Bizarre News

[Bonzer]

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/25102006/356/b ... egins.html

Scientists have claimed that new radio telescopes may be able to pick up TV transmissions from alien civilisations.

Any aliens within 1,000 light years of Earth could be detected by spotting their leaking television signals.

One of the first of the new-generation telescopes is the Low Frequency Array being built in the Netherlands.

It is equipped to receive radio waves emitted by hydrogen molecules in the early universe.

Although these signals originally had short wavelengths, the expanding universe has stretched them over time.

Today they have wavelengths of several metres, which means they fall within the range of TV, radio, and military radar transmissions.

Scientist Dr Abraham Loeb, from Harvard University in the US, said: "By a happy accident, the telescopes will be sensitive to just the kind of radio emission that our civilisation is leaking into space."

If ET is producing similar signals, these will be visible as "spikes" in the radio spectrum, a science magazine reported.

But whether aliens are discovered depends crucially on their stage of development.

To pick up TV or radio signals from an alien civilisation, it would have to be about as advanced as our own.

Lets just hope the aliens don't try this on us. Most of what they would pick up would make us appear to be amoeba.

[Omega_Destroyer]

I'd be up for hearing some new music.

[Caradoc]

On the other hand, the first of our signals to reach alien civilizations will be VHF television broadcasts from the 1940's ... by Nazi Germany. Talk about making a bad first impression.

[asandir]

It might scare them away!

Boxer shorts used to hose down Canadian firefighters' behaviour
A Canadian city under pressure for alleged sexual harassment within its fire department has ordered firefighters to wear only boxer-style underwear.

Richmond, British Columbia will spend C$16,000 ($A18,700) to buy six pairs of underwear for each firefighter in a bid to make firehalls in the suburb of Vancouver more gender neutral, a newspaper reported on Tuesday.

"We supply firefighters with various pieces of gear such as gloves, now it's underwear," city official Ted Townsend told the Vancouver Sun, saying it was part of the "integration of the sexes in the workplace".

A recent investigation of the department described its workplace culture as "characterised by juvenile and hostile behaviour" toward female firefighters by their male colleagues.

Firefighters strip off most of their clothes in order to don protective gear when responding to fire alarms, although Townsend said the city is considering buying gear that can be put on over regular uniforms.

Just between you guys and me, I reckon Milla might wanna work here!!

[Paulus1]

Seems like Denmark is joining the proud tradition of internet censorship from countries such as China and North Korea

Danish ISP Must Block AllofMP3.com
October 25, 2006

In a quiet legal proceeding that caught little in the way of media attention, the IFPI brought a civil lawsuit against Danish ISP Tele2, demanding the cessation of customer access to AllofMP3.com. Tele2 is one of Europe’s largest ISPs, and like anywhere else in the world, has its fair share of customers who enjoy the Russian gray market site. The IFPI (International Federation of the Phonographic Industry) brought the lawsuit in hopes of forcing the ISP to block AllofMP3.com from its customers.

The IFPI has accomplished its mission. In a decision rendered today, a court ruled that Tele2 must block AllofMP3.com from its Danish customers. The Danish recording industry had been active in its attempts to prevent Danish citizens from accessing the site, however it wasn’t until the IFPI became involved did the tide turn in the music industry’s favor.

The telecommunications industry in Denmark has expressed outrage and concern over the verdict, as they feel it implies ISPs are now responsible for the activities of their users – not to mention a legal gray area where no verdict has been made against AllofMP3.

“I’m shocked about the verdict, and view it as censorship. Tele2 and other Internet service providers provide free access to information on the internet, but now have to sort this information,” said Ib Tholstrup, Director of the Telecommunication Business Organization (rough translation). “This is unknown territory for us, and it is the same as if the Post Offices should read all the letters they are handling. I deeply condemn this verdict.”

Sebastian Gjerding, spokesperson of The Piracy Group in Denmark, shared the telecommunication industry’s indignation. The Piracy Group (Piratgruppen) is an organization that petitions for copyright reform and advocates consumer rights.

“This shows clearly that the IFPI poses a threat to the concept of free communication. There obviously are no limits to how far they are willing to go in their war against piracy, even though it means a limit of free communications. In China, citizens can’t visit sites that are legal in other countries, but that the Chinese government does not approve. That policy is now being brought to Denmark.”

“We can now only wait and hope that the Civil Court will come to their senses, and reverse the verdict on the appeal. However, if this does not happen, there are alternative ways to get around the issue. Technical matters that tries to censor the internet are often easy to outwit, and The Piracy Group are more than willing to teach people how to do it.”

Tele2 is committed to appealing the verdict. Currently, AllofMP3.com is still available to Tele2 customers, but for how long is not currently known.

[asandir]

Well I think that sucks big time, I hate that kind of censorship, and it places a huge burden on the isp's as well

[DaemianLucifer]

On the other hand, the first of our signals to reach alien civilizations will be VHF television broadcasts from the 1940's ... by Nazi Germany. Talk about making a bad first impression.

A few SF writers dealt with this issue.Clark even used these transmitions as a plotline for aliens to have a grudge against humanity and wanting to eliminate us.

Seems like Denmark is joining the proud tradition of internet censorship from countries such as China and North Korea

Ah,the marvels of "free" speech.

[asandir]

and what a wonderful pair of countries to copy in terms of free speech as well, so liberal and democratic

[ThunderTitan]

http://wcco.com/watercooler/watercooler ... 83025.html

Samurai Sword-Wielding Man's Arrest Caught On Tape

(CBS) HAMBURG, Germany German police arrested a man who was wielding a samurai sword outside a railway station in Hamburg.

The man brandished the sword at workers at the train station after attempting to leave the station without a ticket.

He then fled the scene and station staff called the police.

The man was later captured on videotape swinging the ancient sword violently at police as they attempted to disarm him.

They eventually managed to overpower the man with the help of a broom and no shots were fired.

The suspect was detained by police in the parking lot of a nearby hotel.

Broomjitsu ftw.


http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/08 ... nk=rssfeed

Crusader Nabbed By Michigan Cops
Medieval sword, mallet, armor no match for ye olde Taser

AUGUST 5--Meet Robert McClain. The Michigan man, 42, was arrested last week after he attempted to literally go medieval on cops. According to the below Royal Oak Police Department report, officers were dispatched to McClain's home after a motorist called 911 to report that McClain had fled the scene of an auto accident. When they arrived at his crib, McClain allegedly tried to strike a cop with a four-foot sword. After missing, McClain retreated to his basement, where he donned a chainmail armored vest and leather gauntlets to protect his arms. He also added a giant wooden mallet to his arsenal and beckoned officers to come downstairs and get him. "I'm gonna crush your fucking skulls," McClain warned. Then, in a nice rhetorical flourish (for a lunatic, at least), he added, "I have a thousand years of power." That omnipotence, however, was no match for a police Taser, which felled McClain. He was then carted off and charged with felony assault and a misdemeanor count for failing to remain at an accident scene. (3 pages)

[asandir]

Tassie cow gets leg up
The famous three-legged Tasmanian cow called Theresa is back on all fours after being fitted with a prosthetic leg this week.

Theresa broke a back leg in July when she fell down a river bank and her owner had the leg amputated.

After considerable media coverage, offers of wooden legs came from across Australia and an artificial limb maker from Launceston delivered on the challenge.

Theresa's owner, Geoff Heazlewood, says he never expected to see his heifer with a wooden leg.

"No I didn't, it was sort of one of those silly ideas that became reality I guess," he said.

"There didn't seem any reason why it couldn't be done, but I honestly didn't expect it to happen."

[DaemianLucifer]

You dont understand!I have the key to paradise,but I have to many legs!

[Vlad976]

German ‘love witch’ loses court battle

BERLIN - A German woman won a lawsuit against a “love witch” who failed to induce her ex-boyfriend to come back with rituals under the full moon designed to cast a spell over him, a Munich court said Monday.

“The witch lost,” said Munich district court spokeswoman Ingrid Kaps. The ‘love witch’ was ordered to return her 1,000 euro ($1,300) fee and pay “several hundred euros” in costs.

“The plaintiff was in despair after her boyfriend left and tried to get him to return with help from a woman who calls herself a ‘love witch’,” she added. “The court has ruled it was a service that was ‘objectively impossible’ to render.”

The witch disputed the plaintiff’s claim of a money-back guarantee, Kaps said. The witch, described as an elderly woman, also lost an appeal. The spokeswoman declined to give the names or ages of those involved.

“A love ritual is not suited to influence a person from long distance,” the court said. “As the promised service could not be rendered, the plaintiff is not obligated to pay.”

[asandir]

Aussie town loses pub crawl crown
Maryborough in Queensland's central-east no longer holds the record for the world's greatest pub crawl.

London has stolen the gong after 2,237 people joined a pub crawl through the city earlier this month.

The Londoners only beat Maryborough's June record breaking pub crawl by 41 people.

Maryborough Councillor Anne Nioa says the battle lines have now been drawn.

"I think they have something like 1,500 pubs and 10 million people and they could only beat up by 41, so it is a bit funny really," she said.

Maryborough will attempt to reclaim the record on the Queen's birthday long weekend next year.

[asandir]

Ex-inmate spotted trick-or-treating in prison suit
Jail officials feared an escapee was on the loose on Halloween night when a former inmate was spotted trick-or-treating in his orange prison jumpsuit, US authorities say.

A corrections officer spotted the former inmate, Oscar Aponte, 32, going house to house with his son in his hometown of Peekskill, north of New York City.

The officer alerted the Westchester County Jail and the prison was locked down while all inmates were accounted for, chief adviser to the county executive Susan Tolchin says.

Authorities believed the former inmate smuggled the orange jumpsuit out of the jail when he was released in September after a four-month stay for a probation violation.

"It was a really poor choice of costume," Ms Tolchin said.

"We're investigating how he got it out because when they are discharged they leave with their belongings in a clear plastic bag."

Aponte has been charged with petty larceny and criminal possession of stolen property for taking the jumpsuit.

and I really liked this one

Thailand tells Rambo: no violence please
Thailand's film chiefs have told the makers of the next Rambo sequel - due to start filming in the South-East Asian nation early next year - to avoid excessive violence for fear of corrupting youth or damaging the environment.

"We have warned them that any violence has to be reasonable because we care about young people," Wanasiri Morakul, a director at the Thailand Film Office, said.

In the planned movie, Rambo IV: In the Serpent's Eye, the renegade Vietnam veteran played by Sylvester Stallone comes out of retirement in Bangkok to track down missionary aid workers who disappear in the jungles of military-ruled Burma.

Much of the movie will be filmed in national parks.

Wanasiri says officials will be keeping a close eye on the movie-makers to ensure they do not damage their surroundings.

"We have told them that no real guns or bombs are allowed in the national park where they will be filming. Thailand has a law banning that and they've told us they will just imitate it," she told Reuters.

Wanasiri says portrayal of the muscle-bound warrior as a retiree repairing military motorboats in Bangkok might even help a government drive to promote the country as a top spot for wealthy Westerners to live out their final years.

"I think it will help boost the country's image as a relaxing and nice place to stay," she said.

[asandir]

Giant penis-shaped flower stinks out gardens
The world's largest and smelliest flower has opened in a pong of glory in Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens today.

The titan arum is a native of Indonesia and its botanical name, Amorphophallus titanum, means very large, deformed, penis.

It can grow up to three metres tall and has a banana-like, pale yellow wrinkled centre and a claret coloured frilly skirt.

Botanic Garden spokesman Dr Tim Entwisle says it smells like rotting flesh and today is the best day to see and smell it. People actually queue up to saviour its stench.

"We've only had this on display once before - the first time we'd ever had it two years ago, the only complaints I got was that it didn't smell bad enough," he said.

"It's a strange thing, particularly little kids love it and you can put it head close to it and it really does smell a bit off.

"That's what it does out in Indonesia where it grows, so it can attract these flies in to pollinate it."

Mr Entwisle says the flower has opened early this year because the tropical centre is warmer than normal.

He says it has nothing to do with global warming.

and this is magic .... love freedom of expression in some places

Chinese police don't embrace free hugs
Chinese police have rounded up a group of people who tried to offer free hugs to passers-by on a busy street in downtown Shanghai.

Organisers say they began the campaign after seeing an Internet video of a man in Australia offering free hugs on a street.

They say they wanted to melt coldness in people's hearts with their hugs.

Police detained 11 'huggers' and confiscated their signs.

The group was released after about an hour in police custody.

Authorities say their actions were deemed illegal because they did not have a permit.

Plans for other hugging sessions over the next fortnight have been put on hold.

[ThunderTitan]

NO permit, NO hugs!

[asandir]

strange ain't it?

Italian museum wants patriotic toilet back in show
The fate of a toilet that flushes to the strains of Italy's national anthem is in the hands of a tribunal following a complaint from a right-wing political party, according to a museum spokeswoman.

The creation was part of an exhibit, titled "Group Therapy," that opened at the modern art museum in Bolzano in September.

The toilet, installed by artists Eleonora Chiari and Sandra Goldschmied, plays an electronic version of the national anthem along with the sound of flushing, set off by a sensor when a visitor approaches.

The right-wing National Alliance party, which called the work a "massacre of respect," had it impounded on October 19, and the museum has been trying to get it back.

"The tribunal told us Monday that it would decide soon," spokeswoman Silvia Rissbacher said.

"Art is free in democracies," the museum said in a statement.

For its part, the Association of Italian Modern Art Museums said it backed the museum "with all its professional authority," saying it had been the victim of censorship.

[DaemianLucifer]

This is really a tough one.Where to draw the line between freedom of speech and ofensive speech?What is ok to cenzor and what is wrong?My view is that speech should never be cenzored and that it cannot be offensive because you can always choose not to listen to it.The same goes for art forms.

[asandir]

the problem of course being, that what is offensive to you might not be offensive to me, or vice verse ....

[DaemianLucifer]

Well as long as youre not forced to hear/see/smell/taste/feel it,it shouldnt be cenzored.