Friday, October 31, 2008
North Carolina Police Stop Traffic to Aid Momma Bear
WOODFIN, North Carolina — Police had to halt traffic on a highway in North Carolina to help a mother bear get to her cub after it was struck by a vehicle.
Police say the cub was struck Tuesday afternoon and the driver didn't stop.
Officers in the western North Carolina town of Woodfin halted cars for about 20 minutes after the mother bear had failed twice at trying to get her 80-pound cub off the busy highway.
Sgt. Dawn Roberts says officers stood with rifles while others pulled the cub to the side of the road near the mother. She says the mother bear grabbed the cub and ran off into the woods to tend to its body.
Police say the cub was struck Tuesday afternoon and the driver didn't stop.
Officers in the western North Carolina town of Woodfin halted cars for about 20 minutes after the mother bear had failed twice at trying to get her 80-pound cub off the busy highway.
Sgt. Dawn Roberts says officers stood with rifles while others pulled the cub to the side of the road near the mother. She says the mother bear grabbed the cub and ran off into the woods to tend to its body.
Diarrhea 'no excuse' for speeding
A woman from southern Sweden has lost her bid to have a speeding fine overturned on the grounds that she was suffering from diarrhea at the time of the offence.
The 49-year-old woman from Trelleborg explained to the local district court that she was experiencing stomach problems when she was pulled over for driving 86 kilometres per hour in a 70 km/h zone. But the court ruled that a case of the runs did not equate to a need for speed. A situation can only be classed as an emergency if somebody's life is in danger or if a driver hits the gas in an attempt to prevent a serious crime. As the woman's desire to get home to her toilet did not fit into either category, the court ordered her to pay the speeding fine.
The 49-year-old woman from Trelleborg explained to the local district court that she was experiencing stomach problems when she was pulled over for driving 86 kilometres per hour in a 70 km/h zone. But the court ruled that a case of the runs did not equate to a need for speed. A situation can only be classed as an emergency if somebody's life is in danger or if a driver hits the gas in an attempt to prevent a serious crime. As the woman's desire to get home to her toilet did not fit into either category, the court ordered her to pay the speeding fine.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Hot Pink House Has To Go
The owners of the Nathaniel Holmes, Jr. House located in Dennisville's historic district have painted the building and neighboring gift shop "forward fuschia."The house was built 208 years ago, and up until this week was white, much like the other historical buildings that surround it.
Some residents are upset over the color choice, but there may be nothing they can do.
According to the town council, the community doesn't have any rules about house color.
Video and More
Fish has hernia operation
Carla the fish has had a life-saving operation after developing a hernia.The 10-inch-long angelfish was laid out on an operating table while a vet and two assistants carried out the unusual surgery.
After being anaesthatised the exotic fish had a tube placed in her mouth and water pumped through her body and out her gills to enable her to breathe.
Vet Sue Thornton repaired the stomach condition using a scalpel, a needle and forceps during the £500 operation.
After being stitched up and brought round the plucky fish was kept under close observation before she went on to make a full recovery.
Carla has been a resident at the London Aquarium for 10 years and staff decided to try and save her rather than put her to sleep when she developed the hernia.
In the News
As U.S. gasoline prices go down, driving habits goes back up
Doug Guidry gave up drag racing and boating last summer when gasoline prices shot up. Billy Castaneda put off trips to Houston to see his grandchildren. Randal Shul stopped playing paintball with his buddies to save gasoline.
Now, with U.S. gasoline prices dropping, all three men are hitting the road again. "Gas going down means freedom, even when everyone is worried about the economy," Castaneda said as he filled his 1995 Oldsmobile 88 to drive 125 miles to Houston the other day.
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Study: Daylight Saving Time Saves Lives
Heart Attacks Dip Monday After Clocks Turned Back
Turning your clock back may be good for your heart.
Swedish researchers looked at 20 years of records and discovered that the number of heart attacks dipped on the Monday after clocks were set back an hour from daylight saving time to standard time, possibly because people got an extra hour of sleep.
But moving clocks forward appeared to have the opposite effect. There were more heart attacks during the week after the start of daylight saving time, particularly on the first three days of the week.
"Sleep — through a variety of mechanisms — affects our cardiovascular health," said Dr. Lori Mosca, director of preventive cardiology at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, who was not involved in the research. The findings show that "sleep not only impacts how we feel, but it may also affect whether we develop heart disease or not."
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Texas Samaritan buys woman her house at auction
A woman distraught over losing her house showed up to watch it auctioned off, but that wasn't the end of the story. Tracy Orr will return home after a stranger bought the house back for her Saturday.
"It means so much to all of us," Orr said. "It's not just a house."
Marilyn Mock said she decided on the spot to buy the house after striking up a conversation with a sobbing Orr at the auction Saturday. Mock was there to help her 27-year-old son bid on a house.
Mock successfully bid $30,000 for Orr's house in Pottsboro. Orr will make payments to her once the deal is finalized.
"She needed help. That was it," Mock said. "I just happened to be there, and anybody else would have done the same thing."
Orr bought the house for $80,000 in 2004 but lost her job a month after taking out the loan. She fell behind on her payments and lost the house this year _ an increasingly common story across the nation.
The two are waiting on final approval from mortgage giant Fannie Mae before visiting the home. Mock's son also bought a house at the auction.
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Young Girl Turns in $1000 Found in Richard Simmons Videotape
The best bargain at the Salvation Army thrift store in Kailua-Kona was a Richard Simmons videotape.
But Mikela Mercier, 11, decided to pass up the chance to buy the tape for a few coins after she found a surprise inside: $1,000 in $100 bills.
Mikela says that when she discovered the money while browsing through the used tapes, she immediately looked for her mom who was inside the dressing room and told her they needed to turn it in.
Store manager Jimmy Thennes put out a news release on the discovery, praising Mikela for her honesty.
Her mother, Jodi Mercier, says she is very proud of her daughter who she says knew it belonged to the Salvation Army so the agency can help more people in need.
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False leg found underneath ride
The 28-year-old Corkscrew, which cost £1.25m, was Europe's first double-looped rollercoaster.
The leg was just one of many bizarre items found near The Corkscrew, which is to be dismantled after carrying 43.5 million people since it opened in 1980.
Staff clearing the site also found a diamond wedding ring, 53 non-matching shoes and 604 watches.
Other lost property items included 800 pieces of jewelry, 237 mobile phones, thousands of caps and a prosthetic ear.
The ride, which reaches speeds of up to 44mph (70km/h), opened on 4 April 1980.
'Missing leg'
Riders are turned upside down twice within three seconds - which probably explains the large amount of lost items found below.
The Staffordshire amusement park said it was used to dealing with more than 5,000 items of lost property, such as car keys, money and mobile phones.
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Doug Guidry gave up drag racing and boating last summer when gasoline prices shot up. Billy Castaneda put off trips to Houston to see his grandchildren. Randal Shul stopped playing paintball with his buddies to save gasoline.
Now, with U.S. gasoline prices dropping, all three men are hitting the road again. "Gas going down means freedom, even when everyone is worried about the economy," Castaneda said as he filled his 1995 Oldsmobile 88 to drive 125 miles to Houston the other day.
.
Study: Daylight Saving Time Saves Lives
Heart Attacks Dip Monday After Clocks Turned Back
Turning your clock back may be good for your heart.
Swedish researchers looked at 20 years of records and discovered that the number of heart attacks dipped on the Monday after clocks were set back an hour from daylight saving time to standard time, possibly because people got an extra hour of sleep.
But moving clocks forward appeared to have the opposite effect. There were more heart attacks during the week after the start of daylight saving time, particularly on the first three days of the week.
"Sleep — through a variety of mechanisms — affects our cardiovascular health," said Dr. Lori Mosca, director of preventive cardiology at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, who was not involved in the research. The findings show that "sleep not only impacts how we feel, but it may also affect whether we develop heart disease or not."
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Texas Samaritan buys woman her house at auction
A woman distraught over losing her house showed up to watch it auctioned off, but that wasn't the end of the story. Tracy Orr will return home after a stranger bought the house back for her Saturday.
"It means so much to all of us," Orr said. "It's not just a house."
Marilyn Mock said she decided on the spot to buy the house after striking up a conversation with a sobbing Orr at the auction Saturday. Mock was there to help her 27-year-old son bid on a house.
Mock successfully bid $30,000 for Orr's house in Pottsboro. Orr will make payments to her once the deal is finalized.
"She needed help. That was it," Mock said. "I just happened to be there, and anybody else would have done the same thing."
Orr bought the house for $80,000 in 2004 but lost her job a month after taking out the loan. She fell behind on her payments and lost the house this year _ an increasingly common story across the nation.
The two are waiting on final approval from mortgage giant Fannie Mae before visiting the home. Mock's son also bought a house at the auction.
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Young Girl Turns in $1000 Found in Richard Simmons Videotape
The best bargain at the Salvation Army thrift store in Kailua-Kona was a Richard Simmons videotape.
But Mikela Mercier, 11, decided to pass up the chance to buy the tape for a few coins after she found a surprise inside: $1,000 in $100 bills.
Mikela says that when she discovered the money while browsing through the used tapes, she immediately looked for her mom who was inside the dressing room and told her they needed to turn it in.
Store manager Jimmy Thennes put out a news release on the discovery, praising Mikela for her honesty.
Her mother, Jodi Mercier, says she is very proud of her daughter who she says knew it belonged to the Salvation Army so the agency can help more people in need.
.
False leg found underneath ride
The 28-year-old Corkscrew, which cost £1.25m, was Europe's first double-looped rollercoaster.
The leg was just one of many bizarre items found near The Corkscrew, which is to be dismantled after carrying 43.5 million people since it opened in 1980.
Staff clearing the site also found a diamond wedding ring, 53 non-matching shoes and 604 watches.
Other lost property items included 800 pieces of jewelry, 237 mobile phones, thousands of caps and a prosthetic ear.
The ride, which reaches speeds of up to 44mph (70km/h), opened on 4 April 1980.
'Missing leg'
Riders are turned upside down twice within three seconds - which probably explains the large amount of lost items found below.
The Staffordshire amusement park said it was used to dealing with more than 5,000 items of lost property, such as car keys, money and mobile phones.
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Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Bubble-wrap baby:
The tiny premature child kept alive with a little packagingHe was such a special delivery, and such incredibly fragile goods, that the usual sort of wrapping just wouldn't do.
The little mite swaddled in bubble wrap is Gregor Craig, who was born at just 24 weeks weighing a tiny 1lb 14oz - so small that his father's wedding ring fitted over his arm.
His chances of survival were slim, but doctors wanted to give him every chance.
Carefully wrapped: Little baby Gregor Craig was kept warm in bubble wrap after his premature birth
So they wrapped him in the bubble wrap to keep him warm. Hospitals often use plastic wrap to help premature babies retain their body heat, but this was the first time the doctors in Kintyre, western Scotland, had used the bubble variety.
Puppy finds feline mom at animal shelter
Jelly Bean, a mother cat at the Humane Society of Harrisburg Area, may think her third "kitten" looks and smells a little strange, but she is letting him nurse and cuddle just the same.Baby Bear, a chocolate Labrador retriever, came to the Humane Society as a 3-day-old puppy abandoned by his mother. Shelter workers fed him from a bottle and used a heating pad to keep him warm.
Then Jelly Bean stepped in and allowed Baby Bear to nurse with her two kittens, Jelly Roll and Jelly Belly. Nearly the same size as Baby Bear, the two kittens treat him as their brother, Humane Society spokeswoman Kelly Hitz said in a written release.
Baby Bear will be eligible for adoption when he is about 8 weeks old.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Dog Video's
Pug Head Tilt.
Pugs are known for their head tilts.
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Dog Climbs to Freedom.
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The Great Escape!
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Another Great Dog Escape!
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The Great Escape!
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Another Great Dog Escape!
In the News
Driver follows sat-nav into lake
A Polish driver steered his mini bus straight into a lake - after his sat-nav told him to.
Police got a frantic call from the bus driver as he called from the Mercedes van screaming that he and his two passengers were drowning. He managed to say that he had driven into a lake and he was sinking fast.
"He said he had two passengers but he couldn't open the doors - and then he got cut off."
Police, fire and ambulance services rushed to the lake and found the driver and his passengers perched on the top of the mini-bus's roof.
"There used to be a road there until last year until the local water company flooded the valley to build a new reservoir lake," said one police source.
"It seems that the GPS hadn't been updated and was still showing a usable road running through where the lake now is. It's a huge lake and it's hard to imagine how you could ignore or not see it, but he certainly managed it.
"The driver had such faith in his sat-nav that he didn't even notice all the traffic signs saying the road had been closed," they added.
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Police seek more pay for using computers
Their union says police officers in Framingham, Mass., need to be paid more for filing their reports on laptop computers given them by the city.
The union is asking for $41,000 to settle its claim that a new requirement to file reports on the computers represents an unlawful change in working conditions.
Union officials said the new filing requirement means increased training and record-keeping, all of which mean police should be paid a stipend for the extra work.
Michael Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, disagrees.
"Police officers have a critical job and they get paid for that," Widmer said. "But these extra creative ways of padding the paycheck really are not appropriate, and undercut the bond with the taxpayers."
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The chef who is allergic to water
So, after 23 years in the kitchen, he has hung up his apron for good.
Andy Laughton has been forced to wash his hands of his job as a chef after discovering he is allergic to water.
Mr Laughton started getting itchy hands whenever he was working and soon the itching broke into hives.
The five-star hotel chef started using latex gloves - only to discover he was also allergic to the lanoline and nickel used in their manufacture.
After a battery of hospital tests, the 39-year-old was diagnosed with the rare condition aquagenic urticaria.
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Croatian women taken to court for falling off bike
A elderly Croatian women has been ordered to pay court and police fees and received an official warning after she fell off her bicycle.
The 69-year-old woman admitted causing a traffic accident before a court at Zabok, near Zagreb, although no-one else was involved in the incident.
The court did not fine the woman since she pleaded guilty but said that she had failed to "adjust the speed to road condition," and ordered her to pay 440 kunas in fees out of her 2,300 kuna (318 euro, 407 dollar) pension.
The accident, in which the woman suffered minor injuries, happened last July but the court only sent out its verdict earlier this month.
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A Polish driver steered his mini bus straight into a lake - after his sat-nav told him to.
Police got a frantic call from the bus driver as he called from the Mercedes van screaming that he and his two passengers were drowning. He managed to say that he had driven into a lake and he was sinking fast.
"He said he had two passengers but he couldn't open the doors - and then he got cut off."
Police, fire and ambulance services rushed to the lake and found the driver and his passengers perched on the top of the mini-bus's roof.
"There used to be a road there until last year until the local water company flooded the valley to build a new reservoir lake," said one police source.
"It seems that the GPS hadn't been updated and was still showing a usable road running through where the lake now is. It's a huge lake and it's hard to imagine how you could ignore or not see it, but he certainly managed it.
"The driver had such faith in his sat-nav that he didn't even notice all the traffic signs saying the road had been closed," they added.
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Police seek more pay for using computers
Their union says police officers in Framingham, Mass., need to be paid more for filing their reports on laptop computers given them by the city.
The union is asking for $41,000 to settle its claim that a new requirement to file reports on the computers represents an unlawful change in working conditions.
Union officials said the new filing requirement means increased training and record-keeping, all of which mean police should be paid a stipend for the extra work.
Michael Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, disagrees.
"Police officers have a critical job and they get paid for that," Widmer said. "But these extra creative ways of padding the paycheck really are not appropriate, and undercut the bond with the taxpayers."
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The chef who is allergic to water
So, after 23 years in the kitchen, he has hung up his apron for good.
Andy Laughton has been forced to wash his hands of his job as a chef after discovering he is allergic to water.
Mr Laughton started getting itchy hands whenever he was working and soon the itching broke into hives.
The five-star hotel chef started using latex gloves - only to discover he was also allergic to the lanoline and nickel used in their manufacture.
After a battery of hospital tests, the 39-year-old was diagnosed with the rare condition aquagenic urticaria.
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Croatian women taken to court for falling off bike
A elderly Croatian women has been ordered to pay court and police fees and received an official warning after she fell off her bicycle.
The 69-year-old woman admitted causing a traffic accident before a court at Zabok, near Zagreb, although no-one else was involved in the incident.
The court did not fine the woman since she pleaded guilty but said that she had failed to "adjust the speed to road condition," and ordered her to pay 440 kunas in fees out of her 2,300 kuna (318 euro, 407 dollar) pension.
The accident, in which the woman suffered minor injuries, happened last July but the court only sent out its verdict earlier this month.
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Monday, October 27, 2008
Puppy and a Lion Cub
This puppy may be able to take on this kitty now, but in two years, this cat will dominate!
How does something this cute and cuddly grow up so mean?
Meet Cholla, The Painting Horse
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Cholla, the painting horse, works on his latest masterpiece at his owner Renee Chambers’ ranch in Reno, Nevada. Cholla’s paintings are set to be exhibited in Italy from Oct. 18- Nov 2. See Cholla, The Painting Horse website to see a gallery of his art! Watch a video of Cholla painting his fabulous art!
The year is 1906
One hundred and two years ago.
Here are some of the U.S. statistics.
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The average life expectancy in the U.S. was 47 years.
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Only 14 percent of the homes in the U.S. had a bathtub.
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Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone
A three-minute call from Denver to New York City cost eleven dollars.
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There were only 8,000 cars in the U.S., and only 144 miles of paved roads.
The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.
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Alabama, Mississippi, Iowa, and Tennessee were each more heavily populated than California. With a mere 1.4 million people, California was only the 21st most populous state in the Union.
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The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower!
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The average wage in the U.S. was 22 cents per hour.
The average U.S. worker made between $200 and $400 per year .
A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 per year, a dentist $2,500 per year, a veterinarian between $1,500 and $4,000 per year, and a mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.
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More than 95 percent of all births in the U.S. took place at HOME.
Ninety percent of all U.S. doctors had NO COLLEGE EDUCATION! Instead, they attended so-called medical schools, many of which were condemned in the press and the government as "substandard."
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Sugar cost four cents a pound.
Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen.
Coffee was fifteen cents a pound.
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Most women only washed their hair once a month, and used borax or egg yolks for shampoo.
Canada passed a law that prohibited poor people from entering into their country for any reason. .
Five leading causes of death in the U.S. were:
1. Pneumonia and influenza
2. Tuberculosis
3. Diarrhea
4. Heart disease
5. Stroke
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The American flag had 45 stars.
Arizona, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Hawaii, and Alaska hadn’t been admitted to the Union yet..
The population of Las Vegas, Nevada, was only 30!!!!
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Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and ice tea hadn’t been invented yet. There was no Mother’s Day or Father’s Day.
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Two out of every 10 U.S. adults couldn’t read or write. Only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school.
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Imagine what it may be like in another 100 years.
Here are some of the U.S. statistics.
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The average life expectancy in the U.S. was 47 years.
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Only 14 percent of the homes in the U.S. had a bathtub.
.
Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone
A three-minute call from Denver to New York City cost eleven dollars.
.
There were only 8,000 cars in the U.S., and only 144 miles of paved roads.
The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.
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Alabama, Mississippi, Iowa, and Tennessee were each more heavily populated than California. With a mere 1.4 million people, California was only the 21st most populous state in the Union.
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The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower!
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The average wage in the U.S. was 22 cents per hour.
The average U.S. worker made between $200 and $400 per year .
A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 per year, a dentist $2,500 per year, a veterinarian between $1,500 and $4,000 per year, and a mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.
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More than 95 percent of all births in the U.S. took place at HOME.
Ninety percent of all U.S. doctors had NO COLLEGE EDUCATION! Instead, they attended so-called medical schools, many of which were condemned in the press and the government as "substandard."
.
Sugar cost four cents a pound.
Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen.
Coffee was fifteen cents a pound.
.
Most women only washed their hair once a month, and used borax or egg yolks for shampoo.
Canada passed a law that prohibited poor people from entering into their country for any reason. .
Five leading causes of death in the U.S. were:
1. Pneumonia and influenza
2. Tuberculosis
3. Diarrhea
4. Heart disease
5. Stroke
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The American flag had 45 stars.
Arizona, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Hawaii, and Alaska hadn’t been admitted to the Union yet..
The population of Las Vegas, Nevada, was only 30!!!!
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Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and ice tea hadn’t been invented yet. There was no Mother’s Day or Father’s Day.
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Two out of every 10 U.S. adults couldn’t read or write. Only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school.
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Imagine what it may be like in another 100 years.
Thrift store receives a anonymous $10,000 cash donation
A Daytona Beach thrift shop got something besides the typical donation of old clothes.
Someone left more than $10,000 in cash inside a plastic grocery bag.
It arrived along with several empty bags donated to the shop.
Employees told cops that an unidentified man dropped off the bags.
The shop often asks for donations of plastic bags and when a worker went through them, she discovered the money.
The guy comes into the thrift shop often to buy merchandise but has always remained anonymous.
The money isn't going to help the thrift shop, though. Cops took it and tagged it as evidence.
Someone left more than $10,000 in cash inside a plastic grocery bag.
It arrived along with several empty bags donated to the shop.
Employees told cops that an unidentified man dropped off the bags.
The shop often asks for donations of plastic bags and when a worker went through them, she discovered the money.
The guy comes into the thrift shop often to buy merchandise but has always remained anonymous.
The money isn't going to help the thrift shop, though. Cops took it and tagged it as evidence.
Dog Saves Kittens
A dog was hailed as a hero on Sunday after it risked its life to save a litter of newborn kittens
Fire fighters who revived Leo said he refused to leave the home and was found by them alongside the litter of kittens, despite thick smoke.
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Fire fighters who revived Leo said he refused to leave the home and was found by them alongside the litter of kittens, despite thick smoke.
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Sunday, October 26, 2008
Head Kenzan
The Head Kenzan is a delightful scalp massager with a unique Japanese twist. The brush structure is inspired by "kenzan," a traditional tool used in Japanese flower arranging to hold the flowers in place.With 92 bristles that hit upon that perfect balance of not-too-hard and not-too-soft, the flexible Head Kenzan molds itself to your head. Simply use the handles on either side to run the brush back and forth, massaging and energizing your scalp.
Pampered pooches inherit fortune
Who needs a best friend when you can live off their riches?Pampered pooches Wags and Deefa hit the jackpot when their wealthy owner died six months ago.
The unidentified owner's last will and testament, addressed to ``my faithful dogs'', outlines a life of luxury for her pups.
Having inherited $700,000 between them, the pair will spend the rest of their days at a five-star animal resort north of Melbourne.
At a cost of $5000 a month, Wags, a nine-year-old cairn terrier cross, and Deefa, a 10-year-old corgi cross, enjoy weekly pedicures and regular massages, as well as the services of a personal trainer.
They sleep in four-poster beds, in a bedroom fitted with a television and an air-conditioner.
Their residence at Kepala Pet Resort, in Diggers Rest, also allows them to languish by the lagoon, or spend time at the "country club'', which features grass and sand running tracks, and even an indoor swimming pool.
And when these spoiled pets go on to pooch heaven, the remaining riches will go to animal charities including The Lost Dogs Home.
But it's not just dog-lovers with unusual plans administered from beyond the grave. In NSW, one person left their entire estate, worth $500,000, to the Australian Taxation Office, citing it was "for the good of the Commonwealth''.
Another sought to leave their estate to members of the British royal family.
Meanwhile, a 22-year-old Queensland engineering student has pledged to leave a quarter of his superannuation to former prime minister John Howard.
Brad Kanther said: "I just really like the guy and want to send a personal message to him.''
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Cat glows green under fluorescent light
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Mr. Green Genes The Glow in the Dark Cat
The Today Show intro's us to Mr. Green Genes, The first glow in the dark cat in the US.
His eyes glow ghoulishly in the right light, just like any other cat's - but so do his nostrils, gums and tongue. Mr Green Genes of New Orleans in the U.S. is the country's first 'glow in the dark' ginger tom.
In daylight he looks normal, but put him in a darkened room and switch on an ultraviolet light, and his face will beam out a bright green.
Woman grows her hair to nearly 9 feet
Asha Mandela has hair that could rival Rapunzel's. The South Florida woman who started growing her hair 20 years ago now has locks longer than she is tall.
Mandela has submitted her hair, which measure 8 feet 9 inches long, to the Guinness Book of World Records for the Longest Dreadlocks, the first entry in a new category.
It takes one bottle of shampoo and one bottle of conditioner every time she washes her hair and can sometimes take days to fully dry after she washes it.
The 46-year-old Mandela says she "used to wash it three times a week. Now I do it once a week. It's very tiring. Sometimes I don't have the energy."
Mandela has submitted her hair, which measure 8 feet 9 inches long, to the Guinness Book of World Records for the Longest Dreadlocks, the first entry in a new category.
It takes one bottle of shampoo and one bottle of conditioner every time she washes her hair and can sometimes take days to fully dry after she washes it.
The 46-year-old Mandela says she "used to wash it three times a week. Now I do it once a week. It's very tiring. Sometimes I don't have the energy."
Friday, October 24, 2008
What Six Grade Education Gets You
Jed and Jethro live in the hills, about 5 miles outside of town.
Jed asks Jethro to go in to town to pick up some lumber.
Jethro walks the 5 miles to town to the local lumber yard.
"Jed says we're gonna need some 4 x 2's" Jethro tells the lumber man.
"Do you mean 2 x 4's?" asks the lumber man.
"Well, I don't rightly know, I better go ask Jed" says Jethro and walks the 10 miles to the hills and back to town.
"Jed says we're gonna need 2 x 4's" Jethro tells the lumber man.
"Now, how many 2 x 4's will you need?" asks the lumber man."
Well, I don't rightly know, I better go ask Jed." says Jethro, and again walks the 10 miles to the hills and back to town.
"Jed says were gonna need about 40 of 'em" Jethro tells the lumber man.
"Now, how long will you need them?" asks the lumber man.
"Well, I don't rightly know, I better go ask Jed" says Jethro and yet again walks the 10 miles to the hills and back to town.
Upon returning Jethro says to the lumber man, "Jed says you better give 'em to us for a while
. . . we're gonna build a barn."
Jed asks Jethro to go in to town to pick up some lumber.
Jethro walks the 5 miles to town to the local lumber yard.
"Jed says we're gonna need some 4 x 2's" Jethro tells the lumber man.
"Do you mean 2 x 4's?" asks the lumber man.
"Well, I don't rightly know, I better go ask Jed" says Jethro and walks the 10 miles to the hills and back to town.
"Jed says we're gonna need 2 x 4's" Jethro tells the lumber man.
"Now, how many 2 x 4's will you need?" asks the lumber man."
Well, I don't rightly know, I better go ask Jed." says Jethro, and again walks the 10 miles to the hills and back to town.
"Jed says were gonna need about 40 of 'em" Jethro tells the lumber man.
"Now, how long will you need them?" asks the lumber man.
"Well, I don't rightly know, I better go ask Jed" says Jethro and yet again walks the 10 miles to the hills and back to town.
Upon returning Jethro says to the lumber man, "Jed says you better give 'em to us for a while
. . . we're gonna build a barn."
In the News
Absent minded store owner sells diesel for 59 cents
Diesel fuel was on heavy discount at a rural Wisconsin convenience store - just 59 cents a gallon.
That is, until the owner discovered he had left off the other $3 while changing the price in his computer.
Mohinder Singh estimates 50 to 75 customers took advantage of the mistake at his Lyons Shell Plaza last weekend, costing him more than $4,000.
He says he changed the price about noon Saturday, and it stayed at 59 cents until he arrived at 7 a.m. Sunday and saw a warning light indicating the diesel tank had only 200 gallons left.
Eighteen-year-old Jordan Koster knew something was wrong when he filled his pickup's 30-gallon tank for only $10. He told his father, and his father advised him to make things right.
The teen stopped Monday and paid the full amount.
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Sniffer dogs in teenage bedrooms
Retired sniffer dogs that have spent years on police patrol are now working in the private sector in the US - sniffing out teenagers' bedrooms.
Parents can rent a dog and handler for $200 (£125) an hour from Sniff Dogs, a firm operating in New Jersey and Ohio.
The dogs are highly trained and can detect illegal drugs.
The company says the animals can smell marijuana from up to 15 feet away (5m) and residue on clothing from drugs smoked two days earlier.
The dogs will sit when they detect the drugs but they leave the final inspection to the parents.
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'Fart gas' link to blood pressure
Hydrogen sulphide is behind the smell of rotten eggs
The gas best known for being used in many stink bombs may also control blood pressure, say US researchers.
Small amounts of hydrogen sulphide - a toxic gas generated by bacteria living in the human gut - are responsible for the foul odor of flatulence.
But it seems the gas is also produced by an enzyme in blood vessels where it relaxes them and lowers blood pressure.
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Diesel fuel was on heavy discount at a rural Wisconsin convenience store - just 59 cents a gallon.
That is, until the owner discovered he had left off the other $3 while changing the price in his computer.
Mohinder Singh estimates 50 to 75 customers took advantage of the mistake at his Lyons Shell Plaza last weekend, costing him more than $4,000.
He says he changed the price about noon Saturday, and it stayed at 59 cents until he arrived at 7 a.m. Sunday and saw a warning light indicating the diesel tank had only 200 gallons left.
Eighteen-year-old Jordan Koster knew something was wrong when he filled his pickup's 30-gallon tank for only $10. He told his father, and his father advised him to make things right.
The teen stopped Monday and paid the full amount.
.
Sniffer dogs in teenage bedrooms
Retired sniffer dogs that have spent years on police patrol are now working in the private sector in the US - sniffing out teenagers' bedrooms.
Parents can rent a dog and handler for $200 (£125) an hour from Sniff Dogs, a firm operating in New Jersey and Ohio.
The dogs are highly trained and can detect illegal drugs.
The company says the animals can smell marijuana from up to 15 feet away (5m) and residue on clothing from drugs smoked two days earlier.
The dogs will sit when they detect the drugs but they leave the final inspection to the parents.
.
'Fart gas' link to blood pressure
Hydrogen sulphide is behind the smell of rotten eggs
The gas best known for being used in many stink bombs may also control blood pressure, say US researchers.
Small amounts of hydrogen sulphide - a toxic gas generated by bacteria living in the human gut - are responsible for the foul odor of flatulence.
But it seems the gas is also produced by an enzyme in blood vessels where it relaxes them and lowers blood pressure.
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Thursday, October 23, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Good Advice
Watch what you do in life you might end up in a hole that you can’t get out.
This is what happens when water scours out a hole under asphalt. It took five cubic yards of concrete to fill the void.
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LOL, wow, that’s a crazy hole.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Pigeon lays egg on stove in New Zealand
It was a normal Sunday afternoon at Pat Cowie's place.Until a pigeon laid an egg on the stove top.
The pigeon popped in an open door at Pat's Evans Street home, climbed 14 stairs turned hard left at the top, wandered into the kitchen, and chose a smooth ceramic stove top as the ideal location for a spot of ovular action.
Pat was outside when the pigeon arrived and didn't know she had a bird burglar until she wandered into the kitchen. It took a moment to register the pigeon was there, let alone the fact it had laid an egg.
The pigeon then made herself at home on the bench top, investigated the pot plants on the windowsill, and partook of a little post-egg preening.
But, after submitting to an intensive photo session, she became unsettled and began flying. Concerned she might hurt herself, the family opened doors and off she went, leaving the egg behind.
According to Brian Christian from the South Canterbury Pigeon Flying Club, it's not a tale he's heard before.
However, it doesn't surprise him that the pigeon seemed quite comfortable inside - the birds are used to being indoors and being handled. Brian remembers a woman in Selwyn Street managing to corral three from her roof into her laundry.
He says it's likely she's a race bird, and her owner wasn't aware that she was on the point of lay when she was sent away for a race. About 700 pigeons were released in Timaru on Saturday to fly back to the North Island, so she may have been among that lot.
While pigeons can lay two eggs, often a day-and-a-half apart, this may have been her first and only. As for abandoning the egg, it's the male bird's job to sit during the day. The hens take the night shift.
Monday, October 20, 2008
$9.5 million parking ticket
A suburban Chicago couple received a $9.5 million parking ticket for leaving their car in downtown Glencoe, Ill., for more than two hours.
Barbara and Lee Mitchell say the ticket explained they were entitled to a hearing on the matter or could plead guilty and simply pay the fine, The Glencoe News reports.
If they chose to forgo a hearing, the instructions advised them "do not send cash."
Deputy Chief Mike Volling of the Glencoe Police Department said he's at a loss to explain the ticket.
"Obviously somebody messed up when it was entered into the computer." He said.
The Mitchells say the dollar amount of the ticket, $9,501,071, coincides with the license plate of the car.
Barbara and Lee Mitchell say the ticket explained they were entitled to a hearing on the matter or could plead guilty and simply pay the fine, The Glencoe News reports.
If they chose to forgo a hearing, the instructions advised them "do not send cash."
Deputy Chief Mike Volling of the Glencoe Police Department said he's at a loss to explain the ticket.
"Obviously somebody messed up when it was entered into the computer." He said.
The Mitchells say the dollar amount of the ticket, $9,501,071, coincides with the license plate of the car.
A crown made of friendship
Girl with Down syndrome wins homecoming honor —and peers' respect.Anne Jennings celebrates with a member of her court after she was named Libertyville High School 's homecoming Queen. (Family photo / October 18, 2008)
Now that she's royalty, Anne Jennings dances down the hallways, bursts into excited giggles and hugs her BFFs, or "best friends forever," without warning. Of course, she did pretty much all those things before being named homecoming queen at Libertyville High School, but somehow, life has become more magical.As a 17-year-old with Down syndrome, the senior "has been walking on air" since being crowned this month."Before, I was just plain me," said Jennings, selected by student vote out of 17 nominated girls. "When I was queen, it changed. It's amazing. Everyone loves me. I love me."Her mother's videotape of the Oct. 3 school assembly when her daughter was crowned says it all. After Jennings learned that she was among the top five members of the court, the video images began shaking. By the time the crown was placed on Jennings' head, the background noise boomed with the sounds of students cheering wildly.
By then, Ellen Jennings said, she had dissolved into tears, explaining why the video images bounce from floor to walls and back to her screaming, happy daughter."Amazing. Unbelievable," she said later. "You teach kids to do the right thing and treat people all like individuals, and look what happens."She credits the warmth shown by classmates to the years that Jennings spent in regular education classrooms, where she was taught through 8th grade. Since entering high school, Jennings has spent more time in separate special-education classes, but she has maintained friendships from early childhood.Megan Collins, 16, a junior, is among those who voted for Jennings."Once she was nominated, she was so happy and excited," Collins said. "I heard her say, 'I don't want people to vote for me out of pity' because of her challenges. I knew she would appreciate it more than the other girls."
Lauren Vogg, 14, a freshman, attended Adler Park Elementary School with Jennings. Today, Vogg and her friends volunteer for a program called Best Buddies that teams them with students with disabilities. She voted for Jennings."I think over the years, we have recognized her more as a high school student and not just a person with special needs," Vogg said.
Other Libertyville students started a Facebook group, "Annie Jennings for Homecoming Queen," that accumulated more than 300 members—something Ellen Jennings didn't discover until after her daughter was crowned."I was just blown away," she said.One person wrote on Facebook: "Annie has already won in my book! She is beautiful outside AND more importantly INSIDE."At school, Jennings is still glowing, said security worker Mike Dolan.Every day at 10:45 a.m., she returns from an off-campus work program, hops off a bus, enters the school and greets Dolan with a fist bump, which she calls "knuckles.""She has been walking on air," Dolan said.Jennings shares lunch, gym and keyboarding classes with the "normies," as she refers, with affection, to her mainstream peers. After graduating from Libertyville High next spring, she plans to enter Hawley Transition School in Mundelein, where she will learn independent-living skills such as how to manage money, use public transportation and keep a job.She hopes to attend college after that, and marry her boyfriend, who took her to the homecoming dance, she said. She relives that weekend every time she looks at the pictures, with her smiling in a black dress and shawl."The paparazzi took a lot of pictures," said Jennings, a Special Olympics athlete and fan of the Jonas Brothers. "We ate out at Lino's. I had to give a speech."For years Jennings has struggled with questions about what makes her different from others."She would ask, 'Why did God make me have Down syndrome?' " Ellen Jennings said, sitting near her daughter in the family's living room.Anne Jennings, exasperation in her voice, piped up: "And she has no answers to give me."Her mother paused, then replied."Your job is to figure out what your gifts are and what you have to contribute to the world," she said.In some ways, being named homecoming queen has changed the way Jennings thinks about Down syndrome, "that it's not the worst thing in the world that could happen to someone," Ellen Jennings said.
Her daughter agreed, saying that at first, high school was scary and sometimes boring."Now I know why," she said. "This was going to happen."
Sunday, October 19, 2008
999 What’s Your Emergency
The amazing 999 call made by heroines aged 6 and 4 which saved their father's life.Jessica and Georgina Wilkinson called for an ambulance as father David lay bleeding and unconscious on the floor.
The sisters calmly summoned paramedics after their dad, a 45-year-old sales director, had an epileptic fit and hit his head. After making the emergency call, they searched his pockets for keys to unlock the front door.
While they waited for the ambulance, the 999 operator kept Georgina and her older sister chatting.
Jessica said her address was ‘my house’ and that the telephone number was ‘999’. She said her dad was ‘asleep’ but there was ‘a lot of blood’.
The six-year-old also refused to get help from her neighbors because they ‘were only meant to go there when Mummy is here’.
When the ambulance arrived, Georgina held a chair while her sister Jessica climb up to unlock the door.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Iran makes almost one mile long ostrich sandwich
Cooks in Iran have tried to assemble the world's largest ostrich sandwich at a food festival in Tehran, as part of a bid to promote healthy eating.
The organizers want to promote Iran's fledgling ostrich farming business.
About 1,500 cooks used 1,000kg (2,200lbs) of ostrich meat to make the 1,500m (4,920ft) long sandwich.
It took two days to prepare the sandwich, and a huge measuring tape ran the length of the table on which it was sitting.
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The organizers want to promote Iran's fledgling ostrich farming business.
About 1,500 cooks used 1,000kg (2,200lbs) of ostrich meat to make the 1,500m (4,920ft) long sandwich.
It took two days to prepare the sandwich, and a huge measuring tape ran the length of the table on which it was sitting.
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That was no tiger — that was Tigger!
A tiger that surprised a North Devon cyclist has been tracked down and it's just a big old softie.Last week the police were contacted by Adam Dobby after he saw what he took to be an adult tiger in the back of an estate car.
Mr Dobby, a teaching assistant, was convinced the animal was real when he saw it in Bideford in a car near the Heywood roundabout.
The Bideford College employee said the animal was lying down in the back of the car, which had no cage, and its head was definitely moving.
But after seeing the article, Terry Western from Clovelly contacted the police and confirmed it was his tiger and it was only a toy.
He said: "It does look very real and almost everybody does a double-take. I have always kept the tiger — who is called Tigger — in the boot of my car. It is just nice to show him off. I have another one called Toby who lives on my porch."
Terry, 69, was given the tigers about five years ago because he loves the animals.
He has previously been to Thailand where he was able to meet tiger cubs.
Great Toilet Prank
Imagine, you’re using a porta-potty and when you get out.... you are in a office meeting !
Two Women Shocked to Learn They Are Sisters
Two British women who have known each other 30 years were stunned to discover they are sisters.Deborah Day was adopted when she was two months old — separating her from big sister Marilyn Morris.
They met again as teenagers working in a supermarket and became friends — but had no idea they were related.
They lost touch again but the truth finally came to light when their oldest sister Sally Griffiths launched a search for her lost family.
At a reunion Deborah, 44, and Marilyn, 45, were shocked to discover they were more than friends.
They live within a mile of each other in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, and even send their children to the same school.
"When we worked together we realized we were similar," Day said. "But I never imagined Marilyn was my sister. We’ve got years of catching up to do and we’re enjoying every minute."
Marilyn added: "Debbie and I look so alike. It’s wonderful because we have such a great family now.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Eagle Rehabilitated With Paraglider Training
Bird lovers who rehabilitated a Bald Eagle are training the eagle how to fly after more that 10 years in captivity. They are using a two-person para-glider to soar above French peaks and the big raptor sticks pretty close. Check the video for the amazing landing sequence.
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Mans Best Man was Mans Best Friend
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When Harriet and Andrew Athay got married there was only one choice for their best man - their pet dog Ed.
And he wasn't the only canine member of the bridal party as the couple's two female dogs, Humbug and Goulash, also walked with them down the aisle.
Ed wore his very own miniature tuxedo for the big day, while whippet Humbug and Hungarian vizsla Goulash had pink sparkly collars.
Harriet and Andrew felt it was only right that the doggy trio should be at their wedding because it was they who had brought them together in the first place.
Baby monkey gets his own guard dog
A Chinese zoo has given an orphan monkey its own guard dog to stop it being bullied by bigger primates.Keepers at Jiaozuo City Zoo said the monkey was always being bullied and they had intervened to save his life several times.
"So we put a dog in the monkey cage, hoping he can protect the orphan," a zoo spokesman told the China News Network.
The zoo said the dog, Sai Hu, does his job very well.
"Whenever the baby monkey gets bullied, he dashes up and drives the others away. And the baby monkey is also very smart. Each time he smells danger he runs to jump on the dog's back and holds on tight.
"The alpha male monkey has been really unhappy since we sent in Sai Hu. He tried to organize several ambushes on the little monkey, but they all failed because of the dog," added the spokesman.
Man chews up a belly-busting, 20.2 pound burger
CLEARFIELD, Pa. - It took Brad Sciullo 4 hours and 39 minutes to finish a marathon. A meat marathon, that is. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound western Pennsylvania chef is the first person to eat a monstrosity called the Beer Barrel Belly Bruiser: a 15-pound burger with toppings and a bun that brought the total weight to 20.2 pounds.
The mountain of beef is the product of Denny's Beer Barrel Pub, about 100 miles northeast of Pittsburgh in Clearfield.
Sciullo, 21, of Uniontown, said he was surprised he finished the sandwich Monday. "About three hours into it, things got tough," he said.
The burger included a bun, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, onions, mild banana peppers and a cup each of mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard and relish, pub owner Dennis Liegey said.
For completing the challenge in the under-five-hour time limit, Sciullo won $400, three T-shirts, a certificate "and a burger hangover, as I call it," Liegey said.
The mountain of beef is the product of Denny's Beer Barrel Pub, about 100 miles northeast of Pittsburgh in Clearfield.
Sciullo, 21, of Uniontown, said he was surprised he finished the sandwich Monday. "About three hours into it, things got tough," he said.
The burger included a bun, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, onions, mild banana peppers and a cup each of mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard and relish, pub owner Dennis Liegey said.
For completing the challenge in the under-five-hour time limit, Sciullo won $400, three T-shirts, a certificate "and a burger hangover, as I call it," Liegey said.
Scaredy Cat Stuck in Tree for 5 Days
A brazen kitty chased a bird into a tree, then turned into a scaredy cat and wouldn't come down for five whole days.In a scene worthy of a Sylvester and Tweety cartoon, the kitten was in hot pursuit of a feathery treat, climbing a towering tree in a Memphis neighborhood to try to catch the bird.
The feline's ordeal ended when the Memphis Fire Department shot a blast of water at the meowing little cat from a hose to get it down.
For five days, the poor kitty drove neighbors crazy with its loud, frightened meows. Concerned residents called agencies across the city, but no one responded to the call, according to
"The cat sounds like a baby crying ... He needs help," Percy Foster told the FOX affiliate. "I've called the mayor's action hotline, the Memphis Humane Shelter, the fire department; they say they don't do that."
Memphis firefighters finally arrived, turning the hose on the cat and warning another resident that "they’re not always going to be available to respond."
Other than emotional trauma and a broken tooth, the kitten walked away unscathed.
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