Wicked Thoughts

In hillbilly country

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THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

Award-winning marmalade maker forced to close down – after losing her SMELL: “An award-winning marmalade maker has been forced to shut down after spending eight hours a day over vats of boiling jam left her unable to smell. Melanie Moss, 41, has spent the last four years working over 12 hot bubbling pans for at least eight hours a day in a kitchen at 60 per cent humidity. But after winning various jam and marmalade awards, she’s now been forced to shut down after the process left her with swollen sinuses which put her in extreme pain. Mrs Moss was pursuing a passion when she started her business four years ago and she regularly produced up to 700 jars a week. But she started suffering with severe pains in her nose and throbbing headaches. She has now recovered and is about to start a new venture with popcorn – which doesn’t require her to work in such high heat and humidity. And now her sense of smell has returned, she’s promised to take lessons from the experience.” Melanie, who lives with her husband Bob, a 41-year-old software developer, won six World Marmalade awards and two Great Taste awards with her business Wolds Cottage Kitchen”.

Japan’s terrifying rollercoaster bridge: “The Eshima Ohashi bridge in Japan – the third largest of its kind in the world – rises sharply so ships can pass underneath. The concrete road bridge spans a mile across Lake Nakaumi, linking the cities of Matsue and Sakaiminato. The two-lane concrete road bridge stretches 1.7km or just over 1 mile long and has a width of 11.4 metres making it the largest rigid frame bridge in Japan and the third largest in the world. Its incredible slope, which has a gradient of 6.1 per cent on the Shimane Prefecture side and 5.1 per cent on the Tottori Prefecture side gives it a rollercoaster-like appearance. The unusual steep bridge was recently featured in a commercial for Daihatsu Motor Co.’s Tanto minivan to test the vehicle’s durability.”

Dumb broad: “A SINGLE mother has been fired from her job — before she even started it — after posting a Facebook rant about children that quickly made its way to her new boss. Kaitlyn Walls, 27, was hours away from starting work at a Texas child care centre when she decided to update her Facebook status. Bad decision. “I start my new job today but I absolutely hate working at day cares,” she wrote. “Lol it’s all good I just really hate being around a lot of kids.” Within minutes, everybody in The Colony, Ms Walls’ hometown, was talking about her post — including her boss-to-be at The Colony Preschool and Child Care Center, who rang her a short time later to tell her not to bother coming in that day. “I’m a single mom trying to get out on my own”, Ms Walls told CBS. “I really needed (that job) really bad. “It really was a big mistake. I don’t hate children. I have my own … I love her.”

Chinese beauty contestants walk along 2000m high boardwalk: “CONTESTANTS in a Chinese beauty pageant were asked to walk along a 2,000 metre high boardwalk wearing bikinis and high heels, to test their composure while under pressure. The uneven boardwalk sits along the side of the Luanchuan Laojun mountain in Henan Province, central China, and is only one-metre wide. Eight women completed the challenge as part of the annual Miss Bikini of the Universe contest, which has been running since 2005. One of the contestants, Yang Ningqing, told Shanghaiist: “First of all, it allowed us to become more courageous, and second it allowed us to practice our most fundamental skills. This catwalk, even though it was a very crude catwalk, allowed us to show off our most beautiful posture.”

The saddest owl in the world: “Move over grumpy cat – a wildlife photographer’s picture of a miserable owl forced to stand in the pouring rain has gone viral. Internet viewers have unofficially crowned the morose-looking owl as the ‘world’s saddest owl.’ Shamma Esoof, 28, took the photograph at Penang Bird Park in Malaysia and it went on to win first place in the Duggak Capture the Moment Photo Contest. She explained: ‘I shot this precious moment on a rainy monsoon day. I stood in ankle deep rainwater and shared a silent conversation with this shivering wet owl. ‘We stared at each other for a long while. Its deep intelligent eyes and sad demeanor changed my perception of birds forever. The owl is believed to be a baby Malay fish owl, a species found anywhere from southern Burma and India through south-east Asia, as far as Java, Bali and Borneo. Feasting on mice, rats, large insects and seafood, the species of owl measures up to about half a metre in length.”

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

Why Teachers DRINK

The following questions were set in last year’s GED exam. THESE are genuine answers (from 16 year olds)

Q. Name the four seasons
A.. Salt, pepper, mustard and vinegar.

Q. How is dew formed.
A. The sun shines down on the leaves and makes them perspire.

Q. What guarantees may a mortgage company insist on
A.. If you are buying a house they will insist that you are well endowed.

Q. In a democratic society, how important are elections
A.. Very important. Sex can only happen when a male gets an election.

Q. What are steroids
A. Things for keeping carpets still on the stairs .

Q… What happens to your body as you age
A.. When you get old, so do your bowels and you get intercontinental.

Q. What happens to a boy when he reaches puberty
A.. He says goodbye to his boyhood and looks forward to his adultery. (So true)

Q. Name a major disease associated with cigarettes.
A.. Premature death.

Q. What is artificial insemination
A… When the farmer does it to the bull instead of the cow.

Q. How can you delay milk turning sour
A.. Keep it in the cow. (Simple, but brilliant)

Q. How are the main 20 parts of the body categorised (e.g. The abdomen)
A.. The body is consisted into 3 parts – the brainium, the borax and the abdominal cavity. The brainium contains the brain, the borax contains the heart and lungs and the abdominal cavity contains the five bowels: A,E,I,O,U (wtf!)

Q. What is the fibula?
A.. A small lie.

Q. What does ‘varicose’ mean?
A.. Nearby.

Q. What is the most common form of birth control
A.. Most people prevent contraception by wearing a condominium.

Q. Give the meaning of the term ‘Caesarean section’
A.. The caesarean section is a district in Rome.

Q. What is a seizure?
A.. A Roman Emperor.

Q. What is a terminal illness
A. When you are sick at the airport. (Irrefutable)

Q. What does the word ‘benign’ mean?
A.. Benign is what you will be after you be eight

Q. What is a turbine?
A.. Something an Arab or Shreik wears on his head. Once an Arab boy reaches puberty, he removes his diaper and wraps it around his head.

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THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

Back to school for you! BBC presenter spells ‘education’ wrongly: “BBC presenter Charlie Stayt has been blasted after he misspelt the word ‘education’ during a live report on the issue. Viewers took to Twitter to complain after he missed out the letter ‘c’ when he scrawled the word on a whiteboard at a primary school in Southampton, Hampshire. Whilst Mike Knowles tweeted: ‘If you’re presenting a live report about education on #BBCBreakfast maybe double check how you spell education.’ Presenter Sally Nugent added: ‘I don’t think that spelling mistake was that bad.’ Stayt said: ‘Let’s just call it one of those things.’ Stayt was discussing the issue of education at Highfield Primary School as part of the programme’s UK sofa tour in the run up to the election.

Bitchy British parking cop: “A bizarre row between a taxi driver and a traffic warden has been caught on camera after the warden tried to give the motorist a ticket after he was in a crash. The male driver left his car parked on double yellow lines after apparently being involved in a crash with another vehicle in central Manchester. But a female warden proceeded to issue a parking ticket for the taxi – even though it is not illegal for broken-down cars to stop in the road. In video footage filmed by the taxi driver, he can be heard telling the warden he cannot move the car, but she replies: ‘I’m not speaking to you.’ The cameraman asks, ‘You do realise I’ve had an accident?’, but the warden then says, ‘You’re not allowed to video me, thank you.’ As the footage continues, other witnesses weigh in, with one telling the traffic warden to use her common sense and let the driver off. Manchester City Council has vowed to investigate the incident, saying that the taxi driver should not have been fined while he was waiting for help to arrive.” [Brits often love to stretch any little bit of power they are given to shaft others]

The giant SPONGE floating in space: “It looks, and sometimes acts, like a huge sponge floating in space. But this crumpet-like rock is in fact one of Saturn’s outer moons, measuring 255 by 161 miles (410 by 260km). Named Hyperion, the moon’s porous surface can be seen in incredible detail in this image taken by Cassini as it performed a flyby of the satellite. Its odd, almost ‘bubbly’ appearance, can be attributed to it having a very low density for its size, according to Nasa. This low density also means that it is composed largely of water ice with only a small amount of rock. Because of these properties the entire moon is porous, like a sponge, with well-preserved craters of various sizes packed together across its surface. Scientists believe around 40 per cent of the moon is empty space. Cassini was around 38,500 miles (62,000 km) from Hyperion when the image was taken almost a decade ago. Esa has just released a refined, false-colour perspective of the moon in which its surface features were highlighted by toning down its natural redness.”

Amazingly accurate old-style clock: “A clock based on a design from 300 years ago has stunned experts by keeping accurate to a second for 100 days. The modern-day Martin Burgess Clock B is based on John Harrison’s 18th century clock, which he thought up to solve the problem of determining longitude at sea. It has been part of a 100-day trial at the Royal Observatory, in Greenwich, to see if the claim – that the clock would neither lose nor gain more than a second in 100 days – was true. The clock, which was built using modern materials, was initially set ticking a year ago after being strapped to one of the Observatory’s supporting pillars. But it quickly became apparent the trial would be a success and wax seals were placed on its case so its accuracy could be verified, the Independent on Sunday reported. The time was measured using a radio-controlled clock, which received the national time signal, and the BT speaking clock… the clock was not a replica of Harrison’s, but used his design and concept. Rory McEvoy, the Observatory’s curator of horology, added: ‘What we’ve seen here is something approaching a perfect clock, but we are not there yet.’

Suspected thief walks free from court after bungling British police admit selling the stolen bike that was supposed to be used as evidence against him: “A suspected crook walked free from court after police admitted they had sold a stolen bicycle that was the evidence against him. Bike shop owner Raymond Agnew lost cycles worth £2,500 in the break-in at Ainfield Cycle Centre in Cleator Moor, Cumbria, last April. The bike was recovered at an address in Cleator Moor, Cumbria, soon after the break-in and was taken for safe keeping to Whitehaven police station. Mr Agnew was brought in to identify the bike and by examining the frame number he confirmed it was stolen in the burglary. But six months later he was shocked when a man who had legitimately bought the bike at the auction brought it back into his shop to buy a spare part. ‘Of course the really frustrating thing is that the trial against the man who was accused of handling the bikes collapsed because there was no longer any evidence against him. ‘I’d like to know where the money was spent from the sale of the bike because it certainly hasn’t come to me, I hope the police will at least donate it to charity. Judge Paul Batty QC has demanded a written explanation of the bungle from Cumbria Constabulary after the case collapsed at Carlisle Crown Court last week.”

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

The loser

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THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

Bikini model becomes pro skydiver with 1,350 jumps under her belt: “A glamour model who showcases her curves in glossy magazines around the world has a new thrill-inducing hobby – freestyle skydiving. Anais Zanotti, 30, who lives in Miami, first became interested in the high-flying sport when a friend recommended it to her. Now the brunette, who has modelled for Playboy, GQ, Esquire and Maxim and has 35 cover shoots under her belt, is a pro who teaches other adrenaline junkies how to jump from a plane, thousands of feet in the air. The French-born model, who has skydived more than 1,350 times, said: ‘I love the freedom once you leave the plane – your brain stops thinking. ‘If I am having a bad day at work I just forget about it when I open my parachute. ‘I am so happy I scream – it’s such a thrill. ‘One of my friends suggested I try skydiving and when ten of us went I was the only one who said I was coming back, I became obsessed. ‘I watched videos, bought a suit, had a dream about it and when I woke up I called for lessons to learn to skydive properly.'”

Big egg: “At 200 times the size of a hen’s egg, it is big enough to feed the hungriest family – although the age and price may put them off. Laid by the elephant bird, the rare egg could be 800 years old and is expected to fetch up to £50,000 at auction at Sotheby’s in London on Thursday. The elephant bird, the largest bird that ever lived, was more than 10ft tall and weighed 70st. Flightless and native to Madagascar, it was hunted to extinction some 400 years ago. Due to their colossal size and extreme rarity, the eggs became sought-after rarities and curiosities in the late 19th-century. There are thought to be just 25 preserved intact elephant bird eggs left in existence, with most in museums.

Cubing champion: “Rubik’s Cube has puzzled the minds of millions for decades, with most people giving up before ever coming close to finishing the notoriously difficult game. But not teenager Collin Burns, who has completed a cube in just 5.25 seconds, smashing the world record. The US national ‘speedcubing’ champion was at an official Rubik’s Cube event in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, when he shaved 0.3 of a second off the record. Other teenagers can be seen chatting in the background as they completed their own puzzles at the official World Cube Association (WCA) meeting this weekend. Meanwhile Collin is focused on his cube, quickly spinning the rows of tiles round as the clock counts upward from zero. As the 3×3 Rubik’s Cube’s colours align, he drops it down on to a pressure sensor which stops the watch, bringing gasps from his fellow enthusiasts as they realise he has set a new fastest time.”

The North/South war lives on — in Brazil: “It had all the trappings of a down-home country fair somewhere well below the Mason-Dixon line: Lynyrd Skynyrd medleys, mile-long lines for fried chicken, barbecue and draft beer, and a plethora of Confederate flags emblazoning everything from belt buckles to motorcycle vests to trucker caps. But Sunday’s party marking the 150th anniversary of the end of the American Civil War took about 5,000 miles (8,000 kilometers) south of the South, in a rural Brazilian town colonized by families fleeing Reconstruction. For many of the residents of Santa Barbara d’Oeste and neighboring Americana in Brazil’s southeastern Sao Paulo state, having Confederate ancestry is a point of pride that’s celebrated in high style at the annual ‘Festa dos Confederados,’ or ‘Confederates Party’ in Portuguese. Thousands turn out every year, including many who trace their ancestry back to the dozens of families who, enticed by the Brazilian government’s offers of land grants, settled here from 1865 to around 1875. Amid food and beer stands bedecked with red-white-and-blue ribbons, extended families tucked into diet-busting barbecue and hamburger lunches as ‘Dixie’ played on a loop.”

World’s largest glass walkway opens in China with panoramic views: “Daredevil tourists have a new place to get their kicks after one of the world’s most thrilling – or terrifying – attractions officially opened in China this week. The horseshoe-shaped glass walkway in Chongqing extends 87.5ft from the edge of a cliff, allowing visitors to feel as though they are walking on air with the valley floor 2,350ft below their feet. With jaw-dropping panoramic views from its observation deck, it is the longest cantilever bridge in the world, beating Arizona’s Grand Canyon Skywalk by 16.4ft. Located in the Longgang National Geological Park in south-west China, the bridge has been named Yuanduan, meaning ‘at the end of the clouds’. It can accommodate up to 200 visitors at once, with each one paying an admission fee of 60 Chinese yuan (approximately £6.30 or $9.60) to spend 30 minutes on the see-through floor. But the park is limiting it to just 30 people at a time to ensure they have plenty of room to enjoy views that can be terrifying to those who are afraid of heights.”

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

A sad story

I feel desperately sad for the pretty little blondie daughter below

A bride-to-be who thought she had beaten a rare cancer has been forced to bring forward her wedding date after the devastating news that the illness has returned.

The friends and family of Courtney Terry, 27, are now furiously fundraising in a bid to fulfill her final wish of a dream wedding.

Courtney was just 19 when she was first diagnosed with the same disease that killed her 23-year-old brother Jordan seven years ago.

But despite chemotherapy and a kidney removal, her kidney cancer – which is so rare it does not have a name – returned when she became pregnant in 2009.

Courtney, from Barnehurst, south-east London, had planned to marry her childhood sweetheart Billy Webb in seven months’ time.

But doctors have advised her to bring the event forward because of her worsening condition. Now she and her family are relying are on the kindness of strangers to crowdfund their wedding.

Courtney, who has been engaged to Billy for two years, said: ‘It is too late to help me now. ‘There is no more surgery or chemo. I know I am going to die. ‘I won’t grow old with the man I love or see my girl grow up. ‘But the one thing I can do before it is too late is be Mrs Webb.’

She continued: ‘I waited and waited to get married as I wanted to get well first, and there was always another operation or drug trial that got in the way. ‘Now I just want to do it before it is too late.’

Courtney, whose cancer is so rare doctors do not have a name for it, added : ‘I look at my future and I see where it ends. I will die never knowing what is wrong with me – never having a name for it.

Her family said in a statement: ‘Courtney has been unbelievably strong, coping with treatments and their side effects and was often given bad news, whilst being a mum and raising a beautiful little girl. ‘This had a huge impact on the family, who did not expect to hear that her death was going to be so soon.

‘They had a dream for a fairytale wedding to provide an extra special positive memory for Dolcie, Billy and their families.’

Courtney and Billy are saving for their wedding at: causewish.com/project/courtney-s-final-wish

Original story here

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THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

How being attractive can ruin a man’s career: “You might think that good-looking men have every advantage in life. But a new study suggests being handsome may not always work in a man’s favour – at least when it comes to his career. The research claims that attractive men are less likely to be given a job in a competitive workplace because they intimidate bosses. ‘It’s not always an advantage to be pretty,’ says Marko Pitesa, an assistant professor at the University of Maryland. ‘It can backfire if you are perceived as a threat.’ Interestingly, in Pitesa’s study, it was male attractiveness in particular, rather than female beauty, that made the most difference. If the interviewer expected to work with the candidate as part of a team, then he preferred good-looking men. However, if the interviewer saw the candidate as a potential competitor, the interviewer discriminated in favour of unattractive men.”

Dutch whisky? “Dutch farmers have started growing malting barley that could be used to make Scotch whisky. Huge demand for the drink in markets such as China and Russia has led to claims that Scotland cannot grow enough barley to keep up. Now a 30-strong co-operative of farmers in the Netherlands hope their crops will help make up the shortfall. Farmer Ate Bijlsma said: ‘If the Scots are enthusiastic about our growing methods and our product… it really will look like fields of gold here.’ The Dutch crop will be ready to harvest in August. Whisky writer Euan Duguid believes it is inevitable that Scottish producers will have to look abroad for barley. ‘We already have some of the finest malts being produced using American bourbon casks, as well as Spanish sherry casks,’ he said. Rosemary Gallagher, of the Scottish Whisky Association, said it was vital ‘to source on the basis of available quality and quantity so that Scotch whisky is produced to the high standards consumers expect’.”

Tiny oil painting kept in an attic for years and thought to be worth just £300 is sold for £120,000: “A tiny oil painting that was kept in an attic for years and thought to be worth just £300 has now sold for more than £120,000 at auction. The oil painting – which measures nine inches by seven – of a Catholic saint was believed to be the work of a ‘follower’ of 16th century renaissance master El Greco. But the selling price suggests the untitled, undated and unsigned painting may actually have been done by the artist himself. It was acquired by the owner’s late father in the 1970s for very little. And it was inherited by his son, who has not been named, who kept it in his loft for the past eight years before deciding to sell it following a clear-out. Auctioneer Richard Bromell, of Charterhouse Auctioneers of Sherborne, Dorset, gave the work an estimated value of between £300 and £400. But after advertising the sale, interest in the work took off. And feverish bidding, final hammer price was £98,000 and came to £120,932 with all the fees added on.”

British police can’t fire straight in the warm weather: “An assault rifle used by counter-terror police does not shoot straight when it gets hot, tests claim. The Heckler & Koch G36 is inaccurate by up to 20 feet at long range when temperatures top 30C, it was found. The weapon also becomes unreliable when it is left in direct sunlight, exposed to humidity or fired repeatedly, according to a confidential report. The findings have prompted an urgent inquiry into the German-made firearm, which is used by law enforcement officers across the UK. Britain’s police forces use a short-barrelled version of the weapon known as the G36C – and have a total arsenal of up to 3,000. Andreas Heeschen, of Heckler & Koch, said the rifle complied with its original specifications, but a gun ‘designed for the Cold War’ did not meet current requirements. He added that the company had received no complaints from the 50 countries where the weapon is used but vowed to assist with the UK review” [If they are using a short-barrelled weapon they are not much concerned about accuracy anyway]

No time for that foreign cheese: “Britons certainly do love to keep things local, as over three quarters of us (80 per cent) go crackers for cheddar, crowning it our favourite cheese variety. Least favourite cheeses, according to a new survey, are Greek feta, French Camembert and American cream cheese. The research, which was conducted by pickle brand Branston also revealed that a surprising one in four cheese fanatics (26 per cent) admit to eating melted cheese with everything. A third of Brits (30 per cent) say they can’t enjoy cheese without a dollop of their favourite pickle while almost three quarters admitted to reaching out for a cheese sandwich when feeling peckish. In fact, three in ten office workers tuck into cheese sandwiches for lunch each work day without fail. If we’re not putting slices in our sandwiches, one in ten of us are eating whole blocks of cheese in one sitting. [Australia has a “national” cheese called “Tasty” which is also a type of cheddar. Most Australians eat little else]

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

A good reply

A guy walked into a crowded bar, waving his 1911 Colt pistol and yelled, “I have a .45 Colt with an eight shot clip – and I want to know who’s been screwing my wife?”

A voice from the back of the room called out … “You’ll need more ammo!”

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THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

The IKEA relationship curse!: “Many people might think that trust issues, long distances and cheating scandals are the biggest strains on a relationship. But they are wrong. It’s IKEA. A psychology expert has confirmed that shopping at or assembling furniture from the Scandinavian store chain can be a serious source of friction between a couple, thanks to the high levels of stress caused by both activities. ‘The store literally becomes a map of a relationship nightmare,’ Ramani Durvasula, a clinical psychologist in Santa Monica, California, told The Wall Street Journal. ‘Walking through the kitchens brings up touchy subjects, like who does most of the cooking. Then you get to the children’s section, which opens up another set of issues. And that’s before you’ve even tried assembling anything,’ she said. Ramani revealed that so many couples admitted to her that they were prone to fighting while assembling furniture, that she decided to include furniture assembly in her therapy sessions. And her couples are not alone; a report by CivicScience states that 17 per cent of couples confessed that they would argue every time they assembled furniture together”

Beautiful Ferrari set to sell for £10MILLION: “A stunning convertible Ferrari which is almost identical to one that was famously destroyed in cult 1980s film Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is expected to sell for £10million at auction. The 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider is widely regarded by many as the most beautiful convertible ever made. This car, however, is in significantly better condition and has recently undergone a full restoration by Ferrari in Maranello. One of just 16 in existence, it has a 3-litre V12 engine which develops around 280bhp. It will do 0-60mph in less than 7 seconds and hit a top speed of more than 150mph. It will be sold next month at RM Sotheby’s auction in Villa Erba, Italy, and has a guide price of around £8 million

Pets have their fur trimmed to make their heads square or circular as part of new trend: “It may look absurd, but a bizarre new dog grooming trend is beginning to take shape in Taiwan. The craze involves having your pet pooch shaped into a sphere or a square – with the desired effect being a more eye-grabbing and clean-cut look. In a method reminiscent of Edward Scissorhands’s trimming of a hedge, canine hairdressers in the Taiwanese capital Taipei are giving particularly furry customers outlandish makeovers. Pictures of doe-eyed dogs with their shapely new cuts have proved extremely popular online prompting more owners to seek out the custom salons. Many are now opting for the cuts simply to get more likes and shares on social media sites. Ms Yeh added: ‘The dogs don’t mind, and the owners keep coming back for more. This sort of haircut needs a lot more maintenance then the regular type. ‘It is also not suitable for all breeds. The dog needs to have plenty of hair to play around with so that you can shape it around the face and body.'”

Must not insult monkeys in India: “The monkeys of northern India’s Shimla region have a fearsome reputation – and as this video shows, for a very good reason. A teenager in the area has discovered the hard way that the locals should not be toyed with after his affront to a monkey left him sprawled on his back. Footage captured on a CCTV camera near an office in Shimla, India, shows the playful monkey first jumping onto a ledge to watch pedestrians wander past. The teenager wanders past the monkey, who eyeballs him from a ledge as he gives it the middle finger. Much like a human, the monkey interprets the gesture as an insult and responds by throwing himself at the teenager. Catching the teenager off guard, it lands with its feet directly in his face. He is sent sprawling onto the ground, while the monkey quickly bounds back up again to the ledge. Although he walked away from the incident unharmed, he sat in a state of shock for several moments while the monkey returned to his perch.”

Goldmine in Scotland?: “A tiny Scottish hamlet named Towie is bracing itself for the world’s next gold rush – after prospectors found evidence that it sits on major deposits. The remote community in Aberdeenshire does not even have a shop but local streams have been well known for grains of gold of ‘significant size’ for decades. Towie has been ignored by investors in favour of the oil industry but a two-year investigation has revealed the possible existence of gold deposits worth millions. Turkish mining giant Koza Altin Isletmeleri and a Highland firm GreenOre are now seeking planning permission for further investigation. GreenOre managing director Gavin Berkenheger, 31, said: ‘This area in Aberdeenshire has all the right hallmarks of a major deposit to be hiding underneath the surface. ‘We looked at the geology and found some really exciting rocks with potential for a large deposit. ‘Over two years we have found that the whole of Aberdeenshire is a ripe area for gold mineralisation. We’re just trying to locate where the gold deposit is.’ He added: ‘A 3.5million ounce gold deposit is currently being developed by Dalradian Gold in Northern Ireland. We hope to repeat this success.'”

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

Innovative rednecks

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THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

The lucky woman who gets PAID to travel – reviewing luxury hotels around the globe: “Meet the woman who gets to travel the world reviewing the best hotels, beds, pools and room service for her job. Travel photographer Rhiannon Taylor, 29, from Australia has turned her photography skills and penchant for globetrotting into a business, launching a website called ‘In Bed With’. Travelling the world to review and photograph the most luxurious accommodations, the avid Instagrammer has turned her social media success into a growing company. With more than 12,000 followers on Instagram, liking her beautiful photos of her travels, the places she stays and the food she eats, Rhiannon spotted a gap in the market for elegantly-presented hotel reviews. As well as many hotels paying Rhiannon to stay and review, they also buy her professional pictures as well. The Melbourne-based photographer also works with companies who sell travel products, such as luggage and swimwear”

Friendly seal pup: “A not-so-little baby elephant seal emerged from the sea to give a surprised tourist one big cuddle. Charlene Fritz, 35, was visiting Snow Hill Island in the Antarctic Peninsula as part of an expedition when she made an unusual friend on the beach. Despite being no more than two months old, the elephant seal pup is still thought to have weighed around 200lbs, and Ms Fritz had a struggle sitting upright. Charlene, from Saskatchewan, Canada, said: ‘The seal climbed on top of me without hesitation. We shared a very sweet moment in time I will never forget. ‘Her mouth was all pink inside and her eyes were amazing to look into. Like the deepest depths of the sea. I could have stared into her eyes forever.’ She added: ‘It was made very clear to me that I was in no way allowed to touch her with my hands or approach her. ‘She came to me from across the beach and made all of the decisions to cuddle up. I wanted to hug her so badly. ‘Physically she felt like a big dough ball, super warm and like she had no bones”

Four Swedes stop black on black violence in NYC subway: “Four burly Swedish cops put their New York City vacation on hold to answer the call of duty on a Manhattan subway train last night. The friends were on their way to see Les Misérables on Broadway, DNA Info reports, and rushed in to stop a brutal assault on a crowded rush-hour 6 train. Mr Asberg, along with Erik Naslund, Samuel Kvarzell and Eric Jansberger, subdued an enraged homeless man who was viciously beating another rider on the train. The Samaritan Scandinavians stopped the violence and held the attacker until the NYPD could arrive, the Post reports. The friends sprang into action after a frantic conductor yelled over the intercom: ‘Are there any police officers on the train?’ As the train pulled into the Bleeker Street station, the Nordic lawmen found a homeless man pummeling another rider in the next car.” One of the officers put the attacker in an arm lock, while two others held him down to the floor of the train”.

Farmer faces pornography charges after he refuses to remove cheeky straw sculpture of cows: “A farmer who has constructed a rather suggestive hay bale structure, which is fully exposed out the front of his property, could face pornographic charges. The sculpture, made out of bales of compressed grass, depicts the obscene intimacy between a cow and a bull. Bruce Cook, who owns Kaktus Point Charolais stud at Lake Charm in northwest Victoria, told Daily Mail Australia that police told him to pull down the model after they received a complaint about the offensive nature of the statue. But he has refused to do so and further ‘told the copper to p*ss off’ despite police warning that Mr Cook could be charged with ‘publishing pornographic images’. Mr Cook, also known as ‘Cooky’, described his artwork as ‘a bit of fun’ which he put up on Good Friday. He says many passersby have enjoyed his sculpture and even stopped to take photos. ‘People offended by it must have a dirty mind or are just prudish.’

Island of the lost tribe: The Indian Ocean island that is home to a community who have lived there for 60,000 years: “From the sky it appears to be an idyllic island with amazing beaches and a dense forest, but tourists or fishermen don’t dare to step foot on this outcrop in the Indian Ocean due to its inhabitants’ fearsome reputation. Visitors who venture onto or too close to North Sentinel Island risk being attacked by members of a mysterious tribe who have rejected modern civilisation and prefer to have zero contact with the outside world. When they do interact with outsiders, it usually involves violence – the indigenous Sentinelese tribe killed two men who were fishing illegally in 2006 and have been known to fire arrows and fling rocks at low-flying planes or helicopters on reconnaissance missions. Located in the Bay of Bengal, North Sentinel Island belongs to India and remains an enigma, despite being populated for an estimated 60,000 years. Untouched by modern civilisation, very little is known about the Sentinelese people, their language, their rituals and the island they call home.”

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

Possibly the best burger commercial ever

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THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

The world’s most dangerous prison: “Authorities in El Salvador have moved prisoners from two of the country’s hyper-violent gangs into the same prison for the first time, in a bid to stop them running operations from behind bars. Incredible images show handcuffed members from the notorious Barrio 18 gang being marched onto buses taking them from Izalco jail to San Francisco Gotera in an effort to curb gang violence. In all 1,177 Barrio 18 members were transferred. In a potentially incendiary move, Barrio 18 members at the jail will mix with their rivals from the hyper-violent Mara Salvatrucha gang, or MS-13. The policy of mixing the gangs together came about when officials realised that gangs were directing criminal activity from within prison walls. Prisons director Rodil Hernandez said last week in San Salvador that the gang members were moved from regular prisons to the maximum security lockup where they will be completely isolated from the outside world. So far this year, gang members have been blamed for killing 20 police officers, two soldiers, six prison guards and a prosecutor.”

Scorned woman dumps lying lover’s entire Apple collection in the bath: “A Japanese woman got sweet revenge on her cheating boyfriend by giving his Apple collection a good wash. The unnamed heartbroken girlfriend clearly knew how to hit her lying lover where it hurts, and dumped his iMac, iPhone, iPad and accessories in the bath tub. She then took photos of the gadget Jacuzzi, and sent them to him. Presumably on the one item of technology that wasn’t currently taking a long soak. As most of us know, a substantial splash is enough to send your gadget to glitch town, and so the dip this man’s prized collection took is sure to prove irreversible damage. Even if he tries the recommended trick of leaving his gadgets in uncooked rice for 48 hours, we think all the rice in Japan couldn’t dry this lot out. The hearts of Apple fans are mainly with the man, with the general consensus being that destroying a fellow’s prized Apple collection is a bit harsh, even if he did cheat.”

Chess whizz aged 12 who stumped a Russian grandmaster: “Pitted against a Russian grandmaster in the tournament, 12-year-old chess prodigy Jonah Willow was an underdog even in the eyes of his most ardent supporters. So it came as a surprise when, after two hours of play, Alexander Cherniaev, 45, shrugged resignedly and offered the youngster a draw. ‘The grandmaster felt he could do nothing more to force a win or to break his way through,’ said Jonah’s proud father Simon Scott. ‘We were all completely amazed. We couldn’t really believe it. You expect grandmasters to destroy people. ‘But Jonah did very well. Cherniaev was left thinking for 15 minutes after one of Jonah’s opening moves while he worked out what to do next.’ Jonah started playing chess when he was five after seeing his sister Hambel, then eight, playing for fun against their father. Both children are home-schooled by their parents Mr Scott, 45, a designer, and his partner Carolyne Willow, 49, a children’s rights campaigner and writer. Jonah spends one to two hours a day studying chess moves from books and analysing past games. He belongs to a chess club, enjoys badminton and plays the piano.”

Expensive bling: “A ‘flawless’ 100 carat diamond has been sold at auction for $22.1million. The emerald cut diamond was the largest cut of its clarity to ever be sold at auction and one of the biggest diamonds in the world. It was sold in just three minutes when it was put up for sale in Sotheby’s in New York after being exhibited around the world as part of a jewel tour. It took about a year to be cut into shape after it was mined by De Beers in South Africa and originally weighed more than 200 carats. The owner of the rare gem reportedly spent months studying it before it was shaped into the distinctive emerald cut, which experts say make it look like a pool of water. It was shown on Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels Auction tour, which featured 350 lots including coloured diamonds and Kashmir sapphire jewellery is also sold. The flawless diamond was given an estimate of between $19million and $25million. Only five other flawless diamonds of more than 100 carats have ever been sold at auction, including a 118 carat oval cut diamond that sold for $30.6million at a Sotheby’s sale in Hong Kong in 2013.

Meet the real life RAPUNZELS: “The story of Rapunzel, the girl trapped in a tower who is rescued by a prince climbing up her long locks, has captivated little would-be princesses the world over for centuries. But while most girls grow out of their yearning for tumbling tresses, not everyone ditches the extra-long look when they hit adulthood. As hair extensions soar in popularity on the red carpet, the number of middle-aged women with very long natural hair is on the rise, according to beauty experts. And recently, supermodel Twiggy stood up for older women with long locks. ‘It makes me crazy when people say you have to cut your hair short once you hit 50,’ she said. ‘I saw a woman the other day in her late 70s with silver hair down to her waist. I thought, “Good on you, girl.”’

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

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE CAMERA ANGLE

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THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

Muslim head-teacher believes if females run excessively they may lose their virginity’: “The principal of an Islamic school has come under fire after he reportedly banned girls from running, amid fears it would cause them to lose their virginity. Former teachers of Al-Taqwa College, in Melbourne’s outer western suburbs, claim in a letter sent to the state and federal education ministers that principal Omar Hallak was discriminating against female students. The Age reported that the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority is currently investigating the allegations. This comes a month after revelations that Mr Hallak was telling students at his school that Islamic State was not ‘created’ by Muslims, but was instead a plot against them by the West.”

Are these the boots of a dead SAMURAI?: “Could these be the boots of a disembodied samurai soldier, lingering mysteriously behind this little girl? A spooky dark visage that appears behind the child in this photograph has sparked online rumours of a ghost. This photograph was captured in Kanagawa prefecture, Japan – ‘nearby some samurai tombs’, apparently – late last year. The Reddit user who posted it online – a friend of the photographer – insisted it was ‘not photoshopped’ and that paranormal forces could be at work. ‘I’m not saying it’s anything – just that it looks an awful lot like disembodied boots and legs…’ ‘Obiaruf ‘ told users. He then suggested they appeared to be ‘samurai boots to me’. ‘I know there are several very old samurai tombs nearby.” Photographs from the same set show the little girl with nothing behind her and the snapper ‘swears’ there was nothing behind her at the time.”

Pilot became distracted and forgot to land plane because passenger was ‘coughing incessantly’: “A pilot has blamed one of his passengers for coughing ‘incessantly’ into his headset during a short flight in the Northern Territory which caused him to forget to put the landing gear down, an air crash report has found. The Australian Air Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) released its report on Wednesday into the ‘wheels up landing’ on December 12, 2014 at Jabiru Airport, southeast of Darwin. The unidentified pilot was flying a six-seat Cessna 310 aircraft, registered VH-TBE, with two adults and three children on board when he became distracted by one of the passengers. The pilot also reported that the children on board were ‘excited and a little disruptive’ during the flight. He then was reported to have commenced his pre-landing checks and verbalised ‘undercarriage down’, but made a decision to ‘leave this particular action until later on final approach’. ‘This incident highlights the impact a combination of distractions can have on aircraft operations,’ the ATSB report concluded. However the report also found the pilot was ‘relatively new to the C-310’.

A downpour of fake photography in Sydney, Australia: “A waterfall gushing over the Harbour Bridge, a man surfing waves in front of the Opera House and a crocodile stalking flood water inside a train station are just a few of the fake photos to emerge from the Sydney storm. Social media users were left scratching their heads over some of the manipulated snaps being shared during New South Wales’ worst storm in a decade, including an image of a family-sized trampoline caught on power lines. While there were many genuine dramatic photos to emerge from the devastating storm, such as torn up roads and floating houses, not all of them were quite what they seemed. Eagle-eyed Twitter users pointed out that the large trampoline believed to have blown into the sky in the cyclone-strength gusts in NSW was actually a victim of Hurricane Sandy in Milford, Connecticut, USA. The crocodile at the bottom of the steps in Lewisham station was merely an imaginative prank, as was a reused Photoshop snap of sharks swimming at the bottom of a train station escalator. And the video of a wave rider surfing in front of Sydney’s Opera House was nothing but a hoax – even when it started trending for a second time.”

You’ve been warned! Dad puts his muscly picture on a t-shirt for his daughter to scare the boys away: “A protective dad has devised a creative way to keep the boys away from his young daughter – by printing his muscly torso on a t-shirt and making her wear it. ‘Stay Clear Boys,’ a message on the shirt warns. ‘This is my dad!’ And while his daughter doesn’t look too happy about the new attire, her father is pictured grinning beside her. Kit Dale, a two-time World Pro Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu champion from Melbourne, Australia, shared the image to his Facebook page on Sunday, writing: ‘Hahahha smart dad.’ While some commenters both applauded the move – and even asked whether the girl was in need of a step-mother – others ridiculed it.”

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

Never was a truer word said

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THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

Forget sports drinks, CHOCOLATE MILK is best after a workout: “Forget the protein shakes, chocolate milk may be the best thing to drink after you workout. Scientists have found that the beverage has all the nutrients that your body needs to replenish itself from exercising. The protein helps the muscles recover and the calories replace those burned when you are on the treadmill. Researchers said that chocolate milk, so long as it was a low fat brand, was the ‘gold standard for a recovery beverage’. The finding calls into question the popularity of protein shakes, which were once used by bodybuilders but are now consumed by ordinary people who believe they make them stronger. According to Cornell University, however, chocolate milk does just as good a job – if not better. They sought out the best post-exercise beverage after seeing athletes overeating at night to compensate for their tough training regimes.

Britain’s last surviving mobile cinema is up for sale: “Britain’s only surviving mobile cinema has gone on sale for £120,000 as the owners who spent years of their life restoring it and touring the country now want to enjoy parenthood. Emma Giffard, 36, and Ollie Halls, 37, from Somerset, bought the cinema for just £1,200 in 2005 and spent £35,000 on restoring the vintage classic with friends in Devon over five years. They toured the country with the classic bus which became a celebrity, starring alongside Melvyn Bragg in a 20-part BBC2 series ‘The Reel History of Britain and in ‘George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces’. It’s now listed on eBay for £120,000 which is 100 times what they originally bought it for, but it’s not just a bus, it’s a piece of British history, listed as ‘the soul survivor’ of the original fleet. It’s one of just seven mobile cinemas originally commissioned by the Ministry of Technology in 1967, to promote British industry as a global leader by visiting factories to show films about modernisation.”

Dealer ditches modern cars for booming business in vintage Model Ts: “Second-hand car dealer Neil Tuckett has turned his back on the modern vehicle and only sells Henry Ford’s famous Model T. Despite his newest models being nearly 90 years old, the businessman, from Buckinghamshire, is selling one every week, including to the TV and film industry who have used then in shows such as Downton Abbey. Mr Tuckett says his customers love the Model T – the first affordable mass-produced car – because they don’t require need road tax or an MOT and are cheaper to maintain than a modern car, with each one selling for around £10,000. But with a top speed of 45mph – if going downhill with a following wind – drivers cannot get anywhere very fast and some of his pre-1915 model have gas headlights still lit by a match. Mr Tuckett, 58, has customers who use them as wedding cars and even one that is used as a hearse. Neil has about six himself and goes touring in them with other fans of the car.

Monster waves and wild winds leave Australian beach covered in grotesque jelly-like foam: “A popular holiday beach in the north of New South Wales has transformed into something from a horror movie as wild winds and relentless thunderstorms continue to batter the state. Sylvia Freedman, who was enjoying a family trip away at Avoca Beach in the Central Coast, about 95kms north of Sydney, filmed the disturbing scene that stretched out more than 15 metres from the top of the beach pathway to beyond the water’s edge. ‘It’s foam that has been swept off the top of the waves because the water was so churned up and its mixed with sand – it’s so bizarre,’ Ms Freedman told Daily Mail Australia. Her videos – which were filmed on Tuesday – show a grotesque, yellow, jelly like substance moving around as the wind blows it up and over surrounding scrubland.

Mercedes SUV was not a beachgoer: “Onlookers scrambled to get a shot of the moment a luxury Mercedes Benz 4WD sunk into the sand on Fraser Island. The Mercedes GL 320 CDI 4Matic, which is worth at least $80,000, can be seen taking a battering as waves pull the car deeper into the surf. While the incident occurred a couple of years ago, photographs of the write-off have reappeared on Facebook with many four-wheel drivers gobsmacked that the owner decided to take the luxury vehicle on to Fraser Island’s treacherous beach track. The pictures, originally posted by Fraser Island Towing, show the doomed car’s shattered windscreen and dented bonnet. The luxury car was written off after it was salvaged by tow truck drivers. One can only hope they had a comprehensive insurance policy.”

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

Alphabet shenanigans

A twin-engine passenger plane has an engine failure and the altitude and speed are decreasing rapidly. The pilot speaks over the intercom …. “I’m sorry it has come to this ladies and gentlemen, but unfortunately we are going to have to jettison the luggage in order for the aircraft to remain airborne “.

Baggage is thrown out but still the plane’s altitude continues to decrease. Once again the pilot gets on the intercom, “I hate to do this folks but in order to save the majority we are going to have to start off-loading some passengers. The only fair way is to do this Alphabetically, so we’ll start with the letter ‘A'”.

“Africans? Are there any Africans on board?” There was no answer so the pilot calls, “Black people, are there any black people on board?” Again silence.

“C – coloured people? Are there any coloured people on board?” Still there is silence.

A little black boy sitting near the rear of the plane turned to his mother and said, “Mum, ain’t we African? Ain’t we black? Ain’t we coloured?” She replied, “Yes, son but for the moment we is Niggers. Let them do the Muslims first. If that don’t work we is Zulus”……

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THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

Amorous Italian couple who had such noisy sex the neighbours were forced to move out are fined £9,000: “An amorous Italian couple have been fined £9,000 for having such noisy sex that it forced their neighbours to move out. The pair, who are in their 30s, were convicted of noise pollution and harassment for the ‘raucous screams’ during steamy sex sessions at their apartment in the northern town of San Martino. Their long-suffering neighbours, who first took them to court in 2009, described the wails of passion as ‘deafening’ and said it kept them and their two children awake. The man, who has not been named, was sentenced to four months in prison in 2011, and his fiancée given a noise abatement order. But the couple appealed the sentence and have now been ordered to pay £7,000 in damages to their neighbours who now live elsewhere, and £2,000 in legal fees. The apartment next door to the noisy couple currently remains unoccupied, the Provincia Pavese newspaper said.”

Russian firm selling advertising space on models’ cleavage: “Sometimes, putting up a billboard just isn’t quite enough – so a group of Russian entrepreneurs have come up with a new way to get you message out: on the breasts of a beautiful woman. Companies Tittygram and Titisign have popped up in Russia offering the eyebrow raising service and are, by all accounts, causing quite a stir. Indeed, it has already caught the attention of one big company, which jumped at the chance to advertise its whoppers. Burger King’s Russian branch posted a picture of a woman with ‘I love Burger King’ emblazoned across her chest, courtesy of Tittygram, on its VK page, the country’s version of Facebook. And it has certainly brought them a fair amount of attention, with hundreds of ‘likes’ and countless comments – although they are not all positive. What’s more, as advertising campaigns go, it is incredibly cheap: for as little as $6, or £4, they promise to get your message across”

Family beats the Feds to get back their gold coins: “A FAMILY was awarded the rights to 10 rare gold coins possibly worth $80 million or more on Friday after a US appeals court overturned a jury verdict. US Department of the Treasury officials insist the $20 Double Eagles were stolen from the US Mint in Philadelphia before the 1933 series was melted down when the country went off the gold standard. They argued that Joan Langbord and her sons cannot lawfully own the coins, which she said she found in a family bank deposit box in 2003. Langbord’s father, jeweller Israel Switt, had dealings with the Mint in the 1930s and was twice investigated over his coin holdings. A jury in 2012 sided with the government. However, the appeals court returned the coins to the Langbords because US officials had not responded within a 90-day limit to the family’s seized-property claim, filed in about 2004. Langbord, who’s in her mid-80s, worked in her father’s store on Jeweller’s Row for most of her life”

Chinese statue gets sexuy: “AN iconic statue depicting a piece of fabled Chinese history has been tarnished by tourists, who over the years have been constantly touching an exposed breast of one of the famed female figures, causing it to lose its colour. The statue in Hanyang District of Wuhan, provincial capital of central China’s Hubei Province, tells the story of how an ancient Chinese ruler, Yu the Great, met his wife with the help of a legendary fox. In the decade that the statue has been there, visitors have been touching the hand of Yu the Great, the fox’s back, and also the exposed breast of Yu the Great’s wife. All three places have now become discoloured, exposing the bright bronze layer beneath. Although netizens have accused tourists of lacking discipline and dignity, it does not seem like their curious habits will change anytime soon.”

China building islands: “The Philippine army has released new photographs of Chinese construction work in disputed waters in the South China Sea as it launched giant war games with the United States involving 11,500 personnel that were partly aimed at warning China. The Philippines voiced alarm about Chinese ‘aggressiveness’ in the area as it launched the Balikatan 2015 joint Philippines and US military exercises. The aerial images show intense recent Chinese construction over seven reefs and shoals in the Spratly archipelago of the flashpoint South China Sea. Previous satellite images revealed that China has made rapid progress in building an airstrip suitable for military use on the contested Fiery Cross Reef and may be planning another. Images revealed Fiery Cross Reef virtually untouched by man-made structures in March 2014 but by March this year, it had been transformed into an artificial island.”

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