to marry banker: “THREE years ago she crossed the Atlantic with a broken heart. Now Sweden’s “party princess” returns from New York to Stockholm to tie the knot with her new, British-American love. On Saturday, Princess Madeleine – Duchess of Halsingland and Gastrikland – will wed New York banker Christopher O’Neill in the Swedish capital, bringing together European royals and top New York socialites for a grand celebration. Madeleine, 30, is the youngest of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia’s three children and fourth in line to the throne. She became known as Sweden’s party princess in her early 20s, when she was frequently spotted at Stockholm’s high-end nightclubs, and has attracted widespread attention for her stylish clothes and glamorous lifestyle. But her life hasn’t always been a fairytale. In 2010, Madeleine fled to New York after breaking off her first engagement to Swedish attorney Jonas Bergstrom amid media reports that he had cheated on her.”

Nude revellers greet shocked passengers: “PASSENGERS on a recent run of a popular historic railroad in southwest Colorado got a bit more scenery than they paid for: More than a dozen revellers partying on a nearby beach removed their clothes to greet the train. Their antics on the May 25 run of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad drew warnings, but no charges, from police in Durango. A photograph taken by James Slavin, a Phoenix tourist on the train, shows beer-holding – and nude – men and women whooping as the train pulled into town, The Durango Herald reported. Built in the 1880s to service area mines, the steam-powered Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad takes thousands of tourists each year on a scenic 45-mile journey between Durango and Silverton, Colo.”

And don’t forget to catch up with all the Strange Justice before you go.

The demon drink

..

..

THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

Runner’s back pain turns out to be baby: “An aspiring half-marathon runner in the US attributed her unbearable back pain to a two-hour training session. A day later, she was cradling a newborn. Trish Staine, 33, says she had no idea she was pregnant before Monday’s surprise birth. The Duluth, Minnesota, mother of three said she hadn’t gained any weight or felt fetal movement in the months before. And besides, her husband had a vasectomy. Staine and her husband, John, have a daughter, seven, and a son, 11. She’s also stepmother to John’s three boys, ages 17, 19 and 20. Staine said she ran for about two hours on Sunday in preparation for a half-marathon on June 22. “I felt like I was dying. I didn’t know what was going on,” she said. During the emergency room examination, Staine and her husband were stunned to learn medical staff had detected a fetal heartbeat. She was whisked to the delivery room and in what she said seemed like five minutes later, her daughter was born at 3.25pm on Monday. She weighed 2.9 kilograms, and was 48 centimetres long.”

Speed cameras ‘increase risk of serious or fatal crashes’: “Speed cameras are increasing the risk of a fatal or serious accidents in some areas, a study suggests. It highlights a number of sites where collision rates have risen ‘markedly’ since cameras were put in place. The study raises new doubts about the usefulness of speed cameras. Supporters of speed cameras have given them the more politically-correct title of ‘safety cameras’ to emphasise the point that they are supposed to save lives and reduce crashes, not increase the risk. But the RAC Foundation, who carried out the study, believes some of the cameras appear to be causing accidents rather than preventing them. They have now written to seven local authorities warning them of the 21 suspect cameras their areas. And they say that because only a third of speed-camera partnerships overall supplied data in a usable form, the true extent of the problem could be much worse.”

Eating CHEESE can prevent tooth decay because it neutralises acid in the mouth: “Cheese helps reduce cavities forming in teeth because it neutralises plaque acid, according to a new study. Researchers found that the fermented dairy product made the mouth more alkaline, which in turn reduced the need for dental treatment. They also discovered that cheese created a protective film around teeth. The higher the pH level (the more alkaline) on the surface of teeth, the more teeth are protected against dental erosion, which causes cavities and leads to fillings, said the study. The research, carried out by the Academy of General Dentistry in the U.S., divided 68 children aged between 12 and 15 into three groups. One group was asked to consume a daily portion of cheddar, another a sugar-free yoghurt, and another a glass of milk, followed by a mouth rinse. Those who ate the yoghurt or drank the milk showed no changes to the pH levels in their mouths at any of the intervals, said lead researcher Vipul Yadav. But those who ate the cheese showed a ‘rapid’ increase in pH level at each of the time intervals.”

World’s cheapest bra: “The design is unlikely to get anyone’s pulse racing – but the price tag probably will. This is the £1 bra, which goes on sale today at budget chain Poundworld. And while it may lack the style and sex appeal of costlier rivals, it is expected to fly off the shelves. Trials of the ‘comfort bra’ in selected shops last weekend proved a huge success, with almost 100,000 snapped up in hours. Now store bosses are expecting to sell one million by introducing the design in more than 200 branches nationwide, where it will be sold alongside their more established ranges of sweets, toys and toiletries. The bra comes in black, white and nude nylon and sizes range from medium to extra large. The manufacturer claims the curve-hugging design gives women the perfect fit and a smooth shape with no bumps or lumps.”

World’s most idyllic bomb site: “With crystal clear waters and sandy beaches, the origins of this idyllic paradise comes as a surprise – it is in fact the world’s most picturesque bomb site. This secluded strip of sand is believed to have formed decades ago when it was used as target practice by the Mexican Government in the early 1900s. But where you might expect to find ruins and devastation, here there is a sensational, deserted beach on the Marieta Islands in Puerto Vallarta. Located in a world of its own just a few miles off the coast of Mexico, the islands were used to conduct military tests because they were uninhabited. And now the Hidden Beach, officially called Playa De Amor, or the ‘Beach of Love’, has shot to fame after gaining a huge following across social media. To reach the secluded marvel, visitors have to swim through a short tunnel which opens up into the spectacular beach, which is surrounded by rare wildlife. The Marietas Islands are a Natural Reserve protected by the Mexican Government and in order to visit the hidden beach, visitors must have a permit.”

And don’t forget to catch up with all the Strange Justice before you go.

Arabic for beginners

See what a fine and noble language it is? Even a cow can speak it — Inshallah!

..

..

THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

Chinese education chiefs ban bras during exams: “Education chiefs in northeast China have devised a new tactic to clamp down on rampant cheating in the country’s annual university entrance exams: they have banned bras. Ahead of this week’s “gaokao” – the intensely competitive Chinese equivalent to A-levels – schools in Jilin province have outlawed any metal object or item of clothing that sets off detectors being installed outside exam halls. The measure is reportedly an attempt to prevent increasingly brazen and sophisticated cheats from sneaking listening devices or transmitters into the exam. “This year, Jilin will adopt the strictest entrance exam security check in history,” state news agency Xinhua reported this week. Bras with metal clips are banned while students with metal fillings or implants will be required to produce a doctor’s note, Xinhua reported.”

‘Beggar’ who sat outside bank with a ‘hungry and homeless’ sign raked in £300 A DAY while living in a £300,000 apartment: “Sitting on the pavement next to his dog and sleeping bag, Simon Wright looked to all the world like a homeless beggar. But what the passers-by who gave him cash didn’t know was that he was earning over £50,000 a year and living in a £300,000 council flat in west London. Magistrates have now imposed a two-year Asbo banning him from begging anywhere in London. ‘He worked pretty much every day, and had done so for about three years. He certainly put in the hours.’ Wright proved Putney High Street in south-west London was such a lucrative venue that he attracted up to nine other beggars. Since his arrest, they have all but disappeared. The Asbo will remain in place until May 2015 but if Wright, who admitted fraud and begging, breaches any of its terms he could be sent to prison for up to five years and face an unlimited fine.”

World’s oldest driver, 105, has been on the road since before the first Ford Model T rolled off the production line but still says ‘I feel young’: “One of the world’s oldest motorists has been driving 88 years and has revealed he has no plans to give up driving soon. Aged 105, Bob Edwards, from Ngataki, is the oldest licensed driver in New Zealand. He was born before the first Model T rolled out of Henry Ford’s factory in Detroit. He learned to drive in a French car that had a lever instead of a steering wheel. And he’s still on the road, only now in a red four-wheel-drive Mitsubishi. He’s been involved in just one crash in his life and has received just one speeding ticket, a citation that still gets him riled up years later. Edwards drives three times a week to the store 15 kilometers (9 miles) down the road. He picks up groceries on Sundays and the newspapers on other days. Occasionally, he says, he’ll drive farther afield, to a medical appointment or to visit friends. He grew up in England and he learned to drive in his uncle’s car, a De Dion Bouton.”

Proctor does what proctors do: “A boisterous Cambridge student gets a public lecture from an irate university official – after he got showered in flour and champagne. Senior proctor Dr Owen Saxton laid down the law as undergraduates spilled onto the streets yesterday to celebrate end-of-term exams. He was seen marching over to a group of students and jabbing his finger as he gave one young man a dressing down. Groups of them poured into nearby shops to snap up champagne which they then sprayed over each other in the street. Others hurled flour – but some of it landed on the black gown and mortar board of the diminutive proctor. Caked in flour and champagne, Dr Saxton speaks to the student, before he was later seen walking off. Proctors are among the most ancient officers of Cambridge University who oversee exams and student discipline, among other duties. Dr Saxton won the 1996 Ernst Ruska Prize, awarded every four years for the greatest contribution to electron microscopy in Europe.”

New tank dubbed ‘Swiss Army Knife’: “Britain’s Armed Forces are to get a new combat engineering vehicle nicknamed the “Swiss Army Knife” because of its multiple uses on the front line. A bulldozer, crane, mine clearer and armoured vehicle rolled into one, the 32-ton Terrier is designed to be able to dig trenches and clear roads in the “most demanding battlefield conditions”, according to manufacturers BAE Systems. In addition to heavy-duty armour and an air-conditioned cabin that can withstand chemical, nuclear and biological threats, it comes equipped with a machine gun and a smoke grenade launcher. In the most dangerous of circumstances, it can even be operated by remote control from more than half a mile away, via a console similar to those used in computer games. Capable of nearly 45mph, it can also keep pace with Warrior and Challenger 2 armoured vehicles. The Ministry of Defence has commissioned 60 of the vehicles”

And don’t forget to catch up with all the Strange Justice before you go.

Hilarity in Israel

Israeli education minister has laughing fit over word ‘penetration’ during speech on smuggling in prisons. Shai Piron laughs hysterically at the perceived sexual innuendo. The minister is also a rabbi. Mr Piron forced to abandon the speech on a new smuggling law when he could not compose himself

..

..

THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

Ding-a-ling who attacked a judge sent to prison for 18 months: “A fitness instructor who attacked a judge and knocked off his wig has been jailed for 18 months after admitting contempt of court. Paul Graham, 27, of Haverhill, raced from the public gallery and vaulted over a gate to get behind the judge’s bench before throwing punches at Judge John Devaux in court two at Ipswich Crown Court yesterday. Judge Devaux had just sentenced his brother, Philip Graham, 30, of the same address, to 30 months in prison for causing death by dangerous driving. Judge Goodin described how the High Sheriff of Suffolk Sir Edward Greenwell and a local clergyman who had been sitting alongside Judge Devaux ‘did their best to bring the attack to an end’. Police officers in the case managed to restrain Paul Graham before security guards led him away.”

Israeli women soldiers posing in underwear: “Israeli female soldiers have been disciplined after posting pictures of themselves in their underwear on Facebook in the latest social media embarrassment to hit Israel’s armed forces. One picture showed four women, who are new recruits, dropping their army trousers to reveal the thongs they were wearing underneath. One woman in the photo was dressed only in her bra and pants. Another image showed five scantily clad recruits wearing only helmets and a small covering of combat equipment. Walla, an Israeli news website, showed the pictures with faces and exposed areas partly blurred. The pictures received multiple “likes” on Facebook, along with numerous enthusiastic comments. The enthusiasm was not shared by Israel’s commanding military brass, who announced that the women had been given stern “educational lectures” about their future conduct.”

BBC can’t even get the time right: “The BBC has admitted that the clock on its homepage doesn’t tell the correct time because it would take ‘around 100 staffing days’ to put right, and it has taken the decision to remove it from the site. The confession came after a member of the public made an official complaint to the BBC Trust’s Editorial Standards Committee (ESC) criticising the clock’s inaccuracy. He complained after discovering that the analogue-style clock in the top left-hand corner of the site ‘merely reproduces the time stored on each individual user’s own computer whether this is accurate or not.’ The Managing Editor of BBC Online was quoted in the reported saying that making the clock accurate would ‘dramatically slow down the loading of the BBC homepage’ ‘Given the technical complexities of implementing an alternative central clock, and the fact that most users already have a clock on their computer screen, the BBC has taken the decision to remove the clock”

Floating by at 311mph: Japanese ‘Maglev’ bullet train: “Japan’s floating bullet trains – which will travel at up speeds of up to 311mph – have undergone their first test runs. The magnetic levitation, or ‘maglev’ trains, use state-of-the-art technology to reach mind-blowing speeds. The teams behind the operation aim to have an established track from Tokyo to Osaka by 2045, eventually linking the entire country from north to south. The first five of the Series LO cars, manufactured by Central Japan Railway Co. (JR Tokai), are propelled by magnetic forces and have undergone initial tests that involved being pushed along the track by a maintenance car, the Telegraph reported. Official test runs are scheduled to begin in September”. The sleek, aerodynamic trains are the fastest ever manufactured.”

Mystery of the giant ship ‘bumper’ that has washed up on the Norfolk coast: “From a distance it could be mistaken for an enormous beached whale. Get a little closer however and it becomes apparent that this huge ship’s fender has broken free from its tether. Given its massive size – and the fact it is said to be worth nearly £20,000 – its owners surely should have spotted that it had disappeared. But HM Coastguard said so far no-one has reported one missing. Coastguards in a four wheel drive vehicle went to look at it at low tide, but could not find any identification marks on it. The 40ft structure – called a Yokahama fender – is used to stop big ships colliding with docks and each other during transfers of fuel and goods. Removing the fender, which astonished walkers reported on Saturday, could prove difficult.’

And don’t forget to catch up with all the Strange Justice before you go.

Behind the smiling face of the Wall St. Journal writer there lies ….

..

..

THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

One-third of US marriages start online: “A study has found more than one third of US marriages begin with online dating, and those couples are slightly happier and more likely to stay together than couples who meet through other means. Online dating has ballooned into a billion dollar industry and the study, by US researchers in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, says the internet may be altering the dynamics and outcome of marriage itself. The study is based on a nationally representative survey of more than 19-thousand-100 people who married between 2005 and 2012. When researchers looked at how many couples had divorced by the end of the survey period, they found that nearly six per cent of online married couples had broken up, compared to almost eight per cent of offline married couples”

Moose seduced by statue: “It can get lonely on the windswept plains of northern Colorado and finding love can be tricky. But as this lovestruck moose so athletically demonstrates, romance can be found anywhere if you really concentrate… especially if you put your partner on a pedestal. The unidentified moose has shaken townsfolk in Grand Lake, Colorado, to their bones after he was caught having sex with a statue of a moose. And the thrusting male appeared to have enjoyed himself so much that he came back the next day for another go. But after some investigative sniffing and snorting, he checked that no moose were looking and mounted the mounted bronze before making love the only way he knew how. It is unclear if his inamorata suffered any damage in the steamy session, and it has been claimed this moose was not her only horned suitor. Others have apparently tried their luck with her too, but none so tenderly as this lovestruck mammal.

Bungling British garbage collectors fail to empty bins for TWO MONTHS: “Council binmen failed to empty food recycling bins on an entire street for two whole months – because they couldn’t find the road with their new GPS mapping system. In total, 28 sets of food recycling bins on Blackhorse Avenue in the village of Blackrod, near Bolton, Greater Manchester, were left to rot for weeks on end despite the road being listed in the local A-Z and other local maps. Council refuse collectors claimed they found the street, built 50 years ago and situated just a few yards from the village’s main road, ‘difficult to locate’ after being issued with new specialist mapping technology. The oversight continued for eight weeks despite locals repeatedly complaining refuse collectors had failed to show for their fortnightly collections four times – leaving overflowing bins crawling with maggots and swarming with flies.”

Bungling British Keystone Kops raid wrong house and accuse man of hiding drugs inside dead father’s urn: “Police hunting a wanted criminal burst into the wrong flat [apartment] and accused the innocent owner of hiding drugs inside his dead father’s urn. Nine officers raided Barry Cleaver’s home and turned it upside down after a tip-off about the hiding place of a fugitive. Mr Cleaver watched in horror as one of them picked up the small urn containing his dad’s ashes, shook it and demanded to know if it contained drugs. When Mr Cleaver, whose dad Barry Cleaver Snr died in 2008, told him what was inside the shocked policeman gently replaced the six-inch purple pot. ‘He got the shock of his life when I told him what it was – he carefully put it down and then all the police left.’ Mr Cleaver, 40, has now lodged a complaint with the Independent Police Complaints Commission following the bungled raid in Salford, Greater Manchester, by the Serious Organised Crime Unit of Greater Manchester Police. They were supposed to be raiding a flat in a nearby building.”

Beautiful people do better: Beauty CAN change your life, says plastic surgeon: “We’re hardwired to appreciate good looks – and that’s why beautiful people do better, a leading plastic surgeon has revealed. What’s more, says Dr Bryan Mendelson, former president of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, pretty people not only get a head start in life, they also tend to have better relationships and earn more money than their less attractive peers. Dr Mendelson’s revelations come in the wake of a string of books that make the same point, most controversially in sociologist Catherine Hakim’s Erotic Capital, which argued that women should use their looks to get ahead. Although Dr Mendelson’s new book, In Your Face, doesn’t go as far as Hakim’s opus, his arguments revisit the idea of ‘pulchronomics’, a term invented by US economist, Daniel S. Hamermesh to describe the economic value of good looks.”

And don’t forget to catch up with all the Strange Justice before you go.

Seniors at the beach

..

..

THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

Women’s sexual desire is animalistic and ravenous, claims new book: “A new book that paints an unprecedented picture of female sexuality and contains explosive theories regarding sexuality and desire may strike fear in the heart of every heterosexual male. Journalist Daniel Bergner’s book ‘What Women Want: Adventures in the Science of Female Desire’ uses groundbreaking research to reveal that even in our enlightened and permissive culture, female sexuality and desire is completely misunderstood – by both men and women. In fact, Bergner found that female sexuality is everything we tell ourselves about male sexuality – that it’s base, ravenous and animalistic – is true of female sexuality.

British man is blown out of his first floor Spanish flat when a can of bug spray explodes in his hand as he tries to kill a cockroach: “A British father cheated death when a can of bug spray exploded in his hand, catapulting him through the wall of his first-floor Spanish flat, onto the street five metres below. Daran Cooper had been preparing a meal to celebrate his 48th birthday on Tuesday when he was distracted by a cockroach that his partner Carmen had been trying to kill with the spray. Taking the can from Carmen, Daran began spraying the bug, when the explosion happened. Speaking from Torrevieja Hospital, Daran said: ‘I started spraying at the cockroach, and some of the gas must have got into the washing machine. ‘A moment later, there was the click of the wash cycle, followed by an almighty bang as I flew through where the wall used to be. The blast totally ripped out the wall of his partially enclosed balcony, but Carmen escaped unscathed, while their five-year-old son Sebastian was tucked up safely in bed. Daran fell onto the pavement just next to a parked car.”

Jealousy hits smart teen: “A Wyoming high school senior who built a nuclear reactor in his garage was disqualified from the International Science and Engineering Fair in Phoenix last month on a technicality. According to the Casper Star-Tribune, students are only allowed to compete in one qualifying regional fair, and then another bigger qualifying fair, such as a state fair. Students at Farnsworth’s Newcastle High School first attended Wyoming State Science Fair at the University of Wyoming, then the South Dakota School of Mines regional fair in Rapid City. None of Farnsworth’s teachers knew this order would be a problem. But the Star-Tribune reports that the infraction was reported by the former director of the Wyoming State Science Fair, who later did not have her contract renewed. Officials at the University of Wyoming, which sponsors the state event, said after the international fair that the director acted outside her authority.”

Members outrage over catwalk show at exclusive British cricket club: “Members of one of Britain’s most exclusive sporting clubs – the MCC – are outraged after learning their hallowed Lord’s pavilion will be thrown open to 100 male models and droves of fashionistas and hangers-on for a catwalk show this month. The Savile Row-themed London men’s fashion week event has been organised by GQ stylist Jo Levin and will be the trendiest event the historic 123-year-old building has hosted. Every room of the closely guarded Marylebone Cricket Club pavilion will be thrown open for the ‘immersive’ fashion show. The MCC – which has a 19-year waiting list – is famed for its stuffy and protective members, many of whom got wind of the plan at England’s one-day match against New Zealand on Friday and were up in arms about the idea. ‘Cricket has gone to the dogs,’ grumbled member George Burrough. ‘Every respected man who has played here will be looking on bewildered.’”

How Hitler’s troops stayed alert during war by taking CRYSTAL METH: “Invading country after country at lightning speed, Hitler’s army had Europe terrified during World War Two. But, as a Nazi soldier’s letter has revealed, it wasn’t just the Fuhrer’s fiery rhetoric which had his troops wired. Military doctors were handing out millions of pills to the troops known as Pervitin. The label claimed it was an ‘alertness aid’ which should be taken ‘to maintain wakefulness’. We know it today as methamphetamine, or more commonly, crystal meth. More than 200million pills were dolled out to the Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe between 1939 and 1945. German soldiers nicknamed it ‘Panzerschokolade’ – meaning ‘tank chocolate’. In Britain, newspapers reported how the enemy was using a ‘miracle pill.’ Even Hitler himself was given intravenous methamphetamine by his physician Theodor Morell. But the reality for many Nazi soldiers and pilots was the nightmare of an horrific drug addiction. Although the stimulant allowed soldiers to maintain long periods of activity, the side-effects were serious. They included dizziness, sweats, depression and hallucinations.”

And don’t forget to catch up with all the Strange Justice before you go.

Believe it if you like

..

..

THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

Amazingly dumb British Keystone Kops: “A pensioner has been killed in a public park after a PC apparently left the handbrake off and the police van rolled forward. The pensioner was buying ice creams in Pudsey Park, Pudsey, West Yorkshire, on Saturday afternoon when the Ford Transit struck him. Two walking sticks and a pool of blood remained at the scene as the Independent Police Complaints Commission investigated the incident. Two police officers – a female and male constable – had been responding to report of youths causing trouble in the park at 2.15pm and had parked up the West Yorkshire Police vehicle on a hill before making their way to speak to a group. But within seconds the van apparently rolled forwards and ran into the OAP, who had been sat on a wall in the sunshine. Paramedics were called to the scene, but the man died of his injuries.”

Argentine government unintentionally sparks Argentine interest in Britain: “Argentinian tourists have staged a British invasion, with record numbers flying in to the UK in the last year. The influx of more than 100,000 visitors – up more than a quarter year-on-year – comes despite renewed tensions between the two countries over the status of the Falkland Islands. Attempts by Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner to stoke anti-British feeling have failed to stop her compatriots from spending a record £104million during holidays and business trips in 2012. President Kirchner was barred from the funeral of Baroness Thatcher last month after repeatedly laying claim to the South Atlantic islands which Britain defended during her premiership in 1982. But the war of words which has erupted after Mrs Kirchner re-election as the country’s President, only appears to have fuelled interest among Argentinians to holiday in the UK.”

Cow grooming! “Images and videos of so-called ‘fluffy cows’ are popping up all over the internet, and people want to know: what breed are these magnificent creatures? It turns out that in the livestock showing world, fluffy cows are not part of a secret fluffy cow breed but known breeds that have been very skilfully primped by specialty groomers who wash, blow-dry and style the cows into fluffiness. Tony Bruguiere, a photographer who specializes in Western and rodeo photography, says that cow grooming is common sight at any stock show. ‘Walk through the yards or the bottom floor of the Hall of Education at the National Western Stock Show and you will be bombarded by the whine of blowers and the hum of clippers,’ he says. ‘It is a constant process and the goal is to make a bull or cow that looks like any other you would see on the other side of the fence into a fluffy rock star.’ Once you’ve got a cow with top-notch genes, the rest is all smoke and mirrors.”

Record-breaking STEAM locomotive Mallard goes on display with two sister trains for first time to mark 75th anniversary of 126mph journey: “The record-breaking Mallard has been reunited with two of its sister locomotives, the Dominion of Canada and the Dwight D. Eisenhower, to mark 75 years since it became the world’s fastest steam engine. In a scene not witnessed since the Thirties, the three trains now sit beside each other restored to their former glory at the National Railway Museum in York. They are three of six surviving Sir Nigel Gresley-designed A4 locomotives that will be brought together at the museum in the run-up to the anniversary of the Mallard’s 126mph record. That was set on the East Coast Mainline on July 3, 1938, and remains unbroken to this day. Despite its name, the Dominion of Canada never actually served in North America – it spent its working life as a high-speed service on the mainline between London and Edinburgh.”

Moth pretends it’a a spider: “It has wings lighter than a feather and is one of the most delicate creatures on earth. But this tiny moth can frighten off predators far bigger then itself – with its scary spider-like markings. The Lygodium Spider Moth knows how to stand up for itself by using intricate patterns that mimic the shape of a spider – deterring potential predators from attacking it. The wings have patterns that make it resemble the eight legs of a spider. The fascinating bug was discovered in Thailand in 2005, and is described in the journal Annals Of The Entomological Society of America. The moth feeds on ferns, and the researchers think that the creepy spider markings help protect it from predators”

And don’t forget to catch up with all the Strange Justice before you go.

An old Dave Allen sketch — still a classic

I’m guessing that it doesn’t end the way you think it will

..

..

THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

Rubens sketch worth £75,000 found in CUPBOARD at University of Reading: “The sketches of master painter Sir Peter Paul Rubens hang in some of the most prominent and distinguished art galleries and museums in the world. But the latest work of the renowned German artist to be discovered was found in a slightly humbler location – a cupboard at the University of Reading. The 17th century drawing, just 10.8cm by 8.9cm, is worth £75,000 and shows a profile view of the head of Marie de Medicis, Queen of France and the second wife of King Henry IV of France. The drawing was acquired by an Oxford collector Henry Wellesly who bought drawings for the Ashmolean, and who was the illegitimate son of the Duke of Wellington. The university then acquired the sketch for teaching purposes in the 1950s for the modest sum of no more than £50. The drawing’s true identity was unveiled when a benefactor recently agreed to pay for its conservation, revealing a hidden collector’s stamp that showed the work was owned in the 18th century by Jonathan Richardson, one of the first collectors of Rubens drawings in the country.”

Italian volcano as good as VIAGRA: “The raised levels of customer satisfaction at this drive-in site near Naples have nothing to do with spectacular views or luxury amenities. They are beside the Solfatara volcano near Naples. The volcano emits hydrogen sulfide- a gas that is proven to help men with erectile problems. Hydrogen sulfide is known as the ‘devil’s stink’ because it smells like rotten eggs. The gas can also be toxic in large quantities. However, in smaller doses, scientists say the chemical plays an important part in a male erection. As well as increasing blood flow, the chemical relaxes nerves in muscles that control an erection. Experts say hydrogen sulfide could be as effective as Viagra in treating erectile dysfunction if a new product was properly developed. However, the levels of concentration at which the chemical is safe to use remains unknown.”

The polite frog that likes to wave before he hops off: “Manners matter, whether you are human or not, and this frog appears to be minding his. The cheerful amphibian was giving the camera a big wave goodbye before he jumped to the next leaf. Eka Novianto Nugroho caught the frog in the act at Taman Safari Indonesia , an animal conservatorium in Bogor at West Java. The tree frog rarely grows to be bigger than 4in and, as its name alludes, spend a majority of its life in the treetops. The disc-like fingers gives it the grip advantage needed when climbing leaves and twigs and its limbs are normally more slender than frogs living on the ground. A majority of tree frogs spend their entire lives in the tree tops with the exception for when they reproduce, with most laying their eggs in water.”

This apple tastes a bit woody: “The cloth looks silky smooth to the touch and the apple looks ripe for eating. But taking a bite of these ones would leave you with a mouth full of splinters. These are the creation of art professor Tom Eckert, who carves, turns, bends and laminates wood to looks like fabrics, glass, stone and fruit. After applying waterborne lacquer paint with spray guns and brushes, the results are hyper-realistic, if a touch surreal. Professor Eckert, who teaches at Arizona State University, said: ‘The woods I prefer working with are basswood, linden and limewood because they carve and paint well and are very stable. ‘Coming from a painting and drawing background, I am still interested in applying some of those techniques to my sculptures.’

An honored dog: “A Massachusetts police dog got a official send off as over a dozen officers saluted the hound on his way to be put down. Kaiser, a two and a half year old German Shepard, was a member of the Plymouth, Massachusetts police department. The dog was laid to rest after a brief battle with kidney disease by handler Ptl. Jamie Lebretton, who lead the K-9 through a gauntlet of officers paying tribute to the crime fighting canine. In a heart-breaking Facebook post on the Plymouth Police Working Dog Foundation’s page Officer Lebretton wrote, ‘It is with deep regret and sorrow that I announce the retirement of my partner K-9 Kaiser. Kaiser was recently diagnosed with severe kidney disease/failure … Lebretton explained that after the diagnosis, Kaiser’s health suffered from rapid decline, forcing his handler to make the ‘heart wrenching’ decision to put him down. News of the touching send off soon went viral after a photo of a sad-looking Kaiser being led into the animal hospital flanked by over a dozen police officers was posted to Reddit.”

And don’t forget to catch up with all the Strange Justice before you go.

Is this what they mean by a fat cat?

..

..

THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

Global cooling killing off the humble spud in Britain: “School dinners may never be the same again. The rising cost of potatoes is forcing them from the daily menu. They have more than tripled in price from £91-a-tonne in 2012 to £295 this year, meaning schools can no longer afford to fry, roast or mash them. So instead of featuring in every meal, potatoes will be served up just two or three times a week in some schools. Rain, snow and ice through one of the wettest winters and coldest springs on record led to a shortage of home-grown potatoes, with imports having to make up the shortfall. Nottinghamshire County Council announced the news yesterday, saying potato dishes in its school dinners would be replaced by rice and noodles. Kevin McKay, the council’s head of catering and facilities management, said: ‘The impact for school meals has been the rising price of potatoes, especially jackets, where wholesale prices have doubled and the quality is poor.”

A storm in a coffee cup: “A STARBUCKS cafe in Hong Kong’s posh financial district which used water from a tap [faucet] near a urinal to brew coffee prompted a flood of angry reactions from customers. The coffee shop, in the famous Bank of China Tower, has been using the water from a tap in a toilet to make beverages since its opening in October 2011. Images from local newspaper Apple Daily on Thursday showed the tap with a sign that said “Starbucks only” a few metres away from a urinal in the dingy washroom, which the paper said was in the building’s car park. “Totally disappointed! The initial decision by Starbucks to use water from toilet is a clear sign of your company’s vision and the level of (dis) respect your company has for the health and mind of your customers.” Kevin L wrote on the Starbucks Hong Kong Facebook wall. The water was collected less than five times a day by staff from a tap in a toilet located near the store, Starbucks said, adding that it was dedicated for collecting drinking water. The water from the toilet tap would go through a filtration system in the store ensuring it passed local and World Health Organisation standards, Pang said, adding the store is now using distilled water.” [What does it matter where the faucet is located?]

What happens when turbulence hits during meal service: “THIS is why you need to keep your seatbelt fastened at all times during a flight. A photo posted on Instagram by passenger Alan Cross shows the chaos after turbulence hit a Singapore Airlines A380-800 during breakfast service. Cross said: “Severe clear air turbulence issue on my SIN-LHR flight (SQ 308). A380 suddenly dropped 50-100ft during breakfast.” The flight was travelling from Singapore to London on Sunday when the unexpected turbulence struck about two hours into the flight, sending loose items such as food trays and utensils airborne and making a complete mess of the cabin. “Eleven passengers and one crew member sustained minor injuries when the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of altitude and were attended to by medical personnel on arrival at Heathrow Airport,” A Singapore Airlines spokesperson said. “Seatbelt signs were on at the time and meal services had already been suspended.” The flight landed safely.”

French government selling off its wine: “President Francois Hollande has been accused of selling off France’s national heritage with an auction of hundreds of bottles of fine wine from the cellars of his Elysee Palace. A total of 1200 bottles, including some of the world’s most prestigious labels, went under the hammer on Thursday evening in a sale that has become symbolic of the cash-strapped government’s austerity drive. Some 250 people, some just curious onlookers, were present at the Drouot auction hall in Paris for the sale, which will run until Friday, with hundreds of internet and telephone bidders expected. One of the first to go was a 1985 bottle of Krug Champagne which sold for 1200 euro ($1,600). The conspicuous cost-cutting is in keeping with the tone of Mr Hollande’s presidency, which has been clouded by a gloomy economic backdrop. Mr Chasseuil has written to Mr Hollande to express his regret over the decision to allow bottles “that are part of the heritage of our country to be sold off to billionaires from all over the world”.

US man caught having sex while drink driving: “A New Mexico man faces multiple charges after police say he was having sex with a woman while driving drunk and crashed, ejecting the woman from the vehicle. The Albuquerque Journal reports 25-year-old Luis Briones was found with one shoe on and his shorts on inside-out on Monday night after he wrecked his Ford Explorer in Albuquerque. Police say Briones’ female passenger was found naked outside the sport utility vehicle after being ejected. She had deep cuts to her face and head.Authorities allege Briones tried to drive away after the crash and abandon his passenger, but a witness grabbed his keys from the ignition. He also allegedly tried to hide from responding officers behind a cactus. Briones is charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated, reckless driving and evading police.”

And don’t forget to catch up with all the Strange Justice before you go.

AAARGH!

Daredevil tourists navigate a narrow 700 year old walkway on a sheer cliff face on a mountain in Shaanxi Province, China. Story here plus more gut-wrenching pics. And people DO die there

..

..

THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

Urine trouble: remote-controlled shower installed to stop public urinating in alley: “Tired of the alley outside of their shop being used by members of the public answering the call of nature, two men in the US have come up with a novel approach to ward them off. Reportedly installed by two men outside their locksmith store in Allentown, Pennsylvania, the remote-controlled shower is designed to prevent members of the public from urinating in an adjoining alley. Those responsible for the sprinkler system also installed security cameras to record those caught in the act and have been uploading videos of the soakings to YouTube since May 2012.” [Good video at link]

German man spends 15 years with pencil in head: “A German man spent 15 years with a pencil in his head following a childhood accident. Aachen University Hospital says the 24-year-old man sought help in 2011 after suffering for years from headaches, constant colds and worsening vision in one eye. A scan showed that a four-inch pencil was lodged from his sinus to his pharynx and had injured his right eye socket. The unnamed man said he did not know how the pencil got there but recalled that he once fell badly as a child. The German doctors removed the pencil and say the man has recovered.”

Union president snoozes at his desk, works two hours a day: “UNION heavyweight Mark Rosenthal has a relaxing work routine. Mr Rosenthal sidles into the office at 2pm every day, eats lunch and then goes to sleep at his desk. “Then he wakes up, looks at his watch and says, ‘I have to get out before the traffic gets bad.’ He’s usually out by 4pm after being at the office two hours,” union vice president Marvin Robbins told The New York Post. Mr Rosenthal earns $156,000 a year as president of a local municipal workers union in New York – a job he has held since 1998. He has been in the news before. In 2009, Mr Rosenthal inspired a council bill requiring jumbo-sized ambulances for obese patients after he had a stroke at City Hall. Union officials say the 400-plus-pound (more than 180kg) president racks up $1400 in food bills every month at the union’s expense. Executive board members told The New York Post Mr Rosenthal significantly over-orders at eateries and takes the extra food back to his apartment. “He’s always walking off with a doggie bag or extra boxes of food,” said one board member.”

Absurd portrait of the Queen: “A new portrait of the Queen, commissioned by Royal Mail to adorn a stamp marking the 60th anniversary of the Coronation, has been derided by critics who said it looked more like Margaret Thatcher. The painting, by artist Nicky Philipps, was branded “abominable” by experts who said it did not bear a strong likeness to the monarch. The stamp is one of a series of six released to celebrate royal portraiture and will be available to buy from Thursday. Estelle Lovatt, an art critic and lecturer, said: “It’s Thatcher meets Rumpole of the Bailey meets Hogarth, in Hogarthian England all the worse or perhaps the better for a glug of gin. “It’s surely dreadful, embarrassing, monstrous. It looks more like my neighbour than the Queen.”

American WWII GIs were dangerous sex-crazed rapists who the French feared as much as the Germans, explosive book claims: “Professor Mary Louise Roberts, from the University of Wisconsin, said within months of D-Day ordinary French women came to fear their American ‘liberators’. She tells how, by the summer of 1944, large numbers of women in Normandy filed complaints about rapes by US soldiers. And their arrival prompted a wave of crime all over France, with American soldiers caught committing robberies and petty thefts. Professor Roberts said: ‘My book seeks to debunk an old myth about the GI, thought of as a manly creature that always behaved well. The GIs were having sex anywhere and everywhere. ‘In the cities of Le Havre and Cherbourg, bad behaviour was common. ‘Women, including those who were married, were openly solicited for sex. Parks, bombed-out buildings, cemeteries and railway tracks were carnal venues. The book also claims the US army ‘demonstrated a deep and abiding racism’, suggesting they pinned a disproportionate number of rapes on black GIs. Documents show that of 152 troops disciplined by the army for rape, 130 were black.”

And don’t forget to catch up with all the Strange Justice before you go.