150 Hungry Elephants Trample Village - 3 Dead

GAUHATI, India — A herd of nearly 150 hungry elephants rampaged through a village in India's remote northeast, trampling to death a young family as they slept in their hut, a resident and a wildlife official said Saturday.

The Asiatic elephants destroyed four homes in Assam state's Karbi Anglong village Friday night, said resident Rimi Marak.

"The herd was just too large. The villagers could do nothing," Marak said. A farmer, his wife and their 5-year-old daughter died in the incident, he said.

The herd left a nearby forest reserve in search of food nearly two weeks ago, said state forestry officer M.K. Dhar.

Forest guards had tried in vain to drive the elephants back using firecrackers and lighting torches, Dhar told The Associated Press.

The region is home to some 5,000 wild elephants, whose natural habitat has been increasingly diminished by human development. Conservationists say wild elephant attacks have killed more than 700 people in Assam in the past 17 years.

"We take pride at the large elephant population in our region, but the increasing man-elephant conflict following the shrinkage in their habitat due to the growing human population is turning out to be a huge challenge," said Pradyut Bordoloi, a former state forest and environment minister.

GAUHATI, India — A herd of nearly 150 hungry elephants rampaged through a village in India's remote northeast, trampling to death a young family as they slept in their hut, a resident and a wildlife official said Saturday.

The Asiatic elephants destroyed four homes in Assam state's Karbi Anglong village Friday night, said resident Rimi Marak.

"The herd was just too large. The villagers could do nothing," Marak said. A farmer, his wife and their 5-year-old daughter died in the incident, he said.

The herd left a nearby forest reserve in search of food nearly two weeks ago, said state forestry officer M.K. Dhar.

Forest guards had tried in vain to drive the elephants back using firecrackers and lighting torches, Dhar told The Associated Press.

The region is home to some 5,000 wild elephants, whose natural habitat has been increasingly diminished by human development. Conservationists say wild elephant attacks have killed more than 700 people in Assam in the past 17 years.

"We take pride at the large elephant population in our region, but the increasing man-elephant conflict following the shrinkage in their habitat due to the growing human population is turning out to be a huge challenge," said Pradyut Bordoloi, a former state forest and environment minister.

Imagery by the National Remote Sensing Agency shows that nearly 691,880 acres (280,000 hectares) of thick forests in Assam state were illegally cleared for human settlements from 1996 to 2000.

In 2001, villagers in Sonitpur district poisoned to death 19 wild elephants after the hungry animals feasted on standing crops and demolished several homes.

Man stabbed at York Hotel ignores wound to finish his beer

A man who was stabbed at the York Hotel Saturday night opted to return to the bar to finish his beer rather than seek medical attention.

Police responded to 10401 96 St. hotel just after 9 p.m. with reports that a man had been stabbed.

When they arrived, they found the victim at his table drinking beer.

"He's got a minor poke to his chest, but he's not giving us any details," said Staff Sgt. Regan James. "You can imagine the level of his concern was not that high."

No suspects had been located and the victim was uncooperative with police

Woman, 81, killed in street mugging 'ignored by passers-by as she called for help'

An 81-year-old woman, who died after being mugged in the street, was ignored by passers-by as she cried for help.

Police said that Molly Morgan sus­tained head injuries suffered in the attack on her from behind - yet people who could have helped her thought she was drunk.

She was left on the pavement for 10 minutes before eventually being taken to hospital on Thursday evening, but died the following day from her injuries.

A post-mortem examination gave cause of death as head injuries. She also had a broken left arm and mul­tiple fractures to the left side of her face after being dragged to the ground during the attack.

Ignored: Pensioner Molly Morgan died following a street mugging. Many passers-by refused to help her because they thought she had been drinking

Her bag contained just an electrical exten­sion lead and a Primark umbrella.

Today her only daughter Hilary, an artist from Surrey, pleaded for anyone with information about the mugging in Harrow to come forward.

She also released a painting of her mother’s bag, which police are searching for.

She said: 'My mum was so active and full of life. I still can’t believe she has been taken away from me. I am her only daughter and we were close. She encouraged me in my dream of going to art school.

'If this painting helps to catch the person who killed her, it’s the most important painting I’ve ever done.'

Mrs Morgan, who had lived in the area for more than 50 years, was on her way to Kenton Library for a lecture.

Vital clue: A painting of the missing bag belonging to Molly Morgan

The 'active' and 'agile' pensioner had trained as an architect but gave up work to become a full-time mother.

She was a member of the Royal Horticultural Society and sat on the London committee of the Worker Education Association, a group that supports adult education.

For more than 40 years she was married to William Morgan, who died in November 1997.

Detective Chief Inspector Jessica Wadsworth - from the Met’s Homi­cide and Serious Crime Command, which is leading the investigation - said some passers-by refused to help Mrs Morgan because they thought she had been drinking.

She said: 'When Mrs Morgan was attacked she fell to the ground, and we believe she was on the pavement for about 10 minutes before anyone came to her aid.

'While at hospital, Mrs Morgan told police that a man walked right past her and didn’t stop, even when she asked for help.

'I need to trace this man, and any other people who saw Mrs Morgan lying on the pavement, since they are vital witnesses and will be able to help me find who killed her.

'It is our belief that this man, and other people in the area who didn’t assist the victim, may tragically not have realised that Mrs Morgan had been attacked and was in consider­able pain.

'We know from some witnesses that they had assumed she was merely a drunk on the street.'

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 020 8358 0300 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Woman motorist banned after police catch her drink-driving... on a 2.4mph mobility scooter

A woman has been given a driving ban after being caught more than twice the legal alcohol limit - while riding a 2.4mph mobility scooter.

Amanda Leaff, 46, said she had taken the buggy from an Asda supermarket to save herself the taxi fare for her trip home.

A court was told yesterday how it would have taken Leaff, of Stretford, Manchester, more than four hours to complete the ten-mile journey, had she not been spotted 'driving erratically' by an off-duty police officer.

A drunk woman travelled two-and-a-half miles on a mobility scooter before police stopped her. She was given a 20-month driving ban for being twice the legal limit

Magistrates in Oldham heard she had been drinking for several hours and became abusive when police stopped her at around 10.45pm on November 12.

Her solicitor Stephen Krebbs told the court: 'She managed to get two-and-a-half miles until she was stopped. It was a surprise she got as far as she did.'

He added: 'She planned to return the scooter to her local Asda the following day.'

Leaff admitted taking without consent and driving a mobility scooter while unfit through drink. She was given a 20-month driving ban and £240 fine.

An Asda spokesman said after the hearing: 'The scooters, although very practical and robust, are not really designed for road use.

'They are best suited to flat surfaces as in supermarkets, due to the very low wheelbase. Every scooter missing from our premises is a vehicle fewer for our disabled shoppers to use.'

Mass. Man Shot Twice In Year At Same Pizza Place

WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) -- A 26-year-old Worcester man may want to avoid a certain pizza place -- after he was shot in front of the restaurant twice in less than a year.

Police said the man, whose name was not immediately released, is expected to survive three gunshot wounds he suffered in front of the Golden Pizza on Tuesday, after surviving another shooting there in April.

Detective Capt. Edward McGinn told the Telegram & Gazette the man had just gotten a haircut at a barber shop Tuesday when he went across the street and got into a skirmish with a person in front of Golden Pizza.

McGinn said the man was hospitalized after being shot in the legs and abdomen. The shooter fled.

In the April 13 incident, police said three people were arrested after the same man was shot multiple times.

I Triple-Dog Dare You:

I Triple-Dog Dare You: Indiana Boy Gets Tongue Stuck on Light Pole

HAMMOND, Ind. — In a scene straight out of the movie "A Christmas Story," a 10-year-old Hammond boy got his tongue stuck to a metal light pole.

Police say the unidentified fourth-grader was able to tell them that a friend dared him to lick the pole Wednesday night. Temperatures in Hammond were around 10 degrees at the time.

By the time an ambulance arrived, the boy was able to yank his tongue off the frozen pole.

Police say ambulance personnel explained to the boy's mother how to care for his bleeding tongue.

The 1983 movie is set in a fictional city based on Hammond, the hometown of author Jean Shepherd.

Harper's Index: the Bush Years

Harper's Index: the Bush Years

Posted by Cory Doctorow, January 14, 2009 8:34 AM | permalink

Here's Harper's Index for the Bush years -- some real gems here:

Number of members of the rock band Anthrax who said they hoarded Cipro so as to avoid an “ironic death”: 1

Estimated total calories members of Congress burned giving Bush’s 2002 State of the Union standing ovations: 22,000

Percentage of the amendments in the Bill of Rights that are violated by the USA PATRIOT Act, according to the ACLU: 50

Harper’s Index (Thanks, Mr Jalopy!)