Archive | January, 2011

Cops nab drunk owl in Germany

31 Jan

Oh my.

I don't think the owl in Germany was wearing a top hat.

German Police Pick up Drunken Owl
www.spiegel.de | 01/18/2011

An owl that had evidently drunk too much Schnapps from two discarded bottles was so inebriated that it got picked up by police. The bird will be released once it has sobered up.

German police said on Tuesday they had discovered a paralytic owl that appeared to have drunk too much Schnapps from two discarded bottles.

“A woman walking her dog alerted the police after seeing the bird sitting by the side of the road oblivious to passing traffic,” Frank Otruba, spokesman for the police in the southwestern city of Pforzheim, told SPIEGEL ONLINE.

The Brown Owl didn’t appear to be injured and officers quickly concluded that it had had one too many. One of its eyelids was drooping, adding to the general impression of inebriation.

“It wasn’t staggering around and we didn’t breathalyze it but there were two little bottles of Schapps in the immediate vicinity,” said Otruba. “We took it to a local bird expert who has treated alcoholized birds before and she has been giving it lots of water.”

The bird will be released once it has sobered up, police said.

Surfing and asleep, Dick Van Dyke rescued by porpoises

30 Jan

How can I have NOT published this story until now? I love this story. Dick Van Dyke is a great interview-that personality comes shining thru.

Dick Van Dyke saved by porpoises

Legendary actor says mammals helped push him to shore after he fell asleep on his surfboard.
www.mnn.com | Nov 11 2010

When it comes to porpoises, Dick Van Dyke is a huge fan.

The 84-year-old comedian appeared on “The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson” last night to promote the release of “Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang” on Blu-ray. Near the end of the interview, he told an amazing tale of rescue.

“I went out once and fell asleep on a (surf) board. I did. And I woke up out of sight of land, and I looked around and I started paddling with the swells and I start seeing fins swimming around me, and I thought, ‘I’m dead.’ They turned out to be porpoises. They pushed me all the way to shore. I’m not kidding.”

Ferguson then quipped, “It’s because they had seen ‘Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang’.”

See the video clip for the full interview.

Hippies not welcome in Malaysia

29 Jan

Hippies and Malaysia apparently don’t mix. I found this fine photo here.

FDA recalls All Toxic Waste® and Nuclear Sludge®

28 Jan

Is this REALLY a surprise?

Candy Dynamics Expands Recall To All Toxic Waste® Brand Nuclear Sludge® Products All Flavors And All Sizes

FDA posts press releases and other notices of recalls and market withdrawals from the firms involved as a service to consumers, the media, and other interested parties. FDA does not endorse either the product or the company.

Contact: Laura King 888-400-7606

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – January 27, 2010 – Circle City Marketing and Distributing, doing business as Candy Dynamics, Indianapolis, IN, is issuing a voluntary recall of all Toxic Waste® brand Nuclear Sludge® products, all flavors, 0.3 oz (8 g) size pieces. The product is imported from Pakistan.

On January 13, 2011, the company previously recalled Toxic Waste Brand® Nuclear Sludge®, Net wt. 0.7 oz (20g) size, all flavors. With this recall of the smaller piece size, the company has now recalled all products labeled as “Nuclear Sludge®”.

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Unluckiest house number

28 Jan

Well it had to be SOME number.

Unluckiest house number is 243
People living at number 243 have unwittingly chosen the unluckiest house on the street, according to a survey.
www.telegraph.co.uk | By Nick Collins | 11 Jan 2011

Superstitious home owners may balk at the idea of taking up residence at number 13, but an analysis of home insurance claimed someone living at number 243 would be more than twice as likely to make a claim.

Some 45 per cent of people living at number 243 have made a claim in the past four years, while ahead of number 201 with 36 per cent and number one with 34 per cent.

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Man shot for “snack cake”

27 Jan

Personally, I think the cake was a TastyKake jelly crimpet. Thanks to our pals at sendmeyourhead.com for this link.

Local favorite, Tastykake jelly krimpet.

Cops: Man shot for eating cake
One Philadelphia man did not want his friend to have his cake and eat it too today.
www.philly.com  |  JANUARY 17, 2011

Two friends were in a car on 2nd Street near Callowhill around 2:40 a.m., when the passenger in the vehicle began eating cake the driver had in his car, according to police. This enraged the driver and the two began arguing, a Central Detectives investigator said.

They got out of the vehile and the driver shot his friend once in the chest – all over some cake, according to the investigator.

“They weren’t supposed to be sharing” he said. “One was eating the other’s food, they got into an argument and ‘Bang! Bang!’”

The investigator denied a conflicting report that french fries were at the center of the argument. While food was the catalyst, he said, it was over baked goods, not fried.

Police said the 31-year-old victim was rushed to Hahnemann University Hospital, where he remains in critical condition. The driver fled in his silver vehicle and remains on the lam, police said.

Man goes on stab rampage after fart accusation

26 Jan

This flies in the face of the popular maxim “he who smelled it, dealt it.” Violence is never the answer, but if the reports are true, I’m not sure a party is the right place to slap someone for being gassy. A road trip in an economy car seems a better place to slap some one for being gassy.

Condolences to the bereaved.

Mr Higgins.

‘Flatulent’ man goes on fatal stabbing spree
Becomes enraged after woman rebukes him for continually passing gas
WorldNetDaily | January 19, 2011

Police say a Connecticut man became so angered by a woman’s reprimand for his continued flatulence at a party that he went on a stabbing spree, killing a personal friend.

According to published reports, Marc Higgins, 21, allegedly stabbed to death his friend, Matthew Walton, and injured three others during a house party where alcohol was being consumed Saturday night in Bristol, Conn.

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Shepard Fairey, AP Settle Copyright Lawsuit

25 Jan

I am glad AP was able to get a piece of this pie.

AP photo on left. Fairey's image on right.

Shepard Fairey, AP Settle Copyright Lawsuit
Photo District News  |  by David Walker  |  January 12, 2011

The Associated Press has settled its copyright infringement claim against artist Shepard Fairey on amicable terms, the wire service announced today. The settlement ends a nearly two-year court battle over Fairey’s unauthorized use of an AP photo to create the iconic Obama Hope poster.

AP says Fairey has agreed to share with AP the rights to make posters and merchandise from the Hope image. That means some of the future revenues generated by the image will flow to AP.

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Sharks swim in flooded Australian streets

24 Jan

Wow, the extent of the flooding is mind boggling. The video doesn’t show sharks or crocs or snakes in the street but it does show the faces and voices of the people living through this disaster. Latest reports say flooding may continue for another 7 to 10 days. Hang in there Australia.

VIDEO: Faces in the flood

Sharks spotted at butcher shop
www.couriermail.com.au | From: AAP | January 14, 2011 2:03PM

BUTCHER Steven Bateman spotted two bull sharks swimming near his Goodna shop yesterday – one of several reports of a sharks in Goodna’s main street.

The Queensland Times reported the shark sightings, 30km from the coast, with Ipswich local councillor Paul Tully confirming it was a bizarre but true story out of Queensland’s flood disaster.

“It would have swum several kilometres in from the river, across Evan Marginson Park and the motorway,” Cr Tully said.

“It’s definitely a first for Goodna, to have a shark in the main street.

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“Douche probe” double birdie headline

23 Jan

At first all I could find was the image, but a little work found this is a real article and that IS the accompanying image. Condolences to the friends and family of Mr Douche.


Stephen Egan (above), who killed fellow Mountjoy inmate Gary Douche in 2006. Image www.tribune.ie

The late Mr Douche

‘Significant’ new evidence found in Douche probe
www.tribune.ie | Ali Bracken, Crime Correspondent | January 9, 2011

THE COMMISSION of investigation set up to probe the killing of Gary Douche at Mountjoy Prison in 2006 has uncovered “significant” new evidence about the inmate who delivered the fatal beating against the prisoner, the Sunday Tribune understands.

Senior counsel Gráinne McMorrow was appointed in 2007 to head up the commission of investigation into the circumstances that led to the killing of the 20-year-old prisoner by fellow inmate Stephen Egan.

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River polluted a shocking green in possible prank

22 Jan

Wow, that is a really striking color and one heck of a prank.

Water in the Goldstream River turned fluorescent green in the late afternoon of December 29, 2010. Ministry of Environment, Langford fire department and parks officials were investigating, but it was suspected to be a prank. Photograph by: Courtesy Tyson K. Elder, Times Colonist

Alert: Chemical that turned Goldstream River green can cause allergic reactions
By Judith Lavoie, Times Colonist January 2, 2011

The chemical that turned Goldstream River green can cause allergic reactions in people, a medical health officer for Vancouver Island Health Authority said.

“It does not have a high toxicity, but it can, rarely, cause allergic reactions,” Murray Fyfe said Friday.

“People who do have a sensitivity should take precautions and avoid contact.”

The provincial Environment Ministry says it was fluorescein that found its way into the Goldstream River and a Langford fountain Wednesday, turning both fluorescent green.

Water samples were sent to Environment Canada’s Pacific Environmental Science Centre in North Vancouver for assessment, said Dan Gilmore, provincial Environment Ministry spokesman.

“Test results … confirm the substance causing the green colour in the river and the fountain was fluorescein,” Gilmore said.

“Fluorescein is a synthetic organic compound soluble in water and alcohol. It is widely used as a fluorescent tracer for many applications. The product itself and its products of degradation are not toxic.”

Based on the flow rate of the river, the probable concentration of fluorescein and lab results, Environment Ministry staff do not believe that fish or fish habitat were harmed, Gilmore said.

The chemical is usually used to trace leaks from septic tanks and water systems, and can be bought online.

Fluorescein is also used in medical diagnosis, specifically in opthalmology and radiology.

Guidelines warn it can cause reactions ranging from nausea and hives to death from anaphylactic shock.

As the culprits who dumped fluorescein in the river and fountain have not been found, it is not known how much they put in. However, as the concentration of fluorescein was probably more diluted than when used medically, the main concern is for the ecosystem, Fyfe said.

jlavoie@timescolonist.com

© Copyright (c) The Victoria Times Colonist

Pranksters make giant penis during flood

21 Jan

I know vandalism is bad, destructive and childish but this story makes me smile. In the face of a natural disaster someone was still spirited enough to have some fun and create a giant Gympie Penis.

Significant damage was reported yesterday from the Gympie Pines golf course. Image Craig Warhurst

Vandals strike during floods
www.gympietimes.com.au | Arthur Gorrie | 14th January 2011

WHILE most Gympie Region people chipped in cheerfully to help each other this week, a wave of deliberate damage showed the other side of human nature.

Furious Gympie Pines golf course owner Mike Towler yesterday offered a $1000 reward to anyone who can help catch the person responsible for seriously damaging one of the course’s greens.

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