Sniffer rat

A Cornish animal expert is training a rat to detect landmines in Mozambique.
Rats have a highly acute sense of smell - and are small enough not to detonate mines when they find them.
Kofi, a Gambian pouched rat, will alert his handlers to any device by sitting on it until it is defused, reports The Sun.
Thirty sniffer rats are already successfully used in Mozambique, but Kofi is the first to be trained in Britain.
He has a 20-minute session each day at the Porfell Wildlife Park and Sanctuary near Liskeard, Cornwall.
Handler Wendy Winstanley rewards him for every find with slices of avocado.
Ms Winstanley said: "Kofi is amazing. People think of rats as vermin, but they are highly intelligent.
"Rats would be excellent at sniffing out bombs. At the moment we use dogs, but I think the rats would be much more effective."
A spokesman for HeroRats, which trains rats in Africa, said: "With their terrific sense of smell and trainability, rats provide a cheaper, more efficient and locally available means to detect landmines."

Twitchiker's round-the-world trek

A Gateshead man travelled all the way to New Zealand - thanks to donations from people who use Twitter.
Paul Smith, 33, dubbed the Twitchhiker, made the 11,000-mile trip without buying a single ticket, reports the Daily Mail.
He gave himself 30 days to complete the trek, and was forbidden to spend a penny on so much as a taxi journey.
"The Twitchhiker project showed that kindness is universal, that the whole can be infinitely greater than the sum of its parts, and that social media may begin online but it will converge with the real world whenever and wherever you let it," he wrote in his blog.
Mr Smith first crossed to the Netherlands, Germany and France. He then doubled back after being given flights from Frankfurt to Amsterdam, and on to New York.
He then made his way through Washington DC, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Chicago and LA, where a final flight saw him arrive in New Zealand with days to spare.
Paul's journey, which has raised more than £5,000 for charity, was governed by two key rules. He stayed nowhere for more than two days and he never planned more than three days ahead.
His original goal was Campbell Island, a remote outpost off New Zealand, but that would have relied on a ship's captain prepared to cross treacherous seas on a six day round trip for free.
So instead he headed for Stewart Island, population of just 400, and said he was satisfied with that.
"The aim was to travel as far as I could from home as possible within 30 days, and by reaching Stewart Island I'd travelled to a place the majority of New Zealanders have never set foot on," he said.

Churchill's whisky and cigar breakfast

Winston Churchill wrote his own breakfast menu - including whisky and a cigar - on his last official flight to the US.
The breakfast menu on the 1954 BOAC flight was not to the Prime Minister's liking so he wrote one out himself.
He requested a two-course meal to be brought on two trays, reports the Daily Telegraph.
In his own hand, Churchill ordered: "1st Tray. Poached egg, Toast, Jam, Butter, Coffee and milk, Jug of cold milk, Cold Chicken or Meat.
"2nd Tray. Grapefruit, Sugar Bowl, Glass orange squash (ice), Whisky soda." He then added: "Wash hands, cigar."
The menu was kept by the air steward and the item is now being sold along with press cuttings from the trip.
The menu is expected to fetch up to £1,500 when it is sold at Mullock's auctioneers in Ludlow, Shropshire, on St George's Day.
Auctioneer Richard Westwood-Brookes said: "This is one of the most remarkable pieces of Churchill memorabilia we have seen.
"It shows what a hearty breakfast he ate and it was all washed down with a whisky, after which he smoked a cigar.
"It is the type of indulgence we've come to associate with Churchill and it reassuring to know he ate so well in his 80th year."

'Drink-drive' MP blames apples

A Polish MP who failed a drink-driving test claimed it was because he had eaten too many apples.
Marek Latas denied having drunk any alcohol on the day he was pulled up, reports Gazeta Wyborcza.
When asked why a test showed 0.7 units of alcohol in his blood, he said: "I am diabetic, I ate a few apples before driving."
Mr Latas, of the opposition Law and Justice Party, added: "I have been involved in no accident, I underwent a routine roadside check. I was confident there was no chance I had alcohol in my blood."
The prosecutor's office is investigating his case. In Poland, the legal limit for alcohol when driving is 0.2 units.

Aqua coach launches

The world's first amphibious coach has been launched, allowing bus passengers to take to the waves.
The Amphicoach, which carries up to 50 passengers, is the brainchild of Scotsman George Smith.
The vehicle drives like a traditional coach until it reaches water, where its makers say it exhibits 'astonishing' sailing abilities.
The coach's wheels retract into a hull, made from marine-grade aluminium, allowing it to reach speeds of up to eight knots, powered by a jet-drive unit.
According to its makers, the Amphicoach can compete with any luxury standard road coach for performance, safety and comfort.
"On the other hand its sailing capabilities are accepted by marine experts involved in the project as being astonishing," said a spokesman.
"This feature consequently makes the vehicle suitable for extended water tours. The Amphicoach is able to operate day and night, in both fresh and salt water, which is highly unusual."
Twelve vehicles are to be built each year, under the supervision of Lloyd's Register, with Australian, Dutch and German companies said to be interested.
The spokesman added: "Due to the vehicle's superior stability and safety features the Amphicoach is a Modern Technological Wonder.
"Soon people will no longer be satisfied with just a city coach tour, they will want the complete package, a city coach tour with a water cruise built in."

Synchronised office swimming

A group of Russian women have become internet stars after performing a synchronised swimming routine - at their desks.
The women, who work for an architects' firm, filmed their routine for an Olympics-themed competition, reports The Sun.
They beat hundreds of other entries to scoop the £3,500 first prize - and their video has attracted more than a million hits on YouTube.
The clip was filmed secretly during lunch breaks. Worker Mosha Dugina said: "We were all really energetic and enthusiastic to do it.
"It was such a breath of fresh air to do something where we got the chance to show off a little and show people that we have beautiful long legs.
"Most of the time we just sit by our desks and all everyone normally sees is our top halves."
Ilya Korneev from competition organisers Affect.ru said: "The competition attracted hundreds of applications, but it was apparent from early on that there was going to be one clear winner.
"We thought that was the finish, but the girls' success continued when the clip went on to Europe. The clip attracted over a million views in its first few weeks."

Worst job application ever?

A student applied for a job at a Welsh tourist attraction using the email address 'atleastimnotwelsh'.
James Kettle, 21, also sent his job request to the wrong address, reports The Sun.
The horticulture undergraduate sent it to Aberglasney Gardens, Carmarthenshire, instead of the National Botanic Garden of Wales.
A manager at Aberglasney replied: "It may be prudent to change your email address. It could have a detrimental effect on any career aspirations of working in Wales."
James, a student at Pershore Agricultural College in Warwickshire, said: "I feel a right fool.
"I set up the email at school because several Welsh kids were in my year. I forgot it was with my application and didn't mean to be offensive."

Gran survives 100ft plunge - with no seatbelt

A North Yorkshire grandmother drove over a 100ft cliff while not wearing a seatbelt - and walked away without a scratch.
Barbara Tyreman, 60, of Eskdaleside, near Whitby, was leaving her home when she accidentally hit the accelerator of her Mini.
As she swerved to avoid another car, the Mini "flew" over the cliff and landed between two trees, reports the BBC.
Mrs Tyreman, who runs a holiday lets business, said she was amazed when she realised she was uninjured.
She said: "As I was reaching back for my seatbelt, my foot hit the accelerator and shot right across, quite fast, across the car park and down the drive, which is very long and steep.
"I was hurtling down the drive and I tried to put the brake on but for some reason I kept hitting the accelerator and just carried straight on.
"My daughter and granddaughter were in a car in front of me and I didn't want to hit them so I turned the car to the left and just flew, literally flew, and went over the cliff edge. It went down for about 100ft and the car came to a halt.
"I was sat in my car and realised I hadn't banged my head and my legs and arms and everything were still moving and I couldn't believe it."
Firefighters had to cut Mrs Tyreman from the car and she was airlifted by helicopter to Scarborough Hospital, where she was X-rayed and given blood tests but released later with just a bruise on her arm.
She said: "I just don't know how I'm alive, I'm very lucky, my life flashed before my eyes. I'm just happy that I'm here and I've got my family and everything."

Fined for speeding in Model T Ford

A Coventry motorist has been fined for speeding in an 86-year-old Model T Ford without a speedometer.
A speed camera caught Dave Stanisfield, 67, doing 35mph in a 30mph zone on his way home from a vintage car show, reports the Daily Telegraph.
He said: "I didn't think it could do 30mph. When it was new it could do 46mph but it's nearly 90 years old now. I couldn't believe it when I got the letter through the post. I was shocked."
Mr Stanisfield, a semi-retired mechanic from Coventry, went to court in a bid to avoid a £60 fine and three points on his licence.
He said: "I couldn't prove that I wasn't doing that speed because I didn't have a speedometer. But I was pretty sure I wasn't. I'm an advanced driver and have great respect for the law and road safety.
"I'm no boy racer or Lewis Hamilton. I'm a 67-year-old man in an 86-year-old car. I don't go racing about the place."
However after being faced with the risk of further court costs he pleaded guilty to speeding at Worcestershire Magistrates' Court.
He said: "In the end it was the wrong thing going to court because I still got three points and ended up paying £138 in fines and court costs."

Mother-in-law survives rocket attack

A desperate husband tried to kill his mother-in-law with an anti-tank missile launcher after claiming she'd turned his wife against him.
Bosnian Miroslav Miljici wanted revenge after blaming his wife's mum for the break-up of his marriage.
And when his mother-in-law survived the rocket attack on her home, he tried to finish her off with a machine gun, a court in Doboj, Bosnia, was told.
Amazingly, she survived both attacks with barely a scratch, judges heard.
In defence Miljici - jailed for six years for attempted murder - told the court he could no longer take his mother-in-law's nagging.

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Boffins invent smell-free undies

Space scientists have invented underwear that can be worn for five days - without causing a stink.
The new line of odour-free underwear has been developed by scientists in Japan, reports The Sun.
Koichi Wakata, the first Japanese astronaut to live on the International Space Station, is now testing them in space.
"Nobody has complained, so I think it?s so far, so good," he said.
Called J-ware, the range was created by textile experts at the Japan Women?s University in Tokyo.
The clothes, developed by researcher Yoshiko Taya, are designed to kill bacteria, absorb water, insulate the body and dry quickly.
Japanese astronaut Takao Doi gave the clothes a trial run during a shuttle mission last year. And even after a vigorous workout, his clothes stayed dry.
"The other astronauts become very sweaty, but he doesn't have any sweat. He didn't need to hang his clothes to dry," Mr Yanagawa said.
J-ware should reduce the amount of clothing that needs to be sent to the space station, which has no laundry facilities.
The Japanese space agency plans to make the clothes available to NASA and its other space station partners once development is complete. A commercial line is also in the offing.

Sat nav gaffe nearly took driver over cliff

A South Yorkshire motorist was charged with careless driving after he nearly followed his sat nav over the edge of a cliff.
Robert Jones, 43, from Doncaster, followed the device as he headed for a friend's house even when it began taking him up a steep, rocky footpath.
He finally realised something was seriously wrong when his BMW hit a fence just inches from a 100ft drop, reports the Daily Mirror.
Mr Jones said: "I just trusted the sat nav. It kept insisting that the path was a road even as it was getting narrower and steeper.
"I rely on my sat nav, I couldn't do without it for my job. I guess I'm lucky the car didn't slip all the way over the edge. But it has been a bit of a nightmare."
It took nine hours for a recovery team to haul the BMW away from the cliff edge in Todmorden, West Yorkshire.
The rescue operation attracted a large crowd of astonished locals.
One said: "It's all well and good trusting your sat nav but how about trusting your eyes and when there's not a road in front of you, don't keep driving."
Police confirmed Mr Jones had been charged. A spokesman said: "Nobody was hurt. But when someone nearly drives off a cliff that shows a lack of care which needs to be investigated."
Story filed: 09:51 Wednesday 25th March 2009 -->

Hero parrot saves tot

A parrot whose cries of alarm helped save the life of a choking girl in the US has been hailed a hero.
Quaker parrot Willie has been awarded the Red Cross's Animal Lifesaver Award in Denver, Colorado.
His histrionics alerted his owner, Megan Howard, who was baby-sitting the little girl last November.
Incredibly, Willie squawked: "Mama, baby", and flapped his wings to get her attention, reports Sky News.
Ms Howard returned to find the little girl, Hannah, already turning blue after choking on her breakfast.
The carer saved Hannah by performing the Heimlich manoeuvre but said Willie was "the real hero".
Hannah's mother, Samantha Kuusk, has admitted recounting the episode is still painful.
"The part where she turned blue is always when my heart drops no matter how many times I've heard it," she said.
"My heart drops in my stomach and I get all teary eyed."

Couple thrown out of comedy for laughing

A Lincoln couple who went to see a play billed as capable of making you "laugh until they throw you out" were thrown out for laughing.
Sharon Whitelaw, 41, took boyfriend Tony Priestley, 42, to see a production of Bouncers at Lincoln's Drill Hall for a birthday treat, reports the Lincolnshire Echo.
But at the intermission, they were told not to go back into the auditorium, as other theatre-goers had complained they were "laughing at moments that weren't funny, kicking the seats in front and being loud".
"I think the whole way we were treated was like children," said Miss Whitelaw, a taxi driver. "I wished the ground had swallowed me up at the time, I was so embarrassed."
The couple were led into the foyer, and spoken to in front of other theatre-goers who were enjoying their interval drinks.
"She proceeded to tell us they couldn't let us back in because three people had complained."
The couple received a full refund for the price of the tickets and their pre-ordered drinks.
Drill Hall manager Simon Hollingworth said he appreciated that the couple might not be happy, but insisted his staff did the right thing

'Deathbed' confession was premature

A US man who thought he was dying and confessed to killing a man in 1977 has been charged with murder after he got better.
James Brewer could now face the death penalty over the unsolved killing in Tennessee 32 years ago, according to US reports.
Convinced he was dying after a stroke, Mr Brewer reportedly admitted shooting dead 20-year-old neighbour Jimmy Carroll.
The 58-year-old, who had fled Tennessee after the killing, was arrested after his condition improved, reports the BBC.
"He wanted to cleanse his soul, because he thought he was going to the great beyond," said police detective Tony Grasso, who interviewed Mr Brewer in an Oklahoma hospital.
Mr Brewer had reportedly moved to Oklahoma from Tennessee after jumping bail after he was originally arrested and charged with Mr Carroll's murder in 1977.
The former factory worker changed his name to Michael Anderson and settled down with his wife, Dorothy, in the town of Shawnee.
The couple became active members of the local church, where Mrs Brewer established a Bible study group, reports say.
After suffering a stroke, Mr Brewer called police to his hospital bedside earlier this month, where he reportedly made the confession.
Detectives said Mr Brewer had admitted killing Mr Carroll, who he believed had been trying to seduce his wife.

World's biggest train set

German twin brothers have spent the last nine years painstakingly putting together the world's biggest train set.
Housed in a previously empty Hamburg building, it covers 1,150 square metres and features almost six miles of track, but is still not complete.
Frederick and Gerrit Braun, 41, have spent 500,000 hours and the equivalent of more than £8million working on it.
Their creation is on display to the public and is so vast they have to employ more than 160 people just to show visitors around.
Their 'Miniatur Wunderland' is split into six regions, including America, Switzerland, Scandinavia, Germany and the Austrian Alps.
Each region boasts detailed models of some of the world's most famous landmarks.
The American section is home to giant models of the Rocky Mountains and Mount Rushmore; the Swiss section has a mini-Matterhorn; and the Scandinavian part has a 4ft long passenger ship floating in a 'fjord'.
The brothers estimate the enormous track will be completed in 2014, when it will cover more than 1,800 square metres and feature almost 13 miles of track.
Today, their model railway comprises 700 trains with 10,000 carriages, 900 signals, 2,800 buildings and 160,000 individually designed figures.
The scenery took 700kg of fake grass and 4,000kg of steel to build. Night and day is even replicated thanks to 250,000 lights.

Darth Vader gives away bride

A West Yorkshire bride surprised her Star Wars fan groom - by getting Darth Vader to walk her down the aisle.
Stuart Robinson, 35, was stunned when Jessica entered the hotel ceremony with the villain as the Imperial March played, reports The Sun.
She made her new husband's day after hearing how he wrote to Jim'll Fix It as a kid asking to meet Star Wars characters - only for another boy to have the request granted.
She hired Darth, two Stormtroopers and an Imperial Commander off the internet for their big day in Keighley.
Production worker Stuart said: "It was a dream come true - marrying and finally getting to meet Darth Vader."
Jessica, 30, added: "I wanted something to surprise him. Everyone was in on my plan and Stuart had no idea.
"But Darth Vader kept treading on my dress and I had to keep telling him off."

Britney wants Adnan

Will Britney Spears ever learn?
Just when she's getting her life on track with her sexy new look and Circus tour she just can't let go of the past.
Britney has been trying to get in touch with British photographer Adnan Ghalib.
Remember him? He's the bloke Britney dated back in 2007 just before her now infamous meltdown.
Even though he's been ordered by a judge to steer clear of the star for three years it hasn't stopped Britters bombarding him with text messages, reports The Sun.
He, of course, hasn't replied because if he does he'll end up in the slammer.
A source told the paper: "She keeps sneaking messages to Adnan begging him to help her win back her freedom.
"She says she is lonely and misses being able to date the men she chooses. She feels trapped.
"She has been begging him to meet her and help her come up with a plan to get out of her dad's conservatorship.
"Some messages have got back to her via her hairdressers and style team - but Adnan cannot contact her otherwise he will face jail."
Adnan is due in court on charges of assault with a deadly weapon, and hit and run after he allegedly tried to run over a worker who tried to serve him with a restraining order obtained by Britney's dad.
Sounds like Adnan might have too much on to reply to the star.

Pensioner holidays in war zones

A Northumbrian pensioner has foresaken the delights of Saga holidays by taking up extreme tourism in the world's war zones.
Gordon Moore, 75, from Hexham, has just returned from a tour of Iraq where he was in the first tourist group to visit since war broke out in 2003.
The great grandfather ignored Foreign Office to go on the 17-night trip, spending his first night at the Sheraton Hotel, facing the square where the statue of Saddam Hussein fell.
His stay in the country, still heavily monitored by international troops, follows four visits to Afghanistan, and trips to North Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Syria, and Lebanon.
The only reason he hasn't been to North Korea yet is he was the only one who signed up for the trip, reports the Daily Telegraph.
Mr Moore's latest trip took him to Babylon and Basra, and none of the travelling group, including three other Brits, a Russian, two Americans and a Canadian, could get travel insurance.
The former postmaster was greeted by the sound of a bomb blast within minutes of arriving, while the group had to pass more than a dozen checkpoints to reach the Green Zone (safe area) of Baghdad.
Despite some 'hairy' moments, he said: "It was absolutely fascinating. Of course plenty of people think I'm absolutely mad for going, especially because of my age, but everyone is entitled to their opinion.
"I had a brilliant time. I did have to pinch myself a few times while I was there. I've seen the country on the news all these years, and you never think it will happen but there I was, standing in Iraq.
"Policeman would come over to you and ask what we were doing and why we were there, so we would say we were tourists, but they were puzzled, they didn't even know what they are."

Ross prompts dormouse abuse probe

Jonathan Ross prompted police to raid a wildlife sanctuary after joking that its staff had abused a dormouse.
The star, 48, displayed a photograph of the creature to a live TV audience, which he claimed had been manhandled inappropriately.
He suggested the dormouse, pictured sleeping peacefully in a rose, had been woken from its hibernation for the photo shoot - an offence under the Animal and Welfare Act.
Millions heard the quip after it was aired on BBC1's Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, reports the Daily Mail.
Some viewers believed him and rang police. When an officer went to investigate at the Secret World Wildlife Rescue Centre in Somerset, staff were horrified.
After all, they had originally saved the dormouse, which they named Dreamy, when he was found in a greenhouse with wounds thought to have been inflicted by a cat.
Spokesman Jamie Baker said: "We told them the dormouse had never been woken up. I think people meant well but they should have got the whole story first."
Avon and Somerset Police later confirmed a complaint had been made and an officer sent out to investigate. A spokesman added that no offence was committed

Pink lights clear up spot of teenage bother

Pink lights designed to show up teenagers' spots have been installed to stop them gathering in a Mansfield housing estate.
Layton Burroughs Residents' Association bought the lights in a bid to curb anti-social behaviour, reports the BBC.
The lights, said to have a calming influence but which also highlight skin blemishes such as acne, have been installed in three underpasses on the estate.
Tony Gelsthorpe, chairman of the Layton Burroughs Residents' Association, said: "We've had problems with underage drinking, drug dealing, anti-social behaviour and general intimidation.
"I was a little bit dubious about the pink lights at first but it's done the trick. We've got to think of our residents and we've got to live here at the end of the day."
However, the National Youth Agency said it would just move the problem somewhere else.
Peta Halls, development officer for the NYA, said: "Anything that aims to embarrass people out of an area is not on.
"They have a right to congregate, it's part of being a teenager and most young people are good, law-abiding people."

Pub landlord in the pink

The landlord of a historic Herefordshire pub woke up to find someone had given it an overnight makeover.
Pranksters turned up in the dead of night and painted the Prince of Wales, which was built in 1540, reports the Daily Mirror.
Now the traditional black and white inn, part of a row of historic Tudor buildings, is a vivid pink.
Landlord Les Smith, 52, said: "I haven't a clue who would do this or why. We closed the pub after midnight. Then I came round at about half eight in the morning and it was pink."
Mr Smith said the cleaner arrived for work at 7am and saw two men in overalls packing up their rollers but assumed they were working to order.
And he had to admit they had done a professional job - and had even submitted an invoice for their work.
He said: "I'm annoyed and it's inconvenient but they've done a proper job. They even slipped a bill under the door. But there's no figures, no address, nothing. Some of the regulars have said Mr Blobby or the Pink Panther have stitched me up."
One regular at the pub in Ledbury, near Hereford, said the culprits may have had a brush with the landlord.
"The landlord has a strict no-swearing policy and some people have been banned for breaking the rules. Maybe someone decided to take revenge," he guessed.
A West Mercia Police spokesman said: "We are looking at CCTV footage."

Elephant angel mystery solved

Belfast Zoo has identified the woman who looked after one of it's elephants in her backyard during the Second World War.
Sheila the baby elephant was moved out of the zoo over fears for her safety during the Belfast Blitz of 1941, reports the Daily Telegraph.
Grainy photographs of her drinking from a bucket outside a red brick house revealed that she had been offered sanctuary in somebody's backyard.
Now, after a public appeal for information, it has been discovered that it was the one of the zoo's first female keepers.
The so-called 'elephant angel' was Denise Austin, who used to walk Sheila about the streets of north Belfast calling into shops where the calf was treated to portions of stale bread.
Denise died in 1997 but the long-running puzzle was solved by one of her surviving relatives, second cousin David Ramsey.
"Denise was eccentric and lived in a rather exotic home in North Belfast called Loughview House," he said.
The Belfast man explained that Sheila stayed in her enclosure at the zoo during the day and went home to Denise's house at night.
"When the head keeper Dick Foster left work, Denise took Sheila from her enclosure, walked her a short distance to her house at 278 Whitewell Road, and walked her back up to the zoo in the morning, sometimes stopping at a shop, the Thrones Stores, on the Whitewell road for stale bread."
Sheila was one of the lucky ones at the zoo, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. Many animals were killed because of public safety fears of an escape during the bombing.

Clarkson loo clip is online hit

A video of Jeremy Clarkson trapped inside a portable loo has become a hit on YouTube.
Pranksters trapped the Top Gear presenter after spotting him entering the cubicle at the Mallorca Classic Car Rally.
They placed a stack of rubber tyres outside the door to prevent him from getting out, reports the Daily Telegraph.
On the YouTube film, Clarkson can be heard shouting and kicking the door from within as onlookers howl with laughter.
Eventually, the presenter topples the tyres and emerges looking rather embarrassed. The footage has attracted tens of thousands of views on YouTube
Clarkson was in Mallorca with his Top Gear co-hosts James May and Richard Hammond to film for a forthcoming episodes of the BBC show.

'Ghost' photo spooks experts

An image of a figure in period costume at a 14th century Scottish castle has spooked experts investigating apparent photographs of ghosts.
The picture, taken in May 2008, appears to show a man or woman in a ruff peering out of a barred window at Tantallon Castle.
No mannequins or costumed guides are employed at the castle, and three photographic experts have confirmed that no digital trickery was used on the photo.
Confirmed ghost sceptic Professor Richard Wiseman, who led the study, said: "It is certainly very curious. We ran it by three photographic experts and they said it hadn't been Photoshopped at all.
"The figure appears to be in period costume, but we know 100% that Tantallon Castle is not the sort of place that has dummies or costumed guides - they just don't go in for that sort of thing."
Tantallon Castle, a ruined fortress dating back to the 14th Century, stands on a remote rocky headland near North Berwick on the Scottish east coast.
Christopher Aitchison, who took the photo, said: "I was not aware of anyone, or anything, being present in my picture, only noticing the anomaly when I got home."
Psychologist Prof Wiseman, from the University of Hertfordshire, who has made many studies of the supernatural, launched the investigation a month ago.
Members of the public were asked to submit ghostly images for experts to analyse, the best of which were posted on the website www.scienceofhauntings.com.
More than 250 pictures were received and more than a quarter of a million people voted for what they considered the most convincing. The Ghost in the Castle took first place, with 39% of the vote.

Mediums get grant to talk with the dead

Two psychics have been given government funding to teach people how to "communicate with the dead".
Paul and Deborah Rees have been awarded £4,500 under the Government's Want2Work job creation scheme, reports the Daily Telegraph.
The couple, from Bridgend, south Wales, will use it to instruct people on how to contact friends and relatives "on the other side".
Critics are astonished at the award by the Department of Work and Pensions bureaucrats, and the Welsh Assembly has launched an investigation.
The mediums insist the "mere £4,500" of public money will be put to good use at their centre, the Accolade Academy of Psychic and Mediumistic Studies.
Mr Rees, 40, a former upholsterer, said: "People who have lost mums and dads or a child deserve all the respect in the world in their grieving, and they deserve a medium who can give them respect.
"Our job is to provide substantial evidence to bring ease to people's grieving - and that's what I would say to people who query the award."
Mr Rees said he had his 37-year-old wife had to negotiate "a lot of red tape" to secure the grant, which is intended to help start-up businesses.
"They hadn't invested in psychics before so we really had to prove ourselves," he said.
But Tory Welsh Assembly member Jonathan Morgan said: "It is an utter disgrace that taxpayers' money is being wasted and given to an organisation that believes it can teach people how to communicate with the dead."

Lady GaGa takes the UK top spot!

'Poker Face' relegates Comic Relief efforts
Lady GaGa has topped this week's UK Singles Chart.
'Poker Face' stormed past Flo Rida's 'Right Round' and Rob Brydon and Ruth Jones's Comic Relief single 'Islands In The Stream' to become the US star’s second UK No.1 single.
The feat is particularly impressive as 'Poker Face' had already been in the UK Top 20 for 10 consecutive weeks before hitting the top spot.
Gavin & Stacey stars Rob and Ruth were forced to settle for No.3, but faired mildly better than the other charity cover in the Top 5. The Saturdays' cover of Depeche Mode's 'Just Can't Get Enough' dropped one place to No.4
US country sensation Taylor Swift completed the Top 5 with 'Love Story'.
Elsewhere, Boyzone mainman Ronan Keating is No.1 in this week's UK Albums Chart with his perfectly timed solo collection, Songs For My Mother.

Sex shop returns to haunt florist

A Surrey florist is having to wash her windows every morning to wipe away evidence of the store's past as a licensed sex shop.
Every morning, large letters spelling out the store's previous function are clearly visible in condensation on the window of the Reigate shop, reports the Daily Telegraph.
Clare Ross, who owns Willows flower shop with her mum, Shirley, said: "We have done everything we can to get rid of it but it just won't go.
"Every day it's back. I knew this place had been a sex shop but it was completely empty when we took it over. There were no signs of its past at all.
"Then these huge letters appeared in the morning condensation saying licensed sex shop above our Interflora sign."
She sponges it away every morning only for it to come back the next day.
Ms Ross, 40, added: "We had a professional cleaner in, tried lighter fluid, petrol, scouring pads. Nothing worked. The glue from the sticky lettering has seeped right into the glass and the history is locked away there.
"The only way to get rid of it would be to replace the whole window. But now everyone has got used to it, it's become a bit of a talking point.
"People come in to ask us if we realise there is sex shop emblazoned on our window and end up buying flowers, so maybe we'll keep it."

Woman 'met alien with Scandinavian accent'

A Norwich woman's encounter with an "alien" are among the secrets revealed in official UFO files.
The woman's report is within the third set of UFO documents to be released by the Ministry of Defence, reports the BBC.
The "completely terrified" woman contacted RAF Wattisham in Suffolk to report her close encounter with a man claiming to be an alien in November 1989.
She said she met the fair-haired man with a Scandinavian-type accent as she walked her dog on a sports field.
He told her crop circles were caused by others like him who had travelled to Earth and that the purpose of his visit was friendly.
He then said he had spoken to her because he felt it was important to have contact with humans even though he had been told not to.
As the unidentified woman ran home she heard a loud buzzing noise and turned to see a large, spherical object, glowing orange-white, rise steadily until out of sight.
A letter from RAF Wattisham to the MoD and Norfolk police described it as "one of our more unusual UFO reports".
It is one of the many reports in the files, which can be downloaded from the National Archives website, and are being released as part of a three-year project.
UFO expert Dr David Clarke said: "The vast majority of reports are ordinary things seen in extraordinary situations.
"I don't think there's any solid evidence that we have been visited by intelligent life but I don't think you can rule that out."

Hero surgeon saves patient

An Italian surgeon finished a brain operation on a patient - despite suffering a heart attack.
Doctor Claudio Vitale, 59, realised his patient would never recover if he stopped the op to seek treatment for himself.
So he carried on for 30 minutes in the operating theatre at Cardarelli hospital, Naples, until his patient was out of trouble.
Now both the surgeon and his patient are recovering in the hospital's intensive care unit.
"I knew I couldn't leave the surgery then. I'm not really a hero, I just did my job," said Dr Vitale.

Student sells virginity online

Ananova:
Student sells virginity online
A Romanian student is auctioning her virginity online to pay her way through university.
Alina Percea, 18, from Caracal in Olt county, has posted her ad on German site www.gesext.de which specialises in dating and erotic auctions.
In her ad, she says: "I am a 108lbs, 5.67 ft tall, brown-eyed Romanian girl. I don't smoke and own a certificate from a gynaecologist which says I am a virgin. I want my first time to be special and not very abrupt.
"The winning bidder can spend a whole weekend with me provided he will cover all the expenses in case I need to travel or stay at a hotel."
Miss Percea says she decided to go ahead with the auction to raise enough money to pay for her studies - but she also hopes the winner might become her husband.
She says she is hoping to raise 50,000 euros but, with three days to go until the auction closes, bidding stands at 5,000 euros.

Nick reveals all at The Boat That Rocked premiere

Nick Frost says he had no problems appearing naked in his new film The Boat That Rocked.
He revealed all at the world premiere of Richard Curtis's new comedy set on a 1960s pirate radio ship.
Nick told The Sun: "I take my pants off and voila - we're ready to roll.
"I played rugby for many years so it's par for the course. You have to take your kit off in front of 30 men, which is essentially what a film shoot is."
Other cast members on the red carpet in London's Leicester Square included Rhys Ifans, Gemma Arterton, Kenneth Branagh, Tom Wisdom and Bill Nighy.
The Boat That Rocked also features a scene in which Bill walks into a room and finds Tom surrounded by 60 naked women.
Bill said: "I felt sorry for them. I was thinking 'Oh my God, put your clothes on.'
"It was a bit of a day. You think 'What am I doing today? Oh yeah, I've got to walk into a room with 60 naked women.' That was good fun."
The Boat That Rocked hits UK cinemas on 1 April.

Willy silly prank

A student made a secret addition to his family's mansion home - by painting a 60ft penis on the roof.
Andy and Clare McInnes were delighted when builders finished the new flat roof on their £1million house, reports The Sun.
But it gave their son Rory, 18, who had just watched a documentary about Google Earth, an idea to make the property stand out.
He grabbed a tin of white paint and climbed up to the roof, where he spent half an hour reproducing the best-known feature of the Cerne Abbas Giant in Dorset, pictured.
For the next 12 months only Rory knew about the giant manhood on the roof near Hungerford, Berks, but his secret was out when a helicopter pilot spotted it.
Mr McInnes, 54, a company director, initially thought it was a wind-up when The Sun contacted him about the painting.
He said: "It's an April Fool's joke, right. There's no way there's a 60ft phallus on top of my house."
Mr McInnes then spoke to all four of his children. When he phoned Rory, who's in Brazil as part of his gap year, he burst out laughing, and said: "Oh, you've found it then!"
He added: "When Rory gets home he will be given a scrubbing brush and white spirit and he can go and scrub it off."

John is Twitter crazy

Jennifer Aniston and John Mayer were one of our favourite celebrity couples and we were sad when they split.
We felt sure they had a good reason that led to the breakdown of their relationship - but it seems not.
The couple separated over Twitter.
Apparently John was too busy twittering to return Jen's calls when she was overseas promoting her new film Marley And Me.
Obviously keen to know what John was up to she had a look on his Twitter page and spotted he'd been updating that instead.
A friend told The Sun: "Jen was fuming. There he was, telling her he didn't have time for her and yet his page was filled with updates!
"Every few hours, sometimes minutes, he'd update with some stupid line."
Let's just say the Friends actress was less than impressed.
"She was like, 'He has time for all this Twittering, but he can't send me a text, an email, make a call?'
"He didn't deny it. He knew he was avoiding her. So when she ended things, he just said OK, and he was sorry it didn't work out," added the source.
And what did John do after the break-up? Update his page, of course.
The update read: "This heart didn't come with instructions."

Kayaker's daredevil fall

A daredevil kayak enthusiast rode down a 127ft waterfall to claim a new world record in Brazil.
Pedro Olivia hit speeds of 70mph in his freefall down the Salto Belo falls into the Rio Sacre, a tributary of the Amazon, reports the Daily Telegraph.
The stunt, which took just 2.9 seconds, shattered the existing world record for a descent in a kayak which stood at 108ft.
He survived thanks to a combination of currents which have created what kayakers believe to be the softest water landing in the world.
But the 26-year-old Brazilian had to tour the 100ft-wide waterfall in search of the perfect boulder-free spot before embarking on his attempt.
Members of his Brazil World Record Attempt Expedition team watched anxiously as he finally slid over the lip of the falls, as they captured the terrifying stunt on camera.
Hurtling head first to the bottom, he disappeared from sight as he plunged into a deep pool at the bottom.
Moments later he emerged, unharmed, behind the waterfall and was even able to right himself by grabbing onto a boulder formation.
"Although people have certainly perished upon hitting a pool of water from such heights, the team counted on the massive, gushing rivers of central Brazil to produce the softest water landings on Earth," said team member Ben Stookesberry.

Robot supermodel makes catwalk debut

The world's first robot supermodel has made its catwalk debut during Tokyo Fashion Week.
The £1.37m HRP-4C humanoid has battery-powered motors in her face to help her flash a smile, lower her eyelids and sashay along a catwalk.
Measuring a slightly short 5 ft 2 inches and weighing a model like 43 kg, the features of the robot were modelled on the wide-eyed characters popular in Japanese "anime" cartoons.
However, despite her apparent physical perfections, its creators at National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) admitted it had a long way to go before it would rival real life models.
"Our robot can't move elegantly like the real models that are here today," admitted Shuji Kajita, director of humanoid robot engineering AIST.
"It will take another 20 to 30 years of research to make that happen."
Japan is famous for its cutting-edge robotics industry and is home to nearly half of the world's 800,000 industrial robots, many of which are being developed to assist the nation's rapidly ageing population.

Latitude headliners announced

Grace Jones, Pet Shop Boys and Nick Cave confirmed
The organisers of Latitude festival have revealed this year's headlining acts.
Pet Shop Boys, Grace Jones and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds will all grace Suffolk's Henham Estate with their presence, in addition to a host of poetry, theatre, cabaret, literature and comedy performances.
Also confirmed for the weekender, which takes place from 17-19 July, are Editors, Bat For Lashes and Doves.
Organiser Melvin Benn told 6 Music: "Latitude Festival really is a focal point of the summer calendar now, and it's only in its fourth edition.
"Being able to bring together all the different aspects of the music and arts worlds is a fabulous achievement and it's that commitment that sets Latitude apart from the other festivals around."
Tickets are on sale now. Weekend passes are priced at £150, with day tickets costing £60.

Chihuahua rescues dwarf

A 3ft 8ins woman who got lost while walking in Snowdonia was saved by her pet chihuahua.
Beverley Burkitt, 45, who has dwarfism, became lost in forest while walking with her tiny dog Pebbles, reports the Daily Telegraph.
The alarm was raised but she had not been found when night fell, so she lay on the floor and cuddled the dog to keep warm.
A search party found her the next morning and rescuers said the dog had saved her from getting hypothermia.
Mum-of-one Beverley said: "Pebbles lay across my legs overnight and kept me warm. I wasn't too worried because I knew I would be found sooner or later."
Beverley and her daughter, 15, were staying at a pony trekking centre at Dolwyddelan, North Wales, when she went missing.
She told rescuers that she strayed into woodland and then dropped her mobile phone.
A helicopter with heat-seeking cameras was launched and search parties on the ground scoured the area but it was not until the next day that she was found after her mobile phone was discovered on a path.
Asthma sufferer Beverley, of Colwyn Bay, North Wales, was found still snuggling up to the long-haired black and white chihuahua.
Chris Lloyd, of the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue, said: "She realised she was lost and just waited. Luckily it was quite a mild night and she had her dog to keep her warm."

Europe's youngest mayor still lives with his mum

Europe's youngest mayor Martin Gruber has revealed he still lives at home with his mum and shares a room with his little brother.
Gruber, just 25, was voted into office in Kappel am Krappfeld, southern Austria, earlier this month.
The son of farmer parents and one of six children he admitted it might be best in the eyes of his electorate if he finds a place on his own very soon.
"I'll move out because it doesn't make a very good impression for the town if the Mayor's mum still gives him packed lunches and does his washing for him," he said.
But his youth is expected to revolutionise the mayor?s office in the small town of 2,000 people.
When he went to take up his post Gruber found out the office did not have a computer.
?It?s OK. I?ve got a laptop I can bring in and use,? he said

Parentes de vítimas do voo 3054 fazem manifestação

Os parentes das vítimas do acidente com o voo 3054 da TAM fazem neste domingo (22) uma caminhada pelo Aeroporto de Congonhas, com paradas em frente ao balcão da companhia aérea e no saguão central. Representantes da associação dos parentes lerão o nome de cada um dos apontados pela Justiça como responsáveis pela tragédia.
Levarão ainda flores brancas até o terreno em frente ao aeroporto, onde o avião da TAM caiu após varar a pista de Congonhas em uma aterrissagem malsucedida em 17 de julho de 2007. A manifestação marca a 17ª reunião dos familiares, que se encontram mensalmente ora em São Paulo, ora em Porto Alegre.
O voo 3054 vinha da capital do Rio Grande do Sul, portanto a maioria dos mortos era gaúcha. Conforme acordo firmado com as famílias, a TAM custeia esses encontros. Um ato ecumênico no hotel em que as famílias estão hospedadas, próximo ao aeroporto, reuniu ontem 160 pessoas.
Quase dois anos após a tragédia, o presidente da Associação dos Familiares das Vítimas da TAM (Favitam), Dario Scott, disse que o sentimento entre os que perderam alguém no acidente é de esperança.

Chávez qualifica Obama de 'pobre ignorante'

O presidente da Venezuela, Hugo Chávez, qualificou neste domingo o presidente dos Estados Unidos, Barack Obama, de "pobre ignorante" por ter declarado meses atrás que o líder venezuelano exporta atividades terroristas.
Chávez, militar reformado, disse que esperava que com Obama pudessem ser recompostas as abaladas relações diplomáticas entre os dois países. Ele revelou que alguns comentários feitos pelo presidente norte-americano em janeiro o fizeram desistir de designar o novo embaixador da Venezuela em Washington.
"Agora Obama vai acusar a mim de exportar o terrorismo? Pelo menos alguém poderia dizer: pobre ignorante, estude, leia um pouco para aprender qual é a realidade que está vivendo e a realidade da América Latina e do mundo", disse Chávez, durante seu programa dominical de rádio e televisão. "Mas são sinais muito ruins de um governo. Nós continuaremos esperando, mas não estamos desesperados.
Para nós o império dos Estados Unidos tanto faz como tanto fez," acrescentou. Em janeiro, Chávez pediu a Obama que retificasse suas opiniões sobre ele e sobre a Venezuela se desejava a melhoria das relações diplomáticas. O presidente norte-americano disse em janeiro que Chávez tinha interrompido o progresso da região, exporta atividades terroristas e apóia "entidades malignas" como a guerrilha das Forças Armadas Revolucionárias da Colômbia (Farc).
Embora EUA e Venezuela mantenham um dinâmico intercâmbio comercial, as relações entre seus governos chegaram ao ponto mais baixo em décadas, em meio a um ríspido intercâmbio verbal que resultou na retirada dos respectivos embaixadores.
O presidente venezuelano expulsou em setembro o embaixador dos EUA em Caracas e ordenou a retirada de sua delegação diplomática de Washington em apoio ao governo da Bolívia, que tomou decisão semelhante em meio a uma forte crise política.

Cobra assusta funcionárias de escola em Londrina

Por volta das 11h50 da manhã desta segunda-feira (23), professores da Escola Municipal Eugênio Brugin precisaram chamar o Corpo de Bombeiros para capturar uma serpente que estava no pátio da escola. O animal foi visto por duas funcionárias do setor de limpeza, que se assustaram. Elas teriam identificado a cobra como uma cascavel.
Os bombeiros, no entanto, não conseguiram localizar a cobra, que possivelmente já tinha se escondido. "Tem muito mato no colégio e certamente a cobra voltou para lá", disse o diretor da escola, Júlio Cezar Gomes. A escola, que fica no Conjunto São Lourenço, zona sul de Londrina, ocupa todo o quarteirão. Há muito mato no terreno aos fundos, onde deveria ser uma horta. Próximo do mato, há um parque infantil, estacionamento e uma sala de contraturno. Cerca de 780 crianças de 1ª a 4ª séries estudam na escola.
"As crianças não vão ao mato, mas os animais podem ir até o parque, por exemplo", disse uma professora. "Já encontramos muitas aranhas na escola".
Sem atendimento
Júlio Cezar Gomes disse que desde 26 de janeiro, quando começaram as atividades na escola vem solicitando o corte do mato, sempre sem sucesso. "A CMTU sempre diz que vai mandar uma equipe, mas até agora nada". O diretor se mostrou preocupado porque no último dia 18 terminou o contrato entre a prefeitura e a Visatec, que era responsável pela capina e roçagem em Londrina. "A CMTU disse que até sexta-feira irá resolver nosso problema".

I have not seen the sun yet!

There is a new movie released in cinemas in these days named ‘I saw the sun’. it is shooted by a singer, Mahsun Kirmizigul. I have not seen that movie yet, but to tell the truth, its trailer affected me a lot. Although as I said before I have not seen that movie yet, but I already decided that this movie is a successful and great movie among the latest movies which produced in Turkiye. Of course the quality of movies is never understood clearly from by its own trailer. You can see a lot of seems perfect trailer before going to the movie, but when you face with movie in the cinema or on dvd, sometimes you really can think you were in the wrong because of your decision only on the trailer. So I am ready if I would been disappointed about that movie, but yeah I can’t predict about the movie before seeing but my sense says the movie deserves the compliments and praises. As far as I concerned and follow from the media, the people and experts who saw the sun are satisfied and they think Kirmizigul is a forethoughtful person and by that movie he reflected the Eastern’s problems on the screen properly. Even though there are a big majority of the people who are jealous of his success, Kirmizigul seems don’t care what such people think about him and he minds his own business. He actually dissatisfied from the sharp and bitter criticisms and thinks that such people too will accept his achievements in the near future. He is sure of himself and knows what he is doing, and I think his self-conscious will make him more successful director in the future.
Besides writer-director Kirmizigul, the film’s cast is really sufficient and veteran. It has been more than ten days that the movie started to release in Turkiye in addition to many countries and it already broke rating records in Turkiye. Millions of people rushed into cinemas in a week. That is a great success for a director who only made two films. That is an obvious sign of success of Kirmizigul.

I look forward to see the movie, I want to watch at once. I watched the trailer so many times before the movie released, now the movie is exhibiting in the cinemas but I cannot watch it because of the distance. L . I live in China and the movie is not showed here. I want to get the original version of the movie and it is probably that I would have to wait until next month. I hope I would find the movie’s DVD in China otherwise I could not watch the movie until next summer unless if I can get back to Turkiye at an earlier date. I found some Turkish films such as polis,kurtlar vadisi irak and beyzanin kadinlari in DVD shops, so it is my hope to find that movie too. Let’s hope.

Mexique - chamanisme

Le Zocalo est le nom que porte en général les places principales des villes du Mexique. En l'occurrence celle-ci est la place principale de la capitale, Mexico D.F. (Distrito Federal). L'on peut y voir un chaman en pleine préparation d'un rituel visant à purifier le destinataire de ce rituel. Une fois la préparation terminée le Chaman passe la vapeur qui se dégage du récipient tout autour du corps de l'individu en pratiquant quelques chants qui font partis du rituel.Le chaman (ou "chamane", "shaman") se présente comme l’intercesseur entre l'homme et les esprits de la nature. Il a une perception du monde que l’on qualifie aujourd’hui d'holistique dans son sens commun ou animiste. Le chaman est à la fois : sage, thérapeute, guérisseur et voyant. Il est l'initié et le dépositaire de la culture, des croyances et des pratiques du chamanisme, du peuple dont il est issu. On le trouve principalement dans les sociétés traditionnelles

Mexique - Acapulco

Cette photo a été prise près d'Acapulco. C'est une plage voisine qui n'a rien a envier à la fameuse baie d'Acapulco qui est si connue. Notamment grâce à certaines anciennes séries comme "Agence Acapulco" où il est possible de voir cette baie toute "bétonnée", avec d'énormes gratte ciel tout au long de la plage.En revanche cette plage fait beaucoup plus "carte postale". Ne serait-ce que les palmiers, les petites cabanes en feuilles de palmiers séchées qui permettent de profiter tout en étant à l'ombre. Mais aussi les petits bars situés juste derrière, en bordure des palmiers, où l'on peut paisiblement siroter un délicieux cocktail.Bien que cette photo ne montre qu'une toute petite partie de la plage, celle-ci est très grande tant en longueur (un bon kilomètre) qu'en largeur. Environ une cinquantaine de mètres séparent les petites cabanes en bois de l'océan Pacifique.Et puis une fois les pieds dans l'océan il est possible d'avancer longuement vers l'horizon tout en ayant toujours pied. Ce jour là, bien qu'ayant pied il était très difficile de tenir debout en raison de l'agitation de l'océan. De nombreuses vagues qui vous projettent au fond de l'eau. En tout cas c'est le moment parfait pour faire un peu de bodyboard et tranquillement glisser jusqu'au rivage.

Mexique - scorpion

Il s'agit d'une rencontre plutôt inattendue!! Nous avions loué pour le week end une villa dans l'état de Morelos, à Tequesquitengo mais nous ne savions pas qu'un invité surprise nous y attendait, un scorpion! Il était donc tranquillement blottit à l'intérieur de la maison et non dehors! Et c'est vraiment très impressionnant d'avoir à faire face à un scorpion, surtout rencontré de cette manière et quelque soit sa taille ou sa couleur!Sachez qu'au Mexique les piqûres de scorpions représentent un problème de santé publique majeur. On y ressensse environ 150.000 cas de piqûres par an et ce nombre est en constante recrudesence. Et sur ces 150.000 piqûres, entre 800 et 1000 sont mortelles. Le pourcentage de mortalité le plus élevé touche la petite enfance, un peu plus de 70%. De nombreux états du Mexique sont touchés par ces piqûres, entre autres l'état de Durango, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Michoacan, Morelos, Oaxaca, Puebla. L'état de Morelos, où se trouve Cuernavaca, étant une zone endémique.C'est par exemple quelque chose que j'ignorais lorsque je suis arrivé au Mexique. Mais lors de mes premiers jours à l'université mexicaine, le corps enseignant nous a rapidement mis en garde contre les scorpions. En nous recommandant par exemple, avant de mettre nos chaussures, de bien vérifier qu'aucun intru ne se soit glissé à l'intérieur. Il était également recommandé d'avoir un "aspivenin" dans son frigo au cas où l'on se fasse piquer. Mais dans tous les cas il est très important de se rendre très rapidement à l'hopital après une piqûre de scorpion, car les premières heures sont critiques et il faut donc agir rapidement.Ce scorpion là, d'après mes recherches fait parti de la famille des "Caraboctonidae" et est présent en Amérique du Nord (Mexique, sud des Etats-Unis), en Amérique Centrale et en Amérique du Sud.Et un petit conseil pour les futurs voyageurs se rendant au Mexique. Même si le climat est lourd, qu'il fait beau, ne vous ballader jamais pieds nus dans la pelouse par exemple, où il est impossible d'y repérer un scorpion. Ayez toujours des claquettes ou chaussures.Je tiens quand meme à rassuré. Durant mes six mois d'études au Mexique, je n'ai connu personne qui se soit fait piquer par un scorpion. C'est un fait intéressant à souligner, non?

Mexique - Mariachis

Cette photo a été prise à Cuernavaca et l'on y aperçoit les fameux Mariachis! La musique Mariachi est la musique traditionnelle par excellence du Mexique. Toute fête, célébration quelle qu'elle soit s'accompagne inévitablement de la musique mariachi.Sur cette photo les Mariachis jouent sur la place principale de Cuernavaca, le Zocalo. On les retrouve souvent en train de jouer pour des couples, assis sur les différents bancs autour de la place. Les instruments traditionnels utilisés par les Mariachis sont deux violons, deux trompettes, et une guitarre (ou guitarron).L'on aperçoit sur cette photo six musiciens, mais certains groupes de Mariachis comptent plus d'une dizaine de musiciens.C'est toujours un plaisir d'écouter ces grands musiciens jouer mais c'est également un plaisir de les regarder jouer, avec leur costume très traditionnel, dit costume du Charro. Les éléments fondamentaux du costume sont le sombrero (chapeau), un large noeud autour du cou en forme de papillon (à différencier du noeud de papillon comme on a l'habitude de l'entendre en France, qui est beaucoup plus petit), de nombreux boutons qui ornent le costume, le long de la veste et du pantalon ainsi que des bottes courtes et une ceinture en cuir.Il est donc très agréable une fois le soleil couché d'aller se ballader dans le centre ville pour profiter de l'air frais, et pour passer un agréable moment en dinant dans une cantina, ou bien une taqueria (où l'on peut manger des tacos) tout en battant du pied au ryhtme des trompettes endiablées.

Wi-Fi e GSM em qualquer local

Na Universidade de Ilmenau, na Alemanha, criaram-se um espécie de mini helicópteros robotizados que podem criar redes GSM ou Wi-Fi enquanto voam.
Os pequenos robôs podem revelar-se especialmente rápidos a substituir redes e infra-estruturas convencionais que tenham ficado inoperacionais devido a desastre, catástrofe ou avaria.Estes helicópteros distinguem-se também pela rapidez na criação de redes sem fios para a troca de dados ou voz e pela autonomia que podem assumir ao nível da navegação.Os robôs voadores estão equipados com sistemas de navegação por satélite e, através de acções coordenadas em grupo, podem ocupar posições, sem intervenção humana, que permitem assegurar a cobertura de rede para uma área pré-determinada.Os “kits” robóticos custam cerca de 300 euros nas lojas da especialidade.