2018 Other News Stories that might be missed

[Trigger]

Latest post of the previous page:

Ghostly Tommies rise up in remembrance: Silhouettes of 6ft tall WWI soldiers emerge to mark 100 years since the end of the war

Rising like a ghost from the earth, the Tommy stands with head bowed and rifle in hand, a poppy adorning his chest.
This silhouette of a First World War soldier, 6ft tall and made from aluminium, has appeared in the village of Penshurst, Kent.
It is one of many that will be displayed across the country to mark 100 years since the end of the war and its overwhelming human cost.
The art installation, officially unveiled yesterday and called There But Not There, has seen the silhouettes appear in sentry boxes usually manned by Yeoman Warders at the Tower of London, and on the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland.
The figures have also been displayed at Hearts Football Club in Edinburgh, seven of whose players lost their lives in the conflict, and the Big Pit National Coal Museum in Blaenavon, South Wales, to reflect the Welsh miners who enlisted.
Charities want community groups to buy similar scale silhouettes for local war memorials. The public will be able to buy ten-inch versions to remember their own relatives.
A poignant reminder of the 888,246 British and Commonwealth soldiers who died and of those who survived but suffered physical and mental scars, the silhouettes will tour the nation until Armistice Day to raise funds for a new charity called Remembered. The aim is to raise £15million for Armed Forces and mental health charities.
All the money raised will be shared evenly between The Royal Foundation: Heads Together, Walking With The Wounded, Combat Stress, Help for Heroes: Hidden Wounds, The Commonwealth War Graves Foundation and Project Equinox: Housing Veterans.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... z595u3CdbC

[boatbuilder]

Girl, 11, dies after being struck by loose wheel in Manby

An 11-year-old girl has died after a wheel came off a passing car and struck her.
It is believed that Amelia Wood was walking alongside a road in Manby, Lincolnshire, on Tuesday morning when a wheel fell off a Land Rover Discovery.
She was taken to Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham, but died on Wednesday.
Lincolnshire Police asked for anyone who saw the white vehicle travelling on the B1200 Manby Road towards Saltfleetby to get in contact.
Officers said they had already spoken to several witnesses. They said they were still investigating how the wheel came off.
Amelia was a pupil at Louth Academy, which described her as a "vibrant, passionate and very determined student" who was a keen netball player.
Martin Brown, executive principal at the academy, said; "She was a very popular and caring student who always helped and supported her friends.
"We are all devastated by such tragic news. We have a counsellor and pastoral staff to support students and offer help and guidance in the coming days and weeks."
Grimoldby Primary School said Amelia had moved up to secondary school last summer and would be remembered as a "wonderful young lady".
Simon Clark, its head teacher, said: "Amelia's kindness really shone through, and her peers voted her onto the school council when she was in Year 6.
"She used this opportunity to support younger pupils and help improve the school any way she could."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-43331639

[Trigger]

International Women's Day: The 93-year-old spy still keeping war secrets

Helen Taylor Thompson sent coded messages to spies in occupied France during World War II.
"One mistake and someone's life could have been in danger," she says.
Ms Taylor Thompson signed the Official Secrets Act aged 19 and was part of what was known as then Prime Minister Winston Churchill's "secret army".
She went on to set up Europe's first Aids hospice and is still working today with her education charity.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-4330 ... ar-secrets includes video (approx. 4 minutes).

[Trigger]

Auctioneer in merry-go-round over £180k carousel bid

A bungling online-auction bidder bought a disused fairground carousel for £180,000 with a pledge that he says was made in error.
The ride, dating back to 1904, was among hundreds of items from the former Pleasure Island theme park in Cleethorpes being auctioned off.
The man claimed he clicked the button to make a bid unintentionally when he went to close his browser.
Prestige Auctions said it has left them in a tricky position.
The merry-go-round was being auctioned at the defunct amusement park on Wednesday with a reserve price of £180,000.
It received no bids from the room but just before the lot was closed the sole bid came in from the man - who is not being named - via the internet.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-43318976

[boatbuilder]

'Poo-shaming' map hopes to tackle dog fouling

Fed-up village residents have come up with a "poo-shaming" map in a bid to tackle dog fouling.
Dubbed Doodoowatch, the scheme allows locals in Wimblington, Cambridgeshire, to mark dumping spots on an interactive map.
Amanda Carlin, who dreamt up the idea, said it was "not for the squeamish" as users can also upload photos of any unwanted deposits.
She said it was a "fun way of addressing a serious issue".
Where poo is reported, she marks it on a map of the village using a smiley poo emoji.
The reports are then passed on to the local council, or, in some cases, cleaned up by the village's most dedicated faeces fighters.
Former parish councillor Mrs Carlin said she hoped people would be "shamed" into bagging their pets' poo.
The map will show people where it is safe and clean to walk with their children and pets, she said.
She plans to monitor the scheme to see if the public posts result in fewer cases in the village.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-43334730

I know at least one of our members who would probably like this idea.

[boatbuilder]

Feed the birds, but be aware of risks, say wildlife experts

Scientists are warning of the risks of wild birds spreading diseases when they gather at feeders in gardens.
Experts led by Zoological Society of London say people should continue to feed birds, especially in winter, but should be aware of the risks.
If birds look sick, food should be withdrawn temporarily, they say.
The review of 25 years' worth of data identified emerging threats to garden birds. Finches, doves and pigeons are vulnerable to a parasite infection.
Meanwhile, a form of bird pox is becoming more common, causing warty-like lumps on the bodies of great tits and other birds.
Other disease threats, such as salmonella, appear to be declining.
"Our study shows how three of the most common diseases that affect British garden birds have changed both dramatically and unpredictably over the past decade, both in terms of the species they affect and their patterns of occurrence," said Dr Becki Lawson from ZSL's Institute of Zoology.
Common signs that a wild bird is ill include unusually fluffed-up plumage and lethargy.
Diseases can be spread through droppings or regurgitated food around bird feeders.

Read More

[Trigger]

Poundworld Croydon fined for mice infestation

Discount retailer Poundworld has been fined £1.2m after an "out-of-control" rodent infestation was discovered in one of its stores.
Mouse urine and faeces was found on products and packaging, some of which had been gnawed and taped back together, at the shop in Croydon, south London, in February 2016.
Poundworld was fined on Friday for food safety and health and safety offences.
It said "the unacceptable conditions" should "never happen again".
Croydon Council officers who reported the infestation said the shop floor was "dirty and littered with mouse droppings" and the food on display was gnawed.
Poundworld staff had "repaired" some products' nibbled packaging with adhesive tape and returned them to the shelves for sale, officers said.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-43389242

[Trigger]

Dog dies in overhead locker on United Airlines plane

United Airlines has accepted "full responsibility" for a dog's in-flight death after a flight attendant put the pet in the overhead locker.
"This was a tragic accident that should never have happened," the airline said.
The French bulldog died during a flight from Houston to New York on Monday.
Witnesses said the flight attendant had asked one of the passengers to put her airline-approved pet carrier in the locker. The attendant later said she did not know the dog was in the bag.
"We assume full responsibility for this tragedy and express our deepest condolences to the family and are committed to supporting them," the US airline said in a statement.
"We are thoroughly investigating what occurred to prevent this from ever happening again. Pets should never be placed in the overhead bin," the statement added.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-43394952

[Trigger]

French baker fined €3,000 for working too much

A baker from the small town of Lusigny-sur-Barse in northeastern France has been fined €3,000 for working seven days a week. The law imposes a weekly day of rest for all workers but Cédric Vaivre kept his bakery open all week in the summer of 2017.
Lusigny Mayor Christian Branle and locals from the town of just 2,000 people have come out in defence of Vaivre and started a petition, according to local newspaper L'Est Eclair.
Locals argue that in the summer months, “there is nothing worse than closed shops when there are tourists" and it is essential that the baker stays open every day.
During the summer months the town sees an influx of tourists travelling to the lakes in the nearby stunning Orient Forest Regional Nature Park.
The baker also says that staying open during the vital summer months is what keeps his business running at a profit.
Vaivre acknowledges that he broke the law, but is shocked at the size of the fine and is holding out hope that it may be lowered or cancelled.
Mayor Branle added: “Let’s have some common sense, we’re in a small rural community with no other baker. Furthermore, his business is critical to the important tourist trade.”
http://www.france24.com/en/20180314-fra ... ism-vaivre

[Dave]

Jim Bowen, Bullseye host and comedian, dies aged 80.

Jim Bowen, the comedian and broadcaster best known for hosting the darts-based gameshow Bullseye, has died at the age of 80.
Bowen, a former teacher whose entry into showbusiness came via standup comedy, became a household name when he began presenting the ITV show in 1981.

[Karen]

Dog dies in overhead locker on United Airlines plane

United Airlines has accepted "full responsibility" for a dog's in-flight death after a flight attendant put the pet in the overhead locker.
"This was a tragic accident that should never have happened," the airline said.
The French bulldog died during a flight from Houston to New York on Monday.
Witnesses said the flight attendant had asked one of the passengers to put her airline-approved pet carrier in the locker. The attendant later said she did not know the dog was in the bag.
"We assume full responsibility for this tragedy and express our deepest condolences to the family and are committed to supporting them," the US airline said in a statement.
"We are thoroughly investigating what occurred to prevent this from ever happening again. Pets should never be placed in the overhead bin," the statement added.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-43394952

As a flight attendant, I find it very hard to believe that one would put an animal in an overhead bin. Lol, aren't they reserved for screaming kids? And no, I'm not saying to do that either

[boatbuilder]

As a flight attendant, I find it very hard to believe that one would put an animal in an overhead bin. Lol, aren't they reserved for screaming kids? And no, I'm not saying to do that either

I always thought the screaming kids went in the baggage hold, Karen.

[Karen]

As a flight attendant, I find it very hard to believe that one would put an animal in an overhead bin. Lol, aren't they reserved for screaming kids? And no, I'm not saying to do that either

I always thought the screaming kids went in the baggage hold, Karen.

Lol, never heard any screaming kids down there, maybe the guys loading bags talking or once in a while you can hear poor dogs barking.

[morty1753]

I have always found that the screaming kids are sitting in the row behind me. They also seem to kick out a lot into the back of my seat.

Oh, the joys of flying.

[Trigger]

I have always found that the screaming kids are sitting in the row behind me. They also seem to kick out a lot into the back of my seat.

One doesn't have that problem when one flies Business Class!

[Trigger]

Platypus milk: How it could combat superbugs

Platypus milk could help combat one of humanity's looming problems, antibiotic resistance, scientists say.
The weird creatures have a duck's beak, venomous feet and are one of only two mammals able to lay eggs.
Australian scientists discovered in 2010 that the semi-aquatic animal's milk contains a potent protein able to fight superbugs.
They've now identified why, and say it could lead to the creation of a new type of antibiotic.
Platypus are monotremes - a tiny group of mammals able to both lay eggs and produce milk.
They don't have teats, instead they concentrate milk to their belly and feed their young by sweating it out.
Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-43415998

When I first saw that headline, I did wonder how one milks a Platypus!