Wicked Thoughts

FINIS

It’s been great fun putting this site together daily since the year 2003 but I am getting old now and running low on energy. So I am now putting this blog into hibernation so I can devote more time to personal relationships.

I would however be interested to hear from people who might wish to take the site over. It gets around 500 views per day so that is not bad as blogs go. And all you need is a good sense of humor.

I will however keep “Strange Justice” going for a while. Some injustices I note there do make my blood boil.

Why men die first

Just one example

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THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

Inside China’s ‘nanny university’: Migrant workers get trained as childminders: “China is expecting a peak in births at the end of 2016 after the central government officially abolished the ruthless ‘one-child policy’ from the beginning of this year. The new ‘two-child’ policy has not only seen many Chinese couples in their late 30s rushing to have a second child, but also made babysitters a hot occupation that pays even better than a company’s manager. As a result, more and more women from rural China are flocking to big cities to get trained as professional childminders. According to Chinese traditions, a new mother should rest in bed for as long as a month. This means many baby-sitting tasks and housework are fulfilled by a nanny”

Are you wearing your perfume wrongly? Experts say you should be applying it in your BELLY BUTTON: “While most people spritz perfume onto their necks and wrists, experts say that’s not all you should be doing. In fact, you should be putting perfume on your belly button. Steven Claisse, senior perfumer at fragrance company Takasago, told Self that the navel is useful for more than just belly piercings and advised that dabbing a few drops of perfume on the belly button can work wonders. ‘Any area on your body that radiates heat will enhance a scent, and your belly button does just that,’ he said. UK-based perfume expert Ruth Mastenbroek, agrees it’s one of the places optimal for your scent. This is because perfume should be applied to pulse points, which is why it’s sprayed onto necks and wrists. The body heat coming from the pulse point on your belly button, as well as it’s handy little indent, provides the perfect place for perfume”

Businessman is hit with £750 bill for dodging bus fare – even though the driver let him ride for free: “A businessman was hit with a £750 bill for dodging a bus fare even though the driver let him ride for free because he had forgotten his wallet. Married father-of-four Robert Rowland, 50, offered to pay cash when he boarded the number 9 service in Hammersmith, West London. But the Mayfair businessman was allowed to travel for free by the driver and conductor because they knew he was not a fare dodger after recognising him. However, when he was about to get off at Green Park, a ticket inspector accused him of deliberately trying to avoid paying and ignored his explanation. Steve Burton, TfL’s director of enforcement and on-street operations, told MailOnline today: ‘We have undertaken a rapid review of this case. ‘We apologise unreservedly to Mr Rowland”

US Army to test radical ‘Iron Man’ bullet-proof liquid armour that gives soldiers super-human strength: “U.S. Scientists are working on next-generation combat wear for soldiers inspired by the nano suit worn in the Iron Man films – and say it could be just two years away. The Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit (Talos) would effectively give its wearer superpowers, such as the ability to see in the dark, super-human strength and a way of deflecting bullets. It is aimed at providing Navy SEALs and Special Forces with enhanced mobility and protection technologies – and will be tested in 2018. The technologies currently being developed include body suit-type exoskeletons, strength and power-increasing systems and additional protection”

Woman plunges down 30 steps after being distracted by her mobile phone – and her first thought afterwards is to check if it’s OK: “A woman was so distracted by her mobile phone that she tumbled down 30 stone steps and cracked her head – but was still more concerned about the state of her device afterwards. Alarming CCTV footage shows the lady running down the stairs of a metro station in Xi’an – the capital of north-western China’s Shaanxi Province – before she loses her footing. She can be seen tripping down the stairs attempting to regain her balance before another camera angle shows her rolling at full speed down the steps and collapsing in a heap at the bottom. However shortly after she is helped up her first priority is to peer at her mobile phone to check any damage – her own pain apparently forgotten. It’s unclear what condition the phone was actually in following the tumble”

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

Cats like boxes

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THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

Man chopped off his big toe with bolt cutters and ATE it in front of stunned shoppers: “A man chopped off his big toe and ate it in front of stunned shoppers. The incident happened at Wilkinson’s Haymarket store in Sheffield on Sunday morning. The man was said to have used bolt cutters from the electrical aisle to chop off his toe. An eyewitness said he stood in front of people and began to eat his own body part. Emergency services were called to the scene and the man was taken to hospital to be treated for his injuries. A spokesman for South Yorkshire Police said: ‘Emergency services were called to a shop in Haymarket, Sheffield, at around 11.10am on Sunday, October 30 following reports of concern for a man inside the premises. ‘Upon officer arrival, the man was taken to hospital with injuries to his foot, where he remains. The incident is not being investigated as a crime.'”

Tired of Counting Piles of Cash, Venezuelans Start Weighing Them: “At a delicatessen counter in eastern Caracas, Humberto Gonzalez removes slices of salty white cheese from his scale and replaces them with a stack of bolivar notes handed over by his customer. The currency is so devalued and each purchase requires so many bills that instead of counting, he weighs them. “It’s sad,” Gonzalez says. “At this point, I think the cheese is worth more.” It’s also one of the clearest signs yet that hyperinflation could be taking hold in a country that refuses to publish consumer-price data on a regular basis. Cash-weighing isn’t seen everywhere but is increasing, echoing scenes from some of the past century’s most-chaotic hyperinflation episodes: Post-World War I Germany, Yugoslavia in the 1990s and Zimbabwe a decade ago. Once one of the world’s strongest currencies, the bolivar has been reduced to a nuisance. Basic purchases require hundreds of bills”

A female patient passes wind in surgery and her fart ignites the laser being used: “A PATIENT who passed gas during an operation was badly burned when the fart ignited a laser being used in the surgery, a hospital report states. The unnamed woman, aged in her 30s, was undergoing surgery at Tokyo Medical University Hospital which involved a laser being applied to her cervix. As the surgery was being carried out in the Shinjuku Ward she passed wind — sparking the fire, Japanese newspaper The Asahi Shimbun reports. “When the patient’s intestinal gas leaked into the space of the operation (room), it ignited with the irradiation of the laser, and the burning spread, eventually reaching the surgical drape and causing the fire,” the report stated.

Man, 50, ‘got hepatitis from energy drinks’: “Doctors have warned of the dangers of drinking too many energy drinks, after a middle-aged man who consumed five bottles a day developed acute hepatitis. Experts issued the warning after their patient, a 50-year-old male, was admitted to hospital with severe liver damage. The man, who has not been named by his doctors, said he had developed anorexia and worsening abdominal pain after he started drinking four to five cans of energy drinks every day to stay awake at work. He originally thought his symptoms were down to flu, but he became alarmed when he developed jaundice – a yellowing of the skin. The doctors said the most likely cause of his hepatitis was overdose of vitamin B3, known as niacin, which is found in high concentrations in energy drinks. They wrote: ‘Each bottle of his energy drink contained 40 mg of niacin, or 200 per cent of the recommended daily value and he consumed four to five bottles daily for more than 21 days straight.’”

Mother, 59, paralysed by back pain is cured by 20mile hikes wearing just a swimsuit: “A mother who was inspired by a near-death experience to get ‘body confident’ and go on 20-mile hikes in just a bikini and boots is facing a backlash from other women. Ann Wheeler, from Clayton-le-Woods, Lancashire, suffers from Cauda Equina syndrome – a rare spinal condition that can cause paralysis. The 59-year-old claims that the post-op experience motivated her to take up walking and wild swimming as natural pain management as she believes it is as strong as traditional painkillers. However, since taking up hiking, Ann has encountered criticism online with some wives ordering their husbands to steer clear of her. ‘I took a week off work and was due to hike with some male walkers from Essex but they said they couldn’t because their wives had got wind of it. The exercise has also helped Ann lose weight and she has gone from a size 16 to a slinky size 12.

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

A lovely story from India

The most soul satisfying thing I have ever done was to force my nani (grandma) to sit outside in the sun.

My nani is around 78 years. She lost her birth certificate while moving to India from Pakistan (then undivided Punjab) in 1947. However, she looks way older than her age because of her health issues and attitude.

A combination of diabetes, blood pressure and general loss of interest in life lead her to be restricted in her room. Of course, her children and grand children are equally responsible for her situation. She lived alone in the older apartment but my two uncles met with her 6 days a week and my mom along with my aunts visited her regularly. Her 7 grandchildren met her on some key occasions and spent some time with her to cheer her up. I am the only grandchild who lives away in America and gets to meet with her once or twice a year. I’ve seen 90 year olds active, fit and doing daily chores so many times in America and other places.

NOTHING made her get up and go outside, even for a short period of time. Her hardly used bones and muscles were now too rested to do anything more than necessary.

March 2016

I go to India for a short 7 day vacation. I promise myself I will change this and somehow get her out of her depressing room. Thats it. A small mission – get my nani outside and make her sit under the sun.

I go to visit her with my fiancé. We asked her about her well-being and why doesn’t want to live with her children and go outside. (Just FYI- Both my uncles and my mom have offered her to bring her to their apartment but she refused). She dodged that question and told she doesn’t have any interest in living. I could understand how boring it must be for her to live alone with no interaction with anyone other than the domestic help and few members of her family.

She then asked us when will we get married. There. I got my lead. I knew how important it was for her that I get married and that too, in traditional Indian way. I argued with her asking what is the point of getting married if my grandmother doesn’t attend? (She missed my engagement ceremony too). I told her Eeshaan (my fiancé) and I have decided to get married in the court. After arguing for 5 mins I asked her if she will make a deal with me.

You come out and sit under the sun with us and we promise you a traditional wedding. Mission accomplished.

Both, Eeshaan and I were so content that day. My nani felt so good after sitting outside. My uncles own a business and their office in 30 secs away. She wanted us to call them so that they can see their mother is sitting out, just like a kid.

June 2016

What was even a bigger achievement was that one of my aunts (and my grandmother’s daughter-in-law) got really motivated by this and managed to convince my grandmother to stay with them! My grandmother now lives with my younger mama and mami (maternal uncle and aunt) and their 3 grandchildren. My aunt makes sure my nani dresses up nicely (like she used to), the grandkids take her down to walk in the evening or to just sit and breathes some fresh air and, meets more people.

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THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

Man leaps out of swimming pool after six-foot CROCODILE dives in, leaving his partner to fight it off herself: “A couple’s late night frolic in a lodge’s pool in Africa nearly turned into a blood bath after a crocodile suddenly jumped in. Terrifying CCTV footage shows the 6ft crocodile creep up on the unaware victims between empty sun loungers. It then lunges into the water immediately snapping at the bikini-clad woman who desperately begins fighting it off. The man quickly jumps out of the pool leaving the woman fending off the huge reptile alone as it splashes around underwater. Luckily, she manages to avoid being forced deeper into the water and furiously paddles back to the shallow end. By that time her partner has seen sense and returns to the poolside to try and distract the animal. The woman manages to clamber out and gets to her feet despite having suffered several bites. The clip is believed to have been recorded in Kariba, Zimbabwe, in southern Africa”

Flabby, older fathers are healthier, live longer and more attractive to women than their lean, muscle-bound peers, study reveals: “Fathers over 50 who are more accustomed to watching sport from the comfort of the armchair than being active are more likely to live longer, a new book claims. Men with an extra tyre around the waist and saggy moobs are more attractive to the opposite sex, better at passing on genes and are, in fact, healthier than peers who are always in the gym. That is the conclusion of academic Richard Bribiescas who has written his ‘pudgy dad hypothesis’ in his new work How Men Age. He says one of the keys to a long life for men is the natural decline of sex hormones which is blunted when muscle-focused friends spike their testosterone levels with months and years pulling weights”

Huge muscly kangaroo flexes his muscles as he poses for a photo: “A massive kangaroo has been pictured cutting a menacing figure as it flexes its muscles and it could take the title as Australia’s most buff marsupial. Photographer William Thomsen has snapped photographs of what he described as a ‘huge’ male kangaroo near Denmark, Western Australia. Mr Thomsen, who moved to Australia from the U.S. 16 years ago, said he’d spotted the giant while out with his sister from New York. On the last day we had a bit of a kangaroo hunt and there was this big group of them. Nine or ten ran away but this big guy just stood his ground. We were a bit taken aback. He was huge. He stood right up on his haunches and just stared at us.'” Researchers found the muscular physiques of male kangaroos were to attract females and compete with male rivals, WA Today reported.”

The fish that always finds its way home: Shannies migrate like birds, returning to the SAME nest each year: “For one species of fish, there really is no place like home. With its big head and large eyes, the shanny can be spotted on rocky shores, hiding under seaweed and in rocky crevices. But marine biologists have found that the small fish have a remarkable knack for finding their way back home, returning to the exact same nests each year. Shannies (Lipophrys pholis) live in the coastal waters around the UK, Western Europe and North Africa, but can range relatively far and wide in their search for food. But when mating season rolls around, from winter to spring, males set up nests in crevices, protecting the eggs laid by the female fish. Portuguese researchers believe that these small coastal fish have a well-developed navigational system and can accurately determine which way is home, even from unfamiliar places”

Zika virus may cause men’s testicles to SHRINK by up to 90 per cent and permanently reduce fertility: “ZIKA infection could cause lasting infertility and lead to men’s testicles shrinking, medical researchers warn. Doctors warn that if the ‘dramatic’ findings, in mice, apply to humans it could lead to an epidemic of infertility caused by the disease. It is not yet known whether the 90 per cent shrinkage in mice would apply to humans – but doctors believe at the very least the virus is likely to reduce sperm counts and testosterone levels in affected men. The virus is already known to leads to shrunken heads in babies whose mothers catch the infection, which is carried in tropical countries and has recently been found in the tourist hotspot of Florida. The virus has the unusual ability to cross the barrier that separates the male reproductive organs from the blood stream”

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

Wise advice

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THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

Feminist witches are casting hexes on Donald Trump: “American witches have come a long way since Salem and the trials of 1692, when the accusation of witchcraft got a lady hanged. Today, witching is in and sorceresses in the US and beyond are practicing magical activism to thwart The Donald’s bid for presidency. Vermont’s Feminists Against Trump, a group of college professors in the state, is holding a pre-Halloween “witch-in” today in Burlington. They have issued a call to all crones and their black pussycats to join in the mass hexing to “cast magical spells of love and feminism to destroy the Great Orange One and the racism, xenophobia and sexism he feeds on.”

Wife who said lottery tickets are a waste of money wins $1M: “Glenda Blackwell won $1 million when she bought a lottery ticket in an attempt to teach her husband a lesson. Turns out, there are some bets that are well worth losing. Glenda Blackwell, a 57-year-old woman from Leicester, North Carolina, learned that lesson over the weekend when her husband asked her to buy two Powerball tickets. In an attempt to prove to him that lottery tickets are a waste of cash, she instead bought a Carolina Millions ticket for $10. “I wanted to show him that luck doesn’t always hit,” Blackwell said, according to the North Carolina Lottery. But the scratch-off ticket was a winner, and Blackwell struck gold with a $1 million prize”

Australia: Parliament House security forces two-year-old to hand over lightsaber ‘weapon’: “A Canberra woman says security guards forced her two-year-old son to check in a toy lightsaber during a visit to Parliament House because they considered it a “weapon”. The family, who did not want their name to be published, was visiting Parliament House on Friday when they were told the battery-powered plastic lightsaber was not allowed through security. The lightsaber was checked in during the family’s visit and returned when they left the building. The Department of Parliamentary Services (DPS) said Parliament House contained many artworks of “significant value”. “Given the length of the item and that it has the potential to cause damage to property, a decision was made by a security officer on duty to request the item be cloaked with a return on departure,” a DPS spokesperson said in a statement.

Strange snake with unusual venom: “We have found the wildest snake toxin ever, from the venom of the most outrageous snakes,” Bryan Fry said. “It does something no other snake has ever done.” The Queensland University venomologist is talking about the aptly named long-glanded blue coral snake of south-east Asia – and its unusual venom which takes hold with lightning efficiency. Its venom glands extend to a good 60 centimetres – about one-quarter of its body length. “This venom hits a particular type of sodium channel that is important for the treatment of pain in humans,” Dr Fry said. With colleagues from Australia, China, Singapore and the US, Dr Fry identified six unusual peptides in the venom of the blue coral snake that can switch on all of its prey’s nerves at once. This immediately immobilises its victim.”

Medicinal cannabis crops and products now legal in Australia: “Budding cannabis producers can now apply for a licence to legally grow the crop in Australia or manufacture cannabis products, for medicinal use only. The Narcotic Drugs Amendment Act 2016, which came into effect on Sunday, allows businesses to apply for a licence to cultivate cannabis or manufacture cannabis products for medicinal purposes, or to conduct related research. Health Minister Minister Sussan Ley said the changes would give patients and doctors access to a safe, reliable and legal source of cannabis for medicinal use. ‘Until now, it has been difficult for patients to access medicinal cannabis products from overseas sources,’ Ms Ley said in a statement on Sunday. ‘These new laws change that situation by providing for a domestic supply of medicinal cannabis products that are not readily available for import.'”

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

A pickup line that worked — sort of

As the lady tells it…

“One day while waiting on the subway platform, I noticed a cute guy also waiting a few feet away. We got on the same train car and he sat directly behind me. After a few stops he stood up, tossed something in my lap, and got off the train.

“It was a tiny origami box, which I unfolded to find this message: ‘Nice freckles. Coffee? —Adam,’ and his phone number. I was coming from a party, in a backless dress, and my shoulders (only my shoulders!) are very freckly. On top of his ballsy move with the origami box, the fact that he complimented a quirky part of me that people don’t usually draw attention to really stood out.

“I waited 20 minutes and then texted him, ‘Hey, it’s Freckles. I’d love to get coffee.’ He never responded.”

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THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

Is bovine behemoth Big Moo the largest in the world?: “Casting a shadow over his owner with his hulking frame, this is Australia’s largest cow Big Moo. The bovine behemoth weighs over a tonne and measures an astounding 14-foot-long and 190cm tall, dwarfing his cattle companions in Glencoe, South Australia. In spite of his formidable stature, Big Moo is said to be a gentle giant who loves nothing better than a scratch and a tickle. Grandmother and midwife Joanne Vine, who lives with her dairy farmer husband, said Big Moo’s giant proportions spared him from the freezer. ‘His personality saved him. Calves can get a bit annoying and knock you around, but Big Moo has always been a gentle giant.’ Though he may he harmless, Big Moo turns heads in his hometown, where he shakes the earth with every step. Jo thinks Big Moo, who is a steer – a castrated male – weighs more than a tonne. She suspects his continuing growth may be the result of an undiagnosed pituitary gland disorder”

Brave grandmother, 56 chases two machete-wielding raiders out of her shop with a chair: “When two thugs burst into a newsagents brandishing large machetes and saw this grandmother minding the store they must have thought their robbery would be fairly straightforward. But, belying her frail appearance, 56-year-old Hamalata Patel chased them out of the shop with a steel chair. The pair burst into her K&L Newsagents store in Winsford, Cheshire, wearing balaclavas and armed with the huge blades at 10am last Friday (October 21). The grandmother-of-two, who lives in in the town, said she ‘lost the plot’ when one of the raiders banged his weapon on her counter. And CCTV footage shows the incredible moment she picked up a steel chair and raced toward the pair, causing them to flee from the shop empty-handed.”

Georgia girl, four, forms heart-warming friendship with lonely widower, 82, after noticing him by himself in a grocery store: “As Tara pushed her daughter Norah around the store last month, she passed an older man who was by himself. The old man looked stern and cold, until Norah shouted: ‘Hi, old person! It’s my birthday today!’ The man stopped and his demeanor changed from distant and serious to warm and friendly. ‘How old are you today?’ the man asked. After some time together talking, Norah asked her mom to take a picture of her with her new friend, Dan ‘Mr Dan’ Peterson, 82. It turned out Mr Dan’s wife had died in March and he had been suffering from depression and anxiety ever since. Tara contacted Mr Dan, and ever since Norah and the 82-year-old have developed a friendship unlike any other. ‘She has shown me a depth of love, a depth I didn’t know existed,’ Mr Dan told CNN”

Herd of cows go to the beach: “These hairy cows milked the attention of a photographer as they brilliantly posed for group portraits while enjoying a relaxing day at a rugged beach. In one stunning photograph, the majority of the herd are shown lying on the soft sand, appearing to take a nap under the cool, grey sky. Some of the inquisitive creatures even take a dip in the water, paddling at the edge of the tide line. In total there were around 30 young cows – which are kept by a local farmer for beef – enjoying a day by the seaside. Photographer Roy McPeak captured these scenic photographs at White Park Bay on the causeway coast, near Ballintoy, Northern Ireland.

‘What does it matter how many transgender individuals recycle their rubbish?’: “Residents have reacted with outrage after being quizzed by the council on whether they are LGBT or mixed race – in a survey about waste management. Suffolk County Council asked householders to give their age, race, religion and sexual orientation, as well as information on any disabilities or if they had HIV. Although the sexuality question was ‘optional’, many people took to social media to complain about it being asked at all. Twitter user Ian C asked the council: ‘What does it matter how many transgender individuals recycle their rubbish?’ Alison M wrote: ‘I can understand why Suffolk County Council need to know whether disabled people use their sites, but as for sexual orientation, it is no one’s business.’ A council spokesman said the answers were needed ‘to find out about the diversity of those who contributed'”

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

He’s got a point

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THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

The ‘close door’ button on your elevator is a scam!: “Most people do not have the patience to wait a few seconds for the elevator doors to shut, so they push the ‘close’ button to speed up the process. However, some say this feature has been obsolete since the 1990s, suggesting the button is a complete fake – it will not close the doors any faster. Experts reveal that there numerous buttons in the world that do not live up to their name, but are present to make us feel in control. Elevator ‘close’ buttons went obsolete in the 1990s, which means the ones you see are fake. New York City figures state that out of the 3,250 crosswalk buttons, 2,500 of them were replaced with non-functioning mechanisms. And a majority of the thermostats installed in offices that are easily accessible are decoys. Expert say that these buttons or fake thermostats are in place to promote the illusion on being in control

Another British bungle: New £5 note can be wiped almost clean of ink using a simple eraser: “The new polymer £5 note can be wiped almost totally clean of ink using a simple pencil eraser, it has been revealed. Bank chiefs claim the new notes are so durable they will last twice as long as the old fiver. But a print centre manager has exposed a serious flaw after wiping one almost totally clean of ink with an eraser. Stuart McLean managed to score off large parts of the note’s blue dye, leaving only security numbers and the see-through hologram behind. The polymer note, which has been issued by Royal Bank of Scotland, Clydesdale Bank, Bank of Scotland and the Bank of England, is smaller than traditional fivers and said to last 2.5 times longer. Banknote manufacturer De La Rue says it can survive a spin in a washing machine without losing its colour.

The drinkers who stick with a wine longer than a partner: Pinot Grigio is Britain’s favourite grape ahead of Merlot and Chardonnay: “Wine lovers stick with their preferred variety for longer than many stay with their partners, research suggests. Pinot Grigio is the top choice for British drinkers, followed by Merlot and Chardonnay. Some 52 per cent of drinkers said they remained loyal to their preferred grape for ten years or more, a survey revealed. Fifty-three per cent had been with their partner for the same amount of time, the same poll found. However, almost one fifth – 19 per cent – had been in their current relationship for less than three years. Broken down between the sexes, Pinot Grigio was top choice for women, selected by 15 per cent, and Merlot was the men’s favourite, chosen by 11 per cent. When it comes to who is influencing our wine choices, friends and partners are our most trusted wine advisors. Just four per cent of people said they would trust the advice of their parents.

‘I’m no hero’: Friend refused to give up on missing Australian campers: “The woman who found missing campers Marama and Jeremy Sim on a remote bush track near Western Australia’s southern coast says she is not a hero, but just a friend “who wouldn’t give up”. Kirsty Biggers and her father finally came across the Sims’ car at 10.30pm on Thursday night, almost 200 kilometres north-west of Esperance. “We know they are responsible, we know that they are experienced, and number one rule is don’t leave your car so we knew that where their car was they would be there too. “I’m not a hero, I’m just a friend that wouldn’t give up; it was my dad, my dad is our hero in all this, if it wasn’t for him we wouldn’t have come across them at all. “But nobody gave up, we all kept searching, it was a good result.” The Sims had just 350ml of water left between them after being stranded in the bush for 10 days”

Would you return a dropped letter? Rich people more altruistic, study finds: “If you saw a stamped, addressed letter on the ground, would you pick it up and post it? What if it was unstamped? The answer might have a lot to do with where you live. An Australian-first study has sought to examine whether there was a difference in the level of a person’s altruism depending on their wealth and socioeconomic status. Researchers at the University of Western Australia dropped 300 lost letters on the ground in 15 residential suburbs of varying socioeconomic status, and waited to see which ones made it back to the office. Lead study author Cyril Grueter said the results found a strong link between socioeconomic status and the likelihood of someone returning the letter. “The study clearly tells us that people living in socioeconomically rich neighbourhoods are nicer, they are more altruistic than people living in poor neighbourhoods.”

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

Modern life

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THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

Man caught peeing in Mall falls on face: “A man arrested for urinating in public slipped on a wet footpath while running from police and landed on his face, a court has heard. Nathan Hallows was caught urinating on a shopfront in Brisbane’s Brunswick St Mall in the early hours of October 9, 2016. When police tried to arrest he started filming them on his mobile phone and said “just give me the f***ing ticket and I’ll see you in court in three weeks”. Hallows then ran away from the officers but slipped on wet pavement and landed on his face, injuring his nose. He pleaded guilty in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday to urinating in a public place and obstructing a public officer and was ordered to do at least 40 hours of community service. The court heard Hallows was very embarrassed and ashamed by his actions and probably would have been given just a fine if he hadn’t run from police”

Snowflake British mail carriers: “Royal Mail chiefs have stopped posties delivering letters to a row of houses – because walking on a grass verge has been deemed ‘too dangerous’. The spat came about after one postman complained about the street on his round. And bosses agreed that the short stretch of grass between car tracks and residents’ front doors was unsafe for posties to walk along. It has left neighbours leaving on the tiny 10-house street having to walk up and down a steep hill to collect their mail from a local Post Office. And 91-year-old Eileen Hatch said it was ‘ridiculous’ postmen couldn’t walk along the verge – when she still could. She said: ‘I know I’m not as fast as I once was but if I can go up and down at 91 with my stick then a young postie definitely should”

Chocolate-coated sprouts for Halloween handouts:I may well open my house to the kids in lame costumes and their sad, bored parents this year – now that I have found this delicious and nutritious treat to place into trick-or-treaters’ bags. This tweet has appeal to both the Halloween hater, like me, and the prankster, which I think is where tweeter Mark Sparrow sits. Some people have mentioned that it’s a cruel idea. But when you look at it, this has all the makings of a viral recipe. There are just two ingredients; it skilfully combines deliciousness (chocolate) with nutritiousness (brussel sprouts) and it will partly appeal to the kids (with the chocolate) and the parents will know their candy beggars will be getting their greens. Win. Win. Win.

Mum banned from UK theme park rollercoaster because her 36L boobs were ‘too big’: “A BUSTY mum-of-one was chucked off a rollercoaster ride in the UK because her 36L breasts were too big to fit under the safety bar. According to The Sun, mortified Tanya Willis says she had to “do a walk of shame” past hundreds of people queuing for the Colossus ride at Thorpe Park when she was turned away by staff. The 22-year-old, who is a size 18, says she is now out for pocket because the seats are not designed for large-breasted women. “I’m not fat,” said Willis, a former doctor’s surgery worker. “But the safety bars and seats are not designed for large-breasted women. “It was really embarrassing having to be chucked off a ride and do a walk of shame past everyone. “It ruined my day and I wasn’t even offered a refund. A spokeswoman for Thorpe Park said: “If our restraints do not click into safe mode, we will not allow a guest on the ride for their own safety.”

BROCCOLI could reverse the signs of ageing: “Physical signs of ageing could be slowed down by a compound found in broccoli, cabbage and avocado, scientists claim. It slowed down the deterioration of liver and eye function, bone density and the metabolism, a new study found. While it was found to prevent laboratory mice from gaining weight as they aged – despite consuming more food. Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) compensated for the loss of energy production, which experts believe is a key driver of the body’s ageing process. Study author Professor Dr Shin-ichiro Imai, from Washington University, St Louis, said: ‘We have shown a way to slow the physiologic decline that we see in ageing mice. ‘This means older mice have metabolism and energy levels resembling that of younger mice.

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

Disgrace

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THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

Chinese man spends £18,000 on decorating… then realises it is not his apartment: “A man in China spent 150,000 yuan (£18,118) renovating his new home, only to later find that he had decorated the wrong flat. After purchasing his flat situated on the 40th floor of a block in Chongqing in June, he was handed the keys to his new apartment. He started renovating the apartment when he got a call from the property management office on October 20 telling him that he had been renovating someone else’s home, according to People’s Daily Online. According to the property management office, there were eight apartments on the 40th floor but only four had been sold. This then resulted in a mix up in the numbers allocated for the flats and the man was given the wrong keys. He had indeed been renovating the wrong apartment which belonged to someone else.

‘Thank you for your portrait’: Woman’s genius two-page rejection letter in response to a VERY X-rated photo: “A woman has written arguably the best rejection letter in response to an X-rated photo that a stranger sent her. Sarah-Louise Jordan, 28, compiled a two-page reply that began with the words: ‘Thank you for your p**** portrait’, before firmly – and very eloquently – putting her suitor in his place. The note, which Sarah-Louise originally posted on Facebook, began with the courteous opener: ‘Dear Sir, thank you for the unexpected and unsolicited submission of your penis portrait for our consideration. ‘We regret to inform you that it has failed to pass our most basic standards of quality control at this time.’ After clearly spurning the advances of her amorous recipient, Sarah-Louise went on to suggest sending an A4 report to ‘deal with his sexual frustration’. She explained that the report would cover such issues as: ‘Why genitals are not an acceptable conversation opener”

Parents record the moment their twins fall off a wall at the same time: “Twins are often considered to share a very special connection – and a pair of tiny toddlers have demonstrated how they have even synchronised their mishaps. Amusing footage shot in China shows two twins completely in sync as they fall over at the same time. In the video, filmed in Panzhihua, Sichuan Province, the siblings can be seen walking on a low wall before falling down simultaneously in exactly the same manner. In the clip, the pair can be seen completely transfixed by something behind them. Neither are looking where they are going – and lose their footing before falling off the wall. The youngsters are coordinated down to their matching shoes and outfits.

Vatican orders an end to scattering of ashes: “Vatican guidelines, which have been approved by Pope Francis, say Catholics who want to be cremated cannot have their ashes scattered or kept at home. For most of its 2,000-year history, the Church has only permitted burial, arguing that it best expresses the Christian hope in resurrection. In 1963, the Vatican said cremation would be allowed as long as it didn’t suggest a denial of faith about resurrection, although the rules were unclear. But now new instructions, approved by Pope Francis, have been released in time for ‘All Souls Day’ on November 2, when the faithful are supposed to pray and remember the dead. To set the faithful straight, the Vatican said ashes and bone fragments cannot be kept at home, since that would deprive the Christian community as a whole of remembering the dead. Rather, church authorities should designate a sacred place, such as a cemetery or church area, to hold them”

Father, 35, whose grandfather gave him five guineas to play pirate games with discovers it is the rarest British coin EVER made and worth £250,000: “A labourer whose grandfather gave him bags of coins to play with has found one of the rarest British coins ever made in the collection – worth a staggering £250,000. The 35-year-old, from Hertfordshire, had been given the 300-year-old Queen Anne Vigo five guinea coin when he was a child. The coin was kept in a treasure box, along with a toy monkey and a Lego hat, and the owner – who wants to remain anonymous – had no idea of its value. It was packed away and forgotten about until he rediscovered the coin in the box he had given to his own son. The coin is extremely rare as only 20 were made from 7.5lbs of gold seized from Spanish treasure ships by the British in Vigo Bay, northern Spain, in 1702. Even in 1703, when they were made by the Royal Mint, they would have been extremely expensive and bought only by the rich”

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

Perspective

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THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

A rare white reindeer has been spotted on the edge of a forest in Sweden: “Teacher Siv Poijo saw the gorgeous stag while holidaying in Mala, Sweden, as it tried to cross the road. She said: ‘In the pack there was only one white reindeer, it is not that often you see one. ‘For the Sami people, the white reindeer have special significance – I think they bring luck and are considered holy. Much like the white peacock, this magnificent creature is of the same species as a brown reindeer but is another case of a genetic mutation. White reindeer, which appear in the wilds of Finland, Norway and Sweden, are extremely rare, though they have been born in captivity elsewhere, including England.

A Perth chef has created a 28kg sculpture of an exotic dragon made entirely from margarine: “Angela Stanfield, who works as an apprentice chef at Crown Perth, created the 28kg sculpture for an international culinary competition in Germany, reported WA Today. The sculpture is of a dragon with large feathery wings and a curled tail, crouching next to another sculpture of a gnarled tree with golden eggs sitting at its base. The 20-year-old took part in the World IKA Culinary Olympics along with seven other chefs as part of the WA Youth Culinary team. Despite it being only her second attempt at the art of margarine sculpting, Ms Stanfield won a bronze medal for her creation.

Is this Larry Page’s secret flying car?: “While he may be better known as a self driving car enthusiast, a new video has given a glimpse of Google co-founder Larry Page’s secretive self flying car project. Earlier this year it was revealed Page appeared to be privately investing in two separate flying car firms, providing them with $100m. Now, of of the prototype craft has been spotted at a remote airfield in California – and locals say they have even seen it hovering above the ground. Zee.Aero was set up in 2010, working on a small, all-electric plane that could take off and land vertically – essentially a flying car. During both Zee.Aero flights witnessed by DK Turbines staff from several hundred yards away in September and October, the aircraft hovered about 25 feet off the ground, and landed rapidly, straight down, according to the witnesses.

Millipede with 414 legs and four penises secretes poison to kill its victims: “A new species of millipede found lurking in the unexplored dark marble caves of Sequoia National Park in California has left scientists baffled. The unique creature has 414 legs, four ‘penises’, bizarre-looking mouthparts and secretes a poisonous chemical as a defense mechanism. Named Illacme tobini, it was discovered during an expedition in 2006 and later revealed to be the evolutionary cousin of the leggiest animal on the planet, Illacme plenipes. Its body is covered in long, long silk-secreting hairs and there are pores in its mouth that secrete an unknown chemical as a defense mechanism. Millipedes are invertebrates that coil up into a ball when they sense danger, however their name is very misleading. Their Latin name means ‘thousand feet’, yet many do not surpass 200 – except for the new species discovered in California.”

Retired driving instructor, 70, spent 8 YEARS building his dream Austin-Healey kit car only for it to EXPLODE and blow up his house: “A former driving instructor is lucky to be alive after the dream car he spent eight years building from scratch exploded while he was under the bonnet and gutted his house. Ron Avant, 70, was putting the finishing touches to his near-finished Austin-Healey kit car when it erupted into a fireball and torched his £550,000 Essex home. After eight years of tinkering and thousands of hours of work he was set to get it sprayed and road ready the following week, fulfilling a dream from childhood to build his own car. The house will now have to be completely rebuilt after five or six explosions rocked the garage and made the building unsafe.

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