Sunday, May 31, 2009

Elephant rescued from a ditch in India

Forest rangers in West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri District have rescued an elephant that had fallen into a ditch.
The elephant was passing through this route when it slipped and fell into the ditch. Some of the tea garden workers saw it lying there and informed the forest officials.
Later, the forest officials rushed to the spot with a crane and rescued the majestic elephant, believed to be around 11 years in age. The pachyderm was gently helped up by the crane.
After being pulled out of the ditch, the elephant instantly was up on its feet and without wasting a second fled from the spot towards the nearby forest.
"Now, it is healthy. We are feeling very nice. We have been able to save a beautiful animal," said Niranjita Maitra, Assistant Wildlife Warden, Jalpaiguri Range.
Over the past couple of decades, India has struggled to tackle the problem of shrinking wildlife that is attributed to encroachment by humans.
The conflict often ends with villagers killing elephants and wildlife experts say it is imperative to wean them away from wildlife habitats by providing them alternative livelihood.
Home to 50,000 wild Asian elephants a century ago, just 26,400 elephants were roaming India’s national parks and forests as per a census of 2002.
Worse, the first comprehensive elephant census published in 2005 showed a further steep drop in numbers to just 21,300 elephants.
A recent survey by the Ministry of Environment reported a steady depletion of forestland in 11 major wildlife reserves since 1997.
According to another survey, only 20 per cent of India’s landmass is forested and just 120,000 square kilometers — less than four percent of the country — of that is suitable for elephants.
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Dog's Tongue Gets Caught In Paper Shredder

Last week, an 8-year-old mixed-breed named Diamond was rushed to a veterinary clinic in Miami with an alarming injury.
"She had licked a paper shredder in the house that was set on automatic," said Dr. Marc Wosar of the Miami Veterinary Specialists.
The shredder grabbed onto Diamond's tongue and pulled it deeper into the sharp blades.
"I think it's a big potential risk in the house," Dr. Juan Sardinas said.
Fortunately, Diamond's owners were home and responded quickly.
They disconnected the head of the shredder and carried it, with the dog's tongue still stuck inside, to Miami Veterinary Specialists.
"We anesthetized her first, then reversed the shredder off the tongue and assessed the damage," said Wosar. "There were a lot of lacerations to the tongue as well as a lot of bite wounds. In her panic, she'd also bitten her tongue."
It took more than a 100 stitches to repair Diamond's tongue. A portion that was too severely damaged had to be removed, but doctors expect her to make a full recovery.
"She just won't have a perfectly round tongue. She'll have a little nick in it," said Wosar.
Veterinarians recommend confining or crating animals when you're not home to keep them away from anything that might cause harm.
VIDEO
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Bird uses body as dam to stop drainpipe soaking chicks

A bird used her body as a dam to stop overflowing drainpipe water from soaking her chicks.
The Mistle Thrush had built her nest on top of a downpipe, blocking the water's passage and causing the gutter to flood.
But desperate to protect her young, she puffed herself up to twice her size and sat in the drainpipe to stop the tide of rain water swamping the nest.
She was so occupied with her task that her mate was left to feed her and their young.
The images were captured by amateur wildlife photographer Dennis Bright at a house in Fareham, Hampshire.
Mr Bright said he was astounded by the female bird's behavior.
"The nest was tucked away from the weather in the shade of the roof but it was so close to the downpipe the gutter flooded when it rained.
"It was only a matter of seconds before the pipe flooded, and water cascaded over the sides."
Mr Bright said he was amazed by the bird's ingenuity.
"She had to come up with a solution so she puffed herself up so she was twice the size of her mate and used her body as a cork to stop the water - it was absolutely amazing.
"She was very dedicated, sitting there even when the rain was hammering down. Then every half an hour she would get out, dry herself off and come back.
"The male was doing most of the work - feeding her and the chicks when she was sitting in the pipe. I feel so lucky to have witnessed something so rare and unique."
Hester Phillips, from the RSPB, said she had never seen such a situation.
"We've heard of them nesting in some unusual sites before, namely on the top of traffic light, but we've certainly not come across anything like this before.
"Birds can be amazingly hardy creatures, their endurance is incredible - especially when protecting their young."
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Saturday, May 30, 2009

Knowsley school to have one of “longest names in the world”

A new school is to have a whopping 12-word name because of a spat over what it should be called.
From September pupils face enrolling at Knowsley Park Center for Learning – serving Prescot, Whiston and the wider community.
The far from catchy title – believed to be among the world’s longest school names – will be the name adopted by a new secondary in Prescot.
It is to be based on the site of Prescot school which dates back to 1544.
The school will be a combination of Prescot school and Whiston’s Higher Side comprehensive, one of seven new multi-million secondaries the council refer to as centers for learning.
Governors have confirmed the mouthful name will be used on the school exterior as well as signs, stationery, marketing and letters.
The council-backed governing body had plumped for Knowsley Park Center for Learning because of its Knowsley Park Lane location and the fact the school is "a completely new entity to the previous donating secondary schools".
But this angered Lib-Dem ward councillors who are furious a secondary based in Prescot, and replacing a school which had served a community for more than 550 years, had no mention of Prescot in the title.
As a compromise the governors have stretched the name to reflect all the areas it will serve. A Knowsley council spokesman today said the new name was "legally sound" and 150 responses were received after flyers asking for suggestions were sent out when consultation on the name began in October last year.
These the council said were distributed to both Prescot and Higher Side school pupils, feeder primary schools and the "wider community", including community centers and community groups.
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Security warning after pease pudding seized

Airport staff issued a security warning after a passenger tried to carry pease pudding on to a plane. The traditional northern snack – made from boiled split peas and ham fat – was confiscated from hand luggage at Newcastle International airport. It was part of the 450 liters of banned liquids seized by staff each day, including suntan lotion and jars of Marmite. Chris Davis, the head of operations, said it was costing the airport a fortune in recycling and waste disposal. He said: "We're asking our customers to make sure they're aware of what can and can't be taken through the security search in their hand luggage."
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Funny Animals


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Makes Sense

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Monopoly - Recession Edition

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This would be interesting if they actually released a special edition of Monopoly like this one.
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Friday, May 29, 2009

Crochet Breakfast

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Plant More Trees

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Three Way Foosball

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Fake 'No Parking' Signs Yield 200+ Tickets

Tarpon Springs, Florida police say they issued more than 200 parking tickets in a two-year span because a local developer posted fake "no parking" signs around a restaurant.
According to a report released this week, Tarpon Springs police Chief Robert Kochen said Mike Bronson has acknowledged he installed the 22 signs around the Tarpon Turtle restaurant. He had previously denied posting the signs.
Bronson told police he installed the signs because the restaurant's customers caused parking problems.
Officials are now trying to figure out if any outstanding parking ticket warrants have been issued to drivers who haven't paid tickets for parking in the marked zone. The city also wants to try to reimburse drivers who paid fines.
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Woman Told to Remove 'Offensive' American Flag From Office

Debbie McLucas comes from a patriotic family – her husband and both of her sons served in the U.S. military, and her daughter is currently deployed to Iraq on her second tour of duty as a combat medic.
So when McLucas arrived at work at a Texas hospital last Friday, she was stunned to be told that the Stars and Stripes she had hung in her office in advance of Memorial Day were offensive, and that the flag had been removed.
"I got into work, I was met by my supervisor and told that there had been multiple complaints, that people found the flag very offensive and it had been taken down," McLucas said.
"I went to the office to retrieve it and found the flag wrapped around the pole, sitting in the corner on the ground. I was speechless."
McLucas, a supervisor at Kindred Hospital in Mansfield, Texas, had displayed the 3-by-5-foot flag in the office she shares with the hospital’s three other supervisors. McLucas said one of her colleagues, a woman who immigrated to the United States from Africa 14 years ago, complained about the flag to upper management, and the hospital decided to take down the flag.
"I was told that as long as my flag offended one person, it would be taken down," McLucas said
She said the hospital told her that the American flag flying outside the building would have to suffice. "I was told, ‘There is a flag hanging out front, everyone can see that one. Is that not enough?’"
No, she said, that wasn't enough.
"It is more than I can even fathom, that you would find the American flag offensive, in America," McLucas said.
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Geoff said...
If the co-worker who complained about the flag was offended that much, she should take her immigrant butt back where she came from.
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Hairless Cat taking a dip in the bathtub

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Wednesday, May 27, 2009

North to the South

This digitally-enhanced photograph shows an aurora borealis above the frozen landscape of Bear Lake, Alaska
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Surreal Sundown, South Africa
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Dog survives after 25 days in hole

A Jack Russell who was stuck in a rabbit hole for 25 days managed to crawl out after losing weight.
Jake lost 2kg after he disappeared during a walk.
Owner Jill Thomas, 52, from Haverfordwest, West Wales said she had given up hope of finding him alive.
She told The Sun: "We looked everywhere. But once three weeks had gone by we gave up hope."
After Jake managed to get free he made his way to a farm where children recognised him from 'missing' posters.
He was rushed to the vet who put him on a drip.
Jill's husband Rick added: "Jake was skin and bone. It was touch-and-go for a while. But he's a fit little dog and he slowly recovered."
Jill added: "We're so glad he's home. It's incredible he survived."
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Bus driver awarded for safety record

A bus driver who has clocked up over a million miles in 40 years has been given an award for his safe driving.
Peter Nedin, 63, from Swansea has never crashed or even scratched his bus.
He told the Daily Mirror: "I've driven lots of different routes but I still get the same thrill every time I go out on the road.
"I'm sure there aren't many drivers like me."
A spokesperson for First Cymru: "He's a credit to himself and this firm."
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Do you see what I see?

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Graduation Time

Graduation and Commissioning Ceremonies held at U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland
Graduating Midshipmen, now Ensigns, throw their covers in the air after graduating during the U.S. Naval Academy Graduation and Commissioning Ceremonies at Navy Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland on May 22, 2009.

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Senior Prank Teens Caught Red-Handed
Police in San Diego say a dozen high school students were caught in the act of moving hundreds of desks and chairs out of classrooms as part of a senior prank.
Police spokeswoman Monica Munoz said students obtained a copy of San Ysidro High School's master key and snuck onto campus early Tuesday. She says they were stacking desks and chairs in the hallway and putting furniture on a field in the shape of "09."
Munoz says their activity triggered motion sensors, which prompted the school's alarm company to call police.
Police cited the students who were 18 for trespassing, and those under 18 for curfew violation.
They were ordered to return the furniture to their original locations.
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Girl, 3, Wakes Up From Coma Singing 'Mamma Mia'

A 3-year-old girl who fell into a coma after getting meningitis stunned her mother when she woke up singing the Abba hit "Mamma Mia."
Layla Towsey was so sick after getting the brain infection that she suffered a heart attack and had to be put on a life support machine. Her mother even kissed her goodbye.
But five days later, Layla slowly started to regain consciousness.
"We had been preparing for bad news as the life support machine was keeping her alive," said Layla's mother, Katy. "But on Sunday I could hear her singing 'Mamma Mia' quietly. I couldn't believe it. I knew then she would be OK."
Layla, from Gidea Park, East London, had learned the song after seeing the "Mamma Mia!" movie. She is now on her way to a full recovery.
"It's one of her favorite songs - she loves it," Katy added. "She got as close to death as you can get. She's a miracle."
Layla was diagnosed with meningitis B after a rash was spotted on her leg.
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Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Amazing Artist

Using just a chainsaw. Boni, a renowned artist is commissioned by commercial, public, and private property owners around the country to sculpt dying or damaged trees into highly recognized landmarks. Using primarily a chainsaw, Boni is recognized as one of the highest regarded chainsaw artist in the world.

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The life of POWs during WWII.

Some interesting ways in which they concealed maps and
currencies for their escape attempts.

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Living on the Hillside

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A Sad Commentary

There used to be a day that whenever the Flag passed by EVERYONE stood and payed respect. Nowadays, it is just another part of the parade. There is a reason it is first in the parade, it is representative of the freedom to have such a parade. Let Freedom Ring (and Fly).
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Flat-mobile

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The astonishing 3D mural painted on the side of building by a artist.

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Sunday, May 24, 2009

Only in Montana

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Work Out Dog

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Baby Otters Sea World Orlando

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Puppy Rescued From Sewer

A four-month-old shitzu got into a particularly stinky problem in Omaha, Neb., on Thursday, but rescue crews weren't afraid to get their hands dirty.
While on a walk, the puppy named Cookie got stuck in a sewage drain. "We were just walking the dog and it just tried to jump over it, [the drain] and it fell," said owner Nia McFadden.
Rescuers crawled into the hole and after 15 minutes and several unsuccessful attempts, they were able to free him.There were no injuries and the McFaddens were happy to have him back.
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Saturday, May 23, 2009

In The News

Council refuses to fix whole pothole 'because it only owned part'
Potholes along a West Midlands street have only been partially filled in by highways workers - because the council only owns half the land they stretch across.
Baffled traders watched in amazement as Walsall highways workers started filling in problem potholes outside their shops in Bloxwich, only to stop half way through the job.
Council chiefs said the small patch of land next to the pavement belongs to Walsall Housing Group (WHG) and that their maintenance workers are not allowed to carry out work on private land.
But business owners who have waited years for potholes in the street to be filled in have branded the partial repair of the craters, some measuring about two-foot wide, a "ridiculous waste of money".
Keith Clarke, who runs M&C butchers in the road, said: "I've never seen anything like it in my life.
"We've been asking for the potholes to be filled in for some time now.
"When they came to fix them, they drew white lines along the side of the pavement through the middle of some of the holes.
"Then they only filled in half the holes and when we asked, they said their department was not responsible for the other half. It's ridiculous."
"The water is gathering in the other half of the holes, so surely that will ruin the part that has been fixed. What a waste of money."
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Man Falls Ill After Sucking Snake Venom From Dog's Nose
A Hawk Springs Wyoming man says he saved his dog's life after sucking venom from a rattlesnake bite out of the animal's nose. But a nurse at the hospital in Torrington later told Bobby Jenkins that's not a good idea. Jenkins says he began feeling ill after getting his dog, Tank, to a veterinarian. He went to the hospital and received a dose of antivenin. In all, Jenkins needed four vials of antivenin at a cost of $3,500 per vial. Meanwhile, Jenkins says his dog's head swelled up to three times its normal size. Tank had been bitten after running under some equipment on the family ranch. The dog also received antivenin and both Jenkins and his dog have recovered.
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Friday, May 22, 2009

Hippy Tanks

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Nebraska boy, 6, takes wheel after dad passes out

Police say a 6-year-old boy grabbed the wheel of their pickup after his dad passed out from low blood sugar and kept them from crashing until a North Platte police officer could bring the truck to a halt.
Tustin Mains was in the back seat with his 3-year-old brother when he noticed that his dad, Phillip Mains, slumped down on Sunday evening while they were driving home from a restaurant.
"I remember getting up to about the mall - that was about 6:45," Phillip Mains told The North Platte Telegraph. "The next thing I remember was waking up to the officer and paramedics, and it was 8:15."
Tustin hopped up from the back seat to his father's lap so he could steer and see out the windshield.
His dad's foot had slipped off the accelerator, but even at idle the Chevrolet Avalanche was going an estimated 10-15 mph.
Other drivers noticed the boy driving the truck. Some maneuvered their vehicles in front or behind the pickup and turned on their emergency blinkers.
Tustin remained at the wheel for several blocks, even turning around when he got into a neighborhood he didn't recognize.
He was then spotted by North Platte officer Roger Freeze.
Freeze maneuvered his car near enough that he could stop, get out and run up to the pickup. The driver's side window was down, so Freeze reached in, grabbed the gearshift and put it into park.
North Platte Police Chief Martin Gutschenritter praised his officer and young Tustin.
"I will be issuing him a departmental citation for his quick, professional action on this case. That is also a very special young man. He was able to take quick action when his dad was incapacitated, and we are very proud of him, too," Gutschenritter said.
Tustin's dad was grateful to Freeze as well.
"To chase down a moving vehicle and get it stopped the way he did took a lot of nerve, and if it weren't for him, things could have turned out much worse."
For a kindergartner, Tustin did a pretty good job of driving. The pickup sustained only a minor scrape when it brushed a piece of a bridge as Tustin turned to head back into town.
When he saw his dad "fall asleep," Tustin said, he got scared, then got another fright when officer Freeze appeared at the driver's window.
But when Freeze brought the pickup to an abrupt halt?
"I was just happy," Tustin said.
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Young girl lives with messed up internal organs

A girl has survived being born with five spleens, a hole in her heart, a diseased and back to front liver, two left lungs and her stomach on the wrong side.
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Bethany Jordan:
Strangely, when she exercises too much, her heart can be seen beating through her back.
Bethany Jordan, six, was born with many of her organs back to front but amazed doctors who had warned her parents, Lisa, 37, and Robert, 44, there was little chance she would survive birth.
Her problems mean that, while she looks a picture of health, she cannot stand up to some of the normal rigorous and strains of an average child.
Bethany, of Stourbridge, West Midlands, sufferers from Ivemark Syndrome, an extremely rare genetic disorder, characterized by a poorly-formed cardiovascular system and organs in the wrong place.
Strangely, when she exercises too much, her heart can be seen beating through her back.
There are so few sufferers that very little is known about the condition or what could be its cause.
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Bird Feeder

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Cat catching Temptations Treats

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Thursday, May 21, 2009

Man Plays Dad to Day-old Ducklings

A quick-thinking banker has endeared himself to the people of Washington State by rescuing a family of ducks stranded on the second floor of a building.
The mother duck built her nest outside Joel Armstrong's window in the center of Spokane city, near the river and, for the next 35 days, Mr Armstrong watched events unfold with interest.
But he soon discovered he was in for another surprise when he realised the duck needed to take her babies to fresh water.
The mother flew off, leaving her frightened ducklings high and dry, dangerously close to the edge of the building.
Realising what was wrong, Mr Armstrong ran downstairs and took up his position on the pavement below, next to the mother duck who was quacking encouragement to her babies.
The banker kept his eyes on the ducklings while chatting reassuringly to their mum.
Then the ducklings moved, two jumping right into his hands.
Gradually, the other ducklings followed and each was caught safely and passed over to mother duck.
By the time the feathered family was successfully reunited, a crowd had gathered and, with the help of some new-found friends, Mr Armstrong was able to move the ducks to a new home better suited to their needs, the local river.
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A man played dad to a dozen day-old ducklings by rescuing them from a ledge near his office, and then leading the entire brood to water with their mother duck.
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It's SOOO nice to see a great story involving a banker after all the negative ones over the last several months. They DO have hearts after all!! Loved this uplifting story!
As an animal lover, thank you!
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French Bull Dog

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Toddler buys $15,600 digger on auction site

Three-year-old Pipi Quinlan bought a $15,600.00 Kobelco digger on auction website TradeMe, prompting immediate damage control by her mom when her purchase was revealed.
Most parents are used to little ones sneaking treats into the supermarket trolley, but Pipi's deal must take the cake.
Parents Sarah and Reid Quinlan, of Stanmore Bay north of Auckland, were astonished to wake one morning to find Pipi had bought the huge excavating digger in a TradeMe auction.
The technically savvy kid had woken early and, with the rest of her family sound asleep, decided to play with the computer.
With a few clicks of the mouse she entered Internet Explorer and the Trade Me site her mother had already logged on to.
After a few more timely clicks, she had won the most recent auction listed on the site's homepage.
It was for a Kobelco digger, and she had it for $15,600.00 - money she didn’t have in her piggy bank.
"The first I knew about it was when I came down and opened up the computer," says mum Sarah.
"I saw an email from TradeMe saying I had won an auction and another email from the seller saying something like 'I think you'll love this digger'."
"Well, I had a few Duplo Lego play kits on my watch-list, so just assumed I'd won a digger toy-set," she says.
"It wasn't until I went back and re-read the emails that I saw $NZ20,000, and got the shock of my life," says Sarah.
"I called my husband Reid over to make sure I wasn't seeing things.
"I asked him what a Kobelco was and he said 'I think it's an earthmoving digger'."
"I jokingly said to Sarah, well you'll have to move the Honda off the driveway to make way for the Kobelco," says Reid.
Sarah immediately called TradeMe and the seller to report what had happened.
TradeMe has reimbursed the seller's costs for listing the digger and the auction.
While the seller wasn't impressed with Pipi's antics, he relisted the digger again for another auction.
The Quinlans say most people see the funny side, with family and friends already joking about the incident.
They've learnt to keep their computer well out of the reach of prying hands, and now have a great story for Pipi's 21st birthday.
Perhaps it's a lesson for many parents or childminders to keep a close eye on little ones around computers.
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Goose photographed flying upside down

A photographer has taken a picture of a greylag goose, as the bird was flying upside down.
Brian MacFarlane was amazed when he looked at the photo he had captured of the bird in flight.
The incredible display of mid-flight acrobatics is also a remarkable feat of wildlife photography
Mr MacFarlane was simply photographing geese buffeted by strong winds at Strumpshaw in Norfolk and did not expect to capture a moment of contortionism.
"The wind was making life difficult for the flying birds," said Mr MacFarlane.
"Some were expert at controlling their flight, while others were being tossed around in mid-air.
"On closer inspection of the image I realised it had flipped upside down but kept its head the right way up.
"Quite a feat!"
Paul Stancliffe, of the British Trust for Ornithology, based at Thetford, was able to explain the bird's bizarre behavior.
"It looks like this bird is in mid-whiffle," he said.
"When geese come in to land from a great height they partake in a bout of whiffling, this involves the bird twisting and turning to spill air from their wings and thus lowering their speed prior to landing.
"In 36 years of birdwatching I have seen this many times, particularly when watching pink-footed geese on the north Norfolk coast coming in to roost in the late afternoon and evening. I have, however, never seen a photograph of a bird in mid-whiffle like this. It is an amazing photograph."
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Lines painted at closed nursery

The "school keep clear" sign has been painted outside the closed nursery
A council member has admitted workers painted a warning sign outside a nursery school despite it closing 10 years ago.
The yellow zig-zag "school keep clear" sign has been painted in Aberdeen at St Peter's Nursery in The Spital.
The work - costing about £200 - was carried out despite the building being boarded up.
An Aberdeen City Council spokeswoman said: "Staff have been instructed to check orders for all outstanding works to ensure they are still required."
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Did you know........

Your I.T. help desk was contracted out to the lowest bidder in Pakistan
I just got started posting yesterday and my Internet went down
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Tuesday, May 19, 2009

People still have to eat

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Dad called police after son refused to clean his room

A man called police because his 28-year-old son wouldn't clean his bedroom.
Andrew Mizsak, of Cleveland, Ohio, called 911 after a domestic argument got out of hand.
His son, also called Andrew, had thrown a plate of food across the kitchen table and clinched his fist at his dad when told to clean his room.
Andrew junior, who serves on the local school board, told the Cleveland Plain Dealer: "I know this looks bad."
Mr Mizsak, who lives with his parents and also works as an independent political consultant, was "crying uncontrollably" after being told to clean his room, according to a police report.
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Walls no obstacle for 'Spider Cat'

For most cats, getting stuck outside the house is enough to have them climbing the walls with frustration.
But for daredevil Charlie, being locked out poses no problems.
He scales the two-storey wall of his owner's home to get back inside.
His gravity-defying antics have earned him the nickname "Spider Cat".
And the seven-year-old cat has now become something of a local celebrity among neighbours in Denny, near Falkirk.
Owner Hannah Smith said today: "Charlie miaows at the front door to be let out. So we let him out but no sooner is he let out than he wants back in.
"But if no one hears him at the front door, he then wanders round to the back of the buildings to find the balcony.
"He then climbs up the balcony to get in. So Charlie really goes out the front door and in the back door."
Ms Smith added: "I got him as a wee kitten and out of the litter Charlie was the one that looked most mischievous and I liked that about him. He's certainly lived up to his reputation.
"I think it is totally incredible how Charlie is able to climb up a roughcast wall. I've seen cats climb trees but I've never seen a cat climb a wall. It's amazing."
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Monday, May 18, 2009

Hand Full

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E-mail from Ray Charles

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Funny Picture(s)

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Abused dog finds new loving home

The Boulder dog that was taped upside down to a fridge and rescued by police now has a new name and a new home.
The dog is no longer named Rex but Yoshi and was adopted by Shannon and Amy Park of Castle Rock.
The 10-month old Shiba Inu was abused by its former owners. 20-year old Abby Toll was charged with felony animal cruelty. She is the girlfriend of 21-year old Bryan Beck who was also ticketed on suspicion of misdemeanor cruelty.
"The biggest question that comes into our minds is why would you take out your frustrations on an innocent animal," said new owner Shannon Park.
The Parks own two other Shibas and couldn't resist adopting Yoshi when they heard his story. "Seeing him enjoy life is such a joy, it's just such a treat watching him play and run and wiggle around with toys," said Amy Park. The family wanted to help the Humane Society in Boulder by letting the public vote on the dog's name. For a suggested donation of $5, people could vote online. "We've been calling him "baby" or "little buddy" until we found out this morning what his name actually turned out to be," said Amy Park.
Yoshi means "good luck" in Japanese.
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Cats Sleeping on Walls… HUH?

Gape in awe of Curve-Wall Mounted Pet Beds for your furry felines -- at a price of some $200 your cats sleep on your walls...
Looking for a pet bed that satisfies the needs of both you and your pet? With a slim profile and a choice of wood and fabric options, Curve seamlessly blends in with your décor. It can be mounted anywhere on the wall, allowing maximum flexibility. The curving shape and cushion provide your pet with comfort and security when sleeping and playing on it. Appropriate for cats and small dogs.
Maximum capacity is 35 lbs.
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British couple travels to Michigan for purr-fect cat

A black-and-white kitten named Sparky has captured the hearts of a British couple, who traveled nearly 4,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean to central Michigan to adopt it. Rose and Chris Rasmussen were in Harrison on Tuesday to adopt the cat from the Clare County animal shelter, where the young cat has become a mascot of sorts since he arrived last August."Sparky likes to explore," Betty Beadle, a volunteer at the shelter, said. "He destroyed Christmas trees twice." The Rasmussens discovered Sparky on Petfinder.com, a pet adoption website.
They could have had him shipped to the London suburb where they live, but instead decided to make the journey to adopt their new pet."He took me here on the other side of the Atlantic," Rose Rasmussen said. "I thought they would say, 'You guys are completely mad".' Paperwork, a rabies vaccination, a six-month quarantine and other formalities followed before Sparky was cleared to depart for Britain.
Dave Gendregske, the animal control director for the county, said: "A lot of people would ask, 'Why come from England?' When people meet Sparky, find he has a dynamic personality, they fall in love with him."
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Conjoined Apples

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