Thursday, August 25, 2005

Man lifts 14 bricks with his 'horn'



A Chinese pensioner can lift up to 14 bricks with a 'horn' that's grown on his forehead.

Wang Ying, 73, has been practicing Kung Fu, especially the study of Qi, since he was just eight-years-old.

But his studies took a new direction after a 5cm long tumour grew on his forehead.

Doctors told him they could not operate on the tumour because of its location.

So Wang has incorporated it into his Qi routine.

He lives in a farm in Pei County, Jiangsu Province, and walked for 18 days to Nanjing to show off his stunt.




Read the complete article at Ananova

Ali G Punks Pammy?

Booyakasha! Ali G has apparently struck again.

For his latest stunt, the HBO comedian, whose real name is Sacha Baron Cohen, crashed the wedding of Pamela Anderson's pooches--and crashed into Anderson herself.

As caught on film by the Los Angeles-based photo agency X-17 and recounted by British newspapers, Anderson was on the beach in Malibu on Aug. 17 reportedly presiding over a "marriage ceremony" between her two dogs, a golden retriever named Star and the Chihuahua Luca. (Let's hope that honeymoon video doesn't leak out on the Internet.)

Enter what appears to be Cohen, on an inflatable turtle raft and in the guise of one of his characters, Kazakhstani journalist Borat Sagdiyev. He landed on the shore and ambushed the 38-year-old Baywatch-er, literally knocking her over. The X-17 pictures of the encounter show the man, which the agency identifies as Cohen, being dragged back out to sea by Anderson's unamused security detail.

Reps for Anderson refused comment Tuesday on either the takedown or the doggy wedding. Neither did HBO nor Cohen's personal publicist, Matt Labov.

It's not immediately clear whether Cohen was invited to the event, or if he simply crashed it in the hopes of using the footage in his upcoming third season of the Emmy-nominated Da Ali G Show.

Read the complete article at E! Online

Wednesday, August 24, 2005

Sperm donor reality show?

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Billionaire television producer John de Mol, behind the pioneer show Big Brother, will test the limits of reality TV with a program in which a woman searches for a potential sperm donor to conceive a child.

His new TV station Talpa, launched earlier this month, confirmed it will air a program called "I want your child ... and nothing else!" but gave no further details about the show due at 1830 GMT Wednesday.

"The plan is that we visit potential donors and -- of course on camera -- decide which man is most suitable," the 30-year old woman who will feature in the program said in an interview with De Telegraaf newspaper.

"Afterwards there will be artificial insemination," said the woman who was identified only as "Yessica" and who has bought a house with a room for a child.

The show is a one-off competing with four other reality TV programs, one of which follows five former prostitutes starting a cafe. The program receiving most votes from viewers Saturday, after all the shows have aired, will be turned into a series.

Read the complete article at My Way News

Man from New York state makes Guinness record book for eyebrow hair

SARANAC, N.Y. (AP) - A 43-year-old man from New York state has made Guinness World Records for having the longest eyebrow hair.

Frank Ames of Saranac, N.Y., measured in at 9.60 centimetres. "I don't know why it grows like that; it just always has," Ames told the Press-Republican of Plattsburgh for its Monday edition.

Ames's journey toward the book of records began almost two years ago when a co-worker at Bombardier Corp. noticed the bushy brow and suggested he try for a record.

Ames then decided to go for it, only to discover that no such category existed.

But a phone call to Guinness netted him the forms needed for officially setting up the category.

Read the complete article at CNews

Woman Who Claimed 'Shopaholic' Defense Gets Probation

CHICAGO -- A Chicago woman who claimed a "shopaholic defense" is getting five years probation.

Elizabeth Roach said chronic depression led to wild shopping sprees that she financed with money she stole from work. She was accused of taking $250,000 from Andersen Consulting.

In 2001, she was placed on probation. But prosecutors challenged that sentence and an appeals court ordered her to serve at least a year in prison.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the guidelines used at that second sentencing weren't mandatory, so the judge could once again give her probation.

Read the complete article at NBC 4

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

Scream Baffles Ohio Town

LIBERTY, Ohio -- An unusual and noisy mystery has people in a small town north of Middletown on edge, worried and asking questions, News 5’s Brian Hamrick reported.

Liberty, Ohio, is a quiet little community, except for one thing -- the scream.

Jamie Young told Hamrick she heard it while she and her husband were walking one evening.

“It scared me. I didn’t want to finish my walk,” Young said.

But instead of running into her house, she said she recorded the noise and sent a tape to the local newspaper.

With a sensitive microphone and some special ghost-hunting goggles, Hamrick went hunting for the haunting sounds, traipsing boldly into the most likely spots -- from a graveyard to an old church where flea market dealer Walt Wilson sells some truly frightening things. But he’s not worried.

“I don’t think it’s going to wind up grabbing any of us and running off with us,” Wilson said.

Read the complete article at channelcincinnati.com

Mum and daughter compete for Miss GB

Cressida Grant has a close rival in her bid to be crowned Miss Great Britain - her 40-year-old mum Philippa.

But the pair, the first ever mother and daughter to compete in the same major beauty pageant, insist they won't be falling out.

A-level student Cressida , 17, who entered first said: "I saw it on the internet. I noticed there were no age limits so I told mum she should enter too."

"Mum is drop-dead gorgeous and turns heads wherever she goes. I really want to do well but I just suspect mum might get that little bit further."

Sales manager and former model Philippa, from Putney, said: "I'm not sure how either of us will do but we will both be rooting for each other.

Read the complete article at Ananova

Japan to promote "Warm Biz" look to save energy

TOKYO (Reuters) - Spurred by the success of a "Cool Biz" campaign this summer that encouraged men to dress down to save energy, Japan plans to continue conservation efforts this fall and winter by promoting "Warm Biz" fashion.

Government workers and politicians, known for conservative fashions, have been encouraged to leave off coats and ties between June 1 and September 30 so that air conditioner thermostats can be set higher to help fight global warming.

From October 1, however, public sector thermostats will be turned down to 20 C (68 F) and workers urged to layer up.

"There are various combinations of dress that we envision, but thermal underwear is definitely going to be crucial," an official at the Environment Ministry said.

The wearing of waistcoats, turtleneck sweaters and thick socks would also be encouraged, he added. "There's no doubt that 20 C is a bit chilly, so if people don't really take care to keep warm, they could become uncomfortable."

Aside from its potential contribution to energy saving, "Cool Biz" sparked a boom in June clothing sales that pushed up overall retail sales for the month as workers sought out casual clothing.

Read the complete article at Yahoo!News

Sunday, August 21, 2005

I'm the iPod girl but I'm too poor to buy an iPod

Mandy Coulton, 26, was paid less than £1,000 to pose for Apple's hugely successful ad campaign.

But the Los Angeles-based model said she's too poor to buy one of the mini digital music players.

She said: "At the time, $1,500 seemed a lot of money. But now my picture is everywhere. I would like one - but $400 (£220) for an iPod is just too much for me.

"I can't justify spending that much money when I have day-to-day stuff to pay for, like the car and the rent.""

Mandy was one of 10 models chosen to front the campaign launched in 2003.

But her pose - in a striped bikini top and jeans with the iPod's distinctive white headphones against her blacked out body - is the most successful.

Read the complete article at Mirror.co.uk

Saturday, August 20, 2005

Bestiality with a rabbit

A MAN charged with animal cruelty and bestiality has mental health problems brought on by illegal drug use, his lawyer told a Sydney court today.

Brendan Francis McMahon, a 36-year-old finance broker, was refused bail today when he appeared in Central Local Court via video-link from Silverwater Remand Centre.
Mr McMahon was arrested last week and charged with 18 counts of aggravated animal cruelty involving 17 rabbits and a guinea pig, one count of bestiality and two charges of possessing cannabis.

Nr McMahon, from Tamarama in eastern Sydney, would also be charged with six new bestiality offences relating to rabbits, the court heard.

Read the complete article at News.com.au

Tiger kills teen during photo pose

MOUND VALLEY, Kansas (AP) -- A Siberian tiger attacked and killed a teenage girl who was posing for photos at a family-run animal sanctuary Thursday in southeast Kansas, authorities said.

The Labette County Sheriff's office identified the victim as Haley R. Hilderbrand, 17, of Altamont. A statement from the office said Hilderbrand was at the Lost Creek Animal Sanctuary posing for photos with the 7-year-old tiger, which was being restrained by its handler, when the animal turned and attacked her.

Officers and handlers killed the animal. Emergency personnel were not able to revive Hilderbrand.

Read the complete article at CNN.com

Cow jailed in Colombia

A cow has been put in prison after it was blamed for a road accident in Colombia.

The cow was wandering along a road in Giron when was hit by a woman on a motorcycle.

The woman was not badly hurt but police decided the cow was a danger and 'arrested' it.

Officers were unable to find out who owns the cow and are keeping it in the town's prison.

Read the complete article at Ananova