Police: Bloody Brawl Sparked Over Bathroom Hygiene - FORT WORTH, Texas -- A bloody brawl erupted outside a tavern after one customer thought another failed to wash his hands after using the bathroom, according to police. One man was hospitalized with stab wounds. Another was arrested on suspicion of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
According to a police report, the fight broke out Thursday after Eric Jennings Kisiah, 27, became upset about a customer's apparent hygiene failure at the Tumbleweeds Sports Bar.
Witnesses told police Kisiah confronted the customer and two of his friends, calling them names, telling them they were dirty and threatening to "slash their throats."
Kisiah then hid near a shrub outside the bar and charged the group as they left, the police report said.
One of the men, 25-year-old Morgan Jackson, was stabbed four times, police said. He was listed in good condition after surgery.
Kisiah was jailed in lieu of $20,000 bail. Mansfield Jail officials declined to let a reporter speak with Kisiah or say whether he had an attorney.
A call to the bar Friday went unanswered.
Nov 16, 2006
Larry King Admits He’s Never Used The Internet: ‘Do You Punch Little Buttons and Things?’
Think Progress » Larry King Admits He’s Never Used The Internet: ‘Do You Punch Little Buttons and Things?’: "Larry King Admits He’s Never Used The Internet: ‘Do You Punch Little Buttons and Things?’
Last night CNN’s Larry King confessed to Roseanne Barr that he’s never used the Internet. King expressed doubt that the Internet was a viable political medium because “there’s 80 billion things on it.” When Barr said she liked the Internet, King acknowledged that “I’ve never done it, never gone searching.”
Barr said King would love the internet if he tried it. King replied, “I wouldn’t love it. What do you punch little buttons and things?” Barr even offered to show King how to use the Internet. King declined. Watch it:
Transcript:
LARRY KING: On your blog you write, “Bush is going to declare war on China next, I swear.”
ROSEANNE BARR: I was so scared because I woke up and there was the Drudge, you know. I always read the Drudge Report and it said on there that the Chinese were like, you know, spying on our subs or doing something with our subs and I was like, “Oh no, he’s going to think that’s an act of war and then we’re going to go over there next.�"
Last night CNN’s Larry King confessed to Roseanne Barr that he’s never used the Internet. King expressed doubt that the Internet was a viable political medium because “there’s 80 billion things on it.” When Barr said she liked the Internet, King acknowledged that “I’ve never done it, never gone searching.”
Barr said King would love the internet if he tried it. King replied, “I wouldn’t love it. What do you punch little buttons and things?” Barr even offered to show King how to use the Internet. King declined. Watch it:
Transcript:
LARRY KING: On your blog you write, “Bush is going to declare war on China next, I swear.”
ROSEANNE BARR: I was so scared because I woke up and there was the Drudge, you know. I always read the Drudge Report and it said on there that the Chinese were like, you know, spying on our subs or doing something with our subs and I was like, “Oh no, he’s going to think that’s an act of war and then we’re going to go over there next.�"
Nov 9, 2006
'Aliens could attack at any time' warns former MoD chief
'Aliens could attack at any time' warns former MoD chief : "UFO sightings and alien visitors tend to be solely the reserve of sci-fi movies.
So when a former MoD chief warns that the country could be attacked by extraterrestrials at any time, you may be forgiven for feeling a little alarmed.
During his time as head of the Ministry of Defence UFO project, Nick Pope was persuaded into believing that other lifeforms may visit Earth and, more specifically, Britain.
His concern is that 'highly credible' sightings are simply dismissed.
And he complains that the project he once ran is now 'virtually closed' down, leaving the country 'wide open' to aliens.
Mr Pope decided to speak out about his worries after resigning from his post at the Directorate of Defence Security at the MoD this week.
'The consequences of getting this one wrong could be huge,' he said.
'If you reported a UFO sighting now, I am absolutely sure that you would just get back a standard letter telling you not to worry. ''Frankly we are wide open - if something does not behave like a conventional aircraft now, it will be ignored.
'The X-Files have been closed down.' If these words had come from a sci-fi fanatic, they could be easily dismissed by cynics.
But Mr Pope's CV - he was head of"
So when a former MoD chief warns that the country could be attacked by extraterrestrials at any time, you may be forgiven for feeling a little alarmed.
During his time as head of the Ministry of Defence UFO project, Nick Pope was persuaded into believing that other lifeforms may visit Earth and, more specifically, Britain.
His concern is that 'highly credible' sightings are simply dismissed.
And he complains that the project he once ran is now 'virtually closed' down, leaving the country 'wide open' to aliens.
Mr Pope decided to speak out about his worries after resigning from his post at the Directorate of Defence Security at the MoD this week.
'The consequences of getting this one wrong could be huge,' he said.
'If you reported a UFO sighting now, I am absolutely sure that you would just get back a standard letter telling you not to worry. ''Frankly we are wide open - if something does not behave like a conventional aircraft now, it will be ignored.
'The X-Files have been closed down.' If these words had come from a sci-fi fanatic, they could be easily dismissed by cynics.
But Mr Pope's CV - he was head of"
Nov 2, 2006
Letter Carrier Attacked by Squirrel
Pa. Letter Carrier Attacked by Squirrel: "Letter carriers occasionally have to deal with angry dogs or maybe even a spider's nest in a mailbox, but a mean squirrel?
Barb Dougherty, a 30-year Postal Service employee, said she was attacked and bitten Monday by a squirrel while delivering mail in Oil City, about 75 miles north of Pittsburgh.
'It was a freak thing. It was traumatic,' Dougherty told The Derrick newspaper. 'I saw it there on the porch, put the mail in the box and turned to walk away and it jumped on me.'
She said the animal ran up her leg and onto her back.
'I eventually got a hold of the tail and pulled it off me,' Dougherty said. 'No one was home at the house where I was delivering the mail, but the neighbor lady heard me screaming and came over.'
An ambulance took Dougherty to a hospital, where she was treated for cuts and scratches. The squirrel was killed with a BB gun and sent to a lab to be tested for rabies. Dougherty was given the first series of rabies shots as a precaution.
Postal officials said the attack is extraordinary.
'In about 230 years of postal history, I bet it is not the first, but I've personally never heard of another squirrel biting,' said Steve Kochersperger, spokesman for the Erie district."
Issaquah bus driver appeals firing for "flipping off" President Bush
The Issaquah bus driver appeals firing for "flipping off" President Bush: "An Issaquah school bus driver fired for allegedly 'flipping off' President Bush during a visit to Seattle in June is appealing her termination.
According to Issaquah School District officials, the incident happened when a district school bus stopped for the president's motorcade while returning from a field trip in Seattle.
As the president waved to the school children from his limousine, the bus driver made an obscene gesture, said Sara Niegowski, a spokeswoman for the district.
Bush was in Seattle attending a fundraiser for Congressman Dave Reichert, who was riding in the same limousine.
Reichert campaign officials confirm that Bush told Reichert about the gesture and that the congressman later called Issaquah's superintendent to let her know about the incident.
But the district had been informed by other staff the same day it happened, Niegowski said. It investigated and found evidence pointing to 'unprofessional conduct' from the driver, she said.
The 43-year-old driver, with the district since 1999, was fired in September. 'This incident has to do with the responsibility of an employee who is supervising students to act professionally and serve as a role model for appropriate behavior,' said Issaquah Superintendent Janet Barry. 'This was part of" pattern of behavior with this particular bus driver, not an isolated incident."
The fired bus driver filed a union grievance last month for wrongful termination. She has declined to be identified or interviewed.
Chris Dugovich, a spokesman for the Washington State Council of County and City Employees, said it wants the district to re-evaluate its decision.
"There's only one individual who saw this and it happens to be the president of the United States," Dugovich said. "We're interested in saving her employment."
Barry said she personally knows Reichert from his days serving as King County Sheriff when they discussed school resource officers. Reichert called as a courtesy, Barry said.
"He never discussed his view or suggested what action he thought would be appropriate to take," Barry said. "He reported the incident believing — rightly — that I would want to know this occurred, that as a steward of children and public resources, one of my employees had acted inappropriately in her job capacity."
Barry reiterated that the decision to terminate the employee was not motivated by any political reason.
"If the bus driver had made the gesture to a driver who cut her off on a local road, we would have taken the same action," Barry said.
According to Issaquah School District officials, the incident happened when a district school bus stopped for the president's motorcade while returning from a field trip in Seattle.
As the president waved to the school children from his limousine, the bus driver made an obscene gesture, said Sara Niegowski, a spokeswoman for the district.
Bush was in Seattle attending a fundraiser for Congressman Dave Reichert, who was riding in the same limousine.
Reichert campaign officials confirm that Bush told Reichert about the gesture and that the congressman later called Issaquah's superintendent to let her know about the incident.
But the district had been informed by other staff the same day it happened, Niegowski said. It investigated and found evidence pointing to 'unprofessional conduct' from the driver, she said.
The 43-year-old driver, with the district since 1999, was fired in September. 'This incident has to do with the responsibility of an employee who is supervising students to act professionally and serve as a role model for appropriate behavior,' said Issaquah Superintendent Janet Barry. 'This was part of" pattern of behavior with this particular bus driver, not an isolated incident."
The fired bus driver filed a union grievance last month for wrongful termination. She has declined to be identified or interviewed.
Chris Dugovich, a spokesman for the Washington State Council of County and City Employees, said it wants the district to re-evaluate its decision.
"There's only one individual who saw this and it happens to be the president of the United States," Dugovich said. "We're interested in saving her employment."
Barry said she personally knows Reichert from his days serving as King County Sheriff when they discussed school resource officers. Reichert called as a courtesy, Barry said.
"He never discussed his view or suggested what action he thought would be appropriate to take," Barry said. "He reported the incident believing — rightly — that I would want to know this occurred, that as a steward of children and public resources, one of my employees had acted inappropriately in her job capacity."
Barry reiterated that the decision to terminate the employee was not motivated by any political reason.
"If the bus driver had made the gesture to a driver who cut her off on a local road, we would have taken the same action," Barry said.
Oct 12, 2006
T-ball coach gets 1-6 years for ordering beaning
Fayette County Judge Ralph Warman said the actions by Mark Downs Jr., of Dunbar, in June 2005 were "outrageous" and "extremely reprehensible" because he was coaching a league of children 7 to 9 years old.
Testimony indicated Mr. Downs promised $25 to one of his best players if he hurled a ball at Harry Bowers Jr., 11, an autistic and mildly retarded teammate, presumably to keep him from playing in a game.
A jury convicted Mr. Downs last month of corruption of minors and conspiracy to commit simple assault.
Judge Warman sentenced him to six months to three years on each count.
Mr. Downs didn't say anything during this afternoon's sentencing hearing. But as he was led away, he replied "Yes" when asked if he thought the sentence was too harsh.
Judge Warman could have sentenced him to up to 12 years.
Mr. Downs' bond was revoked and he was taken to jail to await transfer to a state prison.
Mr. Downs' family, including his wife, a 6-week-old baby and three other children were in the courtroom for part of the hearing. But the three older children were hurried out before the actual sentencing.
Jennifer Bowers, mother of the injured player, said the sentencing ends a chapter in the story. "Hopefully we can close the book on this," she said, but added her son still doesn't understand what happened.
Testimony indicated Mr. Downs promised $25 to one of his best players if he hurled a ball at Harry Bowers Jr., 11, an autistic and mildly retarded teammate, presumably to keep him from playing in a game.
A jury convicted Mr. Downs last month of corruption of minors and conspiracy to commit simple assault.
Judge Warman sentenced him to six months to three years on each count.
Mr. Downs didn't say anything during this afternoon's sentencing hearing. But as he was led away, he replied "Yes" when asked if he thought the sentence was too harsh.
Judge Warman could have sentenced him to up to 12 years.
Mr. Downs' bond was revoked and he was taken to jail to await transfer to a state prison.
Mr. Downs' family, including his wife, a 6-week-old baby and three other children were in the courtroom for part of the hearing. But the three older children were hurried out before the actual sentencing.
Jennifer Bowers, mother of the injured player, said the sentencing ends a chapter in the story. "Hopefully we can close the book on this," she said, but added her son still doesn't understand what happened.
Oct 5, 2006
Man Apologizes for Courtroom Feces
"A Chicago man apologized for spreading his feces around a courtroom during his trial on drug charges.
Vandale Amos Willis, 28, apologized Wednesday before being sentenced to more than 10 years in prison. Willis was convicted earlier of importation of a controlled substance, cocaine, and two other charges.
'Im going to take full responsibility for everything I did in Duluth,' Willis told the court. 'I want to apologize for everything I did in court. Im sorry, your honor.'
He asked Judge David Sullivan to put him on probation. Sullivan told Willis his actions wouldn't be held against him, but there was no reason to depart from sentencing guidelines. "
Vandale Amos Willis, 28, apologized Wednesday before being sentenced to more than 10 years in prison. Willis was convicted earlier of importation of a controlled substance, cocaine, and two other charges.
'Im going to take full responsibility for everything I did in Duluth,' Willis told the court. 'I want to apologize for everything I did in court. Im sorry, your honor.'
He asked Judge David Sullivan to put him on probation. Sullivan told Willis his actions wouldn't be held against him, but there was no reason to depart from sentencing guidelines. "
Jackals attack Indian village injuring 35
RANCHI, India - A pack of jackals prowling for food attacked villages in the eastern Indian state of Bihar, injuring at least 35 people, officials said on Thursday.
The attack took place in Madhubani district, about 120 km (75 miles) north of the state capital, Patna, late on Wednesday.
"We are still trying to ascertain the number of jackals involved in the attack and the extent of injuries sustained by human beings," Mala Kumari, a government official said over the telephone from Madhubani.
Jackals have sometimes been seen roaming the streets in India as their forest habitat dwindles, but reports of attacks on humans are rare.
"We have not seen or heard anything like this in the last 12 years," Santosh Kumar, who saw the jackals attacking the villagers. "Some of them were badly bitten," he said.
The attack took place in Madhubani district, about 120 km (75 miles) north of the state capital, Patna, late on Wednesday.
"We are still trying to ascertain the number of jackals involved in the attack and the extent of injuries sustained by human beings," Mala Kumari, a government official said over the telephone from Madhubani.
Jackals have sometimes been seen roaming the streets in India as their forest habitat dwindles, but reports of attacks on humans are rare.
"We have not seen or heard anything like this in the last 12 years," Santosh Kumar, who saw the jackals attacking the villagers. "Some of them were badly bitten," he said.
Oct 2, 2006
Woman Arrested For Hamster Neglect
local6.com - Local News - Woman Arrested For Hamster Neglect: "JANESVILLE, Wis. -- Police arrested a woman for neglecting hamsters at her home after her roommate called authorities, police said Sunday.
Sgt. Rick Larson said police arrested the 23-year-old on 39 counts each of two charges: failing to provide food and drink and failing to provide proper shelter to animals.
The Rock County Humane Society removed 33 live and six dead hamsters.
The woman was already is facing charges of failing to provide shelter and food to a Great Dane removed from her home in August."
Sgt. Rick Larson said police arrested the 23-year-old on 39 counts each of two charges: failing to provide food and drink and failing to provide proper shelter to animals.
The Rock County Humane Society removed 33 live and six dead hamsters.
The woman was already is facing charges of failing to provide shelter and food to a Great Dane removed from her home in August."
Jul 19, 2006
Man charged after hitting wife in the eye with a carrot
"BRIDGEPORT — A Monroe man was charged with assault after police said he threw a carrot at his wife that put out her eye.
Appearing for his arraignment on Monday, Robert Vecsey, 46, of Woods Row, blurted out to Superior Court Judge Patrick Carroll that it was all a terrible accident, before Carroll hushed him.
The victim, 46-year-old Pamela Vecsey, underwent a six-hour operation at Yale-New-Haven Hospital, but doctors could not restore sight in her eye, Assistant State's Attorney Stephanie Damiani said.
Police said they were called to the couple's home on a complaint of a disturbance Saturday evening. When they arrived, they found the wife, her left eye swollen and bleeding, police said. Police said Roderick Vecsey told them: 'I threw a carrot at her and it hit her in the eye.'
Vecsey said he and his wife had gotten into an argument about taking their daughter to the doctor. He was eating a carrot during the argument, he told police, and he threw it at his wife, hitting her in the left eye.
Vecsey was charged with second-degree assault and disorderly conduct. The judge continued a hearing on the defendant's bond until Thursday. He is free on $500 bond."
Appearing for his arraignment on Monday, Robert Vecsey, 46, of Woods Row, blurted out to Superior Court Judge Patrick Carroll that it was all a terrible accident, before Carroll hushed him.
The victim, 46-year-old Pamela Vecsey, underwent a six-hour operation at Yale-New-Haven Hospital, but doctors could not restore sight in her eye, Assistant State's Attorney Stephanie Damiani said.
Police said they were called to the couple's home on a complaint of a disturbance Saturday evening. When they arrived, they found the wife, her left eye swollen and bleeding, police said. Police said Roderick Vecsey told them: 'I threw a carrot at her and it hit her in the eye.'
Vecsey said he and his wife had gotten into an argument about taking their daughter to the doctor. He was eating a carrot during the argument, he told police, and he threw it at his wife, hitting her in the left eye.
Vecsey was charged with second-degree assault and disorderly conduct. The judge continued a hearing on the defendant's bond until Thursday. He is free on $500 bond."
Jul 15, 2006
Axl Welcomes Hilfiger to the Jungle
Apparently, Tommy Hilfiger has no patience for Axl Rose.
The famed fashion designer and the Guns N' Roses ringleader reportedly got into fisticuffs Thursday night in New York City at a 27th birthday party for actress Rosario Dawson.
And by all accounts, it was--for once--not Rose, but rather Hilfiger of all people, doing the instigating.
According to the New York Post, the clothing maven went ballistic after Rose moved his girlfriend, Dee Ocieppo's drink at a VIP table at The Plumm nightclub in the posh Manhattan neighborhood of Chelsea. Hilfiger allegdly attacked the flame-haired rocker without warning, pummeling him several times and landing a punch just below his eye.
"First [Axl and Tommy] were sitting. Then they were pulling on each other...it got so out of control," one shocked eyewitness told the Post.
The dust-up reportedly took many in the packed club by surprise, including fellow celebs Lenny Kravitz, Kid Rock and Mickey Rourke, who were close to the action.
"A bunch of security ran over, but Tommy would not back down. He was just out to take him down," the witness added. "Kid Rock got trampled by people running over. It was unbelievable."
Hilfiger's personal bodyguard was finally able to pull him off Rose, but not before the 55-year-old sportswear mogul tried to give the musician another makeover, reportedly scoring a blow to his cheek.
Appetite for destruction indeed.
For his part, the 44-year-old Rose later said he was baffled as to why Hilfiger was out to get him.
"I moved his girlfriend's drink so it wouldn't spill," the "Sweet Child O' Mine" singer told Los Angeles radio station KROQ on Friday. "It was the most surreal thing, I think, that's ever happened to me in my life."
Rose added that the Tommy Incident got started when Hilfiger struck him in the arm and ordered him to put the drink back.
"I said, 'I don't want it to spill.' And he said, 'It's not going to spill.' And I said, 'Well, I don't want to sit on it.' And he said, 'You're not going to blanking sit on it,"' the Gunner said. "He just kept smacking me."
Rose, the lone original member still playing in the G N' R lineup, eventually went on to perform a surprise acoustic set for Dawson's b-day and dedicated the song "You're Crazy" to "my good friend Tommy Hilfiger."
No charges were filed and reps for Hilfiger had no comment.
The Plumm's owner, Noel Ashman, told the Associated Press that Axl was a model of "restraint" and both men were welcomed back to the club anytime.
After wrapping up four hugely successful shows at the Big Apple's Hammerstein Ballroom, Rose and his new Guns N' Roses crew will now head to Europe for several festival dates in June as well as open for the Rolling Stones in Nuremburg and Leipzig, Germany, July 10 and 12.
And in an interview on Eddie Trunk's syndicated radio program on New York City's WAXQ-FM earlier this month, Rose also confirmed that the band's near mythical album, Chinese Democracy, will finally hit stores sometime this fall.
The famed fashion designer and the Guns N' Roses ringleader reportedly got into fisticuffs Thursday night in New York City at a 27th birthday party for actress Rosario Dawson.
And by all accounts, it was--for once--not Rose, but rather Hilfiger of all people, doing the instigating.
According to the New York Post, the clothing maven went ballistic after Rose moved his girlfriend, Dee Ocieppo's drink at a VIP table at The Plumm nightclub in the posh Manhattan neighborhood of Chelsea. Hilfiger allegdly attacked the flame-haired rocker without warning, pummeling him several times and landing a punch just below his eye.
"First [Axl and Tommy] were sitting. Then they were pulling on each other...it got so out of control," one shocked eyewitness told the Post.
The dust-up reportedly took many in the packed club by surprise, including fellow celebs Lenny Kravitz, Kid Rock and Mickey Rourke, who were close to the action.
"A bunch of security ran over, but Tommy would not back down. He was just out to take him down," the witness added. "Kid Rock got trampled by people running over. It was unbelievable."
Hilfiger's personal bodyguard was finally able to pull him off Rose, but not before the 55-year-old sportswear mogul tried to give the musician another makeover, reportedly scoring a blow to his cheek.
Appetite for destruction indeed.
For his part, the 44-year-old Rose later said he was baffled as to why Hilfiger was out to get him.
"I moved his girlfriend's drink so it wouldn't spill," the "Sweet Child O' Mine" singer told Los Angeles radio station KROQ on Friday. "It was the most surreal thing, I think, that's ever happened to me in my life."
Rose added that the Tommy Incident got started when Hilfiger struck him in the arm and ordered him to put the drink back.
"I said, 'I don't want it to spill.' And he said, 'It's not going to spill.' And I said, 'Well, I don't want to sit on it.' And he said, 'You're not going to blanking sit on it,"' the Gunner said. "He just kept smacking me."
Rose, the lone original member still playing in the G N' R lineup, eventually went on to perform a surprise acoustic set for Dawson's b-day and dedicated the song "You're Crazy" to "my good friend Tommy Hilfiger."
No charges were filed and reps for Hilfiger had no comment.
The Plumm's owner, Noel Ashman, told the Associated Press that Axl was a model of "restraint" and both men were welcomed back to the club anytime.
After wrapping up four hugely successful shows at the Big Apple's Hammerstein Ballroom, Rose and his new Guns N' Roses crew will now head to Europe for several festival dates in June as well as open for the Rolling Stones in Nuremburg and Leipzig, Germany, July 10 and 12.
And in an interview on Eddie Trunk's syndicated radio program on New York City's WAXQ-FM earlier this month, Rose also confirmed that the band's near mythical album, Chinese Democracy, will finally hit stores sometime this fall.
Jun 1, 2006
Woman Hit By Lightning While Praying
DAPHNE, Ala. -- Worried about the safety of her family during a stormy Memorial Day trip to the beach, Clara Jean Brown stood in her kitchen and prayed for their safe return as a strong thunderstorm rumbled through Baldwin County, Alabama.
But while she prayed, lightning suddenly exploded, blowing through the linoleum and leaving a blackened area on the concrete. Brown wound up on the floor, dazed and disoriented by the blast but otherwise uninjured.
She said 'Amen' and the room was engulfed in a huge ball of fire. The 65-year-old Brown said she is blessed to be alive.
Firefighters said its likely she was hit by a bolt of lightning that apparently struck outside and traveled into the house yesterday afternoon. She was found lying on the floor by her 14-year-old granddaughter.
Fire officials think the lightning likely struck across the street from the couple's home and traveled into the house through a water line. The lightning continued into the couple's backyard and ripped open a small trench.
A family member said he will no longer assume it is safe to be indoors during a lightning strike.
Dime-sized hail and wind gusts of up to 45 miles-per-hour moved across coastal Baldwin County. As much as three inches of rain fell in some areas in three hours.
But while she prayed, lightning suddenly exploded, blowing through the linoleum and leaving a blackened area on the concrete. Brown wound up on the floor, dazed and disoriented by the blast but otherwise uninjured.
She said 'Amen' and the room was engulfed in a huge ball of fire. The 65-year-old Brown said she is blessed to be alive.
Firefighters said its likely she was hit by a bolt of lightning that apparently struck outside and traveled into the house yesterday afternoon. She was found lying on the floor by her 14-year-old granddaughter.
Fire officials think the lightning likely struck across the street from the couple's home and traveled into the house through a water line. The lightning continued into the couple's backyard and ripped open a small trench.
A family member said he will no longer assume it is safe to be indoors during a lightning strike.
Dime-sized hail and wind gusts of up to 45 miles-per-hour moved across coastal Baldwin County. As much as three inches of rain fell in some areas in three hours.
Mar 22, 2006
Woman's Hair Bursts Into Flames, Causes House Fire
The woman set her hair on fire and, in the process of trying to put it out, she set the house on fire. That fire was devastating to the house where the family had lived for more than 20 years.
The woman tried to blow out a candle, but ended up setting her hair on fire. She succeeded at putting her hair out, but the fire quickly spread and consumed the whole room.
Tuesday morning, cleanup crews began the massive task of making Ramona Nottage's house livable once again, after an inconceivable series of events sparked the fire that destroyed her home of 23 years.
The freak accident that started it all happened when Ramona's grown daughter turned in for the night and went to blow out a candle and, in turn, caught her hair on fire.
Amazingly, Ramona's daughter wasn't hurt. Nor were her four young grandchildren. Every last person made it out with barely a scratch and with enough time to grab all the valuables they could carry.
And as workers started to put her home back together, Ramona looked on Tuesday, fully aware her dilemma could have been so much more grim.
Ramona said her daughter's hair was singed and she has a few burns on her shoulder, but aside from that was by all accounts very lucky after a bizarre series of events that destroyed more than two decades of memories
The woman tried to blow out a candle, but ended up setting her hair on fire. She succeeded at putting her hair out, but the fire quickly spread and consumed the whole room.
Tuesday morning, cleanup crews began the massive task of making Ramona Nottage's house livable once again, after an inconceivable series of events sparked the fire that destroyed her home of 23 years.
The freak accident that started it all happened when Ramona's grown daughter turned in for the night and went to blow out a candle and, in turn, caught her hair on fire.
Amazingly, Ramona's daughter wasn't hurt. Nor were her four young grandchildren. Every last person made it out with barely a scratch and with enough time to grab all the valuables they could carry.
And as workers started to put her home back together, Ramona looked on Tuesday, fully aware her dilemma could have been so much more grim.
Ramona said her daughter's hair was singed and she has a few burns on her shoulder, but aside from that was by all accounts very lucky after a bizarre series of events that destroyed more than two decades of memories
Mar 19, 2006
Man severs own penis, throws it at officers
"Before cops threw the book at him, Jakub Fik threw something unusual at them -- his penis.
Fik, 33, cut off his own penis during a Northwest Side rampage Wednesday morning. When confronted by police, Fik hurled several knives and his severed organ at the officers, police said. Officers stunned him with a Taser and took him into custody.
'We took him out without any serious injury, with the exception of his own,' said Chicago Police Sgt. Edward Dolan of the 16th District.
Doctors at Northwestern Memorial Hospital reattached Fik's penis Wednesday, sources said. He was listed in good condition Thursday, according to hospital spokesman Andrew Buchanan, who declined to comment further."
Fik, 33, cut off his own penis during a Northwest Side rampage Wednesday morning. When confronted by police, Fik hurled several knives and his severed organ at the officers, police said. Officers stunned him with a Taser and took him into custody.
'We took him out without any serious injury, with the exception of his own,' said Chicago Police Sgt. Edward Dolan of the 16th District.
Doctors at Northwestern Memorial Hospital reattached Fik's penis Wednesday, sources said. He was listed in good condition Thursday, according to hospital spokesman Andrew Buchanan, who declined to comment further."
Mar 12, 2006
Sudan man forced to 'marry' goat
A Sudanese man has been forced to take a goat as his "wife", after he was caught having sex with the animal.
The goat's owner, Mr Alifi, said he surprised the man with his goat and took him to a council of elders.
They ordered the man, Mr Tombe, to pay a dowry of 15,000 Sudanese dinars ($50) to Mr Alifi.
"We have given him the goat, and as far as we know they are still together," Mr Alifi said.
Mr Alifi, Hai Malakal in Upper Nile State, told the Juba Post newspaper that he heard a loud noise around midnight on 13 February and immediately rushed outside to find Mr Tombe with his goat.
"When I asked him: 'What are you doing there?', he fell off the back of the goat, so I captured and tied him up".
Mr Alifi then called elders to decide how to deal with the case.
"They said I should not take him to the police, but rather let him pay a dowry for my goat because he used it as his wife," Mr Alifi told the newspaper
The goat's owner, Mr Alifi, said he surprised the man with his goat and took him to a council of elders.
They ordered the man, Mr Tombe, to pay a dowry of 15,000 Sudanese dinars ($50) to Mr Alifi.
"We have given him the goat, and as far as we know they are still together," Mr Alifi said.
Mr Alifi, Hai Malakal in Upper Nile State, told the Juba Post newspaper that he heard a loud noise around midnight on 13 February and immediately rushed outside to find Mr Tombe with his goat.
"When I asked him: 'What are you doing there?', he fell off the back of the goat, so I captured and tied him up".
Mr Alifi then called elders to decide how to deal with the case.
"They said I should not take him to the police, but rather let him pay a dowry for my goat because he used it as his wife," Mr Alifi told the newspaper
Feb 23, 2006
School Pig Castration Sparks Protests
School Pig Castration Sparks Protests: "A teacher who castrated a live pig in front of her high school class is the target of protests by animal rights activists throughout the country.
The protests began after People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals posted information about the incident at Rosamond High School on its Web site last month. The posting does not say when the castration occurred.
'We're concerned not only because animals suffer during these routine castrations but also because of the message it sends to students who are still forming opinions about treatment of animals in our society,' said Stephanie Bell, a PETA cruelty case worker.
Rod Van Norman, superintendent of the Southern Kern Unified School District school in the Mojave Desert about 70 miles north of Los Angeles, said animal castrations often occur in agriculture classes and are an important skill for students to learn.
'I don't know why they're picking on a little school district,' he said.
Charles Parker, assistant state Future Farmers of America adviser at the California Department of Education, said anesthesia is not normally used during pig castrations, which are done to calm male animals, prevent them from breeding and improve meat quality.
Bell said she hopes the nationwide attention will prompt the school district to reconsider teaching castration.
Van Norman said that's not likely. None of the complaints have come from parents of district students, he said.
A posting on PETA's Web site, however, says the organization learned of the castration from Rosamond parents, who reported that one student vomited after observing the procedure and others were extremely upset. "
The protests began after People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals posted information about the incident at Rosamond High School on its Web site last month. The posting does not say when the castration occurred.
'We're concerned not only because animals suffer during these routine castrations but also because of the message it sends to students who are still forming opinions about treatment of animals in our society,' said Stephanie Bell, a PETA cruelty case worker.
Rod Van Norman, superintendent of the Southern Kern Unified School District school in the Mojave Desert about 70 miles north of Los Angeles, said animal castrations often occur in agriculture classes and are an important skill for students to learn.
'I don't know why they're picking on a little school district,' he said.
Charles Parker, assistant state Future Farmers of America adviser at the California Department of Education, said anesthesia is not normally used during pig castrations, which are done to calm male animals, prevent them from breeding and improve meat quality.
Bell said she hopes the nationwide attention will prompt the school district to reconsider teaching castration.
Van Norman said that's not likely. None of the complaints have come from parents of district students, he said.
A posting on PETA's Web site, however, says the organization learned of the castration from Rosamond parents, who reported that one student vomited after observing the procedure and others were extremely upset. "
Jan 20, 2006
Daughter shut away for three decades in bathroom - World - Times Online
A 73-YEAR-OLD woman is being investigated for “kidnapping and maltreating a family member” after allegedly keeping her mentally disturbed daughter locked in a darkened bathroom for 30 years.
Police said that Annina Gentilezza had kept her daughter, Giuseppina, now 52, a prisoner in the top-floor council flat at Pescara, on the Adriatic coast. They raided the flat after being tipped off by Signora Gentilezza’s daughter-in-law.
They found Giuseppina curled in a ball in a tiled room measuring 7ft x 9ft containing a lavatory, bidet, sink and washing machine. Wires hung from the ceiling where the light had been disconnected. The room contained a camp bed and plastic dog bowls in which Giuseppina was allegedly fed leftovers.
Police said that instead of being washed Giuseppina was “hosed down” on the balcony. Nicola Zupo, the officer who led the raid, said that Giuseppina was sometimes left out on the balcony as a punishment, especially in the winter, and beaten. She was allowed out once a month with her mother and stepfather, but only to collect her invalidity pension.
Psychiatrists at a local hospital where Giuseppina has been taken said that she was beginning to talk. “She doesn’t want to go back home,” a hospital spokesman said.
Giuseppe De Felice, Signora Gentilezza’s second husband and the father of her two sons, who is also under investigation, denied the allegations: “Those bowls really are for the dog. We never hurt her, she sleeps in her own room, she eats with us and watches television with her mother in the evening.”
Police said that Annina Gentilezza had kept her daughter, Giuseppina, now 52, a prisoner in the top-floor council flat at Pescara, on the Adriatic coast. They raided the flat after being tipped off by Signora Gentilezza’s daughter-in-law.
They found Giuseppina curled in a ball in a tiled room measuring 7ft x 9ft containing a lavatory, bidet, sink and washing machine. Wires hung from the ceiling where the light had been disconnected. The room contained a camp bed and plastic dog bowls in which Giuseppina was allegedly fed leftovers.
Police said that instead of being washed Giuseppina was “hosed down” on the balcony. Nicola Zupo, the officer who led the raid, said that Giuseppina was sometimes left out on the balcony as a punishment, especially in the winter, and beaten. She was allowed out once a month with her mother and stepfather, but only to collect her invalidity pension.
Psychiatrists at a local hospital where Giuseppina has been taken said that she was beginning to talk. “She doesn’t want to go back home,” a hospital spokesman said.
Giuseppe De Felice, Signora Gentilezza’s second husband and the father of her two sons, who is also under investigation, denied the allegations: “Those bowls really are for the dog. We never hurt her, she sleeps in her own room, she eats with us and watches television with her mother in the evening.”
Whale spotted in central London
seven-tonne whale has made its way up the Thames to central London, where it is being watched by riverside crowds.
The 16-18ft (5m) northern bottle-nosed whale, which is usually found in deep sea waters, has been seen as far upstream as Chelsea.
A rescue boat has been sent to protect the whale and rescuers have been trying to keep it away from the river banks.
Specialist equipment, including inflatable tubes to re-direct the animal downstream, are being sent.
The whale has come within yards of the banks and has crashed into an empty boat causing slight bleeding.
The last thing we want to do is stress the animal out
Liz Sandeman
Marine Connection
Vets are remaining on standby and experts have said it does not appear to be ill, but are concerned it will get weaker and may become beached.
Tony Woodley, of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue, which will be handling the rescue, said the animal's welfare was the main priority.
He said if attempts to re-direct the whale downstream failed, it might be necessary to put it down to prevent from suffering further.
'Breathing normally'
The RNLI say it is the first whale rescue on the Thames. A spokesman said three whales were spotted east of the Thames Barrier on Thursday but only one managed to get upstream.
But at 0830 GMT on Friday, a man on a train called in to say he might have been hallucinating, but he had just seen a whale in the Thames.
Alison Shaw of the Marine and Freshwater Conservation Programme at London Zoo, said the northern bottle-nosed whale was usually found in groups of three to 10.
She told the BBC News website: "This is extremely rare in British waters as they are normally found in deep waters in the North Atlantic.
"It is about 16-18ft long, so is relatively mature. It is a very long way from home and we don't know why it has ended up here."
The whales usually weigh about seven tonnes, which will complicate any rescue attempt, experts said.
London Aquarium Curator Paul Hale told the BBC: "Getting that to do anything it doesn't want to do is going to be extremely difficult.
"This is a very active swimming animal and it's not going to go anywhere it doesn't want to go so we have to persuade it to swim back out."
Liz Sandeman, a medic of the Marine Connection, a whale and dolphin protection charity, accompanied the RNLI to examine the animal.
She feared it might be in danger from other boats, or be frightened by the noise.
"The last thing we want to do is stress the animal out," she said.
Over the years dolphins and seals have been spotted in the Thames.
Sperm whales have been seen in the Thames Estuary and porpoises have feasted on fish near Vauxhall Bridge, in central London.
The 16-18ft (5m) northern bottle-nosed whale, which is usually found in deep sea waters, has been seen as far upstream as Chelsea.
A rescue boat has been sent to protect the whale and rescuers have been trying to keep it away from the river banks.
Specialist equipment, including inflatable tubes to re-direct the animal downstream, are being sent.
The whale has come within yards of the banks and has crashed into an empty boat causing slight bleeding.
The last thing we want to do is stress the animal out
Liz Sandeman
Marine Connection
Vets are remaining on standby and experts have said it does not appear to be ill, but are concerned it will get weaker and may become beached.
Tony Woodley, of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue, which will be handling the rescue, said the animal's welfare was the main priority.
He said if attempts to re-direct the whale downstream failed, it might be necessary to put it down to prevent from suffering further.
'Breathing normally'
The RNLI say it is the first whale rescue on the Thames. A spokesman said three whales were spotted east of the Thames Barrier on Thursday but only one managed to get upstream.
But at 0830 GMT on Friday, a man on a train called in to say he might have been hallucinating, but he had just seen a whale in the Thames.
Alison Shaw of the Marine and Freshwater Conservation Programme at London Zoo, said the northern bottle-nosed whale was usually found in groups of three to 10.
She told the BBC News website: "This is extremely rare in British waters as they are normally found in deep waters in the North Atlantic.
"It is about 16-18ft long, so is relatively mature. It is a very long way from home and we don't know why it has ended up here."
The whales usually weigh about seven tonnes, which will complicate any rescue attempt, experts said.
London Aquarium Curator Paul Hale told the BBC: "Getting that to do anything it doesn't want to do is going to be extremely difficult.
"This is a very active swimming animal and it's not going to go anywhere it doesn't want to go so we have to persuade it to swim back out."
Liz Sandeman, a medic of the Marine Connection, a whale and dolphin protection charity, accompanied the RNLI to examine the animal.
She feared it might be in danger from other boats, or be frightened by the noise.
"The last thing we want to do is stress the animal out," she said.
Over the years dolphins and seals have been spotted in the Thames.
Sperm whales have been seen in the Thames Estuary and porpoises have feasted on fish near Vauxhall Bridge, in central London.
Jan 9, 2006
Toxic waste creates hermaphrodite Arctic polar bears
Wildlife researchers have found new evidence that Arctic polar bears, already gravely threatened by the melting of their habitat because of global warming, are being poisoned by chemical compounds commonly used in Europe and North America to reduce the flammability of household furnishings like sofas, clothing and carpets.
A team of scientists from Canada, Alaska, Denmark and Norway is sounding the alarm about the flame retardants, known as polybrominated diphenyls, or PBDEs, saying that significant deposits have recently been found in the fatty tissues of polar bears, especially in eastern Greenland and Norway's Svalbard islands.
Studies are still being carried out on what impact the chemicals might be having on the bears, but tests on laboratory animals such as mice indicate that their effects can be considerable, attacking the sex and thyroid glands, motor skills and brain function.
There is also evidence that compounds similar to the PBDEs have contributed to a surprisingly high rate of hermaphroditism in polar bears. About one in 50 female bears on Svalbard has both male and female sex organs, a phenomenon scientists link directly to the effects of pollution.
"The Arctic is now a chemical sink," declared Colin Butfield, a campaign leader for the Worldwide Fund for Nature, which last month indicated that killer whales in the Arctic were also suffering from elevated levels of contamination with fire retardants as well as other man-made compounds. "Chemicals from products that we use in our homes every day are contaminating Arctic wildlife."
The pollutants are carried northwards from industrialised regions of the US and western Europe on currents and particularly on northbound winds. Contaminated moisture often condenses on arriving in the cold Arctic climes and is then deposited, ready to enter the food chain.
For several years, scientists have observed how the concentrations of the pollutants are magnified as they ascend the food chain, from plankton to fish and then to marine mammals such as seals, whales and polar bears. The new study, first published last month in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, shows, for instance, that one compound was 71 times more concentrated in polar bears than in the seals they normally feed upon.
Conservationists are especially alarmed by these new findings because of the already fragile condition of the Arctic polar bear populations, some of which could be devastated before the end of the century. As warming temperatures erode their hunting grounds, polar bears in Canada's western Hudson Bay region, for instance, saw their numbers slide from 1,100 in 1995 to only 950 in 2004.
The dangers now posed by the PBDEs are reminiscent of the crisis 30 years ago over PCBs - polychlorinated biphenyls - a highly toxic by-product of many industries that was also found to be migrating to the Arctic. The dumping of PCBs was swiftly banned. Since 2004, manufacturing has stopped in the US of two of the most toxic retardants, called penta and octa. Stockpiles of both still exist, however.
According to Derek Muir, of Canada's Environmental Department and a leader of the new research, there are signs of a slightly different retardant, typically used in construction materials and furnishings, also showing up in the Arctic and in the bears, called HBCD. "It's a chemical that needs to be watched, because it does biomagnify in the aquatic food webs and appears to be a widespread pollutant."
The research team tested 139 bears captured in 10 different locations across the Arctic region. They found that the bears in Norway's Svalbard, a wildlife refuge where all hunting is banned, had 10 times the levels of the chemicals than bears in Alaska and four times those in Canada.
Wildlife researchers have found new evidence that Arctic polar bears, already gravely threatened by the melting of their habitat because of global warming, are being poisoned by chemical compounds commonly used in Europe and North America to reduce the flammability of household furnishings like sofas, clothing and carpets.
A team of scientists from Canada, Alaska, Denmark and Norway is sounding the alarm about the flame retardants, known as polybrominated diphenyls, or PBDEs, saying that significant deposits have recently been found in the fatty tissues of polar bears, especially in eastern Greenland and Norway's Svalbard islands.
Studies are still being carried out on what impact the chemicals might be having on the bears, but tests on laboratory animals such as mice indicate that their effects can be considerable, attacking the sex and thyroid glands, motor skills and brain function.
There is also evidence that compounds similar to the PBDEs have contributed to a surprisingly high rate of hermaphroditism in polar bears. About one in 50 female bears on Svalbard has both male and female sex organs, a phenomenon scientists link directly to the effects of pollution.
"The Arctic is now a chemical sink," declared Colin Butfield, a campaign leader for the Worldwide Fund for Nature, which last month indicated that killer whales in the Arctic were also suffering from elevated levels of contamination with fire retardants as well as other man-made compounds. "Chemicals from products that we use in our homes every day are contaminating Arctic wildlife."
The pollutants are carried northwards from industrialised regions of the US and western Europe on currents and particularly on northbound winds. Contaminated moisture often condenses on arriving in the cold Arctic climes and is then deposited, ready to enter the food chain.
For several years, scientists have observed how the concentrations of the pollutants are magnified as they ascend the food chain, from plankton to fish and then to marine mammals such as seals, whales and polar bears. The new study, first published last month in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, shows, for instance, that one compound was 71 times more concentrated in polar bears than in the seals they normally feed upon.
Conservationists are especially alarmed by these new findings because of the already fragile condition of the Arctic polar bear populations, some of which could be devastated before the end of the century. As warming temperatures erode their hunting grounds, polar bears in Canada's western Hudson Bay region, for instance, saw their numbers slide from 1,100 in 1995 to only 950 in 2004.
The dangers now posed by the PBDEs are reminiscent of the crisis 30 years ago over PCBs - polychlorinated biphenyls - a highly toxic by-product of many industries that was also found to be migrating to the Arctic. The dumping of PCBs was swiftly banned. Since 2004, manufacturing has stopped in the US of two of the most toxic retardants, called penta and octa. Stockpiles of both still exist, however.
According to Derek Muir, of Canada's Environmental Department and a leader of the new research, there are signs of a slightly different retardant, typically used in construction materials and furnishings, also showing up in the Arctic and in the bears, called HBCD. "It's a chemical that needs to be watched, because it does biomagnify in the aquatic food webs and appears to be a widespread pollutant."
The research team tested 139 bears captured in 10 different locations across the Arctic region. They found that the bears in Norway's Svalbard, a wildlife refuge where all hunting is banned, had 10 times the levels of the chemicals than bears in Alaska and four times those in Canada.
A team of scientists from Canada, Alaska, Denmark and Norway is sounding the alarm about the flame retardants, known as polybrominated diphenyls, or PBDEs, saying that significant deposits have recently been found in the fatty tissues of polar bears, especially in eastern Greenland and Norway's Svalbard islands.
Studies are still being carried out on what impact the chemicals might be having on the bears, but tests on laboratory animals such as mice indicate that their effects can be considerable, attacking the sex and thyroid glands, motor skills and brain function.
There is also evidence that compounds similar to the PBDEs have contributed to a surprisingly high rate of hermaphroditism in polar bears. About one in 50 female bears on Svalbard has both male and female sex organs, a phenomenon scientists link directly to the effects of pollution.
"The Arctic is now a chemical sink," declared Colin Butfield, a campaign leader for the Worldwide Fund for Nature, which last month indicated that killer whales in the Arctic were also suffering from elevated levels of contamination with fire retardants as well as other man-made compounds. "Chemicals from products that we use in our homes every day are contaminating Arctic wildlife."
The pollutants are carried northwards from industrialised regions of the US and western Europe on currents and particularly on northbound winds. Contaminated moisture often condenses on arriving in the cold Arctic climes and is then deposited, ready to enter the food chain.
For several years, scientists have observed how the concentrations of the pollutants are magnified as they ascend the food chain, from plankton to fish and then to marine mammals such as seals, whales and polar bears. The new study, first published last month in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, shows, for instance, that one compound was 71 times more concentrated in polar bears than in the seals they normally feed upon.
Conservationists are especially alarmed by these new findings because of the already fragile condition of the Arctic polar bear populations, some of which could be devastated before the end of the century. As warming temperatures erode their hunting grounds, polar bears in Canada's western Hudson Bay region, for instance, saw their numbers slide from 1,100 in 1995 to only 950 in 2004.
The dangers now posed by the PBDEs are reminiscent of the crisis 30 years ago over PCBs - polychlorinated biphenyls - a highly toxic by-product of many industries that was also found to be migrating to the Arctic. The dumping of PCBs was swiftly banned. Since 2004, manufacturing has stopped in the US of two of the most toxic retardants, called penta and octa. Stockpiles of both still exist, however.
According to Derek Muir, of Canada's Environmental Department and a leader of the new research, there are signs of a slightly different retardant, typically used in construction materials and furnishings, also showing up in the Arctic and in the bears, called HBCD. "It's a chemical that needs to be watched, because it does biomagnify in the aquatic food webs and appears to be a widespread pollutant."
The research team tested 139 bears captured in 10 different locations across the Arctic region. They found that the bears in Norway's Svalbard, a wildlife refuge where all hunting is banned, had 10 times the levels of the chemicals than bears in Alaska and four times those in Canada.
Wildlife researchers have found new evidence that Arctic polar bears, already gravely threatened by the melting of their habitat because of global warming, are being poisoned by chemical compounds commonly used in Europe and North America to reduce the flammability of household furnishings like sofas, clothing and carpets.
A team of scientists from Canada, Alaska, Denmark and Norway is sounding the alarm about the flame retardants, known as polybrominated diphenyls, or PBDEs, saying that significant deposits have recently been found in the fatty tissues of polar bears, especially in eastern Greenland and Norway's Svalbard islands.
Studies are still being carried out on what impact the chemicals might be having on the bears, but tests on laboratory animals such as mice indicate that their effects can be considerable, attacking the sex and thyroid glands, motor skills and brain function.
There is also evidence that compounds similar to the PBDEs have contributed to a surprisingly high rate of hermaphroditism in polar bears. About one in 50 female bears on Svalbard has both male and female sex organs, a phenomenon scientists link directly to the effects of pollution.
"The Arctic is now a chemical sink," declared Colin Butfield, a campaign leader for the Worldwide Fund for Nature, which last month indicated that killer whales in the Arctic were also suffering from elevated levels of contamination with fire retardants as well as other man-made compounds. "Chemicals from products that we use in our homes every day are contaminating Arctic wildlife."
The pollutants are carried northwards from industrialised regions of the US and western Europe on currents and particularly on northbound winds. Contaminated moisture often condenses on arriving in the cold Arctic climes and is then deposited, ready to enter the food chain.
For several years, scientists have observed how the concentrations of the pollutants are magnified as they ascend the food chain, from plankton to fish and then to marine mammals such as seals, whales and polar bears. The new study, first published last month in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, shows, for instance, that one compound was 71 times more concentrated in polar bears than in the seals they normally feed upon.
Conservationists are especially alarmed by these new findings because of the already fragile condition of the Arctic polar bear populations, some of which could be devastated before the end of the century. As warming temperatures erode their hunting grounds, polar bears in Canada's western Hudson Bay region, for instance, saw their numbers slide from 1,100 in 1995 to only 950 in 2004.
The dangers now posed by the PBDEs are reminiscent of the crisis 30 years ago over PCBs - polychlorinated biphenyls - a highly toxic by-product of many industries that was also found to be migrating to the Arctic. The dumping of PCBs was swiftly banned. Since 2004, manufacturing has stopped in the US of two of the most toxic retardants, called penta and octa. Stockpiles of both still exist, however.
According to Derek Muir, of Canada's Environmental Department and a leader of the new research, there are signs of a slightly different retardant, typically used in construction materials and furnishings, also showing up in the Arctic and in the bears, called HBCD. "It's a chemical that needs to be watched, because it does biomagnify in the aquatic food webs and appears to be a widespread pollutant."
The research team tested 139 bears captured in 10 different locations across the Arctic region. They found that the bears in Norway's Svalbard, a wildlife refuge where all hunting is banned, had 10 times the levels of the chemicals than bears in Alaska and four times those in Canada.
Jan 6, 2006
Artist Accused of Vandalizing Urinal
PARIS
A 76-year-old performance artist was arrested after attacking Marcel Duchamp's 'Fountain' _ a porcelain urinal _ with a hammer, police said.
Duchamp's 1917 piece _ an ordinary white, porcelain urinal that's been called one of the most influential works of modern art _ was slightly chipped in the attack at the Pompidou Center in Paris, the museum said Thursday. It was removed from the exhibit for repair.
The suspect, a Provence resident whose identity was not released, already vandalized the work in 1993 _ urinating into the piece when it was on display in Nimes, in southern France, police said.
During questioning, the man claimed his hammer attack on Wednesday was a work of performance art that might have pleased Dada artists. The early 20th-century avant-garde movement was the focus of the exhibit that ends Monday, police said.
A 2004 poll of 500 arts figures ranked 'Fountain' as the most influential work of modern art _ ahead of Pablo Picasso's 'Les Demoiselles d'Avignon,' Andy Warhol's screen prints of Marilyn Monroe and 'Guernica,' Picasso's depiction of war's devastation.
'Fountain' is estimated at $3.6 million"
A 76-year-old performance artist was arrested after attacking Marcel Duchamp's 'Fountain' _ a porcelain urinal _ with a hammer, police said.
Duchamp's 1917 piece _ an ordinary white, porcelain urinal that's been called one of the most influential works of modern art _ was slightly chipped in the attack at the Pompidou Center in Paris, the museum said Thursday. It was removed from the exhibit for repair.
The suspect, a Provence resident whose identity was not released, already vandalized the work in 1993 _ urinating into the piece when it was on display in Nimes, in southern France, police said.
During questioning, the man claimed his hammer attack on Wednesday was a work of performance art that might have pleased Dada artists. The early 20th-century avant-garde movement was the focus of the exhibit that ends Monday, police said.
A 2004 poll of 500 arts figures ranked 'Fountain' as the most influential work of modern art _ ahead of Pablo Picasso's 'Les Demoiselles d'Avignon,' Andy Warhol's screen prints of Marilyn Monroe and 'Guernica,' Picasso's depiction of war's devastation.
'Fountain' is estimated at $3.6 million"
Jan 3, 2006
Department of Water and Power Pays to Drink bottoled water
Despite spending $1 million in the last two years to assure Los Angeles residents that their tap water is not only safe to drink but also top quality, city officials spent $88,900 in public money during that time on bottled water from private firms.
The Department of Water and Power, which supplies the city's water and promotes it, spent the most on bottled water, paying $31,160 to Sparkletts.
"I am stunned," said City Controller Laura Chick, whose office compiled the bills in response to a Public Records Act request from The Times. "This is the same department which spent millions of dollars for public relations promoting themselves and the quality of their drinking water."
The city's use of bottled water comes despite a 1995 directive by former Mayor Richard Riordan that said: "The city's tap water satisfies most needs, and bottled water should not be provided ordinarily at city expense."
As a result of that order, many City Hall offices pay for water coolers with money collected by employees.
The bottled water purchased by the city in the last two years includes water coolers for city offices and small sports bottles for city workers in the field or for the public at special events in hot weather, officials said.
The DWP spends about $500,000 annually to mail a report on the quality of its water to its customers, as required by federal law, according to Jim McDaniel, chief operating officer of the agency's water division.
The latest report brags that DWP water "meets or surpasses all water quality standards."
Even so, McDaniel said, some people prefer bottled water to DWP tap water because of the taste, noting that the city puts chlorine in its water.
"I don't think it's necessary," McDaniel said of buying bottled water. "But if people prefer it, and they can afford it, that's their choice. There is a taste issue for some people."
McDaniel could not say how the bottled water the DWP bought was used, but he said at the DWP's downtown Los Angeles headquarters workers are encouraged to use tap water.
"If you are inside the building and you need water for a meeting, you should get a pitcher of tap water because it's perfectly good," he said.
McDaniel said he believed some of the bottled water was for remote locations, including the Owens Valley, where DWP employees work without easy access to L.A. tap water. Also, some DWP labs need to buy distilled water for chemical procedures, he said.
Gayle Harris, a DWP spokeswoman, noted that some of the water may have been used for community events or distributed to neighborhoods when water service was interrupted.
The DWP has ordered from Sparkletts even though at any given time it has about 25,000 bottles filled with its own water. It is bottled by the agency for use by its employees in the field and for storage in case of emergencies. Some of the bottled city water is provided to City Council offices for events held in the field on hot days.
Chick questioned why the tap water that DWP bottles is not sufficient to meet the department's needs.
"They hand out thousands of bottles of their water to the public each year at various community events," she said. "But behind closed doors, the DWP management has been spending ratepayer dollars on water for their employees from an outside supplier. There is something very wrong about that."
The city Public Works Department was the second-biggest consumer of bottled water, paying more than $21,600 to Danone and Arrowhead for bottled water used in offices and in the field.
The department's bills, including $141 spent by the Board of Public Works itself, could not be explained by board President Cynthia Ruiz.
"That is a good question. Let me look into it and give you a call back," Ruiz said. She did not call back.
The Harbor Department came in third, paying $13,300 to Sparkletts.
The City Council paid $3,702 in tax dollars for bottled water to Danone, including $20 per month for a water cooler and bottled water for the office of Council President Eric Garcetti.
"Some people like the hot-water" feature, that comes with bottled water dispensers, Garcetti said. "I, at home, always drink regular water, and at the office I make tea using regular water."
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Councilmen Jack Weiss and Bernard C. Parks are the only elected city officials to pay for bottled water from accounts funded by political supporters. In the last two years, Weiss and Parks together have paid $970 from their political officeholder accounts for bottled water, records show.
A spokeswoman for Weiss said he uses his officeholder account to pay for bottled water because it is "a luxury" and he does not think taxpayers should be billed.
Villaraigosa's office contracts with Sparkletts primarily because the water cooler also provides hot water, according to spokeswoman Janelle Erickson.
"The 140-plus members of the mayor's staff are provided with hot water for tea, soup and other needs, which is not paid for with taxpayer money," she said.
Still, some City Hall watchers found the purchase of bottled water by officials in a city with its own water utility to be odd.
"It strikes me as ironic that the city spends money touting the safety of its water to drink but won't drink it themselves," said Doug Heller, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights.
The Department of Water and Power, which supplies the city's water and promotes it, spent the most on bottled water, paying $31,160 to Sparkletts.
"I am stunned," said City Controller Laura Chick, whose office compiled the bills in response to a Public Records Act request from The Times. "This is the same department which spent millions of dollars for public relations promoting themselves and the quality of their drinking water."
The city's use of bottled water comes despite a 1995 directive by former Mayor Richard Riordan that said: "The city's tap water satisfies most needs, and bottled water should not be provided ordinarily at city expense."
As a result of that order, many City Hall offices pay for water coolers with money collected by employees.
The bottled water purchased by the city in the last two years includes water coolers for city offices and small sports bottles for city workers in the field or for the public at special events in hot weather, officials said.
The DWP spends about $500,000 annually to mail a report on the quality of its water to its customers, as required by federal law, according to Jim McDaniel, chief operating officer of the agency's water division.
The latest report brags that DWP water "meets or surpasses all water quality standards."
Even so, McDaniel said, some people prefer bottled water to DWP tap water because of the taste, noting that the city puts chlorine in its water.
"I don't think it's necessary," McDaniel said of buying bottled water. "But if people prefer it, and they can afford it, that's their choice. There is a taste issue for some people."
McDaniel could not say how the bottled water the DWP bought was used, but he said at the DWP's downtown Los Angeles headquarters workers are encouraged to use tap water.
"If you are inside the building and you need water for a meeting, you should get a pitcher of tap water because it's perfectly good," he said.
McDaniel said he believed some of the bottled water was for remote locations, including the Owens Valley, where DWP employees work without easy access to L.A. tap water. Also, some DWP labs need to buy distilled water for chemical procedures, he said.
Gayle Harris, a DWP spokeswoman, noted that some of the water may have been used for community events or distributed to neighborhoods when water service was interrupted.
The DWP has ordered from Sparkletts even though at any given time it has about 25,000 bottles filled with its own water. It is bottled by the agency for use by its employees in the field and for storage in case of emergencies. Some of the bottled city water is provided to City Council offices for events held in the field on hot days.
Chick questioned why the tap water that DWP bottles is not sufficient to meet the department's needs.
"They hand out thousands of bottles of their water to the public each year at various community events," she said. "But behind closed doors, the DWP management has been spending ratepayer dollars on water for their employees from an outside supplier. There is something very wrong about that."
The city Public Works Department was the second-biggest consumer of bottled water, paying more than $21,600 to Danone and Arrowhead for bottled water used in offices and in the field.
The department's bills, including $141 spent by the Board of Public Works itself, could not be explained by board President Cynthia Ruiz.
"That is a good question. Let me look into it and give you a call back," Ruiz said. She did not call back.
The Harbor Department came in third, paying $13,300 to Sparkletts.
The City Council paid $3,702 in tax dollars for bottled water to Danone, including $20 per month for a water cooler and bottled water for the office of Council President Eric Garcetti.
"Some people like the hot-water" feature, that comes with bottled water dispensers, Garcetti said. "I, at home, always drink regular water, and at the office I make tea using regular water."
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Councilmen Jack Weiss and Bernard C. Parks are the only elected city officials to pay for bottled water from accounts funded by political supporters. In the last two years, Weiss and Parks together have paid $970 from their political officeholder accounts for bottled water, records show.
A spokeswoman for Weiss said he uses his officeholder account to pay for bottled water because it is "a luxury" and he does not think taxpayers should be billed.
Villaraigosa's office contracts with Sparkletts primarily because the water cooler also provides hot water, according to spokeswoman Janelle Erickson.
"The 140-plus members of the mayor's staff are provided with hot water for tea, soup and other needs, which is not paid for with taxpayer money," she said.
Still, some City Hall watchers found the purchase of bottled water by officials in a city with its own water utility to be odd.
"It strikes me as ironic that the city spends money touting the safety of its water to drink but won't drink it themselves," said Doug Heller, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights.
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