Threats to man who shot domino-toppling sparrow
An animal worker who shot a sparrow after it almost wrecked a world record domino-toppling bid has asked for police protection after receiving death threats.
Several international animal rights groups expressed outrage over the killing of the sparrow that toppled 23,000 of the four million dominos set up for record attempt in Holland.
Investigations into the legality of the shooting in Leeuwarden also have been launched.
A representative of the animal management company that employs the man said, “We have not made an official complaint as that would be no use.
“But if an idiot comes around here, we want a direct line to the police so they can come quickly to help us.”
Organizers of the upcoming event have hired extra security staff following the death threats and an offer of roughly $3,400 made on Dutch radio to anyone who topples the dominos prior to the event.
Village drops Old Smelly name
A Serbian village has changed its name from Old Smelly to stop embarrassed youngsters from moving out.
Smrdic, meaning Old Smelly, was changed to Izvor, meaning spring, after villagers petitioned to the government.
They wanted to change the village’s name, which dates back hundreds of years to a legend about a dead horse.
Local Smilja Kostic said the new name for the village came from a nearby mountain spring famous for its sparkling clear water.
He added, “Young people used to leave the village just because they were ashamed to live in a place with such a name.
“It will be much easier for my daughters to live in Izvor than in Smrdic. They will no longer be ashamed of saying where they come from.”
A pill to make your hair curl?
Scientists say they have identified the difference between straight and curly hair.
They believe it could lead to drugs that can make straight hair curly and vice versa, reported The Daily Telegraph.
Scientists also believe the discovery could lead to the death of hair dyes, as drugs could be used to restore color in the prematurely grey.
In Clichy, Paris, a team from L’Oreal grew hair in the laboratory to get to the root of what makes hair curly or straight.
They found that the hair bulb, around four millimeters deep in the scalp, is hook-shaped in people with curly hair and straight in the case of European and Asian hair.
When it emerges from the scalp, the hair shaft retains the shape of the follicle.
“A curly follicle makes curly hair,” said Bruno Bernard, head of hair biology at L’Oreal. “This is a breakthrough. For a very long time people did not understand how hair got curly.”
Although the team has yet to find a “master switch” that controls follicle shape, Mr Bernard said it was now possible to think about how to change hair shape by using hormones or drugs.
“It is now possible to use biological methods to make curly hair straight and vice versa,” he said.
Football fans to the end
A German funeral home is offering specially designed coffins for football fans – painted in their favorite team’s colors.
Funeral director Bernd Kramer from Kramer Funerals, in Bad Salzuflen, has already buried a Borussia Dortmund fan in a themed coffin.
He says the yellow and black painted coffin was greatly appreciated by the family.
For fans who would prefer cremation, Kramer also offers football-shaped urns in team colors to hold ashes.
Big buzz over iPod sex toy
A company has invented a sex toy that connects up to an iPod and vibrates in time to the music.
The vibrations get faster as the music gets louder on the $43 iBuzz, reported the Sun Online.
Ali Carnegie, of adult-store www.LoveHoney.co.uk, said the firm is already on the verge of selling out of the bullet-sized device before Christmas.
She said its inconspicuous design has been a big winner with women and claims the sex toy, totally unrelated to Apple, is perfect for giving users “big smiles on their way to work”.
Jessamy Hawley, of Gadget Candy – a technology website aimed at women – believes combining two female passions is sure to prove a No. 1 hit.
She added, “The iPod is this era’s must-have accessory, while a vibrator is a timeless addition to every girl’s gadget drawer.
“Entwine the two and you’ve got the ultimate cheeky Christmas stocking filler.”
Giant penguin holds up train
A train driver caused delays on a German rail line after mistaking a giant toy penguin for a dead man in a tuxedo.
Passengers were left stranded in Neuwied after Udo Vergens pulled the emergency stop when he saw what he thought was a man lying face down and wearing a black and white tuxedo.
Officials who came to investigate found only a man-size soft toy penguin lying on the tracks.
A Neuwied police spokesman said, “We are at a loss to explain the presence of this very large penguin.
“We would think you would notice if you lost something like this.”