CAROLINA NATURALLY: Jul 19, 2015

Sunday, July 19, 2015

The Daily Drift

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Today in History

1525		The catholic princes of Germany form the Dessau League to fight against the Reformation.
1545		King Henry VIII of England watches his flagship, Mary Rose, capsize as it leaves to battle the French.
1788		Prices plunge on the Paris stock market.
1799		The Rosetta Stone, a tablet with hieroglyphic translations into Greek, is found in Egypt.
1848		The first Women’s Rights Convention convenes in Seneca Falls, N.Y, organized by Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.
1870		France declares war on Prussia.
1942		German U-boats are withdrawn from positions off the U.S. Atlantic coast due to American anti-submarine countermeasures.
1943		More than 150 B-17 and 112 B-24 bombers attack Rome for the first time.
1975		Apollo and Soyuz spacecrafts dock in orbit.

Papa John’s Franchisee Faces Jail Time Over Stealing Workers’ Wages

It's the first criminal case brought by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman against a fast food franchisee over wage theft.

Small Power Providers Are Going Renewable Much Faster Than Their Bigger Rivals

The top 100 power producers just got graded. Not all of them got an A.

How Climate Change Could Threaten The Nutrition Of Millions

Increased concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere could lead to nutrient deficiency in 138 million people by 2050, according to a new study.

Athletes Without Their Clothes On

Every year ESPN puts together an extremely revealing series of photos for their Body Issue that show what top athletes look like in the buff.
As always their photographers do an incredibly good job of showing the beauty of the physical forms while somehow managing to keep the pics SFW.

It’s not about the naughty bits here, it’s about seeing the human body in peak physical condition, and how the different muscle groups have been conditioned for the athlete’s sport of choice.

This year’s shoot includes Brittney Griner from the Phoenix Mercury, Olympic swimmer Natalie Coughlin, Bryce Harper from the Washington Nationals and the Indianapolis Colts offensive line, just to name a few.

Whether you admire the attractive physiques, admire the photographer's dedication to hiding the naughty bits, or recognize their value as art reference one thing's for certain- these are some mighty good looking pics!

Girl Found

Mother who ordered children's sandals from Amazon unhappy about buzzing vibrator in box

A mother who ordered a pair of children's footwear from Amazon is unhappy after discovering the box also contained a vibrator. Sophie Grantham, 36, had used the online retailer to buy sandals for one of her sons. But when the package arrived she was horrified to find there was a sex toy, which was buzzing, nestled at the bottom of the box. The mother-of-two has refused to touch the shoes or the five-inch purple Durex vibrator, because the love instrument appeared to have been used. Sophie, of Whiteley, Hampshire, ordered the special pair of brand new sandals for her four-year-old son, Alex, as well as a game for seven-year-old James, on July 6. But when Sophie husband Simon, 37, took delivery of the packages three days later, there was a faint buzzing sound coming from the shoe box.

Sophie said: "The parcel was vibrating so the postman made a comment about it maybe being a toothbrush. I was absolutely horrified to find there was this purple vibrator, loose and buzzing about in the shoebox. I don't know what happened, but it's not on." She contacted the retail giant to express her upset and she was offered was a £10 voucher and a free refund. The five-inch purple Durex Play sex toy retails on Amazon for £9.95, but the phallic sex toy Sophie received was out of its packaging and appeared to have been 'handled.' She said: "I think Amazon haven't taken it seriously, haven't grasped how quite disgusting it is. They haven't said they will investigate it at all." The sandals were meant as a surprise for little Alex, who only wears specific types of shoes, but now Sophie has been forced to buy him a new pair.
Sophie said that her husband Simon found it hilarious. She said: "At first he thought it was funny, but then he realized just how disgusting it is. We're sending the sandals back - obviously I wouldn't put anything like that on my child's feet. There was a pubic hair in there - I'm sure of it. I don't know if it was used or not, but I suspect it was." After initially offering just £5 compensation, Amazon have fully refunded the shocked family and given them £10. In an apology from Amazon, they said: "I'm sorry to hear about the problem you've had with your Primigi Boys Cloris Fashion Sandals 1112000 Pearl 8 UK Child, 25 EU. On this occasion we do not require you to return the original. You're welcome to keep, donate or dispose of it - whichever option is most appropriate and convenient for you.

YouTube link.

"I've requested a refund for £16.72, which includes the cost of the item, I've also issued a refund in the amount of 10.00 GBP to your payment card as a compensation so the total refund of 26.72 GBP." About the offending vibrator, the customer services rep added: "Given the nature of the product in question there's no need to return the item to us. Please keep or dispose of it at your convenience. I hope that you will allow us another opportunity to serve you in the future. Rest assured, we will continue working hard to ensure that you receive accurate service and to prevent the chances of anything like this occurring again for your future orders. We look forward to seeing you again soon." Amazon have vowed to look into the how the vibrating and open sex toy ended up in the shoe box. In a statement, an Amazon spokesperson said: "We are currently investigating this matter."

Woman arrested after telling police that jesus would pay for her seafood buffet

A woman was arrested on Sunday night after refusing to pay her dinner tab at a restaurant in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, because, as she explained to police, “jesus” was going to cover the cost of her seafood buffet.

Police were called to Bennetts Calabash just after 9 pm when, according to the incident report, 51-year-old April Lee Yates was asked to leave by management, but refused to do so.
The report states that Yates was in the restaurant for nearly four hours before she started to cause a disturbance with other patrons. Management asked Yates to pay her dinner tab and leave, but she refused to pay the $26 bill.
When the officer asked Yates if she had any money to pay, Yates said she did not. The officer then asked Yates what she planned to do with the bill came, and Yates explained that “jesus” was going to pay her tab. Yates was arrested for defrauding a restaurant and booked into the Myrtle Beach jail.

'Concern for cats' led to theft of knickers

A woman from Goginan, west Wales, woke at 4am to find a neighbor standing by her bed, a court was told. James Wilmot, 60, asked Jennifer Higginson if her cats were okay and then left with a pair of her knickers in his pocket. Swansea Crown Court heard there was still no real explanation for his “bizarre and terrifying behaviour”. Wilmot, then of Llys Awel, Goginan, admitted burglary. John Lloyd, prosecuting, said both Wilmot and Miss Higginson had been to the village pub on 15 May, although they spoke to each other only to say “hello”. Miss Higginson became unwell and the landlord helped her home. At 4am the following morning, she woke to find Wilmot in her bedroom. She asked him “what the hell are you doing here?” and he responded by asking her about her cats. She telephoned the police and Wilmot was arrested at his home 30 yards away. Officers found her knickers in one of his pockets. Janet Gedrych, representing Wilmot, said he had become concerned as to whether she had recovered but, by coincidence, as he walked past her house on his way home, he stumbled and smashed a downstairs window with his head. He then became concerned that the broken glass might harm Miss Higginson’s cats and thought he should warn her about the damage he had caused.
Miss Gedrych said the prosecution wanted to allege that he had climbed through the broken window, but Wilmot maintained he had entered the house through an unlocked front door. She said there was no explanation as to why he stole the knickers, but he may have taken the clothing to wipe blood off his cut head. It would be easy, she added, to jump to the conclusion that there was a sexual motive behind the theft but that was not the case The judge, Mr Recorder Geraint Walters, said neither side could explain why Wilmot really entered the house, or how he got in or why he stole the knickers.
But he warned Wilmot: “It must have been terrifying for her to find you standing by her bed at four in the morning. You scared the living daylights out of her. She is bound to find the theft of the knickers sinister and troubling.” Wilmot, a retired lorry driver, had been ordered to move away from Llys Awel as part of his bail conditions and now lives in Aberystwyth. He was jailed for 12 months, suspended for two years, and ordered to undergo an alcohol awareness activity. He was also made the subject of a five-year restraining order banning any contact with Miss Higginson. Mr Recorder Walters warned Wilmot that if he breached the order he would receive a jail sentence of up to five years. Wilmot was also placed under a 7pm to 7am curfew for the next four months.

Cat in the Hat protesters arrested for challenging soldiers to game of hide and seek

Two men have been charged with trespassing after allegedly challenging soldiers to a game of hide and seek while one was dressed as the Cat in the Hat at an army base in central Queensland, Australia. Nick Deane and Shane Anderson were arrested on Tuesday while protesting multi-national joint-military exercise Talisman Sabre at the Shoalwater Bay military training area near Rockhampton.

Marcella Brassett, from Peace Convergence, said Mr Deane sent "about 50" invitations to Deputy Commander and Australian Army Major General Stuart Smith earlier this month to play hide and seek. "The Cat in the Hat went in there to challenge the general to a humorous game of peace, to remind him that war is not a game, pretty much, and that's the message," she said. "He would rather play a game of peace with the general than have the Talisman Sabre war games happen."
A Queensland police spokesman confirmed the men were arrested for trespassing at the base but wouldn't comment on what they were wearing or doing. Since last week, 30,000 personnel from the US, Japan, New Zealand and Australia have been honing their elite army skills in a bid to strengthen defense ties between the three nations. Peace Convergence has been protesting the training exercise at Shoalwater Bay for eight years and carried out about half a dozen protests this year.
"The peace convergence is highlighting the high cost of war exercises and the US-Australian military alliance to taxpayers as well as relations with other countries, drawing Australia into US wars that are constant, that have no end in sight," Ms Brasset said. "$80 million is spent a day on the military. That money should be spent on the Australian people." The men are due to appear before Rockhampton Magistrates Court on Commonwealth trespassing offenses.

Wizard of Id

Ball’s Pyramid and World’s Rarest Insect

In a new video series called 100 Wonders, our well-traveled friend Dylan of Atlas Obscura tells us about some of his favorite places. This episode is about Ball’s Pyramid, the home of the world’s rarest insect, Dryococelus australis.

(YouTube link)

Dylan tells us the insect’s story and the efforts to bring it back from what was thought to be extinction. Even creepy-crawlies can be the hero of a story once in a while!

Zhenyuanlong suni

Pet owners face fines over dog pee

Dog owners in Piacenza, northern Italy, can now be fined up to €500 (£350, $550) for not cleaning up after their pet urinates.

The measure, signed by mayor Paolo Dosi on Monday, makes it illegal for dog owners not to immediately wash away their pets' urine from the squares, roads and pavements of the city. Owners can also no longer let their dogs relieve themselves on doorsteps, near street level cellar windows or on parked cars.
But there are some exceptions to the new rule. Guide dogs and on-duty police dogs will not need to have their urine rinsed, while dog owners will be exempt from doing so during periods of icy weather, as it runs the risk of covering pavements with a dangerous glaze of urine and water.
“It's a measure that's been needed for a long time and one that protects the decorum and hygiene of our public spaces,” Dosi said. The move will require dog-owners to take a bottle of water with them whenever they walk their pets.

Child-chasing bear turned out to be a log

There was a bit of a scare for zoo-goers in Rochester, New York, on Sunday.

Police responded to the Seneca Park Zoo for a report of a bear chasing a child.
The call turned out to be false and the "bear" was determined to be a large log.

Police believe the witness may have seen an animal moving near the log and mistaken it for a bear.

Huge fish found in drainage ditch

An animal control officer in Olathe, Kansas, recently hauled in a 60-pound (27-kg) carp that was lying in a drainage ditch. A man out for a walk last week spotted the fish and called police, city animal control officer Jamie Schmidt said on Tuesday.

The man estimated the fish at more than four feet (1.22 metres) - and he was not telling a whopper, said Schmidt, who responded to the call in suburban Kansas City. The carp lay dead in a roadside ditch that connects to a lake and it apparently swam there when heavy rain caused flooding, she said.

"When the guy said it was four foot, I thought 'Well, most men tell fish stories' and I thought it wasn't going to be even close to that," Schmidt said. "I was very shocked." Schmidt said the fish measured about 3½ feet (1.06 metres) long and weighed 60 pounds (27 kg). It was a grass carp, said Lucas Kowalewski, fisheries biologist for the Kansas Department of Parks, Wildlife and Tourism.

YouTube link.

The Kansas record for grass carp caught by angling is 77.7 pounds (35 kg), according to department records. Schmidt said the fish had not decomposed and was lying in shallow water. She put plastic bags around the fish to drag it to her vehicle, where she loaded it into a kennel that has a power lift. Schmidt then had her picture taken with the fish. After the picture, the fish met a quick demise. "We treated it like any other dead animal," Schmidt said. "We put it into our incinerator."

Gang of cows hunted by police after scratching and drooling on woman's car

Police in Val-des-Monts, Quebec, Canada, are on the hunt for four cows after $1,000 in damage was caused to a BMW.

MRC des Collines police said a man got up around 6am last week and noticed the cows congregating around his wife’s car in the driveway of his home. “There was some mark of drooling on the paint,” said Sgt. Martin Fournel. “There was some drooling, licking evidence on the car.”
By the time police got to the house, the cattle had fled the area, but not before causing $1,000 in damage to the BMW. Fournel said one of the cows grazed the car, which scraped the paint and damaged one of the side mirrors. The owner of the cows could be fined for failing to contain the animals.
The footprints left behind by the suspects didn’t help police identify the cows. “We didn’t take hoof prints,” Fournel joked. Earlier that morning, police were called to the same area by motorists who were reporting that cows were wandering on the road. Police responded, but couldn’t find the cows. Police believe they are the same ones who damaged the woman’s car.

Denver The Guilty Dog Can't Growl Without Sneezing

Some people (and apparently dogs) have a tell- a physical tic or reaction that gives away their thoughts or feelings. For some it’s a cringe, or a guffaw, or even a flustered eye flitter and a sigh, but Denver the Guilty Dog’s tic is far more troublesome.
Every time Denver goes to growl or act threatening, an understandable reaction to his ear medicine, she starts sneezing.