Saturday, February 13, 2010

Do elephants walk or run?

Elephants can walk and run both at the same time
With their awkward, lumbering gait, elephants moving at high speed are not the most graceful of animals - but are they walking or running?
Now scientists believe they have an answer: new research confirms that they do both - at the same time.
By observing elephants moving across a hi-tech track, the team found the hefty creatures run with their front legs but walk with their back legs.
VIDEO

'Watering Can Man' leaves 3,000 watering cans to niece

Hilary Taylor was left a rather unusual part of her uncle’s estate when he died – 3,000 watering cans.
Ken Stickland – known as Watering Can Man – filled his shed, greenhouse, garden and even an entire floor of his house with his beloved collection.
Mr. Stickland – who died last month, aged 78 – even kept a meticulous record of every watering can, including many he made himself.
‘I have heard of people collecting teapots or stamps... but this?’
‘He was such a fascinating person. He started his collection in 2001 but I have no idea why. I suppose it kept his mind occupied and he had something to get up for.
‘Nearly every charity shop in the area knew him because he was always looking for watering cans.
‘He did not have a favorite, he just loved them all. Sometimes he would come home to find people had left them on his doorstep.’
Mrs Taylor admits she doesn’t know what to do with the collection and may sell it in aid of charity.
One particular can will be always special though – as her uncle’s ashes are held in it.
.

Only worth sixpence, but it cost one man his job

He only misplaced a single letter but it was one “L” of a costly mistake for the general manager of the Chilean mint.
Gregorio IƱiguez and several other employees have reportedly been sacked after they minted a set of 50-peso coins with the name of their nation spelt incorrectly.
The coins were released into the circulation
with C-H-I-I-E stamped on the front where it should read C-H-I-L-E.
The coins have since become collectors' items and the mint says it has no plans to take them out of circulation.
People have reportedly been hoarding the coins in the hope their value rises.
But the mistake has cost the mint's general manager, Gregorio Iniguez, and several other employees, their jobs.
It is not the first embarrassing blunder at the Chilean mint. Last October, someone there sold a rare medal, which should have been housed in the institution's museum, to a coin collector.
A month later, another medal - this one bearing the face of the country's then President Michelle Bachelet - was inadvertently sold on the open market.
.