Wicked Thoughts

Interesting advice

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THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

Diaper smugglers!: “Police in northern Sweden have arrested two individuals with a haul of over 25,000 Norwegian nappies [diapers], which they believe were destined for the black market in eastern Europe. The pair, who are believed to be in their 20s and 40s respectively, were stopped in Jämtland by officers. When the cops checked inside the foreign registered van they found that it was loaded to the brim with nappies bought in Norway – 25, 179 to be precise. Both were arrested on suspicion of smuggling offences and taken to the police station in Östersund for questioning. The alleged smugglers are both residents of Lithuania, and were believed to be en route to a location in eastern Europe with the nappy haul. While Norway is regarded as one of the most expensive countries to live in, the price of nappies is rather cheap. Expressen reported that a single nappy can cost around 50 öre but would fetch as much as four Norwegian kronor in Poland.”

School textbook is withdrawn after “teacher” on the front is recognized as Japanese adult video star: “Gone are the days when schoolbooks were made up of pages and pages of text. Today’s textbooks are just as likely to be filled with glossy, colourful images to engage and entertain students. This Thai textbook publisher, however, has come under fire for apparently sourcing an image from the internet to use on a book’s front cover – which turned out to be a photo of a Japanese adult video star. The cover of ‘Basic Mathematics’, from publisher MuangThaiBook, is bright and colourful, with some typically mathsy images of teachers grinning at the camera and looking thoughtfully at equations. Front row centre is a young Japanese woman in a suit, who appears to be examining an important-looking file labelled “Mathematics”. Only, that’s AV actress Mana Aoki, and the photo was originally a promotional shot for an adult video entitled “Costume Play Working Girl”.

The 2015 Ford Mustang has fake engine noise. “Over two decades have passed since Ford designed a Mustang with a four-cylinder engine. The automaker’s award-winning EcoBoost engine changes that with a 2.3-liter amalgamation of power and efficiency. The 2015 Mustang’s excitable EcoBoost engine and its ground-rattling roar drops when the sound system’s fuse is yanked, as discovered by Road & Track’s Jason Cammisa. During a recent series of test drives, he removed the fuse from the 2015 Mustang’s sound system, and found that the pony car had lost its voice. As shocking, and maybe even disappointing, as the 2015 Mustang’s enhanced voice may be, Chief Mustang Engineer Dave Perciak revealed in a 2013 interview that the car’s engine sound would be amplified by its sound system. Perciak was asked if the Mustang’s 2.3-liter EcoBoost would sound like it belonged in the vehicle.”

Unusual Starbucks drinks around the world: “With over 20,000 locations dotted around the world, Starbucks has come up with an impressive array of flavor concoctions to satisfy the caffeine cravings of its worldly patrons. Visit Japan, for instance, and have your pick between a lavender flavored Earl Grey tea, a gelatin-infused frappuccino or a coffee topped with cream cheese. China, on the other hand, is home to the Red Bean Green Tea Frappuccino: whipped up green tea with sweetened whole kernels of red beans scooped on top. The Coffee Jelly Frappuccino, available in Japan and Asia Pacific, is a three-textured fandango which includes a layer of black coffee-flavored gelatin, added to a standard frappuccino with whipped cream. Also in Japan, you’ll find the sinfully extravagant Coffee and White Tiramisu Frappuccino. This beverage starts with a layer of coffee frappuccino, followed by a layer of cookie crumble, followed by a brownie, followed by cream cheese mousse, and topped with cocoa powder. Followed one day, perhaps, by a heart attack.”

Batman burger at Hong Kong McDonald’s makes absolutely no sense: “McDonald’s locations in Hong Kong are celebrating the heroes of DC’s Justice League, and first up with his own special burger is Batman. Dubbed the “Diner Double Beef” burger, the meaty monstrosity looks like it has very little to actually do with Batman. For starters, it isn’t black. Black burgers are all the rage these days, but if any promotional food item needed to be black, it is the one with Batman’s name attached to it. The burger also comes with a serving of “squeezy cheesy fries.” That sounds a little disgusting, and once again, is in no way Batman related. You don’t craft your body into the ultimate machine of vengeance by filling up with any food that starts with “squeezy cheesy.” So what does this burger have to do with Batman? Well, it does feature a really badass box that looks like it has Batman’s face on the top. The burger itself features two patties, an egg, cheese, onion and two types of sauce.”

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

A tomcat with a problem

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THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

Police chief leaves his car unlocked: “A 21-year-old Lodi man chose the wrong car to break into Friday morning — the Saddle Brook police chief’s. Timothy Jolls, 21, of Lodi was charged with third-degree burglary and released with a Tuesday court appearance. Saddle Brook Chief Robert Kugler said Jolls was under the influence of alcohol. Kugler’s neighbor saw that the interior lights of the unmarked Dodge Charger were on and watched a tall man leave the vehicle around 2:45 a.m., the police chief said in an email. Kugler had left the car unlocked in his driveway on Lanza Avenue. “He calls the PD and patrols arrive within minutes,” he said. Officers arrested a man who was three houses away getting out of a 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee in a driveway. The neighbor identified the man as the one he had seen getting out of Kugler’s car, the chief said. The Jeep wasn’t Jolls’ car and he appeared too intoxicated to give a formal statement.

Irishman Dug Tunnel From Bedroom To Pub Over 15 Years: “An Omagh plumber tunnelled a hole from under his bed to the local pub 800 feet from his house over the course of 15 years, a court heard today. Patsy Kerr had been summonsed to Omagh County Court after it emerged he had been the cause of a collapsed sewage pipe from a neighbouring house. Kerr told the court about his secret tunnel and the reasons behind it: “The wife has a bad snore on her and after watching the Shawshank Redemption on RTE one night in 1994, I decided to do something about it so I waited til she was in a deep sleep and then set about digging a hole under the bed in the direction of the pub. I used all manner of tools from spoons to a heavy duty tunnel boring machine I managed to sneak down there when she was at the shops. It wasn’t until 2009 that I hit the jackpot and came up through the women’s toilet mop and bucket room.” Kerr explained how he spent the last five years heading to the pub via his tunnel at 11pm before returning at 1am, undetected by his deep sleeping wife”

Woman Busted for Possession of Spaghetti Sauce: “A Florida woman may pursue legal action against police and prosecutors after she spent more than a month in jail for possession of SpaghettiOs. Police say they arrested 23-year old Ashley Gabrielle Huff after they found a spoon covered with a suspicious residue inside the car she was riding in. From the beginning Huff insisted that she wasn’t using, selling, or making methamphetamines. The woman spent more than a month in jail while her attorney tried to arrange a plea bargain. That’s when the crime lab report came back confirming the spoon was encrusted with spaghetti sauce. She was then released from custody. Police say they were acting in good faith. Huff may now pursue legal action against the police departments, the jails, and the D.A.’s office for malicious prosecution and unlawful arrest.”

The Vitamin D mushrooms: “There may be fewer hours of sunlight as we head towards winter, but it could still be possible to get your daily dose of Vitamin D thanks to a revolutionary mushroom. Eating just three of the Active Health mushrooms, sold by M&S, provides 100 per cent of an adult’s recommended daily allowance. The store spent five years developing the mushrooms, which taste just like the regular variety and also contain Vitamin B5 to fight fatigue and potassium to help maintain normal blood pressure. The mushrooms, which sell for £1.20 for 200 grams, are grown in County Monaghan, Ireland, and naturally enriched with the vitamin by exposure to light. Studies have shown that UV light stimulates the mushrooms to convert natural sterols into Vitamin D. Normally mushrooms are commercially produced in dark warehouses as they do not need sunlight to grow, but the M&S mushrooms receive a carefully-measured amount of bright light to simulate sunlight and trigger the Vitamin D-producing action.”

Rare jewel-encrusted ‘tutti-frutti’ Cartier brooch bought at flea market for just £38 sells at auction for £10,800: “A rare, jewel-encrusted Cartier brooch bought in a box of costume jewellery at a flea market for £38 has sold at auction for £10,800. The gold brooch, which is covered in emeralds, sapphires and diamonds and a ruby, was discovered by an anonymous shopper at a table-top sale in Staffordshire in August. It went under the hammer on Friday, selling for more than double its guide price of £5,000 after interest from around the world. The Art Deco ‘tutti-frutti’ jabot brooch has a carved ruby mounted as a flower, with blue sapphires and green emeralds interlinked between diamonds. The engraving ‘Carter, London’ is hidden on the side. Collectors from Paris, USA and the United Arab Emirates were all after the ‘flavour of the month’ jewellery item, although the successful bidder has chosen to remain anonymous. Hansons said the jewel is from the ‘vibrant 1930s’ and is a ‘flavour of the month among the high-end jewellery buyers of Paris, London and Geneva'”.

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

The Internal Mechanism of a Watch by Patek Philippe, Considered the Finest Watchmaker in the World

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THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

Motorist furious after police wrongly accused him of driving without insurance then posted picture of his seized car on Twitter…and it cost him £150 to release it: “A driver had to pay £150 to have his car released after police wrongly accused him of driving without insurance – and tweeted a photo of the seized car before he could prove his innocence. Nathan Phipps, 34, was left stranded at the side of the A19 near Skipton, North Yorkshire when police pulled him over as he was taking his newly-bought Renault Clio for a test drive. The security guard, from Earby, Lancashire, was questioned by officers and told he was being charged with driving without insurance – an offence which carries a £300 fine and six penalty points. The next day, Mr Phipps took his insurance documents to the station, proving he had third party insurance and the charges were dropped. But Mr Phipps still have to pay £150 to have his car released – despite it being unfairly seized. Now the father–of-one has lodged an official complaint against the North Yorkshire officer who stopped him on September 18.”

The world’s poorest president: “HE lives in a rundown one-bedroom house he has shared with his wife of more than 30 years and his lifestyle is a far cry from other world leaders. So it’s little wonder Uruguay President Jose Mujica, who reportedly earns around $12,000 a year and donates 90 per cent of it to charity, has been nicknamed the world’s poorest president. Compared to US President Barack Obama who earns $400,000 in his role, and Prime Minister Tony Abbott, $500,000, Mujica is far from wealthy, but he is rich in many other ways. The popular leader not only legalised gay marriage, abortion and marijuana, but unlike most politicians seems widely liked by his own people and many others. The Uruguayan leader is guarded by two police officers and Manuela, a three-legged dog, the BBC reported. Mujica also drives around in an old VW Beetle ditching opulence in favour of what works.”

Potato salad festival: “A MAN in Ohio who raised $US55,000 in a crowdfunding jest appeal to pay for his first attempt at making potato salad has thrown a huge public party that promised “peace, love and potato salad”. POTATOSTOCK 2014 was held in downtown Columbus and featured bands, food trucks, beer vendors and, yes, plenty of potato salad. With more than 1360 kilograms of potatoes, the charity-minded party was open to people of all ages. Zack Brown had jokingly sought $US10 on Kickstarter in July to buy potato salad ingredients, but his mission drew global attention and earned tens of thousands of dollars. The Idaho Potato Commission and corporate sponsors donated potato salad supplies for the party. Brown is partnering with the Columbus Foundation to support charities that fight hunger and homelessness. The account started with $US20,000 in post-campaign corporate donations and will grow after proceeds from PotatoStock are added.”

Man allegedly broke into woman’s home climbed into bed with her: “A BRISBANE man allegedly broke into a sleeping woman’s home, got into bed beside her and whispered that he thought she was very beautiful. Mark Davies, 58, will remain behind bars after briefly fronting the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Saturday charged with entering a dwelling, sexual assault and for possessing a small amount of cannabis. Police prosecutor Sgt Scott Pearson said Davies broke into a 32-year-old woman’s home at Nathan sometime between 11.30pm Friday and 1am Saturday. Sgt Pearson said the woman woke to the sound of her bed “creaking”. He said she rolled over and saw a man laying in the bed beside her. Davies allegedly whispered to the woman: “You are beautiful” and “I’m loving you”. The court was told the accused continued to speak to the woman, even taking her right hand and kissing it. Sgt Pearson said the woman asked the man to please leave her home. When he backed away he said: “I don’t want to disturb you and I don’t want to wake your son.” The court was told police found Davies walking down the street nearby. Sgt Pearson said the man consented to a police interview but it largely consisted of “incoherent ramblings”.”

A real Mercenary Mum: “FORMER Australian Army officer Neryl Joyce has been “to hell and back” since quitting the military in pursuit of adventure as a private security contractor in war-torn Iraq. The mercenary mum — who worked in Iraq from 2004 to 2006 — says her “self-belief, courage and a never-say-die attitude” took her from working at Woolworths to becoming a Baghdad bodyguard, but also almost got her killed. Working for two of the most powerful security companies in Baghdad, Joyce — who had served as a commissioned officer in the Australian Army’s close personal protection unit — was responsible for protecting high-threat targets from assassination and opportune attack in the lead up to, and following, Iraq’s first democratic election since 1953. “When I heard about (private security work) I was instantly attracted to it because I wanted to do something that was about more than just me. And while Joyce loved the military, the money she earned in Iraq was more than she’d ever receive as a single mum in the Army. In April 2005 — the day Joyce was supposed to leave Iraq — her teammates, were ambushed on Route Irish in Baghdad. Joyce would have been there with her team if it had not been for a medical emergency.”

Tyrant has gout: “NORTH Korean state media has confirmed that leader Kim Jong-Un is suffering “discomfort”, in its first comment on health issues believed to be behind his three week absence from public view. He is believed to be suffering from gout, according to South Korean media that have quoted an informed source. “Kim Jong-un is suffering from gout, which is why he is limping on both legs,” the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Kim’s health was believed to have deteriorated due to his frequent drinking and overeating. The source also noted that gout runs in his family. The North Korean leader’s grandfather, father and elder brother all reportedly suffered from the illness, the report said. Gout is often caused by obesity, a high calorie diet, drinking and a lack of exercise. Genetic factors also play a big role.”

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

You May Be A Preacher If:

You’ve worn a necktie into a creek.

You’ve dreamed you were preaching, only to awaken and discover …you are.

You’d rather negotiate with terrorists than with the church organist.

A church picnic is no picnic.

You’ve wanted to fire the church and form a congregation search committee.

You’ve been tempted to take up an offering at a family reunion.

You wanted to give the soundman some feedback of your own.

You wanted to lay hands on a deacon and you weren’t thinking of praying for him.

You feel like you’re herding mules instead of shepherding sheep.

It’s your job to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.

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THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

Greek woman ‘buried alive by accident and died before she could be rescued’: “Police in northern Greece are investigating a cemetery worker’s testimony that a woman was buried alive and cried for help from her grave – only to die before being rescued. The man and two visitors to the cemetery told police officials that they heard banging and muffled shouts from inside the 49-year-old cancer patient’s grave late yesterday, an hour after her funeral. By the time the coffin was dug up and smashed open, the woman showed no further signs of life. A doctor summoned to Peraia cemetery outside Thessaloniki pronounced her dead. The mother of two had been first declared dead at a private Thessaloniki clinic earlier the same day. A coroner will examine the body. The dead woman’s relatives are considering filing a complaint against the doctors who treated her at the cancer clinic.

Pregnant tiger allowed a tiny fawn to LIVE!: “Don’t play with your food – that’s what we’re always told when we’re younger – but this huge tiger must have missed that message. The consequences, though, are adorable – these stunning images show the carnivorous beast frolicking about with a tiny fawn – who can’t quite believe its luck. The baby deer might have been saved by maternal instinct – as the tiger was pregnant, and showed absolutely no interest in turning it into a tasty meal. Amateur photographer and call centre worker Pawan Menon captured the images while on safari. The photos show the two unlikely friends running together for around half an hour through the trees and long grass in Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra, central India. Even though the tiger was in no mood to eat, the fawn was still visibly frightened. Mr Menon said it even made an attempt to run but the tiger caught it, carried it gently in its mouth and took it back to the spot they were sitting. ‘The two were together for half an hour playing, running and jumping. Then the tiger gently carried the fawn by its neck – as it would carry its own cub – and eventually started nudging it to run away,’ he added.

Extreme advertising!: “Swiss alpine, climbing and outdoor company Mammut know how to show off their equipment in spectacular fashion. The sports group have created jaw-dropping photographs of ski-jumpers, climbers, trail runners and mountain guides braving precarious precipices and heart-stopping descents in the Swiss mountains over the years, all captured by mountaineering photographer Robert Bösch. For their most recent stunt, Mammut has paid homage to the first ascent of the Matterhorn as mountain guides traced the route over the Hörnligrat ridge in a chain of lights, just like the roped party with Edward Whymper before them. Other incredible visuals have been created by climbers perching precariously on a needle-like mountain to crate a ‘rock cactus’ in the Bregaglia range, forming an ‘X’ on the steep slopes on the North Face of the Eiger, and standing on the narrow ledge of Kleines Kamel to test mountain boots.

Woman fends off bear with a strong eye: “Emily Miles was walking her two dogs in an avocado grove in Santa Barbara, California, when the six-foot animal burst out of the trees and reared onto its hind legs. She ran but not fast enough to out-manoeuvre the bear, which took one swipe of its claw that shredded her shirt, leaving three-inch-deep wounds. Hitting the ground, she cracked a rib as the beast took a bite out of her thigh. Incredibly, as Miles thought she was on the brink of death, she then stared the bear in the eye – and it cowered onto all fours before retreating into the woods.”

Builder unearths vast treasure trove of 22,000 Roman coins: “An amateur metal detectorist has unearthed one of the largest hoards of Roman coins ever found in Britain. Laurence Egerton, 51, made the discovery as he explored land near Seaton, in East Devon – and he was so concerned someone would steal it, he camped out for three nights while archaeologists excavated the site. Dubbed Seaton Down Hoard, the collection of 22,000 copper-alloy coins is thought to have been buried by a private individual or soldier for safe keeping, but was never recovered. In addition to being one of the largest hoards – behind the Frome Hoard of 52,503 found in 2010, and a hoard of 22,703 found in Nether Compton in Dorset in 1989 – Mr Egerton’s discovery is also one of the best preserved 4th century collections to be dug up. According to Devon County Archaeologist, Bill Horner, the Roman copper-alloy coins date back to between AD 260 and AD 348 and bear the images of Emperor Constantine, his family, co-Emperors and immediate predecessors and successors.” At the time the hoard was buried, it would have amounted to four gold coins, or solidi, which would have provided the ration of two soldiers for one year, or a worker’s pay for two years.”

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

Feline perversity

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THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

Teenager repeatedly stabbed in racist attack on his way to an exam plugged his wounds with tissue paper so he could still sit test: “A teenager took an exam despite having been stabbed through the thigh with a screwdriver in a racist attack, it has been revealed. Bradley Halton, 18, was attacked by a group of four or five Asian [Pakistani] men as he walked to his exam at Barking & Dagenham College in East London. The group shouted racist abuse at him, and one man grabbed his throat before another threw an arm around his waist and bundled him to the ground. The group then punched and kicked Mr Halton before one man stabbed him four times in the back of his right thigh with a screwdriver. Despite his wounds Mr Halton carried on walking to his exam, plugged his wounds up with tissue paper, and then sat the test without telling examiners. It was only after the test finished that Mr Halton, a trainee decorator, called his girlfriend to say the pain had become unbearable, at which point she dialled 999. An ambulance took Mr Halton, from Dagenham, to the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel where doctor’s gave him an x-ray and stitches”

Airline employs Sherlock the dog detective to find owners of forgotten items left on planes: “Lost and Found at Amsterdam airport just got a whole lot cuter, with the introduction of an investigative beagle. Airline KLM has employed a cute, uniform-wearing dog to help reunite passengers with lost items that they leave behind on planes. The pooch – appropriately named Sherlock – uses its tracking skills to smell the lost item then dash through Amsterdam Schipol Airport to find the appropriate owner. The energetic beagle can be seen bounding through the airport with mobiles and headphones tucked in his pouch and even carrying stuffed toys back to their rightful owners. But rescuing abandoned items from planes is a tough job and Sherlock certainly needed some training. His handler Dirk van Driel, explained: ‘We train for muscle strength, endurance and of course socialisation. ‘When you see the reactions of the passengers that really is amazing.’ Sherlock has become something of a star at the airport, with grateful customers posing for selfies with him and staff showering him with attention.

Exercise ROTS your teeth: Every extra hour training ‘increases the risk of fillings’: “Hang up your trainers – because exercising could ruin your smile, according to a new study. German researchers found the longer an athlete trains, the more damage they cause to their teeth. They found that the longer athletes exercised, the less saliva they produced and the more alkaline it became. Alkaline saliva works to encourage the growth of plaque bacteria, the team explained. For every extra hour of training each week, the study found an increased risk of a person needing fillings, or having decayed or missing teeth. It comes as another study published this week called into question the benefits of exercise, as scientists discovered people tend to drink more alcohol on days when they have worked out. In the new study, a team of dentists at the University Hospital Heidelberg in Germany examined the teeth of 35 triathletes and 35 non-athletes. While other dentists have suggested that athletes have bad teeth because they drink more sugary sports drinks, this study found there was no link between sports drinks and tooth erosion, The Times reported.”

Echidna mating ritual captured on camera shows males following the female in a line for up to TEN hours a day: “This was the moment a rare and unique echidna breeding ritual was caught on camera at Taronga Zoo in Sydney. These super cute five echidnas, also known as spiny anteaters, were captured taking part in what is known as ‘trailing’. Female echidna Spike released a hormone called pheromone that attracted her boyfriend Rex along with his other friends Gman, Thorne and Lynx. The boys spent a week and a half following Spike around the enclosure before she finally selected which male and she wanted to mate with, and luckily for him Rex was chosen last month. Echinda keeper Brett Finlayson told Daily Mail Australia says once the echidnas mate there is a 90 per cent chance of pregnancy. He said: ‘We are hoping Spike might have laid an egg because she has gone underground. If Spike does fall pregnant it will take her 21 days after mating to lay an egg and she will push the egg into the pouch.”

Terrifying photo reveals the moment actress climbed onto her roof to hide from black intruder only for him to appear BEHIND HER: “A Los Angeles woman fled onto her roof when a transient broke into her home Wednesday and terrifying photos have revealed how close the intruder came to finding her. Melora Rivera bravely crawled onto her Venice roof and had the wherewithal to take her cell phone and call police. ‘Once I saw him in the house, I knew that we both couldn’t be there,’ Rivera told CBS LA from her Venice home. Police arrived on the scene just minutes after Rivera’s frantic call as she hid beneath an eave of the roof. An area blogger snapped a photo just as the itinerant, later ID’d by police as 29-year-old Christian Hicks, lurched onto the roof behind her. It was a moment borne of nightmares. But brave Rivera kept her composure. Police managed to coax the intruder down after giving Rivera a ladder on which she could climb to safety.

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

An African limo

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THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

Unusual wedding guests: “Photographer Ian Christmann was working the backyard wedding of Lauren and Erick in Stockton, NJ this weekend when the herd of deer appeared in the woods during the middle of dinner. So Christmann interrupted the bride and groom to see if they were interested in taking a photo with the gathering deer, and the newlyweds agreed. ‘The deer were quite jittery as we approached, so I didn’t expect that we would be able to get so close!’ Christmann wrote on his website. ‘A couple of people have asked if it was photoshopped and the answer is “nope.”’ Christmann said. ‘It’s a straight out of the camera capture apart from some dodging and burning and coloring in post.’

This smart SAUCEPAN could turn you into a pro!: “Called SmartyPans, the pots feature sensors that sync with a smartphone app and reveal cooking time, weight and if the pan is too hot. And the pans can even help with weight loss, because they reveal the number of servings and calories of every dish. Each pan features a weight, humidity and temperature sensor and is powered by a 5V rechargeable battery. When cooking, the pan connects to a smartphone or tablet app using Bluetooth. When in Recipe Mode, as the user adds ingredients to the pan, they are shown a progress bar indicating how much is required. The app monitors internal temperature and humidity, and tailors the cooking time and instructions accordingly. This mode additionally reveals how many people the meal will serve, and calories. Metrics mode gives unfiltered information from the pan, including temperature and weight. Its battery recharges in an hour, and lasts up to a month.”

Spider invasion: “An army of 100 green-fanged spiders the size of tablespoons have invaded a young family’s home. Dan Jackson and his three-year-old son Ruben are scared to go outside as ‘tube web spiders’ have filled every hole and crack in their garden and walls. The black creatures with shiny green fangs sew distinctive tube-shaped webs inside cracks and holes and wait by the entrance for prey to touch the strands. Now Mr Jackson, 29, is worried they may get into his house and harm his son, as their bites can cause a sharp injection-like pain. The online trader from Southampton said: ‘I’m not scared of spiders but even I’m freaked out by these ones. ‘I first saw one when I went out into my garden and didn’t think much of it. ‘But when it got dark they all came out and there must have been more than 50 of them.’ The official name for the spider is the Segestria florentina. While the pain from a bite can last for hours, their venom has no lasting effect on people.”

Unfortunate sign on ‘Tuck-in Coffee Shop’: “A cafe has attracted the attention of shoppers after it was pointed out its sign could be read in two different ways. The Tuck-in Coffee Shop in Doncaster used a font for its sign which locals say makes the first letter of the name unclear. The dubious banner has caused concern in the South Yorkshire town, with some claiming it looks like the cafe is called the ‘F***-in Coffee Shop’. The double reading of the font is most apparent on a banner placed behind the cafe to attract motorists on a nearby main road, but is also visible on the front of the building. Darren Bent, 23, of Thorne, near Doncaster, said: ‘I had to double-take when I saw it because it does look like the F***-in Coffee Shop. ‘I think it’s hilarious, though. It brightened up my day when I saw it.’ A worker at the cafe insisted the sign has been there for 12 years and he had never before heard any complaint. He said: ‘I hung the sign there myself and it looks all right to me. No customers have ever said anything to me so I don’t see any reason why it should be changed or taken down.’

Anger after pony charity says the best way to protect the animals is to EAT them: “A charity dedicated to protecting ponies sparked outrage today by suggesting they should be eaten to save the species. Dartmoor Hill Pony Association put forward the suggestion ‘with reluctance’ as the best way to preserve herds on the ancient moorland. Founder Charlotte Faulkner believes herders will only continue to keep the animals if there is a ‘sustainable market’ for them. But South West Equine Protection (SWEP) reacted with fury, saying it would never support the breeding of animals for profit. The charity’s welfare officer Becky Treeby said: ‘It would be very upsetting to look at foals which in six months’ time could be in someone’s burger.’ Dartmoor ponies are essential to the ecology of the 368 square mile national park in Devon by keeping the gorse under control.

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

How dey do dat?

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THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

The fastest way to board a passenger plane revealed: “For those who are convinced there is a faster and more efficient method, a test by the popular American television series MythBusters appears to back up that theory. The Discovery Channel series found that the boarding method used by most carriers – business class first and followed by zones from back to front – is the slowest and least efficient of six possible seating techniques. Using a custom-built replica of a 173-seat aircraft interior, it took 24 minutes and 29 seconds before all of the volunteer passengers were in their seats with the back-to-front method. It turns out the fastest method involved no assigned seating. With a time of 14 minutes and seven seconds. Even though it was the fastest method, it had the worst passenger satisfaction rating. With a time of 14 minutes and 55 seconds, the Wilma method (window seats first, followed by middle seats and aisle seats) was the second fastest technique.”

Man builds a better ice-cream scoop: “A dad has reinvented the ice cream scoop for the first time in 117 years after becoming frustrated at not being able get the dessert out the tub when it was frozen solid. Michael Chou’s ‘Midnight Scoop’ design changes the way people scoop up the frozen dessert. Rather than spooning ice cream with your wrist in a side-on motion, he suggests pushing it chest-on so you can use their arm and chest muscles. This is made possible by the curved handle which gives extra force and means there is no need to use your wrist. It has taken nearly two years and 38 redesigns for the ‘Midnight Scoop’ to come to fruition – 117 years after Alfred L. Calle first invented the ice cream scoop in 1897. Made from a coated and forged 6061 aluminum alloy, they will be sold for a little over £30 once the Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign ends in October.

Doorbell flushes dog out of rabbit hole: “A DOG trapped in a rabbit hole for four days was saved by a doorbell. Henry, a seven-year-old border terrier, vanished while on a walk in Prestbury, Cheshire, on Sept 14. After a three-day search, the dog’s owner, Beverley Leonard, called the fire service, which sent its animal rescue unit. Even after a search using specialist cameras to look into rabbit holes, Henry could not be seen or heard. When one of the crew remarked that the search would be easier if Henry barked, Ms Leonard remembered that the dog only ever barked at her doorbell. She returned home, removed the bell from the wall, and, using an amplifier, spent three hours playing the noise down every rabbit hole. Finally, Henry responded and the firemen returned to free the dog.”

A new cure for baldness?: “Bizarre and brilliant cosmetic treatments were big news in 2013 with the vampire facial, which involves drawing the patient’s own blood and then injecting it back into the face, topping the most requested list. So popular and effective has it become that cosmetic doctors are using the technique on patient’s hair to help stimulate growth. The procedure, named Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy (PRP), is being used on the scalp as it can apparently stimulate dormant hair follicles and encourage them to start growing again. It is a potential form of treatment for men or women who suffer with hair loss either through genetic predisposition, hormonal issues, trauma or alopecia. The treatment, which takes around an hour and a half, involves taking four syringes of the patient’s blood and putting it in a centrifuge (a rotating piece of medical equipment) to separate the plasma from the red blood cells – this is the same technique as PRP for the face. Local anaesthetic injections are then injected into the scalp, which will ensure the area is numb. The scalp is then stimulated with a dermaroller. Once the syringes are ready, the PRP is injected into the scalp – primarily in the areas of concern.”

Mother who refused abortion after her waters broke at 16 weeks gives birth to ‘miracle’ baby boy: “A pregnant mother whose waters broke at 16 weeks refused to abort her unborn child, despite doctors warning he had just a one per cent chance of survival. Katy Evans was devastated when she was warned her baby was unlikely to live, with experts advising she have a termination due to the high risk of serious infection. But the 35-year-old was adamant and refused to give up, determined to let nature take its course. Incredibly, two weeks later, scans revealed her waters had replenished themselves in her womb – something doctors treating her had never seen before. Five months later, Mrs Evans and her husband Rich welcomed their ‘miracle son’ Leo, a brother to their three-year-old daughter Amber. Doctors warned the couple that their unborn child had less than one per cent chance of survival. And even if it did survive, it might develop without limbs or be born unable to breathe. ‘I’m a positive person, by nature, and I refused to give up on the pregnancy or mourn this baby until we knew exactly what was happening,’ she said.”

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

PSYCHOLOGY VS LAW

A guy is looking for a place to sit in a crowded university library. He asked a girl, “Do you mind if I sit beside you?”

The girl replied in a loud voice, “I DON’T WANT TO SPEND THE NIGHT WITH YOU!”

All the students in the library started staring at the guy. He was truly embarrassed and moved to another table.

After a couple of minutes, the girl walked quietly to the guy’s table and said with a laugh, “I study psychology, and I know what a man is thinking. I guess you felt embarrassed, right?”

The guy then responded in a loud voice, “$500 FOR ONE NIGHT? . . . THAT’S TOO MUCH!”

All the people in the library looked at the girl in shock.

The guy whispered to her, “I study law, and I know how to make people pay for their stupidity.”

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THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

Did Portugal discover Australia in 1520?: “Explorer and documentary maker Ben Cropp has set off on a six week mission to find a 500-year-old cannon which could prove for the first time Portuguese sailors were the first to land in Australia in the early 1520s. Mr Cropp, 78, who has more than six decades of diving experience and has discovered over 100 shipwrecks, is searching off the coast of Cooktown in far North Queensland. Mr Cropp says maps dated from the 1520s show a large sixth continent in the same position as present-day Australia, called ‘Java-la-Grande’ in many similar charts and navigational aids. The film maker and explorer told Daily Mail Australia from out at sea: ‘Three Portuguese ships and a Spanish vessel were lost near Cape York in the 1520s before the Dutch arrived. ‘I have clues as to where the wrecks might be and we are looking for a cannon which will date it. ‘Most historians agree the Portuguese were here first but we have to prove it.’ The team are spending hours each day snokrelling and looking for clues. ‘There was an early chart made in 1522, not released until 1542 and it clearly shows the Cooktown area and shows reefs off the coast.

Coffee that tastes like BEER?: “Starbucks coffee is known for offering seasonal drinks like iced Frappuccino in the summer and Pumpkin Spice lattes in the fall but for the first time ever Starbucks patrons will be able to warm up with a beer flavored coffee. You read correctly, Starbuck’s new Dark Barrel Latte is topped with whipped cream and a dark caramel sauce and flavored coffee syrup that is designed to taste like dark Irish beers such as Guinness. The new beer flavored coffee drink is in limited Starbucks locations as the franchise is still testing the beverage in order to determine its popularity. So far, some who’ve tasted the beverage had a hard time believing it’s not beer and love the taste. Others dislike the new flavor and warn people against ordering the drink.”

The white horses of the Camargue: “A herd of white Camargue horses galloping through a calm delta at sunset made for some stunning photos from Barcelona-based photographer Xavier Oretgas Ojuel. The Spanish man travelled hundreds of miles to capture this magical moment of the rare animals racing wildly against the setting sun. Rushing along the remote landscape, the surf is kicked up and the animals’ movements blurred, as they are permitted to run free outside from their ranches along the Rhone River, near Arles, France. The photographs, taken at sunset, capture the horses between the Mediterranean Sea and the two arms of the Rhone River delta. The herd is carefree and playful, kicking up water as they splash in the surf ‘In these three years, I have seen many horses – usually they can run for ten minutes until the leader decides to quit,’ Xavier said. ‘I love seeing horses like this – running free in the wild. They are one of my favourite animals, displaying a combination of power, beauty and water in a great place with magnificent light.'”

Mock Spitfires with Japanese motors!: “It is almost 75 years since they enjoyed their finest hour in the Battle of Britain. And now, an Oxfordshire flying club has marked the momentous occasion by creating a classic Spitfire, albeit in a slightly smaller form than the World War Two version. Led by flying instructor Paul Fowler, the club hope to build a new squadron of Spitfires in time to mark the 75th anniversary of the campaign which helped Britain defeat Hitler’s Luftwaffe. The first Spitfire – a Supermarine Mk 26B, a 90 per cent scale replica based on the original Supermarine Spitfire design has been created by Enstone Flying Club. Twenty volunteers – ranging from a BT engineer to a BA pilot – helped construct the first Spitfire”

New Zealand to vote on ditching British flag from country’s banner: “New Zealand may vote next year on changing its flag, scrubbing out the red, white and blue of the Union Flag to break its ties with Britain. The country’s newly re-elected prime minister, John Key, made the revelation today as the country looks to assert an identity independent of its former colonial overlord. Key’s centre-right government was returned for a third three year term on Saturday in a resounding win, promising to continue steady economic management and controls on spending, and possible tax cuts in three years. Asked about his promise of a referendum on a change of flag, Key said he wanted it to be the subject of a referendum next year, including finding an alternative and then putting that up against the current flag. Key has previously said he wants a flag uniquely New Zealand in character that would be recognisable around the world. The current flag was adopted at the start of the 20th century and features the British Union Flag in the top-left corner with the four red stars of the Southern Cross on a blue background. It is often confused with the similar looking Australian flag. A survey in March showed 52 percent of respondents did not see any need to change the flag.”

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

The latest picture gallery

As regular readers here will know, I select what I see as the “best” pictiures and graphics that have appeared on this blog from time to time. I have just put up my selection from the pictures that appeared here in March and April. You can access them here or here. There are definitely some good ones worth revisiting.

A big pussycat

This woman in the video found this lion injured in the forest ready to die. She took the lion with her and nursed the lion back to health. when the lion was better she made arrangements with a zoo to take the lion and give it a new and happy home.

This video was taken when the woman after some time went to go visit the lion to see how he was doing. watch the lion’s reaction when he sees her. Amazing!!!!!

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THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

Australian football commentator makes a blunder: “LIFE can be brutal in live broadcasting. Every word scrutinised. Every mistake there for the world to see. Just ask AFL commentator Luke Darcy, who was trending on Twitter during Saturday’s thrilling preliminary final between Hawthorn and Port Adelaide for all the wrong reasons. The Twitterati don’t miss much, so when Darcy unfortunately declared, “The lights are coming on, it is getting a bit overcast,” the tweets flew in thick and fast. You see, it was nearing 6pm at the MCG. Night time.”

Mystery plant identified: “When a green-fingered pensioner spotted a new species of plant growing in her carefully-cultivated garden, she naturally called on her local radio station for help identifying it. But instead of receiving advice on how to get rid of a troublesome weed, Patricia Hewitson discovered she had actually been growing a five-foot-tall cannabis plant. Mrs Hewitson, who sent a photograph of the plant to BBC Radio Devon’s gardening programme, said she had received some “interesting” emails after asking for help. Local police have assured her she will not be prosecuted, after cultivating the healthy plant in good faith. It is believed the cannabis plant grew from a seed which fell from the bird feeder hanging above the flowerbed. Mrs Hewitson, from Exmouth, has now been advised to cut the plant up, take it to a police station or discard it safely on her compost heap. Police confirmed it is illegal to grow cannabis without a licence, but said they would not pursue the matter any further because of the “mitigating circumstances”.

Luxury French airline: “Forget back of the bus, cattle or economy class, a boutique airline company in France has launched an exclusively all-business class flights at comparatively budget prices. Trying to make business class more accessible to everyone, French airline La Compagnie offers passengers a round trip from Paris to New York for just £945 (€1200) – more than £2000 cheaper than the same trip with Air France. Launched by L’Avion founder Frantz Yvelin and former Swissair and JetAirways COO Peter Luethi in July, the company sets to bring business class service ‘back to where it belongs.’ ‘With French style and American dependability, La Compagnie will become the choice of the current generation of hard-working business travelers who demand something more from air transportation’ says Yvelin. La Compagnie will operate a fleet of redesigned Boeing 757-200 aircraft, with 74 seats, that recline 180 degrees, set in a 2×2 formation throughout the aircraft.

Amazon’s secret annual party for the world’s leading authors: “Right now, some of the most popular authors in the world are rumored to be gathering in Santa Fe, Mexico for a super-secret weekend organized by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos. The weekend event called Campfire is in its fifth year, and takes place at Bishop’s Lodge Ranch Resort and Spa, where the literary elite are treated to opulent meals and luxury gifts on Bezos’ dime. Though the New York Times reports that Campfire attendees are not required to sign nondisclosure forms, most keep the event to themselves at the request of Bezos. Those attending this year’s event are slated to enjoy formal talks with other literary influencers, catered dinners, live music, horseback riding and skeet shooting. In past years, attendees have received free vests, fleece sweaters, shoulder bags and small suitcases to lug all of their gifts home with – many on free chartered planes.

Surfer’s nightmare: “Paddling directly towards a great white shark would be a surfer’s worst nightmare. But these two paddle boarders were completely unaware of the potential dangers lurking just metres from them when they took to the surf on the NSW Central Coast last Friday. Footage shot by drone pilot Tom Caska captured the moment a huge shark started following a sea of fish 50 metres off the shore at Killcare Beach. Mr Caska’s brother Andrew was on one of the three-metre long paddle boards when the shark started circling. But remarkably, no one was fully aware of how close he came until they looked back on the drone footage. The shark, believed to be a great white, and the school of fish are clearly visibly in the aerial photo just metres from several surfers. ‘Came in after that big school of fish. Must be careful in the water this time of year as the whites migrate south again,’ he wrote. It comes after a 50-year-old man was killed after a suspected great white attacked him at Byron Bay earlier this month.

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