Archive for September, 2007

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Wednesday, September 12, 2007

 

Bank Robber Uses Own Check in Robbery

‘A man robbing a bank demanded the money by writing a note on one of his own checks, authorities say. Not surprisingly, he was caught soon afterward.

Forest Kelly Bissonnette, 27, apparently tried to cover his name on the check, then handed the note to a teller Sept. 5 at the Bank of the West in Englewood, according to authorities.

“We could still make it out even though he blacked it out,” FBI agent Rene VonderHaar said. Nearly $5,000 was taken.’


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Drunk Rail Slide Goes Wrong

‘You’re gonna break your neck..’

(1.2meg Flash video)

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Deadly drug stolen from vet clinic

‘Police are putting out an urgent warning to the public to avoid vials of a deadly drug that were stolen from a veterinary office overnight.

Several 100-milliliter vials of Euthasol, used to euthanize animals, were stolen from a veterinary clinic, according to Bourne Police Sgt. Christopher Farrell. Police declined to name the clinic, but said it was on the Cape side of the canal.

The break-in was reported when employees opened up this morning, and the missing medication, a liquid with extremely high concentrations of Phenobarbital, was discovered.

“It’s deadly. That’s the only way to put it,” Farrell said. The liquid was contained in small brown glass vials with red caps and is labelled Euthasol.’


Baby Sitter Says Kids Told Her To Toss Toddler

‘Police said a Springfield teenager claims she dropped a toddler from a second-story window in part because two kids younger than 10 told her to.

Rebecca Woods, 18, is facing child endangerment charges after a 2-year-old boy was dropped two stories from an apartment Saturday.

The child was caught by two boys below and was not seriously hurt. [..]

A probable cause statement said the girl told police she thought throwing the child out the window was a bad idea. But then she held the baby out the window and dropped him about 14 feet.’


U.S. is now free of canine rabies virus

‘Federal health experts declared a small victory against a fatal and untreatable virus on Friday, saying canine rabies has disappeared from the United States.

While dogs may still become infected from raccoons, skunks or bats, they will not catch dog-specific rabies from another dog, the Atlanta-based U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

“We don’t want to misconstrue that rabies has been eliminated — dog rabies virus has been,” CDC rabies expert Dr. Charles Rupprecht told Reuters in a telephone interview.

Rabies evolves to match the animals it infects, and the strain most specific to dogs has not been seen anywhere in the United States since 2004, Rupprecht said. [..]

“Even though we still live in a sea of rabies and even though we have rabies viruses circulating among raccoons and foxes and bats, the dog rabies virus, which is the most responsible for dog-to-dog transmission and which is still the greatest burden to humans … it is that virus that has been eliminated.”‘


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Car park rage mum gets community service

‘A woman tried to strangle a mother in a busy car park as payback for leaving four kids unattended in a car while she used a nearby ATM, a court has been told.

The Brisbane District Court was told Deanne Margaret Harris, 44, was so enraged over the incident at Westfield Carindale, in Brisbane’s east, on December 29, 2005, that she confronted 32-year-old Tepurewa Morrison and told her she did not deserve to have children.

When Ms Morrison told her to “piss off” and got into the car, Harris leaned through the window and grabbed her around the neck, digging her nails into her throat.

Ms Morrison grabbed Harris’ hair in an attempt to fight her off, but the fight continued until a passing man separated them.’


Pool Stunt Ends Painfully

‘These kids come up with the bright idea to stand on top of a stack of chairs lined up next to the pool then have a friend run straight at them. It does not go well.’

(363kb Flash video)

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Japanese schoolchildren fed toxic dolphin meat

‘Councillors from the home of the Japan’s whaling industry have revealed that schoolchildren in the area have been served dolphin meat containing dangerous levels of mercury, prompting warnings of a potential public health disaster as the country attempts to boost consumption of cetacean meat.

In a rare departure from the official line that the meat is safe and nutritious, two assembly members from Taiji in Wakayama prefecture broke ranks to say that tests on samples of short-finned pilot whales – a type of large dolphin, despite its name – had found mercury levels 10 to 16 times higher than those advised by the health ministry.

“In kindergartens, elementary schools and middle schools, children are served the meat two or three times a month, but their parents believe that it comes from whales caught in the Antarctic. They seem to be unaware that their children are eating these pilot whales,” said Hisato Ryono, who described the meat as “toxic waste”.’


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South African men steal hearse for pub crawl

‘Two South African men have been arrested in Soweto for allegedly going on a drinking spree in a stolen hearse with a body in the back, police say.

The men were caught after the hearse ran out of petrol and they asked three women they had met at a drinking den to help push the hearse, local media say.

The men told the women they were on their way to bury the body of a relative but the women told the police.’


The Essence of Nearly Anything, Drop by Limpid Drop

‘Many new ideas bubbling up in restaurant kitchens aren’t of much use to a home cook without a machine shop and acres of counter space. But some are simple and flexible enough that they just may trickle down to everyone else. In the case of an easy technique called gelatin filtration, that would be a very slow trickle.

Gelatin filtration is a way to make sparklingly clear liquids that are intensely flavored with … well, whatever you like: meats, fruits, vegetables, cheeses, breads, any and all combinations of ingredients.

Why would anyone want to make such a thing? Think of such liquids as essences. They have no fibers, no pulp, no fat, no substance at all. They’re just flavor in fluid form, perhaps with a tinge of color, like a classic beef consommé. In fact chefs are calling these essences consommés, and they often use them the same way, as a soup or a sauce. And they can be delightfully surprising, because their appearance often gives no hint of the pleasure they’re about to deliver.’


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Alleged fondling of dog prompts PETA outrage

‘A national animal-rights organization is calling for the end of a Licking County community-service program after a prisoner was charged with sexually assaulting a dog at a local animal shelter.

Clifford Hook, 19, of Zanesville, is accused of inappropriately touching a female dog while walking it Aug. 18 at the Licking County Animal Shelter. Hook admitted to the act during an interview with police, according to court documents.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said the longtime program, which provides community-service opportunities to inmates at the Licking-Muskingum Community Correction Center, puts animals at risk. [..]

“It’s a very unfortunate incident,” Glover said. “Everyone on my staff wishes it never happened.”‘


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Nasty Wakeboard Accident

‘This wakeboarder has a nasty accident as he is being pulled under a bridge.’

(965kB Flash video)

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Benoit’s concussions may help explain killings

‘Pro wrestler Chris Benoit suffered brain damage from his years in the ring that could help explain why he killed his wife, son and himself, a doctor who studied Benoit’s brain said Wednesday.

The analysis by doctors affiliated with the Sports Legacy Institute suggests repeated concussions could have contributed to the killings at Benoit’s suburban Atlanta home. [..]

The level of brain damage Benoit had can cause depression and irrational behavior, Cantu said.

Benoit’s brain showed the same degenerative processes that doctors working for the institute found in the brains of three men who had played pro football and committed suicide, Cantu said. There were abnormal protein deposits caused by trauma to Benoit’s brain, Cantu said.

There’s no evidence that steroid use causes such protein deposits, Cantu said, though he noted the issue has not been exhaustively studied.’

Followup to Benoit wrestle hold killed son.


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Brain-Swelling Amoeba Blamed For 2nd Child’s Death

‘A 10-year-old boy who died after contracting amoebic encephalitis while swimming in a Central Florida lake is the second reported case in the area since August.

The Orange County Health Department did not identify the child or the lake where he contracted the amoeba.

However, the owner of the Orlando Water Sports Complex said he was contacted by the Orange County Health Department and told to post signs warning of the deadly amoeba. The victim was believed to have visited the popular park.

“It now has happened twice in Central Florida this year,” a health official said. “And therefore, we need to ramp up the precautions for using nose plugs and taking all precautions when swimming in the lakes and doing water sports.”‘

Followup to Apparent Amoeba-Related Death Prompts Central Fla. Water Warning.


Marry Our Daughter

‘Marry Our Daughter is an introduction service assisting those following the Biblical tradition of arranging marriages for their daughters.

Those who wish to list their Daughters with our site should click on SIGN UP OUR DAUGHTER on our main page for a form to fill out.

Those who wish to propose to a specific Daughter should click on the PROPOSE button on the Daughter’s INFO CARD.’


Bid to steer ‘bomb’ bus into traffic

‘A bus driver has described the harrowing seconds when he had to fight off a man who allegedly tried to steer his bus into oncoming traffic during this morning’s peak hour, and then allegedly said he had a bomb on board.

Greyhound bus driver Con Jansen, 47, from Chatswood, was four hours into his shift driving a Brisbane to Sydney charter bus with 26 people on board when a man suddenly tried to grab the large bus’s steering from him.

“I was driving along, the next minute I’ve got a guy grabbing the steering wheel,” said Mr Jansen, who had been driving the bus on Pennant Hills Road, near the corner of Beecroft Road, in Sydney’s north-west about 8.25am when the attack occurred.

“You’re just sitting down driving, you don’t expect anyone to jump on top of you.”‘


Rally Car Drivers Ram House

The corner is a little bit too tight, and the house is a little bit too close. 🙂

(5.0meg Flash video)

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‘Peter Addison was here’ writes bungling burglar at crime scene

‘Bungling burglar Peter Addison was nabbed by police – because he scrawled “Peter Addison was here” at the scene of his crime.

The 18-year old wrote his name in black marker pen on a wall as he and pals raided a campsite and went on a boozy wrecking spree.

Police who arrived to investigate the incident were stunned to find Addison’s calling card plus other messages saying: “Thanks for the Stay” at the Toc H Campsite for under privileged children in Adlington, near Macclesfield, Cheshire.

They checked his details on a computer system and when they caught up with him, he was found to be wearing a T shirt stolen from campsite during the burglary.’


Army sniffer dog Merlin killed in accident

‘He survived landmines and the best efforts of the Taliban’s bomb makers – but could not dodge an accident at the hands of his own side.
Today it emerged that an Australian army explosive detection dog, Merlin ,has been killed while on active service in Afghanistan.

The Australian Defence Force said today the dog died when accidentally run over by an Australian Light Armoured Vehicle (ASLAV) at the Australian Reconstruction Task Force (RTF) base at Tarin Kowt earlier this month.

Merlin had been lying in the shade of the ASLAV when the vehicle drove off, inadvertently running the dog over.’


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Cheesy attack leads to assault charges

‘A man has been charged with a cheesy snack attack on his dad, police said. The weapon? A bag of Cheetos. Patrick Hamman, 22, of Des Moines, was arrested on a charge of domestic assault after he threw a bag of Cheetos at his father, Michael Hamman, hitting him in the face Sunday night.

The bag hit his father’s glasses, causing a cut to the bridge of his nose, police said.

The police report said “Michael’s T-shirt was also covered in Cheeto dust.”

Police said Patrick, who lives with his father, admitted that he was on methamphetamine at the time of the argument.’


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Zombie Pfizer Computers Spew Viagra Spam

‘Computers inside pharmaceutical giant Pfizer’s network are spamming the internet with e-mails touting the company’s flagship erectile-enhancement drug Viagra, along with ads for knockoff Rolexes and shady junk stocks.

But the e-mails are not part of Pfizer’s official marketing efforts.

Pfizer’s computers appear to have been infected with malware that has transformed them into zombie computers sending spam at the behest of a hacker. Oddly enough, they are spamming the public’s inboxes with ads for the company’s own product.

“There is a disaster inside this company, and they don’t know it,” says Rick Wesson, CEO of Support Intelligence — a small San Francisco-based security company that alerted Wired News to the problem.’


Diver Fails At Jumping Off A Boat

(359kB Flash video)

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Airline sacrifices goats to appease sky god

‘Officials at Nepal’s state-run airline have sacrificed two goats to appease Akash Bhairab, the Hindu sky god, following technical problems with one of its Boeing 757 aircraft, the carrier said Tuesday.

Nepal Airlines, which has two Boeing aircraft, has had to suspend some services in recent weeks due the problem.

The goats were sacrificed in front of the troublesome aircraft Sunday at Nepal’s only international airport in Kathmandu in accordance with Hindu traditions, an official said.

“The snag in the plane has now been fixed and the aircraft has resumed its flights,” said Raju K.C., a senior airline official, without explaining what the problem had been.’


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Police say whoever crushed cruiser knew how to operate equipment

‘Authorities don’t know who crushed a police cruiser, but they say whoever did it was pretty good with a backhoe.

Miami Township Police Detective Nick Colliver says the person had to have experience operating heavy equipment to drive the backhoe about 200 yards to where the cruiser was parked, then drop the bucket squarely on the roof.

Officials in the township east of Cincinnati had planned to sell the 1998 Ford Crown Victoria that was worth $3,000. It was parked near the Miami Township Civic Center when it got crushed one night last week.’


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Meet IvanAnywhere

‘Programmer Ivan Bowman spends his days at iAnywhere Solutions Inc. in much the same way his colleagues do.

He writes code, exchanges notes in other developers’ offices, attends meetings and, on occasion, hangs out in the kitchen or lounge over coffee and snacks.

About the only thing he can’t do is drink the coffee or eat the snacks — or touch anything, for that matter.

It’s not that Bowman doesn’t have hands or a mouth; they’re just in Halifax, along with the rest of his body.

In fact, it’s not really Bowman in the Waterloo office at all. It’s IvanAnywhere, a robot Bowman uses to interact with his colleagues in Waterloo from his home office 1,350 kilometres away. [..]

The computer screen displays a live shot of Bowman’s face from his living room in Nova Scotia. [..]

When Bowman has a question for a colleague, he doesn’t pick up the phone; he uses his joystick to drive his doppelganger to the team member’s office.’


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Couple check into hotel for 22 years

‘When British couple David and Jean Davidson checked into a modest hotel room, the prospect of not having to cook or clean for themselves was so appealing, they decided to stay – for 22 years.

The pair first stayed at a roadside Travelodge in 1985 while visiting an elderly aunt who was ill in Staffordshire, England.

When the aunt died four months later, the Davidsons moved out of their flat in Sheffield and moved into the Travelodge in Newark, Nottinghamshire.

In 1997, they made their home in another of the chain’s hotels in Grantham, Lincolnshire, where they are still living.

Mr Davidson, 79, said the hotel’s staff were “like family now”.’


Killer cobra guards diamond-encrusted heels at Harrods

‘To their high society owners, a pair of haute couture shoes can be a precious thing.

But to guard a $152,300 pair of ruby- sapphire- and diamond-encrusted Rene Caovilla sandals at their London launch, retailer Harrods went to extreme lengths: bringing in a live Egyptian cobra to patrol the shoe counter.

Whether hiring a poisonous snake is, strictly speaking, the most effective means of guarding precious footwear might be a moot point with security experts.

But it makes for a pretty effective photo opportunity.’


Sunday, September 9, 2007

 

Bullet Proof Baby

‘Welcome to Bullet Proof Baby Industries, the baby protection specialists.

I’m Stella Stevenson, Founder and CEO of BPB Industries. I’ve been an industrial designer all my life, and decided to establish ‘bullet proof baby’ when my first son, Randy, was nearly killed in a drive by shooting in 2004.

When stray bullets hit the pram but narrowly missed my son, I realised there was a gap in the market for a range of products to protect babies in today’s increasingly violent society. Since founding the business in 2005, we’ve gone from strength to strength, adding new products to our line, and winning awards for our product design innovations.’

(1.5meg Flash video)

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Daft Punk – Around The World lyrics


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Bush has bad day at Sydney Opera House

‘President Bush had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day at the Sydney Opera House.

He’d only reached the third sentence of Friday’s speech to business leaders, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, when he committed his first gaffe.

“Thank you for being such a fine host for the OPEC summit,” Bush said to Australian Prime Minister John Howard.

Oops. That would be APEC, the annual meeting of leaders from 21 Pacific Rim nations, not OPEC, the cartel of 12 major oil producers. [..]

The president’s next goof went uncorrected — by him anyway. Talking about Howard’s visit to Iraq last year to thank his country’s soldiers serving there, Bush called them “Austrian troops.”‘