Friday, January 2, 2009

Boozy Britain's bloody New Year: A 999 call every seven seconds in alcohol-induced mayhem

Boozy Britain's bloody New Year: A 999 call every seven seconds in alcohol-induced mayhem

By Neil Sears
Last updated at 9:09 AM on 02nd January 2009

Violence scarred celebrations and led to a bloody New Year across the country as emergency services endured a chaotic end to 2008.

Ambulance control centres reported receiving 999 calls as often as once every seven seconds - the second highest volume of calls since the Millennium - as binge drinkers turned nasty in the freezing temperatures.

Many of the calls related either to alcohol-fuelled assaults or excessive drunkenness.

bottle attack

Bloodbath: A victim of a bottle attack at a club in North London

Booze contributed to time-wasting calls to 999 operators too, with one man calling to ask if New York was in America, and what time it was there.

Elsewhere, while large numbers were ferried to hospitals, in some areas injuries were treated by paramedics in 'booze buses' to leave ambulances free for more serious emergencies.

In Essex, so many drunk people were arrested that all 200 of the constabulary's cells were filled, and overflow revellers had to be shipped to neighbouring Kent to be held for the night.

A huge brawl at a social club in Loughton, Essex, meant 600 rowdy revellers had to be dispersed, with two arrested for attempted murder after a 47-year-old man was stabbed in the eye and back.

newcastle drunk attack

Officers stop and question a drunken male about his facial injuries in Newcastle

In Wales, a 999 call led to tragedy when an ambulance speeding its way to an emergency ran over and killed reveller Jason Hawkes, 23, as he stood in the road outside a pub in Beddau-near Cardiff.

In one of the most disturbing incidents an ambulance was wrecked by callous thugs while parked outside the home of a sick baby boy in Tilehurst, Reading.

He eventually had to be sped to hospital in his family's own car.

Mother-of-two Jemma Dromgoole, 22, had found her son Ryan, 19 months, screaming in pain with a limp arm at teatime on New Year's Eve.

Miss Dromgoole said: 'We thought that he had dislocated his shoulder or something even worse. He was so distressed I had to call 999.

drunk girl

Sick and sorry: The binge catches up with this girl

girl lies on the pavement

This sequence of pictures shows a reveller having a rest on the pavement in Newcastle city centre

A girl lies on the pavement

With her shoes off, she at one point places her hand in her mouth

A girl sits on the pavement

A bystander chats to the woman before, cigarette in hand, she contemplates the evening

'The ambulance was here within five minutes and they quickly decided to take him to hospital because he would not let them near him.

'When we got outside one of the paramedics made a dash for the ambulance. He said he saw a kid on a bike and then told us the ambulance had been put out of action by vandals.

'He asked if we could go in my partner's car to the hospital. What kind of person does that to an ambulance? It's sickening.'

party revellers

Partygoers stumble as they make their way in Newcastle city centre

revelers

Dressed up for the night, two women pass through a scanner to enter an area in Broad Street, Birmingham

The attackers had smashed the windows, ripped out wiring and stolen the navigation and communication system as the vehicle was parked with its blue lights flashing.

Ryan was later sent home without the need for surgery. It was believed he might have twisted his arm while playing.

The reports of a 999 call every seven seconds came from the London Ambulance Service.

A male complains to a Police officer showing him his facial injuries

A Newcastle reveller shows his facial wounds to a PC

arrest norwich

In the early hours of this morning, officers arrest this reveller in Norwich

Last year the problem was even worse but then it was nowhere near as cold, with far more revellers out on the streets.

Spokesman Alistair Drummond said: 'The high volume of calls on New Year's Eve put the service under increased pressure.

'It made it harder for us to ensure we respond quickly to other patients with potentially life-threatening emergencies.

'People should not be drinking so much that they wake up in hospital.

'We would urge them to think more carefully about the consequences of drinking so that they can enjoy the start of 2009 safely and responsibly.'

Violent incidents in the capital included a bloody fight at the Gilgamesh Party in Chalk Farm, where a man was left drenched in blood after allegedly being hit with a bottle.

His injuries were not life threatening. .

drunk girl

The hangover starts here: A partygoer collapses in the street

British Transport Police spokesman Superintendent Brian Pearce - whose colleagues helped control the huge crowds gathered for fireworks by the Thames, said: 'The nature of New Year's Eve in central London has changed. What used to be a relatively low-key, spontaneous night is now a world-class event that attracts thousands and thousands of people.

'Such large crowds create a challenging policing environment. In the main the crowds were good humoured.'

There were 13 'booze buses' or field hospitals specially set up around the capital to deal with minor injuries on the spot.

The West Midlands Ambulance Service received a call once every 12 seconds in the first five hours of 2009 - most alcohol related, and dozens of them inappropriate, including the man asking whether New York was in America.

Fighting in Newcastle upon Tyne left police and paramedics dealing with a number of bloodied young men.

The aftermath of the excessive night of celebrations is likely to add to the huge numbers of workers expected to phone in sick today.

drunk girls

An young woman helps a friend who has almost certainly had too much to drink

According to the Federation of Small Businesses, it will be 'No Show Friday' because many employees will seek to extend their festive break into the weekend rather than bother turning up for work.

Spokesman Stephen Alambritis said: 'It's bleak and freezing, and after the celebrations for New Year's Eve run into New Year's Day, we believe there will be record absences from work.

Fireworks

A stunning image of Big Ben as fireworks light up the London skyline

Two thirds of us planned to stay at home on New Year's Eve, to save money in the credit crunch. A survey of more than 2,000 adults by Post Office home insurance found only one in eight planned to go to a pub or club. How many changed their mind at the last minute is not known.

An estimated 700,000 revellers braved freezing temperatures to see in 2009 on the streets of central London. Some 3,300 police officers were on duty to control the crowds. They made 103 arrests including 20 for assault, ten for drunkenness and five each for drugs and robbery.

Enlarge A street cleaner hoovers up rubbish in the centre of London

A street cleaner starts to remove the rubbish in Central London

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Wacky Laws Still on the Books in America

From changing the color of baby chicks to shooting effigies to properly honoring the glory of the log cabin, Americans have spent valuable legislative hours throughout the years making sure we're on the straight and narrow.

As a New Year arrives, here are 10 wacky laws that remain on the books across the country:

1. In Billings, Mont., it is illegal for anyone to sell, harbor or give away rats as pets or toys for any purpose other than to feed snakes or birds of prey. Scientists, however, can keep lab rats.

2. Using profanity is against the law on playgrounds and in public parks in Columbia, Md.

3. The last Sunday in June each year is Log Cabin Day in Michigan.

4. In Michigan, it is legal to kill a dog for attacking chickens, livestock or people, but you can't snuff the pooch in a high altitude decompression chamber or by electrocution.

5. In West Virginia, anyone who taunts someone who decides not to participate in a duel or who declines to accept a challenge is guilty of a misdemeanor and can be sent to jail for up to six months and fined up to $100.

6. In Kentucky it is illegal to sell, exchange, offer to sell or exchange, display, or possess living baby chicks, ducklings, or other fowl or rabbits that have been dyed or colored. It is also illegal to dye or color baby chicks, ducklings, fowl or rabbits. And unless they are at least two months old, the aforementioned animals must be sold in batches of six.

7. At shooting ranges in Massachusetts, it is illegal to shoot at targets depicting a human -- whether as a figure, effigy or a silhouette -- unless you're a public safety officer performing official duties.

8. In Alabama it is against the law to alter the natural appearance of the teeth of a horse or mule to make the animal appear younger than it actually is.

9. In Alabama anyone performing a marriage rite is entitled to a fee of $2 per marriage.

10. In Alabama it is against the law to exploit a bear by promoting, engaging in or being employed at a bear wrestling match, or by subjecting a bear to surgical alteration of any kind, including, but not limited to, declawing, tooth removal and severing tendons.

Man, 72, jumps from second-floor window and extinguishes fire

A 72-year-old Batavia man this morning jumped from the second-floor of his townhouse, broke open a first-floor window and single-handedly extinguished a fire, according to the Batavia Fire Department.

Firefighters were called to Walden Estates, an apartment complex at 337 Bank St., about 3:40 a.m. and arrived to find that the male tenant in Apt. 5 had already extinguished the fire, said Batavia Fire Chief Tom Dillon.

The 72-year-old man and a 71-year-old woman were sitting in the living room, covered in soot at that time, he said. Firefighters helped the couple exit the townhouse.

At some point before firefighters arrived, the man helped the woman down the stairs, Dillon said.

The pair suffered from smoke inhalation and were taken to the United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia, where they were treated and released, Dillon said. The man also suffered from cuts on his feet after he stepped on broken glass.

Something woke the couple early today and the man jumped out of a second-floor window, ran around the side of the townhouse and broke open a window using a shovel. He reentered the townhouse and extinguished the fire using water and a five-gallon bucket, Dillon said.

“We were really impressed by the man’s actions,” Dillon said.

The entire townhouse sustained heavy fire damage and moderate heat damage. The living room was charred, he said. Dillon noted that the house is currently not livable.

He added that the smoke detector was not working last night because it had old batteries.

Firefighters are investigating, to determine the cause.

The Ultimate Fart Silencer



The Ultimate Fart Silencer

Everyone farts… Whether it be in public, on a date, or during an interview, it happens and we know how embarrassing it can be.

Luckily, a man named “Big Chicken Mushroom” from WuHan, China, has invented the “Fart Silencer”, a small plastic tube that you… um… put in your anus.

fart_silencer_stick The Ultimate Fart Silencer picture

The “Fart Silencer” is a small plastic tube with one end that is completely open and the other end having numerous smaller holes in it.

Users are instructed to insert the open end into their anus when they feel a fart is coming. This should eliminate any unwanted sound farts tend to produce.

Users are also instructed to spray a cotton ball with their favorite perfume and put it into the “Fart Silencer” to eliminate any unwanted odor that might occur.

Below is the inventor’s demonstration by uses his mouth as anus, seems like it is working.

Here is some video of the inventor demonstrating his “Fart Silencer“, with his mouth of course…

Monday, December 29, 2008

The Top 10 'Most Curious' stories of 2008

The Top 10 'Most Curious' stories of 2008

The Most Curious box gathers up the more offbeat and diverting news items of the day. We've taken a note of the offbeat stories that diverted you the most

Thomas Beatie (right), his wife Nancy and daughter Susan Juliette

(AP Photo)

Thomas Beatie (righth), his wife Nancy and daughter Susan Juliette

1: Look up tonight for a spectacular treat in the sky

Free entertainment on the biggest screen imaginable as the fullest full moon for years was enhanced by a display of shooting stars

2: Thomas Beatie a married man who used to be a woman is pregnant with a baby girl

The extraordinary story captivated many in March 2008, eclipsing even the report of his daughter’s birth,

3: Boy, 7 goes on killing spree in zoo feeding reptiles to crocodile

An as yet un-named boy broke into the Alice Springs Reptile Centre and fed several rare reptiles to a crocodile, miraculously escaping being eaten himself in the process.

4: Google search finds seafaring solution

An ocean-going server farm for the internet search giant piqued the curiosity if maritime computer enthusiasts everywhere

5: Officials fell trees inscribed by US soldiers who fought for France

Trees carved with messages from the troops who took part in the D-Day landings were felled and turned into paper by their owner, sparking outrage among many who thought that the forest should have been preserved as an historical site.

6: Nuclear powered passenger aircraft to transport millions says expert

A long-distance airliner that produces no carbon emissions might seem the stuff of dreams, but according to Ian Poll, Professor of Aerospace Engineering at Cranfield university, and head of technology for the mysterious sounding Omega project, it could be achieved within 30 years by the simple expedient of outfitting aircraft with nuclear power plants.

7: Schoolboy hacker Omar Khan who upped his grades faces 38 years in jail

Changing exam resukts by hacking into a computer might seem a droll Ferris Bueller prank but for Omar Khan the same trick led to a possible 38 years in jail

8: Science close to unveiling invisible man

Invisibility devices, long the realm of science fiction and fantasy, moved a little close to reality this summer after scientists engineered a material that can bend visible light around objects.

9: British journalist covering Barack Obama caught on camera in drunk plagiarism rant

Adam Smith, who sometimes styles himself Steve Zacharanda, became the funniest thing about Barack Obama’s electoral victory after he was filmed, copiously refreshed, in the streets of Miami making unwise statements about his employers and his journalistic workflow.

10: US hunters claim to have found Bigfoot

Plenty of hoaxers have faked film of the elusive ape-man of the woods but only Rick Dyer and Matthew Whitton had the sheer effrontery to produce a ‘corpse’ of the phantom beast.

Burger King launches beef-scented body spray

Where's the beef? A new meat-scented body spray makes men the answer, courtesy of Burger King NEW YORK (AP) -- Looking to beef up your mojo this holiday season?

Burger King Corp. may have just the thing. The home of the Whopper has launched a new men's body spray called "Flame." The company describes the spray as "the scent of seduction with a hint of flame-broiled meat."

The fragrance is on sale at New York City retailer Ricky's NYC in stores and online for a limited time for $3.99.

Burger King is marketing the product through a Web site featuring a photo of its King character reclining fireside and naked but for an animal fur strategically placed to not offend.

The marketing ploy is the latest in a string of viral ad campaigns by the company. Burger King is also in the midst of its Whopper Virgins campaign that features an taste test with fast-food "virgins" pitting the Whopper against McDonald's Corp.'s Big Mac.

Burger King Holdings Inc. shares rose 15 cents to close at $20.53.

Rescuers Suspect Shark Grabbed Missing Snorkeler

A full-scale search is on for a man in Australia believed to have been taken by a shark while out snorkelling with his son.

Aerial Footage Of Shark

Footage from Australia's Channel 7 of the shark thought responsible for the attack

Brian Guest, 51, was looking for crabs early on Saturday morning with his 24-year-old son off a beach in Port Kennedy, about 30 miles south of Perth, when he suddenly disappeared.

His 24-year-old son told police he saw a "commotion" in the water before his father vanished. He quickly swam to shore and sounded the alarm.

"It's believed he's been taken by a shark," Western Australia state police Sergeant Greg Lambert said.

Witnesses spoke of seeing flashes of fins in the area and the water was coloured by blood.

The beach was immediately closed, and police on jet skis, several marine rescue patrols and at least three helicopters began scouring the waters for the missing father of three.

Searchers have found a piece of a wet suit believed to be that of the missing swimmer in the water, not far from where he vanished, Sgt Lambert said.

Aerial footage of the shark believed to have taken the missing man was shown on Australian television.

The 6-mile beach is a popular swimming location and there were many people out because of the early morning warm weather conditions.

The son saw a shark in the area and lost sight of his father. It is presumed at this stage to be a shark attack. The information from witnesses suggests this is a confirmed shark attack.

Sergeant Peter Whitney, Western Australia Police

If Mr Guest has been taken by a shark, it would be the second such incident in Australia this year.

A shark in April killed a 16-year-old boy who was bodyboarding with a friend off Australia's eastern coast.

Separately on Saturday, a kayaker fell into the water off a Sydney beach as a great white shark swam just feet away.

Video footage of the incident showed nearby fishermen pulling the man into their boat and two other kayakers sidling up to the side of the vessel for safety as the shark circled for several minutes before swimming away

Man blows himself up after smoking while attached to ventilator

A CHRONIC smoker blew himself up when he lit a cigarette while using an oxygen ventilator to help him breathe.

The 75-year-old man was admitted to the Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong on Sunday with severe facial burns after lighting up in his home while the ventilator's plastic tubes were still running to his nose.

The man relies suffers from lung disease, caused by his smoking, and relies on the oxygen tank to stay alive.

The South China Morning Post reported the man's doctor said the man knew he shouldn't smoke while the ventilator was going, but took the risk because his cigarette craving was so intense.