Cool cats

August 17, 2012 at 9:01 am | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Pic taken on the edge of the Serengeti, in Tanzania, Africa, early one morning

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THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

Picasso too naughty for Scots: “Edinburgh Airport reinstated a print of Picasso’s Nude Woman in a Red Armchair in the international arrivals lounge after it was covered up following complaints by some passengers. The airport covered the print, which promotes an exhibition of Picasso and Modern Art at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, with white vinyl last week. “The initial decision was a reaction to passenger feedback, which we do always take seriously,” said a spokeswoman for Edinburgh Airport in an e-mailed statement. “However on reflection we are more than happy to display the image in the terminal and we apologise, particulary to the exhibition organisers, for the confusion.”

World’s most valuable car?: “A 1930s Mercedes may sell for more than $US16 million in California this month as classic-car auctioneers test the market with an unprecedented line-up of big- ticket cars by names such as Ferrari, Bugatti and Bentley. The Mercedes-Benz 540 K Special Roadster is one of only 30 built. It may exceed an auction record of $US16.4 million, set by a Ferrari last year, and comfortably beat the price of a Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder convertible, one of three included in the series of sales, which is estimated at $US9 million. “I’ve never seen so many expensive cars come up for auction at one time,” says Tom Hartley Jnr, a UK-based classic car dealer. “A lot of the major collectors of the last 30 years are getting old and other owners have seen prices rise and want to cash in. What happens this month is going to say a lot about the market.”

Rich Italians selling off their supercars: “A crackdown on luxury goods combined with budget cuts that have pushed Italy deeper into its fourth recession since 2001 are souring demand for sporty cars and other symbols of the country’s carefree lifestyle. The number of second-hand high- performance cars exported from Italy nearly tripled to 13,633 vehicles in the first five months of 2012, from 4,923 a year earlier, according to auto industry group Unrae. The exodus reflects weaker overall demand for supercars in the home of Ferrari and Maserati, Fiat’s most profitable brands. Italy has become a declining source of supercar profits after Monti raised ownership levies on high-performance vehicles as part of his budget reforms. After the changes, owners of the 316,000-euro ($370,000) Lamborghini Aventador pay about 8,400 euros ($9800) a year in taxes, an increase of 6,600 euros ($7700). On top of the extra levies, supercar owners are being scrutinised in efforts to flush out tax evaders.”

A real pig-pen — for people: “Campers are being offered a glamorous way of enjoying the great outdoors… in these holiday homes inspired by pig shelters. The Pig-Pod concept was dreamed up by Roger Hill, who runs farm holidays on his land near Tiverton, Devon. They measure just 8ft x 10ft and incorporate an arched corrugated roof similar to those used on farmyard accommodation for porkers. The pods can be fitted with either a double bed or two singles and can even be converted into a home office. Each pod features a stable door at the front, a window at the back and electric hook-ups for lighting and heating. They can be fitted with either a double bed or two singles and can even be converted into a home office. The £5,995 pods, which take around six weeks to build, are made to order by the trio and vary in colour, size and style. It is hoped that the new style of accommodation will take off with campsite owners hoping to give their customers a luxury stay.

‘Herbal remedies’ containing poisonous plants, cow urine and tiger claws from India are seized by British customs officials: “Herbal remedies and massage oils containing ground tiger claws, poisonous plants and cow urine have been seized by border officials at a UK port. Forty-five large boxes containing the products had been illegally imported from India and were bound for an address in Birmingham before being stopped by officials at Felixstowe Port in Suffolk. It is the first time ground tiger claws, which may have come from tigers that were illegally poached, have been found by customs in the UK, Border Force said. Cow urine, poisonous plants, and goat meat were also found in the ingredients of the 450ml herbal remedy and five-litre massage oil bottles. Officials examining the load also found several large cockroaches that had fermented in the boxes.”

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