Monday, August 25, 2008

Farmer's Almanac Predicts Colder, 'Catastrophic' Winter

People worried about the high cost of keeping warm this winter will draw little comfort from the Farmers' Almanac, which predicts below-average temperatures for most of the U.S.
"Numb's the word," says the 192-year-old publication, which claims an accuracy rate of 80 to 85 percent for its forecasts that are prepared two years in advance.
The almanac's 2009 edition, which goes on sale Tuesday, says at least two-thirds of the country can expect colder-than-average temperatures this winter, with only the Far West and Southeast in line for near-normal readings.
"This is going to be catastrophic for millions of people," said almanac editor Peter Geiger.
The almanac predicts above-normal snowfall for the Great Lakes and Midwest, especially during January and February, and above-normal precipitation for the Southwest in December and for the Southeast in January and February. The Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions will likely have an unusually wet or snowy February, the almanac said.

Girl, 11, Finds $1,000 Floating in Ocean

An 11-year-old Delaware girl has delivered a happy ending to a Pittsburgh couple's vacation nightmare.
While swimming in the surf in Ocean City, Md., Rowan Short of Brandywine Hundred found a Ziploc bag containing two credit cards, a Pennsylvania driver's license and more than $1,000 cash. Her mom used a cell phone to call 411, got the number of the driver named on the license, and placed a call to Elaine and Michael Chosky in Pittsburgh.
Michael Chosky says there was no hotel safe at the Ocean City spot where his family spent their vacation, so he kept his valuables with him in his swimsuit pocket. He says he was swimming in rough surf Aug. 14 when the bag disappeared.

The Harley-Davidson Museum

Harley-Davidon first motorcycle with the serial number 1 was made in 1903.

There are many unique bikes on display.
This one has two seats, two gas tanks and two engines.

Alligator on loose in city was just a soft toy

When an alligator was reported loose on the streets of Bristol, police and the RSPCA snapped into action. Roads were sealed off as they staked out the creature, which appeared to be lying in garden bushes with the remains of a bird in its jaws. After a tense 30-minute stand-off, emergency workers used a camera to zoom in on the reptile – and discovered that it was a stuffed toy.
Richard Masling, an RSPCA inspector, said after Friday’s incident: "As animal rescues go, this one was child’s play." Mr Masling said: "We thought it would be a captive caiman which had escaped or been abandoned, then killed and eaten a wild bird and was laying on the grass digesting it." It is unclear if the emergency was a prank but the toy had fluff in its mouth to appear like feathers and an elastic band made to look like a muzzle was wrapped around its jaws.

Roads were sealed off as they staked out the creature, which appeared to be lying in garden bushes with the remains of a bird in its jaws.
After a tense 30-minute stand-off, emergency workers used a camera to zoom in on the reptile – and discovered that it was a stuffed toy.
Richard Masling, an RSPCA inspector, said after Friday’s incident: "As animal rescues go, this one was child’s play."
RSPCA chief inspector Richard Masling said: "We thought it would be a captive caiman which had escaped or been abandoned, then killed and eaten a wild bird and was laying on the grass digesting it.
"Caiman are part of the alligator family and have very sharp teeth, so it was very important that the police and RSPCA took all the necessary safety precautions to protect ourselves and the public.
"But in the end, as animal rescues go - this one really was child's play."
It is unclear if the emergency was a prank but the toy had fluff in its mouth to appear like feathers and an elastic band made to look like a muzzle was wrapped around its jaws.
Chief Insp Masling added: "Although this turned out to be a funny call, the number of unwanted and abandoned exotic animals which the Society deals with is no laughing matter. That includes, on occasions, the odd caiman."
Caiman alligators are native to freshwaters in the United States but can be kept as pets.