Off Beat News

[url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080120/wl_uk_afp/britainpoliticscrime]AFP…]LONDON (AFP) - Home Secretary Jacqui Smith admitted she would be afraid of walking the streets of London late at night, in an interview in The Sunday Times.

Smith said she would feel unsafe walking around plush districts like Kensington and Chelsea as well as deprived areas like Hackney.

Asked if she would feel safe walking alone after midnight in Hackney, Smith replied: "Well, no, but I don't think I'd ever have done. You know, I would never have done that, at any point in my life."

Asked why not, she answered: "Well, I just don't think that's a thing that people do, is it really?"

Smith was then asked whether she would feel unsafe walking around an area like Kensington and Chelsea. She replied: "Well, I wouldn't walk around at midnight and I'm fortunate that I don't have to do that."

Following the interview, a worried aide called The Sunday Times to clarify her remarks, saying the wording had not come out as she had intended.

The aide stressed that Smith had recently "bought a kebab in Peckham", one of the British capital's more deprived areas.

Any woman would feel safe doing so being accompanied by the body guards assigned to the home secretary, The Sunday Times said in its editorial.

"Home secretaries are supposed to strike fear into the hearts of criminals, not cower behind net curtains," the weekly broadsheet said.

"The home secretary should not just admit that our streets are not safe -- she should do something about it."

A survey by pollsters YouGov in August found that 46 percent of Londoners did not feel safe in their neighbourhoods at night.

A spate of teenage murders in the capital last year led to fears of a knife and gun culture among urban youths.

What a complete Jacqui! Boris, help us get this woman out of government and into the streets!

Heath Ledger has been found dead in Mary-Kate Olsen's house. Suspected overdose.

I was NOT expecting that.

Maybe thats allah swt way of punishing him for starring in a gay film

Irfan.KhanMaybe thats allah swt way of punishing him for starring in a gay film

thats not a very funny joke, btw

it wasnt a joke.

I do not believe in karma. Not really an Islamic concept.

not everything you do will come back in this life.

If you do good it does not mean you will receive good. If you do bad, it does not mean you will receive bad.

Dude i said it could be allah swt way of punishing him

lets not assume eh

Irfan.KhanDude i said it could be allah swt way of punishing him

For this ummah, punishment is after death.

Im asking a question to educate myself if he is a non-believer is part of the ummah?

Yes. The Prophet ﷺ came as a guide to all of mankind.

Since he was not a Muslim he is also not part of the "Muslim Ummah", but since he came after the Prophet ﷺ as far as I know he IS part of the "Ummah" for which the Prophet ﷺ was sent.

Okay.

yah. what admin said is right

Policeman kisses rat to death

A rat was given the kiss of life by an animal-loving policeman.

The poorly rodent was spotted by PC Adam Westall while on his beat.

'It ran out in front of me and stopped and looked up at me with its beady eyes,' PC Westall said.

'I cocooned him in my hands and he gave a shudder and fell unconscious. I tried to revive him by blowing into his whiskered nose and rubbing his belly.'

The rat did came round and he took it to a pet store in Clacton, Essex, but sadly it later died.

eugh

Deaf boy's cotton wool bud 'cure'

A boy who has been partially deaf for nine years was suddenly cured - when a cotton wool bud popped out of his ear.

Jerome Bartens was diagnosed as deaf in his right ear when he was just two and has struggled at school ever since.

But Jerome, now 11, was suddenly able to hear clearly again as he played with friends in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire.

He said he heard a popping sound, then found the tip of a cotton wool bud in his ear.

His family believe Jerome must have put the bud in his ear as a toddler and the centimetre-long cotton tip came off the plastic stem.

Jerome's father Carsten, 45, said: "It was just incredible - his hearing returned to normal in an instant.

"He was cured as suddenly as he became deaf. I had always suspected Jerome had stuck something in his ear when he was little and that was causing the problem.

"But the doctors and hearing specialists said it was wax and he would probably grow out of it.

"I am amazed they didn't spot something as obvious as a cotton wool bud."

Jerome has kept the waxy bud as a souvenir of his nine years of silence on his right.

His family believe that as he grew the bud has been forced out - and finally came out nine years later.

He is due to be examined by hearing experts later this week - and his father is taking along the cotton wool bud as proof of his "miracle cure".

Single father Mr Bartens has now complained to his GP and hearing specialists who examined Jerome over the years.

He said: "It has held Jerome back in school and caused him problems in communicating with his friends."

Lorry driver Mr Bartens - who has two older daughters Takita, 16, and Tiffany, 14, - says he's "thrilled" that Jerome's hearing has come back.

He said: "If he was playing down the garden I would have to shout for him eight or nine times before he would respond.

"But now he has 100% hearing and he's just a normal boy again."

Jerome said: "I can hear much better now and I think I'll be much happier at school now my ear does not ache all the time.

"I was just playing pool in the church hall when my ear made a popping noise. It was very strange at first to be able to hear everything.

"But now I'm getting used to it - it's great that people don't have to shout to me or that I don't have to turn my head all the time."

BBC News

I heard a story of someone who was deaf in one ear since birth until, when in his twenties, doctors discovered a single baked bean stuck deep into his ear. They took it out and he could hear fine.lol

The strangest thing is that the man had never eaten beaked beans in his whole life...lol

(or I was very gullible as a child).lol

NY TimesIn Bronx School, Culture Shock, Then Revival (Passwords here)

Julie is madly in love — with her own father.

Last year 32-year-old Julie Symonds* received an email from her mother, who had left her in care since she was six. Trying to make up for the years of neglect, her mum announced she had a surprise — she suspected she knew who Julie's real father was.

Julie, who was happily married, was thrilled, but little did she realise that very soon she would be sharing the same bed as the man she should have been calling Dad — and falling in love with him.

After passing over some details, Julie contacted the man whom she believed was her dad, via email. He was 52-year-old dad Jeff Thomas*, a war veteran living in LA.

"My mum dumped me in care from the age of six and I never had a father-figure. Finding out I might actually have a family was thrilling for both myself and my husband," says Julie.

Jeff and Julie were stunned at how alike their writing style was in emails, even down to using the same punctuation style and wording.

"It was like finding a twin or soul mate," says Jeff. The pair then exchanged photos, and were shocked at the resemblance. In March, Julie and her husband flew to Los Angeles.

Julie admits to feeling instantly attracted to her father.

"I saw my dad, but I also saw a sexy, attractive man. Imagine my feelings of horror and excitement, especially as my husband was with me," says Julie.

Jeff, too, admits to having feelings for Julie immediately.

"I recognised my role as Julie's dad, but I already found myself falling in love with her," says Jeff. "I actually thought 'Well, maybe that's the process" because we kind of fall in love with our kids when they're born. I thought that maybe I was just going through this same thing, only she's an adult, and it's perfectly normal, and I kept telling myself that."

Julie and her husband stayed in a hotel and met all of Jeff's extended family. A DNA test proved that Jeff and Julie were father and daughter, but with every passing day their mutual attraction — known as Genetic Sexual Attraction — was growing.

Research has shown that 50 per cent of brothers and sisters or children and parents separated at birth, who find each other as adults, experience some form of sexual attraction.

While Julie's husband flew home for work, Julie moved in with her dad and his then wife to get to know the family she never knew existed. A few days into the stay there was a chance for Julie and Jeff to be alone. Sitting on the couch, Julie finally came clean about her feelings.

"I admitted how I was feeling, and Jeff said he loved me too. We just sat, holding hands," says Julie, who began seeing a therapist after her first meeting with Jeff.

The pair kissed, and both claim the kiss and passion felt scarily right.

The relationship progressed. Jeff's marriage fell apart, and under the guise of bonding with her new family, Julie stayed with Jeff, sharing a two-bedroom flat with the man she still calls Dad.

Today Julie is still living with Jeff. Her husband believes she is spending time getting to know her father and doesn't know that the pair are sharing a bed.

"We have done everything but had actual sexual intercourse. It's like we're an old married couple — we're in love and know that actually having intercourse cannot be far away," confesses Jeff.

The father and daughter also take trips away where they can act as boyfriend and girlfriend and relish every moment away from prying eyes.

"We love each other as a father and daughter, but the problem is that we love each other more as lovers. If we weren't related she'd get divorced and I'd be getting married to her," says Jeff.

Despite the criminal and ethical implications, Julie and Jeff are determined to keep seeing each other.

"My father has recently retired, and he's going to move near me and my husband, where we will continue our relationship," says Julie.

"My husband and I have always tried to be honest with each other and we've even promised each other that if we fell in love with another person, that we would admit it. But I'm afraid that it would be too much of a judgmental issue for him. I'm afraid that I'll become a social outcast in all of the places that I go."

And yes, if someone discovers their identity and secret, they have answers prepared. "I guess the way that I see it is what goes on behind closed doors is no one else's business but my own — after all it is not as though I raised Julie," says Jeff.

"I don't know. If someone were to confront me on the street I am a little bit hard-headed and stubborn so I would probably come back at them with a smart-arsed remark using what intellect I have," says Julie.

How vile!

Woman's Day did not pay the couple for their story.

How the hell does Alley Einstein find stories like this?

That is just sick and wrong! how disgusting!

Psychic Evicts Council House Poltergeist

A council has paid £60 for a medium to exorcise a poltergeist from a tenant's home after paranormal activity was reported at the property.
Suzanne Hadwin was called in after Peterlee tenant Sabrina Fallon said the household had experienced moving objects, banging noises and cold air.

Miss Fallon, 23, had even called police after loud noises terrified her children, Shannon, nine, and Amie, 16 months.

A spokesman for Easington Council in County Durham said they paid half the psychic's fee, as it was the most cost-effective solution.

The family had been left traumatised by the strange goings-on and wanted to leave the house in Basingstoke Road.

The council considered re-housing them in temporary accommodation but this would have cost up to £40 per night.

Happily for Miss Fallon, she now believes the mischievous spirit has gone and the house has been left with a "lovely atmosphere".

She said: "It all started before Christmas. We were away and my sister's husband had the keys.

"He let himself in one night and heard whispering and banging from upstairs. He shouted out, 'You better get out or I'm calling the police.'

"He said my dressing gown then came floating down the stairs and landed at his feet.

"He ran out and rang me, crying like a girl, saying something awful had happened - I thought he was drunk, but when we came back we heard the bangs and whispering."

A council spokeswoman said: "This is the first time we have had to take such a measure. However, the tenants were extremely distressed at the time and we therefore believed it was the most appropriate course of action."

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,91059-1305282,00.html

Well, it's not my council-tax money. But if my locl borough did that I would really be in uproar. I would campaign for the resignation of the senior councillors, because that is absolutely stupid. £60 may not seem a lot of money, but its the priciple of the thing.

Plus, I ain't afraid of no ghost.

Well technically we should really believe in ghosts.

I remember reading somewhere that Islam doesn't believe such things are possible. We die, our soul stays in the grave till its judgement day and then we're sentenced etc....

Cabbies to face English test

TAXI drivers in Manchester face a test to prove they can chat with passengers in English and do basic sums.

The council is set to introduce the `basic skills assessment' for all new applicants for private hire and hackney - black cab - taxi licences. Candidates will have to prove they can respond appropriately to commonly-used expressions like `Can you drop me after the lights?' and `Can I have a receipt?'

They will also have to speak clearly on topics including recent journeys they have taken and their favourite places in England.

The council has indicated the oral exams will be in the form of a `relaxed conversation' with follow-up questions to prevent learning `parrot-fashion'. Candidates would be given multiple-choice maths questions, such as how much change should be given from a £20 note if the fare cost £9.30.

Those who fail the test will not be allowed to take the standard `knowledge' test, which assesses their ability to use an A-Z as well as their understanding of routes. The move, set to be approved as a 12-month pilot, will be paid for by adding £10 to the fee for applying for a new licence.

Groups representing drivers of black cabs welcomed the scheme, admitting members of the public had expressed concern about the standard of English of some drivers.

George Simms, of the Taxi Owners and Drivers Association, said: "People need to know drivers can be understood and make themselves clear. Probably the majority of taxi drivers now are from communities that do not have English as a first language."

Any candidate who failed would be helped in improving language or number skills. Existing drivers of black cabs and private-hire drivers will not be forced to take the exams. It currently costs £155 to apply for a black cab licence and £207 for a minicab plate.

A council spokesman said: "Taxi drivers are ambassadors for Manchester. The vast majority do an excellent job but we are considering the introduction of a basic skills assessment for new applicants as part of our focus on improving the experience of taxi customers."

Source: Manchester Evening News

Damn thats going to put a huge dent in the the number of asian taxi drivers.

Council challenges newt law

LEGISLATION protecting endangered newts is to be challenged after a council spent £60,000 moving four of the creatures.

Officials at Cheshire County Council are writing to the government and EU chiefs to challenge the rules governing how the animals are treated.

Councillor Barrie Hardern, who has written to Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, said the Great Crested Newts had to be given a new habitat as a part of a planning application for building work at Fallibroome High School in Macclesfield.

He said: "Around £15,000 per newt seems a ludicrous sum of money to me.

"They are a legally protected species under EU regulations because there are parts of Europe where they are quite rare.

"However in Cheshire we have in the order of 16,000 ponds and newts are widespread and locally abundant.

The former county council chairman added: "The EU regulations together with UK legislation carry substantial fines if we do not protect the newts as part of planning applications.

"I am very concerned about tax payers' money being used in this way in what appears to be a ridiculous situation.

"Is this not the time when legislation should be challenged?"

Great Crested Newts - or Triturus cristatus - are Britain's largest newt species, they can live for 27 years and grow up to 17cm long.

They are black with orange or yellow bellies with black blotches, and can be found across northern Europe.

Like nearly all amphibians, Great Cresteds are dependent on weedy ponds and small lakes for breeding but usually spend most of their life on land.

When Great Crested newts are encountered during proposed development they are caught by specialists either by fencing off a compound and using a torch to find them at night or by using pit fall traps. They are then relocated to safe areas.

There are estimated to be 400,000 Great Crested newts in the UK in 18,000 breeding sites.

Cheshire County Councils' member for the environment, Andrew Needham, said: "I will be raising the issue at EU level with our European Members of Parliament.

"There is a growing national debate on this issue and we in this country rigorously uphold the law whether we like it or not but the time has come for a major rethink.

"The County Council fully accepts its environmental responsibilities, and we aim to ensure that wildlife is properly protected from developments.

"However, we do wonder if such sums of money would be better spent investing in improvements to the wider pond network, which would benefit not only Great Crested Newts but all types of wetland wildlife."

:shock:

That's a Pokemon, right?

I think it's either Jiggly-Puff or maybe Wiggly-Tuff

Python eats family dog in front of children

An Australian family whose pet guinea pig, cat and dog were eaten by giant pythons menacing their tropical home fears their children could be next on the predators' menu.

The Peric family watched in horror this week as their much-loved Chihuahua was swallowed by a 16.5 ft long scrub python on the verandah of their home in Kuranda, Queensland.

Despite hurling chairs at the snake, it was undeterred and they were unable to save the family pet.

"Actually watching it unfold before your eyes was pretty gut-wrenching," Daniel Peric told the Cairns Post yesterday. "We'd had the dog about five years, so it was part of the family."

A pet guinea pig and a cat had fallen victim to snakes in recent weeks and he said he was now worried about his two young children, Ethan, 5, and Talia, 7, who witnessed the python eat their pet dog.

"We have ducted air-conditioning. Call it paranoia, but my big fear is that a snake will get in there," said Mr Peric.

He was scared to leave his children alone in the house. "When it happens once, you think it's a one-off, but last night I thought 'this is serious'".

The Perics called a local snake expert, Stuart Douglas, to try to save their dog but by the time he arrived it had been all but swallowed, with only its back legs and tail protruding from the python's mouth.

Mr Douglas, a snake handler at the Australian Venom Zoo in Kuranda, near Cairns, took the python away. He believed it had stalked the Chihuahua over a period of several days.

"It only took about 30 minutes to eat the dog, but it will be digesting it for two days," he said.

It would then be released into a national park; there was no question of killing it.

Scrub pythons, which can grow up to 24ft in length, live in the rainforests of northern Queensland and usually prey on wild turkeys, fruit bats and wallabies.

But towns like Cairns are expanding fast and as homes are built on the rainforest fringe, the snakes inevitably come into contact with domestic pets.

"These pythons used to feed on wallabies but now they feed on cats and dogs in suburbia," said Mr Douglas.

He said Mr Peric's fears for his children were well founded. "A snake of that size is quite capable of killing a small child."

I'm leaving out the photographs.