Random Internet News Thread [Archive]

Nic Xtreme

17-07-2009, 07:07 PM

I'll start this off with a news story on these lovely squids attacking people off Mexico. Fantastic!
lcKQt5hHDXg

Divers attacked by jumbo flying squid

THOUSANDS of aggressive sea monsters with razor-sharp beaks and toothy tentacles have invaded San Diego beaches, spooking divers and tourists.

The 1.5 meter-long carnivorous calamari – which can grow up to 45kg – have attacked divers.

Some divers have reported tentacles enveloping their masks and yanking at their cameras and gear.

The invasion has forced some divers out of the water, while others are torn between their personal safety and the once-in-a-lifetime chance to swim with the deep-sea giants.

The Humboldt squid, also known as a jumbo flying squid, are native to the deep waters off Mexico and have been known to attack humans.

Divers have been known to get in a metal cage or wear chain mail to avoid being lashed by tentacles.

"I wouldn't go into the water with them for the same reason I wouldn't walk into a pride of lions on the Serengeti," local diver Mike Bear told the Associated Press.

"For all I know, I'm missing the experience of a lifetime."

The squid are too deep to bother swimmers and surfers, but many divers say they are staying out of the surf until the sea creatures clear out.

Another diver, Shandra Magill, was surprised when a large squid hit her from behind, grabbing at her with its arms and pulling her sideways in the water

"I just kicked like crazy. The first thing you think of is, 'Oh my gosh, I don't know if I'm going to survive this,'" she said.

Source. (http://www.news.com.au/travel/story/0,28318,25794921-5014090,00.html)

Mike-Towns

17-07-2009, 07:17 PM

...they didn't look too big.

Nic Xtreme

17-07-2009, 07:21 PM

...they didn't look too big.

They grow up to 1.5m; I want one.

Gemerald

18-07-2009, 10:19 PM

They grow up to 1.5m; I want one.

Dare I ask why you would want some giant squid? Not going to cook it are you?

dinopoke

19-07-2009, 02:12 PM

You can throw it at people's faces.

Mike-Towns

20-07-2009, 01:03 AM

Dare I ask why you would want some giant squid?

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb203/xalia13/Squid_love_by_ultravioletbat.jpg

HiredMan

21-07-2009, 10:45 AM

MCA has cancer (http://www.smh.com.au/news/entertainment/music/beastie-boy-has-cancer/2009/07/21/1247941903715.html), meaning the upcoming Beastie Boys tour and album launch have been postponed :(

Luckily, it doesnt sound too serious. Time will tell I guess.

sausage

21-07-2009, 12:48 PM

Proof that civilisation is past the point of no return into the Age of Hur...

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=10585762

Not according to research by Debenhams, which has identified a profound and shocking change in Britain's dining etiquette: people are giving up the knife and fork at table in favour of the fork on its own.

Forks now outsell matching knives by almost two to one across the country, the department store revealed yesterday

texta

21-07-2009, 02:47 PM

I think that more reflects a change in what we're eating rather than our etiquette. But buying forks and not knives is bizarre.

Ad-Rock

21-07-2009, 03:22 PM

We should all go back to eating with our hands. The whole concept of cutlery is weird if you ask me.

As long as people wash their hands before & after eating.

sausage

21-07-2009, 03:27 PM

Before or after sniffing each others arse?

big_b

21-07-2009, 10:23 PM

AN Australian doctor who tried to resuscitate Jimi Hendrix the morning he died believes it's possible the iconic guitarist was murdered.
Mystery has always surrounded the death of Hendrix, who drowned in his own vomit after a drug overdose on September 18, 1970, at the age of 27.

Conspiracy theorists have traditionally laid the blame at the feet of Hendrix’s manager Mike Jeffery, claiming he hired a gang of thugs to kill his star client who was considering a change of management.

Now Hendrix roadie, James ‘Tappy’ Wright, claims in a new book that Jeffery confessed the murder to him just weeks before he died in an air crash.

Writing in Rock Roadie, Wright claims Jeffery hired a gang of thugs to break into Hendrix’s apartment and force sleeping pills and wine down his throat.

John Bannister has lived in Australia since 1972, but was on-call at the St Mary Abbotts Hospital in Kensington the morning Hendrix was brought in.

Deregistered in NSW for fraudulent conduct in 1992, the former doctor remembers the unusual amount of wine of red wine pumped from Hendrix’s stomach, even though he didn’t realise who his patient was.

“It was just extraordinary,” he told The Times.

“Not only was it saturated right through his hair and shirt but his lungs and stomach were absolutely full of wine. I have never seen so much wine.

“We kept sucking him out and it kept surging and surging. He had already vomited up masses of red wine and I would have thought there was half a bottle of wine in his hair.

“He had really drowned in a massive amount of red wine.”

Thoughts?

fishfishmonkeyhat

22-07-2009, 12:02 AM

Heavy.

Watchers

22-07-2009, 06:55 PM

Attempted robbery ends with torn genitals, Viagra hangover (http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,25819477-5005361,00.html)

THE attempted armed robbery of a Russian hairdresser became a three-day sex ordeal for the would-be thief, leaving him with torn genitals and a Viagra hangover.

IT website The Register reports the man, known as Viktor, tried to rob the hairdresser in the town of Meshchovsk.

The owner, 28-year-old Olga, agreed to hand over the takings but as she was giving him the money, used her karate skills to knock him to the ground and tie him up with a hairdryer cord.

She then locked him in the storeroom and told colleagues she’d call the police.

However, she instead stripped him and cuffed him to a heater with a pair of fluffy pink handcuffs. She then fed him Viagra and raped him several times over the next four days.

When finally released, Viktor went first to hospital for treatment for his torn frenulum, and then reported Olga to the police. When she was arrested, Olga reported him for robbery.

“What a b**tard,” shecomplained.

“Yes, we had sex a couple of times. But I’ve bought him new jeans, gave him food and even gave him 1000 roubles when he left.”

Viktor admitted she had fed him well.

lulz

JimmyKane

22-07-2009, 07:00 PM

Gold.

AranchineD

22-07-2009, 07:34 PM

Whether or not that is awesome depends entirely on whether Olga is hot or not.

Watchers

22-07-2009, 08:01 PM

With a name like Olga, how can she not be hot?

AranchineD

22-07-2009, 08:04 PM

Well girls named 'Olga' are like girls who are Greek or arab; you can have ones that are really, really hot, and you can have ones that are really, really not.

Watchers

22-07-2009, 08:08 PM

My research leads me to believe that Olga = hot (i.e. first page of google image search for 'Olga').

Silverwolf

22-07-2009, 08:09 PM

Well, why would people have a reason to upload pictures of ugly girls named Olga?

Your research is flawed and incomplete!

AranchineD

22-07-2009, 08:09 PM

And what does the first page of google image search show you for 'lesbian'?

Then ask yourself when have you ever seen lesbians like that in real life? )h(

Watchers

22-07-2009, 08:11 PM

Well, why would people have a reason to upload pictures of ugly girls named Olga?

Your research is flawed and incomplete!

Even my search for 'Ugly Olga' still yields a high amount of hotness! But if what you say is true, my faith in google image search as a scientific research tool will be shattered!

And what does the first page of google image search show you for 'lesbian'?

Then ask yourself when have you ever seen lesbians like that in real life? )h(

Everday, mang. You need to get out more. They are literally cavorting in the streets here.

Second

22-07-2009, 08:13 PM

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2001/ps2/mgs2/mgs2_screen015.jpg

HAIRY UNDERARMS.

No Olga, No.

AranchineD

22-07-2009, 08:17 PM

Everday, mang. You need to get out more. They are literally cavorting in the streets here.

:(

OOOOHHH Sydney is such a terrible city ;_;

fearofthesky

22-07-2009, 09:55 PM

LMAO, cheeky monkeys (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1200917/Clever-baboons-cause-safari-park-chaos-learning-break-luggage-boxes.html)!

Well, baboons, really.

OCQtbLngkmM

incompatible with life

23-07-2009, 12:08 AM

Man burst into flames after Taser strike
From: The Daily Telegraph July 21, 2009 11:46AM
A MAN was engulfed in flames after a police Taser hit him on the bridge of his nose while they were investigating claims of petrol sniffing.

Ronald Mitchell, 36, was airlifted to Royal Perth Hospital for burns treatment following a confrontation with police who were called to a house in Warburton, 1,540km northeast of Perth on Monday.

Mitchell ran from the house at the officers carrying a container believed to contain fuel and a cigarette lighter, police said.

He was asked to stop but continued running toward the officers.

"An officer then deployed his Taser,'' police spokeswoman Susan Usher said.

"The man caught alight and the officer immediately went to the man's aid, putting him on the ground and smothering the fire with his bare hands.''

The policeman was struck on the head by rocks thrown by an 18-year-old woman while trying to help the man, Ms Usher said.

The officer also received moderate burns to his hands from putting out the fire.

Mitchell sustained third degree burns to 10 per cent of his body and was airlifted to Royal Perth Hospital for burns treatment, police spokesman Graham Clifford said.

He has been charged with assault to prevent arrest and possession of a sniffing substance, Sgt Clifford said.

The 18-year-old woman was charged with two counts of assaulting a public officer.

Two other people at the house were also charged with possessing a sniffing substance.

Ms Usher said the matter was under investigation to determine the full circumstances of the incident.

Though I would have thought that assuming he was sniffing the petrol and not dunking his head in it there wouldn't be all that much to maintain a fire.

fearofthesky

23-07-2009, 12:56 AM

^ Saw that story in the West today. The guy who got burned's father said that Police should not have used their Tasers, that 'they should have tried talking to him'.

I think the whole running at police with petrol and lighter is an indication that the time for talking is over...

Ad-Rock

23-07-2009, 09:16 AM

AranchineD

23-07-2009, 10:12 AM

I remember in rainbow six or some some old similar game you could taser people till they burst into flames.

I think Syphon Filter had that, use the 'air tazer', and keep the trigger held down long enough and the guy will light on fire. :D

But yes, they used the taser, then realised when he was on fire did everything to put the fire out. Better alive than dead anyway, right?

Ad-Rock

23-07-2009, 10:35 AM

I think Syphon Filter had that, use the 'air tazer', and keep the trigger held down long enough and the guy will light on fire. :D

But yes, they used the taser, then realised when he was on fire did everything to put the fire out. Better alive than dead anyway, right?

Thats it :)

Halt, Hammerzeit

23-07-2009, 11:43 AM

Someone people are probably better off dead.

fearofthesky

23-07-2009, 08:51 PM

Lol^

I'd say his clothes and skin/hair probably had enough petrol on them to start a nice fire.
I remember in rainbow six or some some old similar game you could taser people till they burst into flames.

You can do that in GTA Chinatown Wars. The Taser is called a Teaser for legal reasons...

Tasers are apeshit, but they are better than the alternative, which is firearms. A badly bipolar young man had the cops called on him somewhere in Perth awhile ago, for acting strangely. The cops followed him home, where he freaked out and grabbed 2 knives and charged them. This was before cops had Tasers in WA. The cop shot him multiple times, killing him. Said he had no choice. Later, the deceased's father brutally assaulted the cop as he was having a drink off duty at the pub, and is currently before the courts on aggravatged assault charges.

We live in a messed up world, aye?

incompatible with life

27-07-2009, 07:21 PM

You can do that in GTA Chinatown Wars. The Taser is called a Teaser for legal reasons...

Tasers are apeshit, but they are better than the alternative, which is firearms. A badly bipolar young man had the cops called on him somewhere in Perth awhile ago, for acting strangely. The cops followed him home, where he freaked out and grabbed 2 knives and charged them. This was before cops had Tasers in WA. The cop shot him multiple times, killing him. Said he had no choice. Later, the deceased's father brutally assaulted the cop as he was having a drink off duty at the pub, and is currently before the courts on aggravatged assault charges.

We live in a messed up world, aye?
On a related note (http://gizmodo.com/5322387/police-sodomize-man-with-taser)...

But I do find it interesting that when you have a taser related death reported in the news you have people inevitably calling for the banning/abandonment of tasers since surprise surprise they can actually kill people. Because hand guns are more non-lethal.

HiredMan

29-07-2009, 01:04 PM

Kyle Sandilands needs to die. (http://www.smh.com.au/news/enetertainment/articles/2009/07/29/1248546762075.html)

I am quivering with anger after reading that article. If Sandilands was in front of me right now I'd do something very stupid and probably go to gaol.

Brief rundown: apparently the Kyle and Jackie O show has some sort of "lie detector" segment, into which a 14 year old girl was dragged by her mother, who was worried that the 14yo was taking drugs and sexually active.

The girl told Sandilands before the questions started: ‘‘I’m scared ... it’s not fair.’’

The mother then asked her daughter: “Have you ever had sex?”

The 14-year-old replied: "I’ve already told you the story about this ... and don’t look at me and smile because it’s not funny."

After a pause she then raised her voice and said: “Oh okay … I got raped when I was 12 years old.”

Sandilands hesitated before asking “Right ... is that the only experience you’ve had?"

The girl’s mother interrupted, saying she only found out about the rape "a couple of months ago".
emphasis mine

Both the mother and Sandilands want ****ing shooting for that imho. I feel sick right now.

grimace06

29-07-2009, 01:11 PM

HiredMan

29-07-2009, 01:22 PM

Article's been updated with some comments from a social worker from the Rape Crisis Centre (saying, amongst other things, that Sandilans' comment basically amounts to child abuse). Totally agree with the social worker on this one.

AranchineD

29-07-2009, 01:49 PM

What a ****ing moron.

FrozenSoul80

29-07-2009, 01:49 PM

Why the hell would they even broadcast stuff like that live? That's just asking for trouble.

incompatible with life

29-07-2009, 10:27 PM

It will be interesting to see how this saga plays out. It's certainly much worse than the turkey slap incident of Big Brother, although given that it's from a radio show I do wonder if it will get as much attention (much less condemnation from a PM).

Without knowing too much about the show and in particular the segment, I'm admittedly not too outraged at the station when breaking it down to its elements.

The proposal of using a lie detector to question people about things hardly raises an eyebrow. Using it to ask teenagers about drug use or sex? Again I'm not so sure this is too outrageous. I'm sure it wouldn't look too out of place on a show like Dr. Phil or Oprah.

As for the girl protesting about it? Yes, it's certainly bad on the station's or even presenter's part that they persisted despite having someone who clearly was not consenting to it, however I imagine it's not the first time that consent was disregarded (ie. when ACA/TT reporters do ambush journalism).

With Kyle's comment at the end, without having heard the segment in question I do wonder if it was just something he blurted out without thinking. Yes, very wrong to say but I imagine it's not the first time someone would have said something they immediately regretted saying it (I assume that whatever response from Kyle will be somewhere along those lines).
edit: Nope, looks like he's not repentant (http://www.theage.com.au/national/call-to-sack-radio-hosts-after-girl-14-reveals-rape-on-air-20090729-e1ka.html)
The controversial announcer defended the stunt when contacted by The Age last night. ‘‘We’re not on a time delay, but even if we were, I wouldn’t have dumped the segment,’’ he said. ‘‘There was no breach of any radio code. What I’m most annoyed about is that some of the press have jumped on this and made it out to be a stunt and a ratings ploy.’’

When asked whether it was appropriate for a 14-year-old girl to be questioned about her sexual activity on air, he said: ‘‘Our show is a real-life show, not some Punch and Judy pre-scripted show. We deal with a lot of real situations, and sexuality is one them. I would never have asked the girl those questions myself. It was her mother who asked those questions.’’

So in summary, whilst there are monay criticisms to be found of the show, is there anything that wouldn't be found elsewhere? Additionally, if it weren't for the relevation of the Girl's rape (which I am assuming only the girl and mother had prior knowledge of) would there be anything that would be considered absolutely shocking about the incident?

Why the hell would they even broadcast stuff like that live? That's just asking for trouble.
Well it was live and there's no delay circuit like on TV. And they probably weren't quite expecting such a large skeleton in the closet.

FrozenSoul80

29-07-2009, 10:35 PM

Well it was live and there's no delay circuit like on TV. And they probably weren't quite expecting such a large skeleton in the closet.

When dealing with outside people there should always be a delay with live broadcasts. You have no idea when these foreign people will do something stupid or unpredictable.

Mike-Towns

30-07-2009, 02:19 AM

Strangely I don't think the finger should be fully pointed at Kyle this time...even if he is a douche.

The mother went on the show fully knowing that when she asked about her daughters sexual past that she had been raped, and if she said 'no iv'e never had sex' then the detector would pick it up.

Then she laughs about it.

Her daughter was raped at the age of twelve, so she takes her on a radio show where the issue will be bought up and laughs about it.

Bitch needs to be shot.

incompatible with life

30-07-2009, 05:03 AM

And not to mention possibly also making light of it previously.

Which does make me wonder if perhaps mandatory reporting laws should also extend to parents.

sausage

30-07-2009, 06:21 AM

Sounds like great radio to me; what you all going on about??? I think you guys orta lighten up a bit and celebrate the continuing phenomenon of morons wanting to be in the media.

You think the daughter was dragged kicking and screaming to the show? You think?

Please.

Clockw0rk

30-07-2009, 08:00 AM

Yeah but I bet she wasn't told what kind of questions they'd ask.

Surgeon.

30-07-2009, 08:41 AM

Just had a listen to it and despite the fact that the whole segment is pretty low (asking a 14yo about sex for ratings) I'm not really up in arms attacking Kyle. Sounds like everyone was in shock after the girl admitted to being raped and he just blurted out something stupid.

The mother on the other hand . . .

Ad-Rock

30-07-2009, 08:47 AM

Yeah, Kyle is a tool. But the girls mother has far more to answer for than he does. I can understand he didn't know what to say and the way he handled it was pretty unprofessional (but then again you shouldn't be asking a 14 yo girl about sex on public radio in the first place). What sort of mother makes their daughter go on a show like that, or even encourages their child to listen to the shit that dribbles from Kyle and Jackie O?

Watchers

30-07-2009, 11:59 AM

Has the girl's rape actually been verified by someone not her mother? It could just be a huge scam.

Slippery

30-07-2009, 12:06 PM

I can't think of any reasonable way of spinning that where the mother doesn't come across as a totally useless bitch.

texta

30-07-2009, 12:22 PM

Yeah but I bet she wasn't told what kind of questions they'd ask.

I haven't listened to the show but my understanding is that the mother asked the question.

sausage

30-07-2009, 02:17 PM

Let's just reiterate that everyone in this sorry saga is either a loser in real life or a egocentric asshole or both.

We are all on the same page here... right?

Clockw0rk

30-07-2009, 02:47 PM

I haven't listened to the show but my understanding is that the mother asked the question.

I was replying to this:
You think the daughter was dragged kicking and screaming to the show? You think?

Please.
Yeah but I bet she wasn't told what kind of questions they'd ask.
I meant the Daughter. The Mother would have been in it for her 30 seconds of fame, and the Daughter just happened to be a target.

texta

30-07-2009, 02:50 PM

Whoops. :o

EDIT: But FYI they were getting two tickets to see Pink for appearing on the show. So I think that was probably a factor.

FrozenSoul80

30-07-2009, 02:59 PM

It's currently being discussed here (http://www.hyper.com.au/forums/showthread.php?t=19053). Seeing as we have a dedicated thread you can all talk about it in there.

Stevorooni

01-08-2009, 10:35 AM

Sex doll for dogs released onto the market (http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25857046-401,00.html)

Halt, Hammerzeit

03-08-2009, 06:29 PM

Linky (http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,28383,25873701-10388,00.html)

If this comes to Perth, I will sell my parent's first born to get a ticket.

FX-GTZ

03-08-2009, 11:22 PM

Dont know if im too late to post this but....

Cyber stalker threatens Delta Goodrem

Singer Delta Goodrem and fiance Brian McFadden have been threatened by a man via the social networking website Twitter.
A man who has named himself Saviour Mankind has professed his love and ownership" of Goodrem through Twitter, forcing the high-profile couple to consult security experts, News Limited newspapers say.
McFadden, a regular user of Twitter, has responded to some of the threatening messages, sparking fears he may have egged on the stalker.
Since the couple left Sydney on a charity tour this week, Saviour Mankind has posted a stream of messages talking of murder and rape, News Limited said.
The couple has threatened to obtain a restraining order.
A spokeswoman for Goodrem and McFadden, Jennifer Fontaine, told News Limited: "We're very much aware of this matter but we've been advised to not make any comment at this time. We have security looking at it".
On another website, Saviour Mankind says he is schizophrenic, and hears voices and believes he is a messiah figure.
News Limited said he wrote a letter to McFadden that said: "Brian you are Jewish leave Delta immediately, if you do not leave and as I am spoken for by the faith of love, we will return to the days of Spanish inquisitions, how did it end for them? You are lucky we don't have the death penalty in Australia".

http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/newshome/5764345

Also if you cant find his twitter: http://twitter.com/Savior_Mankind

fishfishmonkeyhat

03-08-2009, 11:30 PM

I think I saw something about that at the gym the other day.

Didn't some reporter/cameraman turn up on his doorstep?

HiredMan

04-08-2009, 08:18 AM

It's gonna get messy in Canberra today. (http://www.smh.com.au/national/turnbull-under-fire-over-ute-debacle-20090803-e7am.html)

Space_Monkey

05-08-2009, 01:05 PM

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,25886757-2,00.html?from=igoogle+gadget+compact+news_rss

Well I'll think again before hiring another stripper....

IRS

05-08-2009, 02:26 PM

Sex doll for dogs released onto the market (http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25857046-401,00.html)

If people want to have sex with dogs, they could just get a real one.

Halt, Hammerzeit

05-08-2009, 04:16 PM

If people want to have sex with dogs, they could just get a real one.

And have the RSPCA breathing down my neck? I don't think so! They're already watching me for that incident with the canary.

Halt, Hammerzeit

10-08-2009, 06:24 PM

WA cricketer in the shit. (http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25907793-5014023,00.html)

I went to high school with this bloke and I would just like to say, couldn't have happened to a nicer bloke. I think the funniest part was when the sniffer dogs from him hiding in the sand dunes.

This is a guy that, in year 11 where you definately know better, let the handbrake off a school bus just to watch it roll down the hill. Looks like he still hasn't learnt.

Bob the Destroyer

10-08-2009, 06:47 PM

Internet Tough Guy not so tough IRL (http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2009/0803091pranknet1.html)
Also: Unemployed and lives with his mother

Ad-Rock

11-08-2009, 08:38 AM

How many stereotypes has Greg Inglis (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/11/2651939.htm?site=sport&section=all) just reinforced?

FX-GTZ

11-08-2009, 04:57 PM

Gaga has a daga... or this long word for the right term, hermaphrodite
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/lady-gaga-a-hermaphrodite-say-rumours-on-internet-but-manager-denies-it-says-ridiculous/story-e6frewyr-1225759835796

FrozenSoul80

11-08-2009, 04:59 PM

But the article was about her manager saying she isn't...

Am I missing something?

FX-GTZ

11-08-2009, 05:15 PM

I guess you didnt watch the youtube video in the article, dont worry, it's probably best you didnt see.

Ad-Rock

12-08-2009, 08:20 AM

Well she either has some wicked flaps, a weird sense of humor, or a wang.

EDIT: If she does have a cock then she hides it well, some of those outfits leave very little to the imagination.

texta

12-08-2009, 09:00 AM

I imagine that if she really was "hiding something" then she would have done a much better job than the apparent total lack of effort that youtube video portrays.

AranchineD

12-08-2009, 09:02 AM

I like her better with the dick

Second

12-08-2009, 09:39 AM

I like her better with the dick

I certainly did.

Ryan Hayward

12-08-2009, 05:43 PM

Man destroys neighbour's new house and then sets himself on fire.
http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,25913314-2761,00.html

It happened in Perth and was supposedly over a retaining wall. Bloody hell!

A MAN angry about an ongoing neighbours' dispute went on a rampage with a bobcat, badly damaging a house and ending with serious burns.

The man is in RPH with burns to 30 per cent of his body after setting himself on fire following a destructive rampage in a bobcat in the Perth Hills suburb of Carmel.

Police were called to the property on Ash Rd at about 10pm last night after receiving a report that a man had doused himself with petrol and was threatening to set himself alight.

The 42-year-old was sitting in a bobcat when police arrived and allegedly drove at officers before ramming into his neighbour's house.

A police spokesman said the house was "pretty well destroyed".

"He accessed the verandah of the house by building an earth ramp against it and drove through glass doors," the spokesman said.

"He drove the bobcat throughout the house causing extensive damage before driving outside and damaging an out-building and a fibreglass swimming pool.

"Officers from the major incident group were in attendance and tried to negotiate with the man but he became increasingly agitated and drove the bobcat at Police.

"One officer was struck on the leg by the bucket of the bobcat and received minor bruising."

Electricity and gas supplies to the property were turned off to prevent an explosion while police tactical response group negotiators tried unsuccessfully to calm the man down.

Police say the man set himself alight but the flame was quickly doused by fire fighters.

The man was taken to Royal Perth Hospital with burns and was in a serious condition but his injuries are not life-threatening.

Police are yet to interview the man.

HiredMan

13-08-2009, 12:50 PM

Tony Abbott's 18 year old daughter calls him a "lame, gay, churchy loser" (http://www.smh.com.au/national/abbott-lame-gay-churchy-loser-says-his-daughter-20090813-eiu1.html).

AranchineD

13-08-2009, 04:19 PM

more liek Tony GAYBOT

Ad-Rock

13-08-2009, 04:38 PM

ooo snap! :p

What about Tony Asshot? Oh, shit, wait...

Shorty

14-08-2009, 08:37 PM

Ryan Hayward

15-08-2009, 05:33 PM

Its pretty obvious that iinet is like most isps and won't monitor a customer's usage unless it is brought to their attention that they may be doing something illegal. Hasn't conroy heard of a thing called privacy?

texta

15-08-2009, 05:57 PM

Stephen Conroy attempts to distract us from the failed Clean Feed by talking bullshit about the iiNet case. (http://www.itnews.com.au/News/141300,conroy-uses-iinet-case-to-sidestep-net-filter-issue.aspx)I don't think it's an attempt to distract people from the clean feed. He's the minister for Telecommunications so talking about other Internet things that aren't the clean feed is part of his job.

That said, I'd be interested to hear what he thinks about Telstra not knowing what people are saying on telephone networks. It's pretty much the same thing.

FX-GTZ

18-08-2009, 04:36 PM

I imagine that if she really was "hiding something" then she would have done a much better job than the apparent total lack of effort that youtube video portrays.

Apparently this is her when she was younger...
Look at her shoulder's position and her chin, they are both pretty identical..

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/1482/newbitmapimagek.pngand this is the video the screenshot came from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ05peD7Buo

texta

18-08-2009, 04:40 PM

I don't understand.

AranchineD

18-08-2009, 04:42 PM

What is this, I don't even

sausage

18-08-2009, 04:51 PM

All I see are droopy boobs.

FX-GTZ

18-08-2009, 04:56 PM

All I see are droopy boobs.
You pervert!

sausage

18-08-2009, 05:09 PM

We need a shrugs-shoulders smiley consarnit.

FX-GTZ

18-08-2009, 05:37 PM

3,000-year-old Michael Jackson statue?

http://www.clusterflock.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/egyptian-bust-large.jpg

This Egyptian bust has become a popular attraction at Chicago's Field Museum because it's a spitting image of Michael Jackson, complete with a tweaked nose. It was carved between 1550-1050 BCE and depicts a woman. "Statue's a Dead Ringer for Jacko (http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local-beat/Bust-Check-Out-MJs-Bust-52512812.html?yhp=1)" (NBC Chicago)This was also in the new Zoo mag which made me want to look it up for more info.

Fenrir

18-08-2009, 09:54 PM

That said, I'd be interested to hear what he thinks about Telstra not knowing what people are saying on telephone networks. It's pretty much the same thing.
Along these lines, I suggested a while ago that the government should be trialling telephone network filters.

sausage

19-08-2009, 05:56 AM

Forum moderator thwarts NZ of a loser suicide death - wastes valuable police resources (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10591666)

A New Zealand man who had contemplated suicide could owe his life to the moderator of an American internet discussion website.

The man wrote to the site saying he was feeling down and asking what might happen if he took a quantity of pills.

His message alarmed the site's administrator, who immediately searched for an email address to alert New Zealand police.

Ryan Hayward

19-08-2009, 05:48 PM

Normally I LOL at your jokes buddy but that headline you created was really offensive.
You don't know the guy personally or the reasons why he wanted to kill himself and personally I'm glad it had a happy ending.
I still love you funny guy, but come on.....

Halt, Hammerzeit

19-08-2009, 06:34 PM

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25951681-401,00.html

My favourite part:

"Employees who in our stores are aware, and trained, on the standard operating procedures for dealing with shoplifting or theft - which includes ceasing pursuit of a suspected shoplifter once they exit the store," she said.

If that store is like more stores I know, people can walk around with the goods in their hands all they like. It's not shoplifting until they leave the store without paying.

It raises some interesting points. I've always taken those "Don't chase shoplifter" bits to be indemnifying the store if you get hurt chasing a shoplifter, but this is the first I've heard of anyone being fired for it. Sounds to me like they were using it as an excuse to sack those two.

Ryan Hayward

19-08-2009, 07:25 PM

When I was 15, I got done for shoplifting and I was still inside the store. I had the goods in my pants but come on, I was not technically stealing!
They didn't call the police but maybe I should sue them for trauma for calling my parents all those years ago?

Ali G

19-08-2009, 08:25 PM

When I was 15, I got done for shoplifting and I was still inside the store. I had the goods in my pants but come on, I was not technically stealing!
Uh, technically it is stealing. You had moved the items, and you had an intent to permanently deprive the owner of them, which is what's needed to prove stealing. (s 371 of the WA Criminal Code, if you're interested)

Halt, Hammerzeit

19-08-2009, 08:31 PM

Technically, it's not because stores where you can pick up the goods and walk around with them without it being called stealing, but the fact he had the goods in his pants is probably enough for any reasonable person to say he was stealing them.

sausage

20-08-2009, 08:45 AM

You're all wrong; said goods must pass beyond the last point of sale for it to be stealing. Case law in NZ states the last point of sale is the shop exit point.

@ Ryan; sorry you feel that way dude; to me it was a loser cry for help and not a genuine suicide attempt. Real suiciders just do it... like Nike.

Ryan Hayward

20-08-2009, 05:55 PM

You're all wrong; said goods must pass beyond the last point of sale for it to be stealing. Case law in NZ states the last point of sale is the shop exit point.

Its funny that you say that as I got done again not long after that and this time at a newsagency. Well actually my mate got caught and then they focused their attention on me as I was with him. I had fancy posh pens down my sleeves. :D
Anyway I legged it all the way to the nearest main road but the old geezers cut me off and dragged me back by the scuff of the neck. They called the police and one of the first things the cops asked the newsagent was whether we were still in the store or outside when they citizen arrested us.

Edit - It was really funny too as when my mate's dad had to come up, he literally punched him in the face in front of a security guard.

Halt, Hammerzeit

29-08-2009, 01:35 PM

You're all wrong; said goods must pass beyond the last point of sale for it to be stealing. Case law in NZ states the last point of sale is the shop exit point.

I thought I implied that in my post, but I must have been wrong.

Also, Planet bombarded with Earth spam (http://blogs.news.com.au/techblog/index.php/news/comments/faraway_planet_bombarded_with_earth_spam/)

I think my favourites are:

Alien dude, need tickets to Pearl Jam

QUICK HEADS UP: CARS ARE NOT THE SUPERIOR LIFEFORMS. DON’T WALK IN FRONT OF THEM OR OFFER THEM FLOWERS

Hey, chances are you are far more advanced than us here on Earth. Our weaknesses are; cake and icecream. Please retro-fit your weapons to fire these things.

FX-GTZ

07-09-2009, 03:56 PM

John Howard rushed to hospital after allergy scare

FORMER prime minister John Howard is recovering well after suffering a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction to a dental treatment.

The 70-year-old was rushed to North Shore Private Hospital on Friday after suffering an anaphylactic reaction to an anaesthetic used during dental surgery at Castlecrag Private Hospital.

Mr Howard spent two nights under observation in the hospital before being released yesterday, the Daily Telegraph reports. (http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/allergy-sinks-its-teeth-into-john-howard/story-e6freuy9-1225769974855)
Liberal frontbencher Tony Abbott, a close friend and colleague of Mr Howard, said the former PM was recovering well when he spoke to him yesterday.

"He was chirpy. He was joking and saying how much he enjoyed Father's Day," Mr Abbott said.

A spokesman for Mr Howard confirmed the former prime minister had suffered an adverse reaction to an anaesthetic.

Mr Howard made a point of proving his fitness when he was prime minister by taking a brisk daily walk in front of cameras as he aged in office.

An anaphylactic reaction is a severe allergic response to a trigger such as medicines or peanuts.

The reaction is usually treated by administering a shot of adrenaline to the patient. http://i.ehow.com/images/GlobalPhoto/Articles/4426093/DentalOffice-main_Full.jpg

God that place sends shivers up my spine.

Halt, Hammerzeit

09-09-2009, 04:56 PM

Doctors refuse to help baby born 21 weeks and five days into pregnacy (http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,26048396-401,00.html)

As much as a feel for someone that has had five miscarriages, it does beg the question of when is a life worth trying to save? I have heard reports of the problems children go through when they're a couple of weeks premature, but who can predict what issues a 2 month premature baby is going to have?

Araenel

09-09-2009, 05:20 PM

There's more than 2 months to go if she was only 21 weeks into pregnancy.

but who can predict what issues a 2 month premature baby is going to have?

Researchers who perform longitudinal studies on babies born prematurely tend to have a pretty good idea.

Halt, Hammerzeit

10-09-2009, 02:27 PM

Bad parents should have access to doctors who are exempt from mandatory reporting of child abuse (http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,26053891-29277,00.html)

I can't believe someone thought this was a good idea. I understand that it's trying to look after children who may not be brought before doctors because of parent's fear of being reported, but if you're going to do that, you should just scrap mandatory reporting altogether.

HiredMan

10-09-2009, 02:48 PM

Anonymous DDoS' Rudd's website. (http://www.smh.com.au/technology/security/hackers-bring-down-pms-website-20090910-fhu7.html)

Our name is Legion, for we are many.

sausage

10-09-2009, 03:06 PM

"You have opted to censor the internet. This is why we, Anonymous, have decided that this censorship plan should be among our primary targets for elimination," the group wrote.

http://www.thedctraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/scary-guy.png

Halt, Hammerzeit

17-09-2009, 03:36 PM

Dennis Ferguson to keep home (http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,26086794-421,00.html)

Be interesting to see what happens next.

Fenrir

26-09-2009, 04:48 PM

Not knowing whether or not a paedophile city reincarnation is permissible at this time, I'm just posting this up here:

Polish paedophiles face castration (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/09/26/2697314.htm)

(chemical castration, that is)

The PM's remarks are run-of-the-mill mob politics, but the subject of chemical castration is interesting.

Lazlow

26-09-2009, 05:11 PM

Poland mrlk Loland.

This is a country that has twice (http://photoshopdisasters.blogspot.com/2009/08/microsoft-poland-at-least-they-left.html) now (http://photoshopdisasters.blogspot.com/2009/09/university-of-lublin-broken-token.html) edited dark skinned people out of online promotional material >_>

HiredMan

28-09-2009, 11:37 AM

Mathematically challenged American sues Bank of America for "1,784 billion, trillion dollars" (http://www.smh.com.au/world/strangebuttrue/man-sues-bank-of-america-for-1784-billion-trillion-dollars-20090928-g890.html)

Thats $17,840,000,000,000,000,000,000 US (I think).

The entire worlds GDP is $60,000,000,000,000 US for reference.

"He seems to be complaining that he placed a series of calls to the bank in New York and received inconsistent information from a 'Spanish woman,'" the judge wrote. "He apparently alleges that checks have been rejected because of incomplete routing numbers."

sausage

28-09-2009, 11:41 AM

The fact that it got as far as a judge is testimony (ho ho) to the idiocy of the American justice system.

HiredMan

28-09-2009, 11:48 AM

The fact that it got as far as a judge is testimony (ho ho) to the idiocy of the American justice system.

Yeah, this kinda shit cracks me up :D

I read somewhere not long ago about an American lawyer who had bought a bunch of very expensive Cuban cigars and had insured them for a sizeable sum. After his insurance was granted, he smoked the cigars and claimed (technically correctly) that they had been destroyed by fire.

His insurance company was forced to pay out on the claim, but they subsequently had him charged with arson because of his wilfull destruction of the cigars. He had to pay out a bigger fine than what he received from his insurance claim and was given a 2 year gaol sentence.

Dunno how reliable the story is but it was funny.

Sytadel

28-09-2009, 12:03 PM

Yeah, this kinda shit cracks me up :D

I read somewhere not long ago about an American lawyer who had bought a bunch of very expensive Cuban cigars and had insured them for a sizeable sum. After his insurance was granted, he smoked the cigars and claimed (technically correctly) that they had been destroyed by fire.

His insurance company was forced to pay out on the claim, but they subsequently had him charged with arson because of his wilfull destruction of the cigars. He had to pay out a bigger fine than what he received from his insurance claim and was given a 2 year gaol sentence.

Dunno how reliable the story is but it was funny.

I heard that one ages ago, I like to pretend it's true.

HiredMan

28-09-2009, 12:08 PM

I heard that one ages ago, I like to pretend it's true.

Yeah, I know it's most likely bullshit, but it's amusing none the less.

fishfishmonkeyhat

28-09-2009, 03:28 PM

Araenel

28-09-2009, 04:42 PM

Yeah, this kinda shit cracks me up :D

I read somewhere not long ago about an American lawyer who had bought a bunch of very expensive Cuban cigars and had insured them for a sizeable sum. After his insurance was granted, he smoked the cigars and claimed (technically correctly) that they had been destroyed by fire.

His insurance company was forced to pay out on the claim, but they subsequently had him charged with arson because of his wilfull destruction of the cigars. He had to pay out a bigger fine than what he received from his insurance claim and was given a 2 year gaol sentence.

Dunno how reliable the story is but it was funny.

Regardless of the implausible nature of the story, the sticking points remains that cuban cigars are still illegal in the US, which makes the story fake.

>_>

Azzaman

10-10-2009, 07:29 AM

I hope at the very least he got his eye (http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26190595-12377,00.html)

sausage

10-10-2009, 10:43 AM

I hope at the very least he got his eye (http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26190595-12377,00.html)

"The alligator has been put down."

:( Why is it this always happens; it's bullshit.

texta

10-10-2009, 12:58 PM

Regardless of the implausible nature of the story, the sticking points remains that cuban cigars are still illegal in the US, which makes the story fake.

>_>While the story is apparently fake, it did originate in the 1960s so it could plausibly have occurred before the 1962 embargo.

http://www.snopes.com/crime/clever/cigarson.asp

Fenrir

10-10-2009, 01:08 PM

Amusing, no less.
http://www.snopes.com/college/admin/cakesale.asp

texta

19-10-2009, 09:46 AM

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8309156.stm

Bunnies being used to make biofuel. It sounds perfect for Aus.

Stevorooni

19-10-2009, 10:05 AM

Imagine if they could make batteries like that, the ads with the energiser bunny would be fantastic as he gets chopped up and ground into a pulp before getting inserted into a battery casing.

Fenrir

19-10-2009, 12:11 PM

So, we're ****ed. (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/10/19/2717424.htm)

Thoughts?

texta

19-10-2009, 12:50 PM

I came to that conclusion some time ago (that we're f***ed). By the time the world's politicans can move on from dealing with climate change without it costing us jobs or hurting the economy to actually doing what it will take to stop climate change irrespective of the short term cost to jobs or the economy it'll be far too late.

Fenrir

19-10-2009, 01:04 PM

I think I've been heading most of my comments about global warming for the last decade with something along the lines of "we're ****ed". Agree with your rationale, btw.

Anyway, cue speculation on possible decline of civilization scenarios, as usual.

FrozenSoul80

19-10-2009, 01:07 PM

We should have stopped using fossil fuels a long time ago. As far as I know we've had the technology to use alternatives for a long time now.

The sooner we start that moon colony the better.

Stevorooni

19-10-2009, 01:12 PM

The Large Hadron Collider would have sucked us into a black hole by then anyway

buckstwits

19-10-2009, 01:15 PM

So, we're ****ed. (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/10/19/2717424.htm)

Thoughts?

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/9311/machov.jpg

Halt, Hammerzeit

19-10-2009, 01:29 PM

We should have stopped using fossil fuels a long time ago. As far as I know we've had the technology to use alternatives for a long time now.

The sooner we start that moon colony the better.

Sure, but big entities like OPEC and governments (through taxes) make so much money off it and the costs for the alternatives is pretty high, so why would they want to make the switch?

Edit: and even if you do something like make cars electric, you're using power, which (in Australia anyway) is still mostly delivered by coal power stations. The cost of setting the infracture is too big for most (if not all) countries to make the switch. In the long run it's worth it, but in the short term, no government wants to have to spend that amount of money.

FrozenSoul80

19-10-2009, 01:44 PM

Edit: and even if you do something like make cars electric, you're using power, which (in Australia anyway) is still mostly delivered by coal power stations. The cost of setting the infracture is too big for most (if not all) countries to make the switch. In the long run it's worth it, but in the short term, no government wants to have to spend that amount of money.

The problem is it's very short-sighted thinking. We really have no plan in place for when the fossil fuels run out, which is a reality we will probably face within our lifetimes.

Cicada

19-10-2009, 01:44 PM

I've been of the opinion for a while now that politicians will spend the next decade speaking about how urgent the need for action is, or even going so far as to state that "the evidence is there and we must accept it", whilst waiting on the sidelines for someone else to act so as to not be blamed for destroying their country's competitive advantage. In the meantime, people will continue to invest in those damned carbon offsets, believing that they are doing their bit.

The only thing that can save us now is a brutal global dictatorship and incomprehensibly strict population "control". Like the combine, except instead of draining the oceans they'll build offshore wind farms >_>

Halt, Hammerzeit

19-10-2009, 01:48 PM

The problem is it's very short-sighted thinking. We really have no plan in place for when the fossil fuels run out, which is a reality we will probably face within our lifetimes.

No doubt, but most governments are. They can't see beyond the next election, when they're trying to work out what to do to get re-elected, and most companies, while paying lip-service to environmental concerns, only really care about making money. It's going to take some real radical thinking in politics to change that, and I don't think anybody's that radical just yet, although there was talk of allowing more nuclear power stations in Australia, but I don't think that got too far.

Stevorooni

19-10-2009, 01:54 PM

Lazlow

19-10-2009, 01:57 PM

On the other hand, "for the last 11 years we have not observed any increase in global temperatures." (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8299079.stm)

Halt, Hammerzeit

19-10-2009, 02:01 PM

I'm not going to sit around waiting for the politicians to save me, we need an attitude adjustment as a nation.

Once I've paid off a chunk of my house and can afford to buy things again I'll be putting up solar panels and getting a bigass rainwater tank and trying to make my house as self sufficiant as possible.
I'll probably end up spending more than I "save" on water and electricity bills but at least I'll be equipped to survive during a zombie apocalypse.

I'd love to get solar panels installed on my roof. Every home should have them in Australia. I think there's a scheme in place that the power company will purchase excess power off you as well. Can you imagine turning every home in the country into a power station with solar cells? It would easy power issues so much, especially in summer when everybody's got their air cons going.

FrozenSoul80

19-10-2009, 02:08 PM

Lazlow

19-10-2009, 02:12 PM

Until solar production doesn't require 40kg of coal per 1mx1.5m panel, its a pipe dream.

Halt, Hammerzeit

19-10-2009, 02:15 PM

Not sure how much coal is used to produce power, but surely once we stopped relying on coal for power, it wouldn't matter that much. It does sound very high to start with, though.

Lazlow

19-10-2009, 02:17 PM

Solar panels only last 20-25 years, and their performance diminishes over time.

Photovoltaic Cell production also requires the use of toxic heavy metals.

fishfishmonkeyhat

19-10-2009, 02:59 PM

Well in that case I'm just going to sit here and wait to die.

TAT

19-10-2009, 03:05 PM

So in other words, COME ON FUSION!

AranchineD

19-10-2009, 03:29 PM

More like come on alien race to finally make an appearance to humanity and save us all.

dinopoke

19-10-2009, 03:41 PM

No, we'll just find out that they are sick, dying workers and shuffle them off to somewhere in Africa.

Stevorooni

19-10-2009, 03:43 PM

More like come on alien race to finally make an appearance to humanity and save us all.

That's your solution to everything

"I can't find my keys" "Well just wait for an alien race to make an appearance to find your keys"
"I stubbed my toe" "Well just wait for an alien race to make an appearance to make your toe better"

It's not gonna happen!

AranchineD

19-10-2009, 03:47 PM

Can we all live under the sea then? >_>

JimmyKane

19-10-2009, 03:50 PM

Why no mention of geothermal energy, the most badass of all energies?

texta

19-10-2009, 03:58 PM

I'd love to get solar panels installed on my roof. Every home should have them in Australia. I think there's a scheme in place that the power company will purchase excess power off you as well. Can you imagine turning every home in the country into a power station with solar cells? It would easy power issues so much, especially in summer when everybody's got their air cons going.It's a state issue, but there are federal government subsidies available. The system just changed so you now get a number of solar credits depending on the amount of panels you're putting in.

Until solar production doesn't require 40kg of coal per 1mx1.5m panel, its a pipe dream.

Solar panels only last 20-25 years, and their performance diminishes over time.

Photovoltaic Cell production also requires the use of toxic heavy metals.The thing is that the only way our solar panel technology is going to improve is with increased demand. Also I think there's a point where we have to accept that some environmental damage (eg heavy metal pollution) to tackle the specific problem of climate change.

On the other hand, "for the last 11 years we have not observed any increase in global temperatures." (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8299079.stm)Even if you accept that those figures are true, this is pretty misleading. The argument seems to be that because 1998 was the hottest year on record and because the subsequent 11 years haven't been as hot as that one year, we're therefore not experiencing warming.

Yes 1998 was an exceptionally hot year and we haven't got that hot since. But you can't make read anything into the average temperature of one year. The highest point of the following decade might not have been as high as that single event, but at the same the whole decade has been significantly higher than what the average temperature has been.

Here's a graph that of temperatures (noting that it's over a very small period)

http://www.drroyspencer.com/wp-content/uploads/UAH_LT_1979_thru_Sept_09.jpg

You can see 1998 sticking out. But it's also worth looking at how much of the period after 1998 is above average and how much prior to 1998 is below average. What conclusions you'd like to draw from that is up to you, but the suggestion that the Earth is cooling doesn't seem plausible at all.

Stevorooni

19-10-2009, 04:09 PM

I heard that the temperature of Mars also increased so maybe it's just natural planetary cycles.

Still, pumping all that shit into the air probably doesn't help the matter

texta

20-10-2009, 08:23 AM

I haven't seen any kind of major correlation between Mars and Earth, though on the right scale you'd expect to see one since the sun is the only real source of energy for both. Though at that scale the kind of temperature change that is going to be catastrophic for life on Earth would be barely noticable.

Super Mario

21-10-2009, 02:08 PM

http://www.theage.com.au/technology/security/cyber-attacks-smite-atheist-websites-20091021-h7ul.html
Poor beast.

texta

22-10-2009, 10:52 PM

Ice-skating bear kills circus director

Posted 1 hour 32 minutes ago

One person was killed and another wounded on Thursday when a bear rehearsing a "bears on ice" show attacked his handlers at a circus in the Central Asian state of Kyrgyzstan, circus officials said.

The five-year-old bear, part of a troupe of the prestigious Russian state circus, attacked and killed a director of the visiting circus during rehearsals in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek.

"The incident occurred during a rehearsal by the Russian state circus company troupe which was performing in Bishkek with the program, Bears on Ice," Bishkek State Circus Company director Kurmangazy Isanayev told reporters.

The bear, who was wearing ice-skates when the incident occurred, attacked 25-year-old circus director Dmitry Potapov, dragging him across the ice rink by his neck and nearly severing one of his legs before relenting.

It was unclear what caused the bear to attack Mr Potapov, who died at the scene from his injuries under the care of medical personnel, he said.

A 29-year-old circus employee who attempted to rescue Mr Potapov while he was being mauled was also severely injured during the attack, doctor Gulnara Tashibekova told reporters.

"The victim has sustained serious injuries - deep scalp lacerations, bruising of the brain, lacerations on his body. His condition is considered critical," she said.

The bear was later shot and killed by local police, Mr Isanayev said.

The circus, located in the heart of the capital, has been cordoned off by police and emergency service workers and experts have been brought in to examine the animal.

The incident was not the first time a visiting Russian bear was involved in a deadly attack in Kyrgyzstan.

In 2002 a bear on loan from Russia to the Bishkek city zoo attacked and killed a small child who had reached out to pet it.

In that incident, local experts blamed the animal's aggressive behaviour on its severe malnourishment.

Bear attacks on people and livestock are common in the vast, sparsely inhabited regions of the former Soviet Union.

But deadly attacks are surprisingly rare in the popular circuses, which often use trained bears for comedic effect.

Training bears to wear and use ice skates and even play ice hockey is a standard stunt for the Russian circus.

- AFP

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/10/22/2721876.htm

JimmyKane

22-10-2009, 11:01 PM

http://img.neoseeker.com/ca/cc_red_alert_3_conceptart_pw8N4.jpg
We're doomed

Fenrir

22-10-2009, 11:20 PM

1 in 4 teens live with mental illness (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/10/22/2721659.htm)

Also, obesity, and other miscellaneous problems including drugs, et al.

Thoughts?

texta

22-10-2009, 11:25 PM

Sytadel

23-10-2009, 12:35 AM

1 in 4 teens live with mental illness (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/10/22/2721659.htm)

Also, obesity, and other miscellaneous problems including drugs, et al.

Thoughts?

How many times a year do we have to poll this shit? Mental illness statistics are just an over-valued arbitrary measure of general teen societal well-being, and really its not hard to see that teens are struggling in a generic sense.

Halt, Hammerzeit

23-10-2009, 01:06 AM

With all the different diagnosed mental illnesses we have nowdays you'd be hardpressed to find someone that's never suffered from it these days.

AranchineD

23-10-2009, 08:12 AM

Fenrir

23-10-2009, 01:10 PM

According to the random google search I just did around 45% of Adults experience some kind of mental illness during their lifetime. And in any 12 month period, 20% will have some kind of mental illness.

So that being the case, 25% of teens having mental illness isn't especially high*. To me it looks more like it's an unavoidable aspect of the mental changes that teenagers undergo and perhaps our response needs to be to look at our reactive responses rather than focusing just on prevention.
Granted, we're not great at knowing when to go for prevention and when to go for remedy.

How many times a year do we have to poll this shit? Mental illness statistics are just an over-valued arbitrary measure of general teen societal well-being, and really its not hard to see that teens are struggling in a generic sense.
Hang on, that? I thought anecdote was the overvalued reference - that and TT/ACA-style reports. I'd rather see studies making headlines any day.

Anyway, I didn't really have any opinion on this one. It seems reasonable enough, and it's generally good to see some focus on the issue. I just thought I might be able to spark some sort of dispute over whether or not today's kids are really doing it tougher than yester-generation's. >_>

fishfishmonkeyhat

24-10-2009, 12:28 AM

I posted a link to a story about a guy who had his P plates for 45 minutes before getting caught speeding and losing them for 6 months but firefox shit itself.

It was pretty funny though.

fishfishmonkeyhat

26-10-2009, 10:37 AM

oh here it is (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/10/23/2722021.htm)

AranchineD

26-10-2009, 10:41 AM

That is pretty funny.

Satanarchist

26-10-2009, 02:57 PM

That's Benalla for you.

Readman

26-10-2009, 03:06 PM

1 in 4 teens live with mental illness (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/10/22/2721659.htm)

Also, obesity, and other miscellaneous problems including drugs, et al.

Thoughts?

Waah waah waah!

I'm a rich white kid who lives in the one of the richest countries in the world and has no self-control. Everybody feel sorry for poor little self-absorbed me!

Waah waah waah!

texta

26-10-2009, 03:10 PM

Waah waah waah!

I'm a rich white kid who lives in the one of the richest countries in the world and has no self-control. Everybody feel sorry for poor little self-absorbed me!

Waah waah waah!I wasn't going to say anything but you are looking a bit chubby. Dance it out dude.

Readman

26-10-2009, 03:16 PM

Fat kids should be put to work in forced labour camps in the third world to work it off and benefit the local native population at the same time.

Azzaman

26-10-2009, 04:02 PM

oh here it is (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/10/23/2722021.htm)

It sounds like the police bought his BS story too.

SOX

26-10-2009, 04:50 PM

I'd imagine it would be hard to fake having someone with muscular distrophy in your car.

Azzaman

26-10-2009, 06:06 PM

Yeah, but is that a good reason to go like a bat outta hell? He was BS'ing them, prob felt he needed to say something better then I just got my license and was celebrating!

texta

26-10-2009, 06:13 PM

Given he got a 6 month suspension I don't think they considered it a very good excuse.

Sir_Psycho

27-10-2009, 12:45 AM

"Teacher in hot water over naked pics" (http://www.smh.com.au/world/kiwi-teacher-in-hot-water-over-naked-pics-20091026-hgat.html)

Sound familiar?

edit: Ha! Just found this comment on one of the forums discussing the issue (amongst the myriad of "You could teach me a thing or two/I wish you were my teacher")
All I know is that after seeing those photos... I just want to

FEP FEP FEP! eh bro!

Fenrir

27-10-2009, 03:33 AM

Tracked her down on the site - I s'pose they're kinda saucy... >_>

Guess the explicit stuff's in the members section, if there is any.

Waah waah waah!

I'm a rich white kid who lives in the one of the richest countries in the world and has no self-control. Everybody feel sorry for poor little self-absorbed me!

Waah waah waah!
I've only just found this (http://www.cracked.com/article_17061_5-things-you-think-will-make-you-happy-but-wont.html), which I feel is relevant.

nintendo

27-10-2009, 05:50 PM

omfg (http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/gizmodo/2009/10/raw.jpg). wtf australia.....

I mean with a penetration rate of 80% you would think that shows demand, and you would think that companies would try to meet that demand for faster internet, let alone larger dl limits

Araenel

27-10-2009, 05:52 PM

Yeah, well, suck it Turkey.

buckstwits

27-10-2009, 05:57 PM

I'd imagine it would be hard to fake having someone with muscular distrophy in your car.

It wouldn't be that hard.

EDIT: I guess the cops could just ask to see his wheelchair

nintendo

27-10-2009, 10:08 PM

Turkey is in front of us bro, think you mean Czech Republic. God damn Czechs

Fenrir

27-10-2009, 11:28 PM

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iblgJm0-K4T84BDDi4YspfjOVUew

'parently Geocities is singing its swan song.

Araenel

28-10-2009, 12:35 AM

Turkey is in front of us bro, think you mean Czech Republic. God damn Czechs

Significantly more expensive for a tiny difference in speed. I prefer it here.

texta

28-10-2009, 11:07 AM

Lazlow

28-10-2009, 02:00 PM

US tries to solve their problems by throwing money at it (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8329129.stm)

Stevorooni

28-10-2009, 02:30 PM

US tries to solve their problems by throwing money at it (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8329129.stm)

May we see this money?
Look with your eyes, not with your hands
Oh come on, we are all friends here
Oh ok then * hands it over * ... now give it back
Give what back?

Hide & Reason

28-10-2009, 06:23 PM

Ferguson's beach frolic 'horrifying' (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/10/28/2726259.htm)

A photograph of convicted paedophile Dennis Ferguson sitting in a pair of speedos, giving the thumbs up on Coogee Beach as children play in the background will horrify parents, a child welfare advocate says.

Ferguson is a free man and visited the popular Sydney beach several weeks ago with his friend Brett Collins.

Mr Collins, who befriended Mr Ferguson after his release from prison, is a former prisoner and now head of Justice Action - an organisation representing the rights of convicted criminals and prisoners.

...

"[The parents would] be horrified. They would be horrified to think that they would be sitting, or in a space that close to such a notorious sex offender," she said.

Ms Johnston says these parents have every right to be horrified.

While the photograph has outraged some, Mr Collins says its release highlights Mr Ferguson's rights as a free man.

"In some ways that photograph epitomises how the children should be looked after ... That's what you call circles of accountability. [It's] a good example of how it should be done."

This article makes me do a Mario-punch. Brett Collins is a level 98 troll and level 99 responsible citizen. Freedom is the freedom to get your knickers in a knot, Ms Johnson!

Also lol Battle of the Interest Groups

http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200910/r459802_2256403.jpg (http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200910/r459802_2256408.jpg)

Fenrir

28-10-2009, 07:59 PM

US tries to solve their problems by throwing money at it (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8329129.stm)
Hey, at least they're throwing something other than the routine bombs.

EDIT: golden hammer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_the_instrument) still applies, of course.

Fenrir

30-10-2009, 01:45 AM

Posting to let you all know that our internets have been compared to a carrier pigeon (http://www.itnews.com.au/News/159232,australian-internet-fails-pigeon-test.aspx).

The pigeon won, fyi.

Ad-Rock

30-10-2009, 09:08 AM

Posting to let you all know that our internets have been compared to a carrier pigeon (http://www.itnews.com.au/News/159232,australian-internet-fails-pigeon-test.aspx).

The pigeon won, fyi.

I am deeply ashamed by this...

Fenrir

30-10-2009, 01:24 PM

sausage

30-10-2009, 01:32 PM

http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200910/r459802_2256403.jpg (http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200910/r459802_2256408.jpg)

Phwoar, if I was eight or nine years old I'd go behind the dunes with him for a hand shandy - he keeps himself in great shape.

Halt, Hammerzeit

30-10-2009, 03:08 PM

Bleh, sneakernets (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sneakernet) traditionally boast massive throughput. Replace the pigeon carrying a flash drive with a Boeing 747 loaded with Blu-Rays, and I doubt any fibre link in the foreseeable future could compare.

True, but ADSL2 should be able to download a 700mb file in less than an hour.

Edit: I guess this is just trying to highlight how bad regional internet is.

texta

30-10-2009, 04:15 PM

Bleh, sneakernets (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sneakernet) traditionally boast massive throughput. Replace the pigeon carrying a flash drive with a Boeing 747 loaded with Blu-Rays, and I doubt any fibre link in the foreseeable future could compare.

On the other hand if it was 100kb worth of data the net will win every time.

Fenrir

30-10-2009, 04:30 PM

Hence the weak adoption rate of IPoAC. >_>

Readman

30-10-2009, 04:42 PM

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/10/30/2729050.htm

Tasmanian Anti-Gunns Pulp Mill MP arrested on charges of producing child pornography.

Do you think that other Anti-Pulp Mill activists are involved? Personally, I think that the links between the anti-pulp mill protests and child pornography discredit their entire campaign.

_______________________________________________
-..***~~~***..-

This is Readman signing out!!

http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/3169/thedancingcatofmartinez.gif

Lazlow

30-10-2009, 04:56 PM

Was it Beast?

Lazlow

31-10-2009, 05:29 PM

US Government Drug Advisor sacked after saying Tobacco and Alcohol more dangerous than LSD or Ecstasy (http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/oct/30/drugs-adviser-david-nutt-sacked)

texta

31-10-2009, 11:54 PM

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/10/30/2729050.htm

Tasmanian Anti-Gunns Pulp Mill MP arrested on charges of producing child pornography.

Do you think that other Anti-Pulp Mill activists are involved? Personally, I think that the links between the anti-pulp mill protests and child pornography discredit their entire campaign.This is pretty massively shocking. I've heard some pretty crazy rumours about this and the reaction from some of the circle has been very interesting.

It's going to be the story in Tasmania for a long time to come.

Fenrir

01-11-2009, 02:14 AM

There's a comment I want to make here, but I can't quite decide how to compose it.

Also,
The 51-year-old has Parkinson's disease and is currently writing a book on political scandals.
Does this qualify as irony?

TAT

01-11-2009, 02:15 AM

US Government Drug Advisor sacked after saying Tobacco and Alcohol more dangerous than LSD or Ecstasy (http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/oct/30/drugs-adviser-david-nutt-sacked)
Good on him for speaking out, but it's a shame that rather than analysing his findings there was a kneejerk reaction.

Look at the rising acts of violence in Melbourne on Saturday nights, or the number of road accidents/deaths where drinking was involved and tell me alcohol isn't dangerous...

It's silly to think that alcohol is such a massive part of our culture, with almost no chance of it ever being phased out...

texta

01-11-2009, 09:07 AM

Look at the rising acts of violence in Melbourne on Saturday nights, or the number of road accidents/deaths where drinking was involved and tell me alcohol isn't dangerous...Unless the increasing violence corresponds to increased alcohol intake, I don't think you can blame the booze on that one.

Sytadel

01-11-2009, 11:44 AM

I am wondering if the report is based on the damage drugs deal in the current social context or based just on pharmacological properties. I mean there's no doubt that alcohol causes more harm on a gross scale than do other drugs, but whether or not its actually a more potent drug is debatable...

clarky

01-11-2009, 12:01 PM

I blame the Herald Sun for the perception that Melbourne is gaining the image that you're gonna get stabbed if you go out. I've been out in the city plenty over the last 5 years and not a whole lot has changed.

I've been following it pretty closely and noticed that the Herald Sun are putting 'CBD violence continues,' with the picture of that bashed guy in the headline, (who seems to be the face of their propaganda campaign) only to mention at the end of the article that the bashing occurred in bloody Frankston or Ballarat. Yeah, because that's the city and people getting bashed in Frankston is a new problem.

/Rant

Araenel

01-11-2009, 12:44 PM

Lazlow

01-11-2009, 12:49 PM

Nothing sells like a fear and sex.

clarky

01-11-2009, 12:55 PM

If you trusted our newspaper, then you'd think that no one returns from Northbridge alive.

I don't trust it at all. I think it's a bit of a joke to be honest. Just annoys the shit out of me when ignorant people like my parents think Melbourne is now worse than Compton because the papers say so.

texta

01-11-2009, 01:31 PM

I blame the Herald Sun for the perception that Melbourne is gaining the image that you're gonna get stabbed if you go out. I've been out in the city plenty over the last 5 years and not a whole lot has changed.

I did see some evidence that violent crime was increasing, but a closer examination of that information tends to suggest it's not very reliable (the data was for just a 12 month period). Crime statistics are pretty complicated and even with an increase in reported crime, it's hard to tie that to a particular influence such as alcohol.

clarky

01-11-2009, 07:19 PM

I did see some evidence that violent crime was increasing, but a closer examination of that information tends to suggest it's not very reliable (the data was for just a 12 month period). Crime statistics are pretty complicated and even with an increase in reported crime, it's hard to tie that to a particular influence such as alcohol.

Obviously with population increases, crime is going to rise as well. It's pretty much inevitable. However, the scaremongering from the media is ridiculous. The Herald Sun seem intent on turning Victoria into a nanny state, and this is coming from someone who considers themselves as slightly left of centre.

texta

03-11-2009, 08:14 PM

This is a pretty great headline:

Fishing trawler sunk by giant jellyfish
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,20797,26298234-952,00.html?from=public_rss

texta

04-11-2009, 09:34 PM

This is kind of funny:

Heckler puts boot into Howard

Like his friend former US President George W Bush, John Howard has become the target of an angry shoe-thrower.

The incident happened last Friday during a speech at Cambridge University in England, where the former Australian prime minister was speaking on the topic of leadership in the new century.

Jonathan Laurence, who organised the event as the president-elect of the Cambridge Union, said he found the incident quite surprising because shoe-thrower made his move at the start of the talk.

He described the man as a "long-haired Australian" who shouted at Mr Howard, telling him to go home and accusing him of being a racist.

"John Howard said I am not racist and I'm going home on Tuesday," Mr Laurence said.

"There was a pause, and then he got up and tried to throw a shoe but it was the weakest throw in the world."

"I mean it shows why you lot lost the Ashes, if you don't mind me saying."

Speaking to ABC Radio's Red Symonds, Mr Laurence said Mr Howard had not said anything to prompt the outburst and he continued the speech with "good grace".

"The best part of the story is that the person who threw the shoe then later got one of his friends to ask for it back. You know, he couldn't even walk home with one shoe," he said.

"He just left immediately afterwards."

Mr Laurence said it was a bizarre act because the man had a chance to speak directly to Mr Howard in the question and answer session after the speech.

"If he had a beef with Mr Howard he could have asked him about it and had John Howard answer," he said.

"So you know, I think it was a completely pointless act actually."

Stevorooni

04-11-2009, 09:44 PM

I bet there's already a flash based game of it.

Fenrir

04-11-2009, 09:54 PM

Jonathan Laurence is a bit misguided - John Howard was out George W Bush equivalent, there probably wouldn't be anything the former PM could say to dissuade the guy's frustration.

Stevorooni

06-11-2009, 11:58 AM

iPhone app translates baby cries (http://www.news.com.au/comments/0,23600,26312659-2,00.html)

I encourage everyone to post Simpsons quotes in the comments section from that episode where Homer's brother invented the same thing.

Readman

06-11-2009, 12:00 PM

"All I want is Candy"
"Then that's all you'll get!"

Halt, Hammerzeit

06-11-2009, 12:09 PM

Woe is me, I have soiled myself!

Stevorooni

06-11-2009, 12:25 PM

This leash demeans us both

sausage

06-11-2009, 12:26 PM

Usa usa

edit: commie capslock bastard.

JimmyKane

06-11-2009, 01:38 PM

I want what the dog has.

JimmyKane

06-11-2009, 01:39 PM

I thought the blunder of the century was New Coke!

Hey, I invented that!

AranchineD

06-11-2009, 01:46 PM

I got you the damn chair.

Woohoo!

BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR RRRRRRRR

JimmyKane

06-11-2009, 01:49 PM

http://www.sci-fi-o-rama.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/2001_screenshot_stargate_02.jpg

Dad? Dad? DAD!?!

AranchineD

06-11-2009, 02:06 PM

Lady, you just gave me the idea of a lifetime! How do I thank you?

Please don't hurt me.

Consider it done.

JimmyKane

06-11-2009, 02:08 PM

I want to suck your nose.

AranchineD

06-11-2009, 02:13 PM

Yes, I would like some coffee.

Want it black, don't you? Black like your heart?!

JimmyKane

06-11-2009, 02:17 PM

****, my guide to seasons 1-9 is at home.

I should carry it around in a bag like the neckbeard I am.

AranchineD

06-11-2009, 02:19 PM

http://www.snpp.com/episodes/8F23.html

Second

06-11-2009, 02:34 PM

I read the whole thing. :(

AranchineD

06-11-2009, 02:46 PM

It's the First Annual Montgomery Burns...Award For

*dun*

*dun*

*dun*

*dun*

*dun*

Outstanding Achievement In

*dun*

*dun*

*dun*

*dun*

*dun*

The Field Of

*duuuuuuuuuun*

Excelleeeeeeeeeeeeence!

sausage

07-11-2009, 06:59 AM

HAHAHAHA oh Jesus this is great (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10607866)

texta

08-11-2009, 10:50 AM

HAHAHAHA oh Jesus this is great (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10607866)

This is funnier:

Baby rented out to beggars for $2.95

A nanny in India's IT hub of Bangalore was fired after she regularly drugged a seven-month-old baby in her care and rented him out for $2 a day to be used by street beggars, a newspaper reported.

New Zealand: what a shit hole.

Lazlow

14-11-2009, 04:56 PM

Substantial deposits of water, discovered on the moon (http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g_WHHFPrQjvdnQhVIvx5o9a-v66AD9BV10180)

Experts have long suspected there was water on the moon. Confirmation came from data churned up by two NASA spacecraft that intentionally slammed into a lunar crater last month.

"Indeed, yes, we found water. And we didn't find just a little bit. We found a significant amount," said Anthony Colaprete, lead scientist for the mission, holding up a white water bucket for emphasis.

The lunar crash kicked up at least 25 gallons and that's only what scientists could see from the plumes of the impact, Colaprete said.

Halt, Hammerzeit

16-11-2009, 09:12 AM

Thank god (http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,28383,26351572-10229,00.html), my cricket is safe this summer.

Halt, Hammerzeit

16-11-2009, 03:49 PM

Just out of curiosity, what makes these people forgotten Australians? (http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,26356508-29277,00.html) I'd argue that I'm one of the forgotten Australians. I've never had any Centrelink payments. In fact, the only thing that I've claimed off the government aside from Medicare is a period of 2 months when I had a low income healthcare card (which I never got around to using).

I'm not claiming that I'm part of a group that needs recognition, just pointing out that 'forgotten Australian' is a pretty crap moniker.

Araenel

16-11-2009, 04:16 PM

Are you mental?

buckstwits

16-11-2009, 04:55 PM

The most important part of that article:

The audience was given a morning tea of lamingtons

Halt, Hammerzeit

17-11-2009, 11:42 AM

Slow walking causes heart disease (http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,26361422-23109,00.html)

Now you have an excuse to yell at those people that walk slowly in shopping centres.

Stevorooni

17-11-2009, 11:55 AM

I am secretly racing everyone else when I am walking so the slower they are the more easily I can "win"

EDIT

In other news

38 birds mysteriously drop dead (http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,26360779-401,00.html)

Everyone get ready for a flashforward

AranchineD

17-11-2009, 02:09 PM

Or The Birds will think it's humanity's fault and TAKE REVENGE

texta

17-11-2009, 02:55 PM

Police are considering dropping charges against a 12 year old boy who received a stolen Freddo Frog from a friend.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/11/17/2745069.htm

igotnewsuper8systemWRONG!

17-11-2009, 03:09 PM

Typical, they let aboriginals get away with anything these days.

Halt, Hammerzeit

17-11-2009, 03:56 PM

From what I'd heard about it, the child (and other children he associates with) had been given a lot of warnings before and this arrest was a last resort.

Serenity

18-11-2009, 11:43 AM

A 13 year old French boy nicked his parents' gun and pissed off to school where he was busted. His parents realised the gun was missing. But what annoys me is in the article, they made a point of saying he was a fan of video games. Ugh. Ever since Columbine...EVER since then, violent videogames have copped a lot of shit just because the perpetrators of Columbine designed Doom levels. Gah.

Anyway, source.
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,26366420-401,00.html

A 13-YEAR-OLD French boy set out to mow down his teachers with a shotgun but abandoned the plan when he arrived at the school and found it surrounded by police, officials said.

The boy's parents raised the alarm when they realised he had taken the family gun from their house near Beauvais, north of Paris, and was headed to his school in Beauvais itself, officials said.

The teenager was in custody on suspicion of attempted murder and admitted his homicidal intentions during an interview, Beauvais prosecutor James Juan said.

He wanted "to attack his teachers who quarrelled with him even though he had done nothing (wrong)'', Mr Juan said.

The boy, said to be a video game enthusiast, had on Monday left a message on his blog stating that "this is the last day of my life''.

"He left his home with a loaded hunting rifle and 25 cartridges,'' senior local official Raymond Yeddou said.

"He went in the direction of the school where, according to his declarations, he intended to kill his teachers.''

But when he saw a major police presence in front of and inside the school he abandoned his plan and instead headed to a cyber cafe in Beauvais town centre where his parents later found him.

Police warned the head of the 2000-pupil Saint Esprit school to keep his students confined to their classrooms as the drama unfolded.

Mr Yeddou stressed that the boy never managed to get into the school and students were not in danger at any point.

The alarm was raised at 8:15am (06:15 AEDT) by the boy's parents, who had become concerned by his unusual behaviour and searched their house, finding the gun and ammunition gone.

"His parents were worried when they saw him leave the house very early, around 7am. He did not seem to be his usual self,'' a source close to the investigation said.

Though generally a good student, the source said, the boy has recently had problems at school and was worried about a parent-teacher meeting due that day.

The Beauvais prosecutor said the boy wanted to stop the meeting at the academically high-achieving school from going ahead.

Dominique Moutin, the head of the school, said nothing in the boy's behaviour suggested the events were likely.

The incident occurred with schools and universities in the United States, Germany and Finland having all seen massacres in recent years.

A year-and-a-half ago in the Rhone area of eastern France, a 15-year-old planned to attack a group of boys who were bullying him at school and stabbed three of them with a kitchen knife.

Bokracroc

19-11-2009, 03:07 AM

What 13 year old boy isn't a 'video game enthusiast' these days though?

Fenrir

19-11-2009, 07:26 AM

Most of them - I was mocked and derided for my gaming when I was 13, I don't see what would've changed.

V²

19-11-2009, 07:34 AM

Serenity, you're a girl gamer, those stereotypes do not equate to you

Lazlow

19-11-2009, 12:06 PM

California to ban up to 25% of Televisions currently on the market (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8367545.stm)

Energy-hungry television sets will soon be banned across California in a landmark move by state legislators to reduce energy consumption.

The state will be the first in the US to impose a mandatory energy curb on TVs, an often-overlooked power drain.

........

California has long pioneered environmental change, setting tough standards on everything from refrigerators to washing machines.

As a result, electricity use in the state has stayed level for nearly three decades, whereas it has risen elsewhere in the US.