Wicked Thoughts

As PETA might say …

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THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

Beautiful women really DO get away with more: “Whether it’s in the office or in the courtroom, a new study backs up the belief that pretty women can broker deals more easily. This, according to the research, is because beauty overrides the brain’s reaction to fairnesss – a fact tied to a subconscious competitive streak rooted in male evolution. As part of the study, 21 male students at Zhejiang University in China, were asked to look at 300 photos of Chinese women. A different group of men had judged half of the women as attractive and the half unattractive. The men were then teamed up with some of the women whose faces they had just seen while playing a computer game. In the game, they decided whether to split a small amount of money. At the same time, the researchers studied their brain waves and noted their response times. They found men were more likely to accept bad deals from attractive women. They were also quicker to respond to fair offers from good-looking women and slower to respond to unfair offers.”

Joy of woman who lost wedding band in woods as SEVEN metal-detecting sleuths turn up to find it: “A woman who lost her wedding ring while trekking in woods has thanked a group of local metal detector enthusiasts who turned up to help find it. Karen Hawkins, 44, lost the ring on a tree trek at Center Parcs in Longleat, Wiltshire. She and husband Julian and children Jake, 16, and Beth, 12, spent hours searching for it with no luck. Mr Hawkins, 45, then contacted a metal detector club in his home town of Trowbridge, Wiltshire. Seven members found the ring within ten minutes. Mr Hawkins said: ‘We were doing this tree trekking activity and we had to take our rings off in case they got caught. My wife put her rings in her pocket but when we got to the other end, her wedding ring was missing. ‘She was absolutely beside herself. We only got married July last year and it’s the sentimental value more than anything.’ ‘The ground was covered with pine cones and bark chippings, which is why it was so hard to search by eye. ‘He had got a strong signal so we brushed aside the pine needles and bark and there it was, slightly pushed into the mud.”

Smart crow: “There can’t be many moments that a crow, one of nature’s more confident creatures, pines for opposable thumbs – wings, a beak and claws are usually fit for purpose. But being presented with an unattended pizza box in a Vancouver park must be one of those times. Still, in footage filmed by Alex Heschuk, it doesn’t take long for the clever black bird to conquer the cardboard puzzle people take for granted when the prospect of a free feed is the reward. At first, the crow attempts to prize open the pizza box at every edge with its beak and claws only to make little headway. Almost as if it was teasing impressed human onlookers in the Canadian city’s famous Stanley Park, the crow finally flips the lid of the box open. No need for those thumbs after all. Unfortunately, though, the reward for its efforts were slim pickings – a small piece of leftover pizza that hardly seemed worth it. The crow didn’t seem to mind though, giving the scrap a few curious pecks to ensure it met the taste test before flying away to dine away from prying eyes.

Miracle survival of woman who survived three days ALONE in the woods with her newborn baby: “A California woman found herself giving birth while stranded in the forest for three days after running out of gas on a back road with no cellphone service. Nine-month-pregnant Amber Pangborn, 35, of Oroville, was having contractions early on Thursday morning and got into her car to drive to her parents’ house for help. She traveled down French Creek Road, a back road that she had not driven. She then found herself out of gas, with no cell service, going into labor. On Thursday at about 5am, she gave birth to her daughter on her own on the forest-lined road. She was stranded for three days, facing bees and mosquitoes and surviving on only four apples and a small amount of water. On Saturday, Pangborn was able to start a signal fire, hoping to attract attention. A Cal fire helicopter discovered the pair a couple hours later and sent a rescue team from the Forestry Department to retrieve Pangborn and her daughter. They were taken to Oroville Hospital on Saturday and Marissa was then transferred to the University of California, Davis, Medical Center on Sunday for further evaluation.”

China powers ahead again: “Already a world leader in train technology, China is set to ramp things up even further as it plans to run trains at 310mph. After some ten years of research and testing, new traction technology is now ready for use. In May this year the new system was introduced on a subway line in Changsha, capital of Hunan Province. The technology was developed by China’s CRRC Corp at its Zhuzhou Institute in Hunan province. ‘Now we have our own permanent magnet synchronous traction system with full intellectual property rights, marking a new chapter in China’s high-speed railways,’ Ding Rongjun, who works for the institute, told China Daily. The technology has been described by key leaders in the project as the ‘most important part’ of the bullet train development. One of the fastest trains in the world is thought to run between Shanghai with the city’s Pudong International Airport, exceeding 300mph. Talks began in February this year for state-owned Chinese firms to sell high-speed trains to the United States, senior officials said on Thursday, a deal that would be likely to ignite controversy.”

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

Tiger correctness

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THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

Here’s why you should never drive a Maserati with a tin of paint on the back seat: “Most car insurance claims involve another vehicle accident, cracked windshields or storm damage. But one at-fault driver’s incredible misfortune led to an expensive claim after a tin of paint splattered inside his luxury Maserati vehicle when he swerved to avoid a dog in South Australia. Claims Manager for RAA Insurance Hayley Cain said the driver had left the paint on the backseat when the lid dislodged from the tin and flew through the air. ‘As the tin flew around the car like a mini tornado, the leather interior and windscreen were liberally splashed with a thick coat of white paint,’ Ms Cain said. ‘Fortunately the driver was fine, but given the extent of damage to the interior, our insurance assessors declared it a write off and we settled the claim for over $90,000.’

A Chinese challenge: “Quirky figure-testing challenges on social media have become unlikely criteria in a beauty pageant in China. Women are required to balance eggs on their collarbones and touch their navels from behind their backs for a chance to win the International Cross-strait Tourist Ambassador Competition. The touring pageant, which sees contestants from Chinese mainland and Taiwan, was in city of Jiyuan in central China on Monday, according to reports in the People’s Daily Online. Both the collarbone balance and the belly button challenges are considered as ways to show how good one’s figure is, according to Chinese internet users. For the collarbone balance, participants are expected to balance as many coins as they can on their collarbones while keeping them stacked up. In the belly button challenge, you need to try and touch your navel by reaching behind your back. The success of both challenges are intended to reveal the ideal figure. According to the original posts, the thinner you are, the more successful you will be in the challenges. A svelte figure is highly applauded in China.”

Argentine pilots fired after cabin selfies with star: “A pair of pilots got a lot more than they bargained for after letting a voluptuous star into the cockpit of their passenger plane to take photos — while it was in mid-flight. Curvaceous dancer and actress Vicky Xipolitakis posted photos on Twitter of her with both pilots, one of which was taken clearly after the plane had left the ground. The television channel TN also broadcast images of Xipolitakis, known for making semi-nude appearances, teasing the pilot and co-pilot. Footage of their mile-high hijinx also emerged, showing the model shouting: “I’m going to accelerate and will take off.” The pilots appear to think it’s all pretty hilarious. However, their boss didn’t think so. The president of Aerolineas Argentinas, the country’s largest airline, said the pilots were fired immediately after the company became aware of the incident.”

Grand old house: “An incredible 130-year-old seaside residence and invaluable relic from Sydney’s past is on the market for the first time in 60 years. Stepping through the grandiose timber doors of Coogee homestead ‘Roslyn’ is like taking a step back 130 years in time, with the pristine home essentially untouched since its 1886 construction. The magnificent ‘time capsule’, with panaromic views of Coogee Beach in Sydney’s east, is not only a sentimental, historical treasure but also proved a worthy investment for previous owner, the late Bail Burak. The eight bedroom home was bought for just £12,000 in 1955 but is expected to fetch $5 million, despite sitting on a block of only 460 square metres. The impeccable heritage-listed mansion has remained untouched by time, barely changing in 130 years – other than the charming addition of a retro 1950s kitchen. The grandiose homestead was built by British timber merchant Charles Saxton, his wife Emma and their family, according to Domain. The timber merchant certainly has left his mark on the homestead with handcrafted period details standing the test of time throughout the home.

Greatest shoal on earth: “Every year millions of sardines swim from South Africa’s Cape Point northward along the country’s east coast. The sardines have a safety-in-numbers philosophy, but these stunning pictures show that it has its flaws. They capture a feeding frenzy near Port St Johns as marine mammals and birds gorge themselves on balls of fish. The ‘Sardine Run’ is one of the greatest spectacles in the natural world. In terms of biomass the run is equal to east Africa’s world-famous great wildebeest stampede, which sees over two million of the animals head from the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya in search of more verdant pastures. The shoal can be nine miles long, 130 feet deep and two miles wide – so big that it can be seen from space.”

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

What we are dealing with in these terible days

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THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

Shock pregnancies for women as pre-wedding ‘teatox’ dieting craze stops the Pill working: “A fashionable high street detox treatment used by thousands of women to lose weight quickly has been blamed for a string of unexpected pregnancies. The herbal infusion Bootea can stop the contraceptive pill from working – but angry users have complained that there’s no warning on the packaging. The tea flushes out the digestive system with a laxative effect that can stop the Pill from being absorbed into the bloodstream. Bootea is a favourite of celebrities such as Katie Price and actress Michelle Keegan, who used the tea to slim down before her wedding to Only Way Is Essex star Mark Wright in May – prompting countless brides-to-be to follow the same regime. But many ended up with the shock of expecting a ‘Bootea baby’ despite being on the Pill. The ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ section advises those who are on the Pill to also use a condom while they are taking Bootea – a warning that does not appear on the packaging.”

Curiosity nearly killed the warthog: “This is the moment a furious crocodile’s jaws missed a warthog by a whisker – after the animal foolishly tried to taunt it during a stand-off. The warthog only narrowly escaped the snarling croc’s teeth as it ventured within inches of the predator at South Africa’s Kruger National Park. At first the sow was only interested in drinking from a watering hole – but after spotting the reptile, she decided to go and take a closer look. Unwisely, the inquisitive warthog trotted over to the crocodile and stood staring at it continually. But after having had enough of the unwanted attention, the reptile finally snapped and narrowly missed the sow with a ferocious lunge. After a few minutes, all havoc broke loose. The croc jumped up, launching himself forward and snapped at her with a very loud bang. ‘Luckily she was just out of reach and he missed by less than a foot.’ Incredibly, after such a lucky escape, the sow didn’t learn any lessons. Her and her babies took a tour around the deadly crocodile, even sniffing his tail.

Tiny furry creature that flies: “They may only be the size of your finger but these tiny creatures are fast and can glide the entire length of a cricket pitch. Born just 13 weeks ago, these seven Feathertail Gilder joeys are currently scurrying around at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo. The adorable baby gliders were half the size of a grain of rice when they were born. The Feathertail Glider is the smallest of all glider species – they weigh just 15 grams and grow to a maximum of 8cm. ‘These animals have microscopic hairs on their feet giving them the ability to run up glass, they can glide the length of a cricket pitch and are very speedy,’ Australian Fauna Keeper, Rob Dockerill, said. They’re named after their long tail that is fringed with stiff hairs that resemble a feather, which helps them to steer and brake while gliding up to 20 metres. Taronga is believed to be the first zoo to ever successfully breed Feathertail Gliders. ‘It’s much easier to live here than out in the wild. They’re officially classified as secure but there’s no real idea how many there are,’ Mr Dockerill said. ‘When you’re half the size of a mouse and come out at night no one knows anything about you.

Mother-of-two’s life is saved by her enormous 38JJ breasts which cushioned the impact when car ploughed into her: “A mother-of-two’s life was saved by her 38JJ breasts after they cushioned the impact when she was hit by an out of control car. Sarah Foster has told of the dramatic moment she was then dragged to safety by her wife after bouncing off the vehicle’s windscreen while the couple’s horrified children looked on. Sarah, who is 5ft 3in and 19 stone, got out to have a cigarette and call her mother but was startled moments later when a Mini Cooper crashed into the central barrier at 80mph and veered towards her. After being hit, Sarah rolled over the top of the car and ended up lying face down on the inside lane of the busy stretch of motorway near Peterborough. She told Paul Sims at the Sun: ‘My boobs hit the windscreen so hard it smashed. They saved my life. Following the accident, near Peterborough, medics told Ms Foster that she had bounced off the car ‘like a balloon’ and if she hadn’t been so big chested she would likely have died… Paramedics were amazed to discover Sarah had suffered just cuts, bruising and knee ligament damage.

Australian lady picks a British winner: “It’s the age old fairtyale: meeting a prince charming and being swept off to a beautiful palace. For one Australian woman, this dream became very much a reality when she discovered the man she had fallen in love with was the son of an English Lord, heir to one of the biggest country estates in England. Former marketing strategist Caitlin Blake-Lane met her future fiancé Alex, at the Melbourne cup in 2012, after being introduced by a mutual friend. ‘We hit it off very quickly…we exchanged numbers that day and we ended up going for cider the day after, and went on a number of dates soon after that,’ Ms Blake-Lane told Daily Mail Australia. A few months later, Ms Blake-Lane was flipping through a magazine and saw an article about Alex and his house and realised that the man she knew as just ‘Alex Clifford’ was in fact The Honourable Alexander Clifford and son of Lord Clifford of Chudleigh in the UK. ‘Alex said early on that he would need to go back to England for his family business within 12 months. In April 2014 Ms Blake-Lane moved to England where she works in London as the director of a law firm for four days, and lives with Mr Clifford at their family estate, Ugbrooke, for three days per week.

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

Differences between men and women

NICKNAMES If Laura, Kate and Sarah go out for lunch, they will call each other Laura, Kate and Sarah. * If Mike, Dave and John go out, they will affectionately refer to each other as Fat Boy, Bubba and Wildman.

EATING OUT When the bill arrives, Mike, Dave and John will each throw in $20, even though it’s only for $32.50. None of them will have anything smaller and none will actually admit they want change back. * When the girls get their bill, out come the pocket calculators.

MONEY A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he needs. * A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn’t need but it’s on sale.

BATHROOMS A man has six items in his bathroom: toothbrush and toothpaste, shaving cream, razor, a bar of soap, and a towel. * The average number of items in the typical woman’s bathroom is 337. A man would not be able to identify more than 20 of these items.

ARGUMENTS A woman has the last word in any argument. * Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.

FUTURE A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband. * A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.

MARRIAGE A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn’t. * A man marries a woman expecting that she won’t change, but she does.

DRESSING UP A woman will dress up to go shopping, water the plants, empty the trash, answer the phone, read a book, and get the mail. * A man will dress up for weddings and funerals.

NATURAL Men wake up as Good-looking as they went to bed. * Women somehow deteriorate during the night.

OFFSPRING Ah, children. A woman knows all about her children. She knows about dentist appointments and romances, best friends, favorite foods, secret fears and hopes and dreams. * A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

A married man should forget his mistakes. There’s no use in two people remembering the same thing!

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THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

Emu thinks he is a horse: “He gallops through the paddock and shares a stable with the other horses. And this emu is so comfortable embracing the lifestyle that officers at Alice Springs Police Unit in the Northern Territory are convinced he actually thinks he is a horse too. Named unoriginally Emu, the friendly flightless bird wandered his way into the police force in the outback nearly three years ago and has since called the iconic Red Centre outpost home. His unique behaviour began when officers noticed the ostrich-like bird picked up some very colt-like habits. Senior Sergeant Melinda Edwards told ABC Rural Emu runs with the horses, eats with them when they’re being fed and acts just like a horse. ‘We get the impression he thinks he is a horse,’ she said. ‘He follows the horses in and out of the paddock. As they [horses] gallop away, he gallops off with them as well.’ Senior Sergeant Edwards said Emu made his own decision to be part of the team when he was found ‘quite young’ and it was ‘not by police choice’. ‘Emu stays whether we want him here or not,’ she laughed.”

Now THAT’S a holiday snap: Photographer captures stunning images of deadly saltwater crocodile: “Adventurous Ricardo Castillo certainly got some holiday snaps with a difference. Castillo, 39, was snorkelling in the sea off Cuba hoping to capture underwater images of sharks but instead came across another deadly predator in the shape of saltwater crocodiles. And he had nothing to protect him from the 12ft long reptiles – apart from his camera and years of experience of swimming with dangerous creatures. As a result he was able to get to within a few inches of the Cuban crocodile and obtain stunning shots of one of the world’s most fearsome animals in its natural environment. At one point the reptile even touched the lens of Ricardo’s waterproof camera, allowing him to get a snap of the inside of its huge and lethal jaws. Ricardo, from Mexico, was snorkelling in the mangroves of the Gardens of the Queen marine park in Cuba.”

Couple say they are living like kings after packing up conventional living to move into tiny box on wheels: “At just 13 feet tall, and 224 square feet wide, most people would call this a shed. But to Trevor Gay and Marianna Benasutti, it’s home. Tired of a conventional life littered with belongings, the Ohio couple had a thorough spring clean to move into a custom-built box in Spring Valley. And if they get restless, they can just wheel it somewhere else. An architect helped construct the wooden box, which would house countless pockets of storage space. They have a fully functioning kitchen with an oven and a sink, as well as stairs, a living room, and a bedroom. For many couples it would be too close for comfort, but Gay says an added benefit is that it forces them to talk out any issues or arguments immediately. ‘You have to face your issues head on,’ he told 2 News. Dubbing it the Heart Of It All House, the couple told Facebook followers they are able to live ‘first class’ on a lower to middle class income.”

Breaking the bank: Angry woman rips apart cash machine with her bare hands: “Impatience got the better of one woman in China as she ripped apart an ATM with her bare hands after she mistakenly believed it had swallowed her debit card. The woman caused a dramatic scene at the subway in Changchun, capital of Jilin Province, where the incident took place on Thursday. In a fit of frustration, the woman, who is unnamed, began publicly pounding the machine in an attempt to get her card back, reported People’s Daily Online. However, according to bank clerks, no cards were found in the ATM in Jilin province. After pulling off the machine’s frame and revealing the receipt paper underneath, the woman became increasingly distressed and asked passers-by to help her find her card. Surveillance footage shows that the whole incident lasted around 10 minutes. A member of staff at the ATM’s bank, which has not been named by media, has expressed surprise that anyone could rip off the front of the machine. Since the event, the woman has been taken to a local mental facility after police ordered that she undergo a psychiatric evaluation.”

Couple clinging on to scary 2,769-foot peak to ‘feel alive’: “While some people live life on the edge, here’s a daredevil couple who take the concept to a whole new level. Leonardo Edson Pereira, 23, and his girlfriend Victoria Medeiros Nader, 18, are fearless as they hang off Brazil’s 2,769-foot-high Pedra de Gavea in a series of breathtaking images. Only their strength and bravery keeps this dynamic duo in place on the cusp of the rock in this spectacular setting in Tijuca Forest near Rio de Janeiro. They dangle, cling and generally risk their lives, with Leonardo in just shorts and Victoria in a pink bikini top and hot pants, in the pursuit of a rush with the deep blue sea and iconic city of Rio as their picture perfect backdrop. ‘I love living on the edge! I know people think it’s dangerous and crazy but it makes me feel alive,’ Leonardo says. ‘It is really high and I do just hang on using my arm strength. I have to trust myself not to fall.’ Once I did cut my arm having to pull myself up. That was the only time I’ve been worried.'”

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

Only in the USA

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THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

Raise a glass to the Black Death: “The Black Death may still be making its presence felt 650 years after it ravaged Europe, as a historian claims it led directly to the creation of the pub. The plague killed an estimated 1.5 million people in England between 1348 and 1350, but in its aftermath, with fewer people competing for work and land, living standards reached a height not matched until centuries later, said Prof Robert Tombs of Cambridge University. Peasants had increased leisure time and freedom, so pubs became places for playing games, meeting and socialising. The amount of free time available to 15th century workers was not equalled until the 1960s, Prof Tombs said… “Terrible though it is to say, the Black Death actually had some rather good effects. This was a good time to be alive. “This was when the English pub was invented and people started drinking lots of beer and playing football and so on. That was in a way due to, or at least a consequence of, and wouldn’t have been possible without, the Black Death.”

The ‘handsome gorilla’ driving Japanese girls mad: “A gorilla who grew up in an Australian zoo has become a heartthrob among women in Japan. Shabani the gorilla, who now lives in Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Nagoya, has attracted a large following of admirers who visit him because he is so ‘handsome’. The western lowland gorilla was raised at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo but moved to Japan in 2007. Zoo officials said there had been a notable increase in young female visitors thanks to Shabani, Chunichi reported. Shabani’s rise to fame has been fuelled largely by Twitter, where fans post pictures of him claiming he is ‘too handsome’. His adoring Twitter following often refers to him as an ‘ikemen’, which means a ‘good-looking man’. Pictures of the gorilla posted online capture him in moments where he appears to be flexing his muscles, staring broodingly into the distance or playing with the younger gorillas. Comments posted online describe him as ‘hot’ and ‘too handsome’.”

The world’s saddest cat: “With her wide-eyed look and downturned mouth, this mournful moggy may just lay claim to being the world’s saddest cat. Luhu constantly looks down in the dumps – even when her owner, Maggie Liu, from China, tries to lift her spirits by playing games. Pictures show the pessimistic pussycat lounging around the house and looking thoroughly dejected with pleading, innocent eyes. According to UDN.com, nothing seems capable of cheering up Luhu – but pictures of the morose pet have melted hearts across China. The website reports how internet users have dubbed Luhu ‘The world’s saddest cat’ while her Instagram account already has more than 200,000 followers. Her glum face is reminiscent of the pitifully sad image of Puss in Boots in the children’s classic Shrek 2 as he clasps his tiny black hat in his front paws.”

Have you heard cauliflowers ‘SING’?: “Step onto a cauliflower farm this weekend, and you might just be able to hear a mysterious squeaking sound around you. That’s because the noise cauliflower florets make when they rub together – known as the ‘cauliflower creak’ – will be at its loudest in a quarter of a century. The bizarre and eerie sound is important though – it indicates that the crop is growing quickly, which will make it sweeter, according to one farmer. This weekend, rapid growth of 1.2 inches (3cm) a day is expected due to some unique conditions, causing the florets to rub together and create the sound. It is hoped that the loud squeaking noise will be heard across cauliflower farms in Cornwall and Lincolnshire due to the sudden growth or ‘flush’ of the vegetable. ‘It is real,’ said the farmer, who produces the vegetable for Morrisons supermarket. ‘You’ve got to be there in the still of morning, when there is no background noise, and you can hear the actual crops growing.’ ‘It’s a bit like Rice Krispies in a bowl.”

Is this the best suitcase ever? Expanding design that turns into a rack of SHELVES: “ShelfPack is a revolutionary new roller suitcase that turns into a chest of drawers upon arrival. Instead of stuffing your T-shirts and socks into any available space, ShelfPack comes with four built-in shelves to help you keep organised. The sturdy, retractable supports keep the shelves stable – even when they are tucked away inside the base of the bag. For smaller toiletries and grooming items, the one-of-a-kind design also boasts three outer pocket compartments. There’s also an extendable trolly handle for easy airport manoeuvering. The bag is going for $349 and is shipped by California-based McKaba Luggage.

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

Remove cat before flight

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THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

Panic among Sydney drivers as at least 20 cars break down on major freeway at the SAME TIME after filling up with dodgy fuel: “At least 20 cars have broken down on a major freeway at the same time after drivers filled up with dodgy fuel at a nearby service station. During peak hour, the vehicles came to a stand still on Sydney’s M4 after they exited from the Caltex at Prospect – in the city’s west – on Thursday morning. It is believed the drivers of the cars had filled their tanks with E10 fuel. ‘Almost certainly what has occurred is water has contaminated the fuel tanks and has caused all these breakdowns.’ Caltex spokesman Sam Collyer told 9News the offending pump had been closed off following the incident and a member of their technical team had investigated what had happened. He confirmed the incident had been caused by water in the fuel. ‘Clearly, water and fuel don’t mix and that looks like it’s the cause of the issue,’ Mr Collyer said. The Caltex spokesman stressed this was a one-off incident.

Racehorses are getting faster, scientists conclude: “Racehorses are getting faster thanks to better breeding and the jockey style popularised by Lester Piggott, scientists have found. Although previous research suggested that the speed of horses had plateaued, with future gains unlikely, the most comprehensive study ever suggested that the average race time is falling. The University of Exeter sifted through the race records of more than 70,000 horses who competed in 616,084 races dating back to the 1850s. For the first time they allowed for jockey tactics and position in the saddle, the state of the turf and changes in riding styles. And they found that elite running speeds had increased significantly since 1850 and had continued to improve. It means that a champion mount will win on average seven horse lengths or 1.18 seconds faster now over six furlongs than in 1997. “Interestingly, both the historical and current rate of improvement is greatest over sprint distances. The challenge now is to find out whether this pattern of improvement has a genetic basis”.

Big demand for drug that melts fat cells in double chins: “The facial feature that has plagued people of all shapes and sizes has finally met its match, thanks to a newly approved remedy. Kybella, a fat-melting injectable drug created by Kythera Biopharmaceuticals Inc., was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in April and became available June 15 to dermatologists and plastic surgeons who completed training at the drug company’s offices in Westlake Village, California. Kybella is made from deoxycholic acid, which is a chemical produced in the body to help absorb fats. When injected into the fat below the chin, known as submental fat, it destroys the fat cells. Patients can receive up to 50 injections in one single treatment, with up to six treatments administered no less than one month apart. “I’ve never seen a demand like this, except for Botox,” Derek Jones, a dermatologist on the faculty at UCLA and lead investigator in the clinical FDA trials of Kybella, told the Hollywood Reporter. “We have a waiting list of people who have been calling for months.”

Old lady with good figure fails to wow: “Last week, grandmother-of-one Stephanie Arnott spoke to FEMAIL about how it feels to be 58 but look two decades younger. In the exclusive interview Mrs Arnott from Maidstone, Kent, said women were intimidated by her looks and told how her beauty has reduced men to tears and stopped traffic. To put Mrs Arnott’s claims to the test, ITV’s This Morning sent the grandmother on to the streets of London wearing tight white trousers to gauge the reaction of passersby. But despite the grandmother’s claims that men are left drooling in her wake, Mrs Arnott’s presence did not seem to turn many heads as she strutted her stuff on London’s South Bank. But the clips of Mrs Arnott walking down the street seemed to tell a different story. In one clip showing Mrs Arnott walking past two men in a lorry, neither seemed to notice or acknowledge her presence. In the next phase of the experiment, Mrs Arnott shimmies past two gentleman outside an office block, but neither bat an eyelid in her direction.”

Psychedelics under the sea: Incredible glowing rainbow corals discovered in the Red Sea: “Astonishing new types of glowing rainbow corals have been found in the red Sea. Researchers say the previously unknown unique species glow remarkably. They hope they could even lead to medical applications and new imaging tools. The glowing corals display a surprising array of colours, scientists from the University of Southampton, UK, Tel Aviv University and the Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences (IUI), Israel, together with an international team of researchers said. The team studied corals at depths of more than 50 metres and found that many of them glow brightly with fluorescent colours, ranging from green over yellow to red. The encounter of such a rainbow of coral colours in deep waters was unexpected, since their shallow-water counterparts in the same reef contain only green fluorescent pigments.” ‘Since only the blue parts of the sunlight penetrate to depths greater than 50 metres, we were not expecting to see any red coloration around. ‘To our surprise, we found a number of corals showing an intense green or orange glow.

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

Detroit High School

Darqueeze played high school football in Detroit. He was a great running back, but a really poor student. At graduation, he didn’t have enough credits.

But he was a great football star and the students held a rally and demanded the principal give him a diploma anyway. They were so insistent that the principal agreed that if Darqueeze could answer one question correctly he would give him a diploma.

The one question test was held in the auditorium and all the students packed the place. It was standing room only. The principal was on the stage and told him to come up. Diploma in hand, the principal said: “Darqueeze, if you can answer this one question correctly, I’ll give you your diploma.”

“Darqueeze, how much is three times seven?”

Darqueeze looked up at the ceiling and then down at his shoes, pondering the question. The other students began chanting, “Graduate him anyway! Graduate him anyway!”

Then Darqueez held up his hand and the auditorium became silent. He said, “I think I know the answer. Three times seven is twenty-one.” A hush fell over the auditorium and then all the other students began to chant: “Give him another chance! Give him another chance!”

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THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

Amazing survival for baby: “A Chinese woman turned up at a hospital without realising that the baby had already come out on the journey there. The woman, named only as Ms Qi, arrived at the hospital in Guangdong to discover that the baby must have been born on the back of her husband’s motorbike and likely to have fallen into the road. The baby boy was miraculously found alive, after a driver spotted him lying in the middle of the road, reported People’s Daily Online. Her husband, Mr Li, had immediately gone back with medical staff to try and find the baby, and came across a group of three men standing on the side of the road about two miles from the hospital. He saw a new born baby lying on the side of the road covered in blood, who started crying immediately when he picked him up. Doctors said the baby slid down the leg of Ms Qi’s trousers, ending up on the road, and added that bumps on the road helped break the umbilical cord.”

Village named ‘Camp Kill Jews’ in a bid to appease the Spanish inquisition finally changes its name: “A tiny Spanish village has finally changed its name from Castrillo Matajudios, which means ‘Camp Kill Jews’, to Castrillo Mota de Judios (meaning Jews’ Hill Camp) after long standing complaints that the name was offensive. The official name change came after a referendum, following complaints by Mayor Lorenzo Rodriguez that the village’s name needed to be corrected. He previously argued that the village should honour its Jewish history and return to its original name. The long awaited name change has been greeted with approval from the regional government. The name change was approved by the regional government of Castilla y Leon and published in the region’s official gazette. Centred in the Burgos province in northern Spain, documents show the villages’ original name was ‘Jews’ Hill Camp’ and that the ‘Kill Jews’ name dates from 1627.”

Huge shark caught in Australia: “The uncommon discovery of a peculiar-looking shark is the first sighting of the second largest living fish in Australian waters for 85 years. James Owen and his crew accidentally caught the 6.3-metre [20 ft] basking shark in their trawler at Portland, west of Warrnambool, in Victoria on Sunday but instead of selling the sought-after Chinese delicacy, they decided to donate the rare three-tonne male fish to science. Only smaller than the whale shark, the mammoth fish has an unusual pink/purple hue to its skin and a huge flat nose. The last recording of this species being captured was in the 1930s by a skipper at Lakes Entrance in eastern Victoria. Dr Martin Gomon praised the fisherman for contacting the Melbourne Museum saying he had great respect for him. ‘Basking shark fins would be highly sought because they’re very big,’ Dr Gomon told News Corp. Ms Bray said the discovery of the fish which can grow to 12 metres long will unearth new research about the rare species. The plankton-eating sharks, which are thought to live a solitary life, got their name because they often spend time near the surface of the water basking in the sun.

Nasty medical lady gets caught out: “A jury has awarded a massive settlement to a man who accidentally recorded his surgery only to learn that the doctors working on him spent the time making offensive comments as he was under anesthesia. The man, who is not named but from Vienna, Virginia, was having a colonoscopy in April 2013, and pressed record on his smartphone to be sure he would not miss any instructions from the doctor as it pertained to what he should do after the surgery. What he heard however was an anesthesiologist who said she wanted to punch him and accused him of having a sexually transmitted disease. As a result, he has now been awarded a payment of $500,000. Among the things the phone recorded was Tiffany Ingham, the anesthesiologist in the room, saying; ‘After five minutes of talking to you in pre-op,I wanted to punch you in the face and man you up a little bit.’ Things got worse when an assistant pointed out a rash on the man’s body and Ingham said if she touched it she might get ‘some syphilis on your arm or something.’ She later said of the rash; ‘It’s probably tuberculosis in the penis, so you’ll be all right.'”

Fish called ‘the Nutcracker’, which eats men’s testicles with its human-like teeth: “A father and son fishing at a New Jersey lake may be lucky their bodies still have all their pieces after catching a fish called ‘the Nutcracker’ that is more commonly seen in the Amazon. The rare species in Swedes Lake was actually a pacu, an omnivorous fish native to Brazil that has human-like teeth and has been reported to eat the testicles of swimmers and fishermen. The Rossis realized the bizarre find when they went home and researched the animal after being confused at its lack of sharp, piranha chompers, they told WPVI. Department of Environmental Protection officials said the South American fish are sometimes kept as pets, who may have dumped the pacu into the lake. The species can grow up to four feet long and uses its molar-like teeth to crush food that falls into the Amazon River.

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

An inspiring story from Australia

Three men remain in hospital today after what is believed to have been a late-night home invasion gone sour in Taree on Friday.

The group of three to four suspected “junkies” have been terrorising the streets of Taree for some time, with a string of break and enters.

However it appears the serial burglars have recently struck trouble of their own when they attempted to break in to the house of former tent boxing champion, 78 year-old local Reg “Slim” Flynn.

At around 10:15 pm on Friday night, neighbours of Mr Flynn reporting hearing “muffled whispers and footsteps” followed by a “slamming door”.

The chaos that erupted was described by Reg’s next door neighbour as “World war f-ing three”.

“Old Reg had obviously known they were in the house He’s gone and locked both the front and back doors and worked them over. They couldn’t get out!”

“He turned the lights off and everything. He may look like a gentle old man but Reg showed himself to be a real sicko”

The chaotic scenes were reported to have continued until local police arrived on the scene, one whole hour and a half later, to find three men in their late teens and early twenties, unconscious and bleeding profusely from multiple facial lacerations on Mr Flynn’s front lawn.

Police say no charges have been laid yet, as they are still working to piece together the unusual turn of events.

AAP cameras were able to snap images of Flynn’s bruised knuckles as he made way out of the police station yesterday morning, but when questioned by local media about how he had incurred such recent injuries, he stated that he had cut his hands fixing up his roof gutters a couple of weeks ago.

The Advocate was able to contact Reg’s estranged wife, Marie, about the matter. Mrs Flynn stated on the record that: “[Reg] towelled those druggie f-wits for two whole hours. He wiped the floor with the lot of them”

However, Reg has provided a different account in the official police report. “I was watching some old Wheel Of Fortune shows on the telly when I heard someone out the front. They were making their way up the stairs and into my house. I must have given them a fright because all three fell down the stairs and knocked themselves out.”

Reg, a junior rugby league coach and former prize fighter, still works as a bouncer at a local hotel

One thing that old Reg wasn’t able to explain was how the three men were able to knock themselves unconscious and land ten metres away with such severe injuries. Witnesses claim it looked as though their bodies had been dragged down the front steps.

This statement also counteracts statements made by neighbours: “I saw old Reg run to his front door and lock it after seeing someone sneaking in the back side. I heard him cry “Let’s dance, pretty boy!” and the house erupted,”

However, as cruel as the alleged “beat down” was, the greater Taree community have rallied behind Mr Flynn. “I just took one look at the poor blokes and patted ol’ Reg on the back. He had punched holes through them. Not so tough now are they!”

Despite his age, Mr Flynn still holds several records in six divisions for boxing in North-NSW, which makes him the number one suspect for this grotesque assault. The fact that he still works as a security guard at the local Taree nightspot “Foths” (The Fotheringham Hotel) was not lost on the detectives either

However, until the three hospitalised men are able to make a statement, no further inroads can be made in the case.

Many local community members have rallied around Reg, claiming that he is a hero and should be treated as one.

Original story here

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THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

Dog eaters in China: “Global outrage is having no effect on revellers at China’s notorious Yulin festival, where as many as 10,000 dogs are being skinned alive, butchered and eaten as part of the summer solstice celebration. The dog meat festival sees thousands of dogs – many of them stolen pets – caged, battered and cooked, in the largely rural Guangxi Zhaung autonomous region. Festival-goers are out in force as the celebrations get underway, filling the streets and restaurants and ready to tuck into dishes of dog meat. But activists including celebrities such as British comedian Ricky Gervais and Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen have called for an end to the festival, saying it has no cultural value and was invented simply to drum up trade. For the past few weeks, international social media has also seen an unprecedented movement against the industry. But supporters of the festival are fighting back, claiming that the festival has just as much cultural value as any other country’s celebrations. Some social media users have responded to the world’s outrage by calling a ban on eating turkeys at Christmas.”

Scottish soccer club get a frightening new mascot: “Partick Thistle unveiled their terrifying new mascot on Monday afternoon, as ‘Kingsley’ was introduced to the world. The mascot, a cross between Lisa Simpson and the sun, is certainly an altogether more frightening prospect than the SPL side’s last one, Jaggy Macbee. Kingsley, designed by life-long fan and artist David Shrigley, has been met with a hugely negative reaction on the social networking site. The news comes on the day the club signed a six-figure sponsorship deal with a US investment firm. The deal, which will last a minimum of two years, will see the Kingsford Capital brand on the Jags’ strips and Firhill Stadium. Partick Thistle Football Club are a professional football club from Glasgow, Scotland. Despite their name, the club are based at Firhill Stadium in the Maryhill area of the city, and have not played in Partick since 1908”.

Iceland the most peaceful country in the world: “Safety, understandably, plays a large part in what makes a country attractive for prospective visitors. The Institute for Economics and Peace has recently revealed their annual Global Peace Index findings, a report that ranks 162 of the world’s countries on their safety and peacefulnesses. And this year, Iceland took first place with a near-perfect score of 1.148. The GPI analyses 23 factors for the countries examined, including violent crime levels, political terror, weapons import and export and prison population. Each nation is then assigned a score of one to five, with one being the highest. After Iceland, Denmark grabbed the second spot with a score of 1.150, while Austria came in third at 1.198. The UK, however, came in at number 39 with a score of 1.685. With a shockingly low score of 2.038, the United States was ranked in 94th place on the survey. The most violent country in the world is currently Syria, which was placed in 162nd place.”

British bureaucracy at its best: “A bungling council has been ridiculed after installing two different speed limits on one road, baffling drivers. Motorists in Bristol were left confused when they spotted 30mph and 20mph signs on either side of the Ely Grove cul-de-sac. The local authority does not why or when both signs were erected but they were not next to the junction of the street a year ago. The road, in the Sea Mills area in the west of the city, has just 14 houses. Bristol City Council said Ely Grove used to be a 30mph road but now has a 20mph limit. The main road it connects to, Sylvan Way, has a 30mph limit. Bristol’s mayor George Ferguson spent £2.3million of taxpayers’ money rolling out 13,000 20mph speed limit signs across the city last year. Despite his campaign, he was caught speeding at 35mph in a 30mph zone in January. Hugh Bladon of the Alliance of British Drivers, said: ‘As far as I’m aware this scheme is a huge waste of money. ’20mph zones are completely moronic because it is universally agreed that they are unenforceable and it’s bringing other speed limits into question.'”

Mother illegally injected herself with human growth hormone to look younger — now ill: “A woman who has been illegally injecting herself with human growth hormones (HGH) now fears the drugs could be to blame for her developing a serious health condition. Aimi Veness, 40, a publicist from East Sussex, had been injecting herself with the C-class drug every day since last November after hearing it was anti-ageing. But she has recently stopped the controversial beauty treatment after being diagnosed with lupus – a condition that can affect many parts of the body, including the skin, joints and internal organs with symptoms that can be mild to life threatening. She said: ‘I know I am setting a bad example for my son. If health checks are okay I will go back on it but I don’t think I will get it online again, I will try and get a prescription.’ Aimi said she was initially amazed by how the drugs made her look and feel and she only stopped taking it because of her recent health scare. ‘I had so much energy, my skin was so much better, so was my hair and nails and I lost weight. It is a Peter Pan drug, it feels like the film Death Becomes Her.’

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

Men Are Just Happier People —

What do you expect from such simple creatures?

Your last name stays put.

The garage is all yours.

Wedding plans take care of themselves.

Chocolate is just another snack.

You can never be pregnant.

You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park.

You can wear NO shirt to a water park.

Car mechanics tell you the truth.

The world is your urinal.

You never have to drive to another gas station because this one is just too icky.

You don’t have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt.

Same work, more pay.

Wrinkles add character.

Wedding dress $5000. Tux rental-$100.

People never stare at your chest when you’re talking to them.

New shoes don’t cut, blister, or mangle your feet.

One mood all the time.

Phone conversations are Over in 30 seconds flat.

You know stuff about tanks.

A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase.

You can open all your own jars.

You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.

If someone forgets to invite you, He or she can still be your friend.

Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack.

Three pairs of shoes are more than enough..

You almost never have strap problems in public.

You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes..

Everything on your face stays its original color..

The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades.

You only have to shave your face and neck.

You can play with toys all your life.

One wallet and one pair of shoes — one color for all seasons.

You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look.

You can ‘do’ your nails with a pocket knife.

You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache.

You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives On December
24 in 25 minutes.

No wonder men are happier

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THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

Man has 420 kidney stones removed in one operation: “A Chinese tofu-lover has had an incredible 420 kidney stones removed from his body. The 55-year-old man, named only as Mr He, said after the operation on Friday that he ate tofu on a daily basis and drank very little water, which doctors say caused his kidney stones. He went to the doctor last month in Zhejiang province in eastern China after experiencing severe abdominal pain and a CT scan found that his kidney was packed full of stones, reported the People’s Daily Online. Mr He was booked in for an operation immediately because the stones left him almost unable to pass water, and any delay would have meant the kidney would have needed to be removed. Dr Wei, the surgeon who treated Mr He, said that he was shocked by the number of kidney stones he found. Dr Wei said that bean-based products, and particularly the tofu sold locally in Dongyang, eastern China, often have a high level of calcium and this can easily lead to kidney stones through excessive consumption.”

Hotel uses confronting note and photos to get guests’ attention: “A HOTEL in Switzerland grew so tired of the behaviour of its guests that it adopted a unique approach in order to get their attention. The 4-star Hotel Monopol in Luzern recently began placing images of emaciated children throughout its restaurant as a means of chastising guests for wasting food. It included a brief note to its guests in both English and Chinese, which was placed at each table. It read: “Good morning dear guests. For ethical and moral reason, in Switzerland we do not throw away any food. Please put on your plate only what you do eat. Thank you for your understanding.” The signs sparked a media frenzy, with some outlets suggesting the messages is aimed specifically at Chinese travellers. The Monopol, however, says its controversial message is targeted toward at all foreign guests. But according to local media, only a few months earlier, Heller allegedly mentioned the signs were placed after Chinese guests took an excessive amount of food from the buffet and left most of it on their plates.

Is this the worst mile-high prank ever?: “IT HAS been deemed as irreverent, confusing and even panic-inducing. One thing’s for sure — the sign painted on the roof of Mark Gubin’s house has been turning heads over Milwaukee’s General Mitchell International Airport (MKE) for nearly 40 years. For decades, the American photographer has lived and worked in a building close to MKE. One day in 1978, as Gubin and his assistant were having lunch on the building’s flat roof, his assistant suggested that the surface would be the perfect place to create a welcome sign for those arriving into the city. Taking the notion a bit further, Gubin decided to play a bit of a joke. Getting out some white paint and a roller, Gubin spelled out “WELCOME TO CLEVELAND” in 1.8-metre lettering, which is clearly legible for those aboard descending aircraft. Cleveland is more than 500km away from Milwaukee via plane.

Grand old car comes back to life: “The family of a car owner who chose to leave his old motor at a garage rather than pay its repair bill will be kicking themselves – because it’s now worth a quarter of a million pounds. The dark blue 1921 Vauxhall tourer ‘came with the sale’ when the Archer family bought the garage in Essex in 1934 because its owner had defaulted on an outstanding bill of £7 10s – around £500 in today’s money. The historic motor then spent the next half a century off the road, after the Archers dismantled it and stored it in boxes at the garage in Great Dunmow near Bishop’s Stortford. The current owner bought the broken-up car in 1991 and set about restoring it to its former glory. It took him 12 years to complete the mammoth project, which he finished just in time for Vauxhall’s centenary celebrations in 2003. Despite first being built as a track car the motor has never been raced, instead being used for family trips. The model, a 30-98, was produced by Luton-based Vauxhall from 1913 to 1927. It is thought its name comes from its power output – 30 bhp at 1,000 rpm and 98 bhp at 3,000 rpm. Experts say it is the quintessential British sports car and one of the greatest ever to be made.”

Eagle can’t get enough of having his belly rubbed: “The owner of a Japanese golden eagle filmed a heartwarming moment when the endangered bird of prey was getting his belly rubbed and couldn’t get enough of it. The five-month-old eagle voiced his approval for the stomach scratch with a series of squeak and peeps. The video was shared by LespieAgle, a non-profit organization that is working to prevent golden eagles from going extinct in Japan. The owner wrote: ‘If you think he is a poor boy and aren’t an eagle falconer or don’t spend lots of time with your eagle. ‘You should come to meet him you will absolutely change your mind about it as he really loves it that makes him go to sleep sometimes like a parrot. ‘Golden eagles can be something like him quite soon if they trust you.’ The head of the Society for Research of Golden Eagle, Toshiki Ozawa, said: ‘The biggest issue is the reduced breeding success rate due to a lack of prey.’ In North America, golden eagles are the largest bird of prey, National Geographic reported. They can dive at speeds of more than 150 miles per hour and feast on animals like rabbits, marmots, squirrels, reptiles, birds and fish.”

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

Wireless wisdom

After having dug to a depth of 10 feet last year, British scientists found traces of copper wire dating back 200 years and came to the conclusion that their ancestors already had a telephone network more than 150 years ago.

Not to be outdone by the Brits, in the weeks that followed, an American archaeologist dug to a depth of 20 feet, and shortly after, a story published in the New York Times: “American archaeologists, finding traces of 250-year-old copper wire, have concluded that their ancestors already had an advanced high-tech communications network 50 years earlier than the British”.

One week later, the state’s Dept of Minerals and Energy in Western Australia, reported the following: “After digging as deep as 30 feet in Western Australia ’s Pilbara region, Jack Lucknow, a self-taught archaeologist, reported that he found absolutely nada, nil, nothing. Jack has therefore concluded that 250 years ago, Australia had already gone wireless.”

Just makes you proud if you are an Australian

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THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

Drunk mother gets lucky: “A MOTHER of two young children was so intoxicated that she drove into a marina and told police that her kids, aged three and five, were dying, trapped inside the sinking car. Angelina Lopresti, 20, managed to get free of the 2003 red Chrysler PT Cruiser as it sank in Halifax Harbour Marina at Daytona Beach in the US state of Florida. She yelled at the police officers from a seawall to find her children. “They’re in the car. They’re not breathing,” Lopresti says. Four police officers and two firefighters jumped into the Halifix River and dived down into the submerged car. But they were surprised at what they found — there was no one in the vehicle and no one in the water. In fact, Lopresti’s two children were never in the car. Officers went to her nearby unit and found the two young children asleep and home alone.

End your stray dog cull, UK tells Romania: “British diplomats have urged the Romanian government to stop the cull of tens of thousands of stray dogs – ordered after a four-year-old boy was mauled to death. The Mail on Sunday can reveal that UK officials have lobbied leaders in Bucharest, calling on them to deal ‘humanely’ with the crisis of the million strays that roam the streets, biting thousands of people each year. About 300,000 dogs have been rounded up and slaughtered in a crackdown launched after Ionut Anghel was killed while playing near a park. Although initially blamed on strays, his death was later found to have been caused by security dogs owned by a private company. Last month it was ordered to pay £1.7 million compensation to Ionut’s devastated family. But that hasn’t stopped the Romanian authorities continuing with the massive cull, with reports of dogs being clubbed to death in the streets”

Catholic priests exorcise the entire country of Mexico: “Catholic priests from around Mexico gathered at a central cathedral to do what they could to help fight the country’s crime problem, targeting the demons that may be causing it. Led by Cardinal Juan Sandoval Íñiguez, the archbishop emeritus of Guadalajara, a group of priests including an exorcist from Spain conducted a closed-door ritual at the cathedral in the city of San Luis Potosí. The religious leaders then performed a ‘Magno Exorcismo’ or Great Exorcism, to help Mexico as it struggles with crimes linked to gang violence and drug trafficking. Father José Antonio Fortea, the Spanish exorcist and demonologist, told the Catholic News Agency that the ceremony, held on May 20, that ‘this rite of exorcism, beautiful and liturgical, had never before taken place in any part of the world’. The aim of the ceremony was to drive out demons that had been tempting the people of Mexico to sin.”

Now THAT’S a hungry hippo!: “Stunning images have captured the moment a protective mother hippo lashes out at a crocodile that was just ‘minding its own business’. The crocodile thrashes madly to break free from the hippo wraps her gigantic jaws around the reptile’s body – as her calf watches on just a hundred metres away. The titanic tussle which broke out at the aptly-named Lake Panic in Kruger National Park, South Africa, was snapped by amateur photographer Ken Haley. He said: ‘My first reaction was one of shock at the speed of the hippo and her level of aggression against the crocodile… The hippo must have felt that her calf was under threat from the crocodile and her protective instincts kicked in. ‘The hippo held its grip for a couple of seconds before the crocodile was able to escape into the safety of the dam. It disappeared into the water and I didn’t see it again.’

Drunk man tucks in to bucket of CONCRETE after mistaking it for sesame paste: “A plastered partygoer has attempted to satisfy his drunk munchies with a hard to swallow snack. Police from Nanjing, in China’s Jiangsu Province, were notified by concerned neighbours that a heavily intoxicated man was chowing down on a bucket full of fresh concrete. When police arrived, the man explained he was ravenous after a night of heavy drinking at a local bar, according to Jiangsu TV News. The unidentified man spotted a pail on the ground, and presuming it was ‘sesame paste’ -a dip made from ground sesame seeds – he resolved to help himself. Police only arrived after he had downed 250 grams of the construction material. After being notified of his mystifying mix-up, the man was rushed to hospital to have his stomach pumped. The doctor who treated him said he should bless his lucky stars, because the concrete had not set in his stomach, which could have been fatal.”

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