The "And in other news..." thread

[MotCO]

Nae yer average lookoot appeal...

Officer asks "If anyone recognises this llama, they should call"
Picture shows a llama in a

If anyone sees it they should raise the allama, and the owner will come and alpaca it up into a horsebox.

Stop pulling the wool over our eyes.

 

[341o2]

If you are going to report your car stolen, it might be an idea to make sure it is road legal first

On June 17, a man reported his car stolen to Wiltshire Police, who managed to locate the missing silver vehicle parked on double yellow lines just outside the Chaat Cafe in Theatre Square, Swindon.

But after tracking down the wayward car, officers from Wiltshire Police's Roads Policing Unit discovered that it had not been stolen, but rather the driver had 'forgotten' where he had parked it.

To make matters worse for the car's owner, police found out that he did not have insurance to drive the vehicle, and more importantly, did not have a licence.

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/driver-reports-car-stolen-only-140000767.html

 

[Purple Train]

If you don't want to go to Heaven, there is always the other destination.
After pressure from religious groups, Polish bus route 666 to Hel has been renumbered 669.
I don't recall issues with the London trolleybus route of the same number



https://news.sky.com/story/poland-h...oups-object-to-satanic-666-bus-route-12902584

Self-confessed religious nutcase here - I really don't see the problem. We have far more important things to complain about

Elsewhere... might the station have to be renamed? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-66001818

Cheltenham faces losing its 300-year-old spa status after bacteria made its health-giving water unfit for drinking.
The public had already been unable to taste the mineral water at Pittville Pump Room since the pandemic ended, while the council and Cheltenham Trust installed a new water system.
However, this work has been suspended after the bacteria was discovered.
Because of the problem council chiefs now fear it is unlikely to ever be fit for drinking again.
Cheltenham became known as a health and holiday spa town resort after the discovery of mineral springs in 1716.

 

[edwin_m]

Self-confessed religious nutcase here - I really don't see the problem. We have far more important things to complain about

Elsewhere... might the station have to be renamed? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-66001818

Cheltenham Staph?

 

[brad465]

Oops:

Major research lost after cleaner turns off fridge, lawsuit says

A US institute alleges it lost 25 years of work because a man wanted to stop "annoying" alarms.

www.bbc.co.uk

A cleaner destroyed decades of "ground-breaking" work by shutting off a lab freezer containing key samples over an "annoying" alarm sound, US lawyers have claimed.
A sign explained how to mute the beep, but a breaker was reportedly switched off after a reading error.
Samples stored at -80C were left "unsalvageable", causing $1m in damages, lawyers said.
The lab's school is suing the cleaners' employer for improper training.
The company held a $1.4m (£1.1m) contract to clean the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York back in 2020 which is when the alleged incident happened, paper Times Union reported.
Research on photosynthesis, headed by Prof. K.V. Lakshmi, had the potential to be "ground-breaking" in furthering solar panel development, a lawyer for the institute wrote.
A few days before the freezer was turned off, an alarm went off to alert a 3C temperature rise. Though the fluctuation could have been catastrophic, Prof Lakshmi "determined that the cell cultures, samples and research were not being harmed," the legal case read.
Due to Covid restrictions at the time, it would take a week before any repairs could begin.
In the meantime, a sign on the freezer's door read: "This freezer is beeping as it is under repair. Please do not move or unplug it. No cleaning required in this area.
"You can press the alarm/test mute button for 5-10 seconds if you would like to mute the sound."
But days after the alarm started sounding, the cleaner turned off the circuit breaker providing electricity to the freezer.
The majority of specimens that were meant to be kept at -80C (-112F) were "compromised, destroyed and rendered unsalvageable, demolishing more than 20 years of research", according to the legal case.
A report filed by public safety staff at the institute said the cleaner thought they were flipping the breaker on when they actually turned it off, the New York Post reported,
The temperature had allegedly risen by 50C (122F) by the time researchers discovered the error.
Lawyer Michael Ginsberg told NBC News that the cleaning employee heard "annoying alarms", and lawyers that interviewed him reported "he still did not appear to believe he had done anything wrong, but was just trying to help."
The institute's legal team says the company that employed the cleaner failed to adequately train their employee. The company has not yet commented.

 

[yorksrob]

This caught my eye - it seems our schools are falling down.

I seem to recall having been schooled in the 1980's and 90's, most of the schools I attended were in various states of disrepair. I recall a chimney pot crashing into the playground during high winds once (fortunately not during break).

On the other hand, since a lot of problems today seem to be due to lightweight concrete, perhaps those solid old Victorian schools weren't so bad afterall !

Estimated 700,000 pupils in unsafe or ageing schools in England, says watchdog

Teachers describe health risks as a report finds 700,000 pupils are in unsafe or ageing buildings.

www.bbc.co.uk

The deteriorating school estate is damaging pupil attainment and teacher retention, the National Audit Office says
By Nathan Standley
BBC News
An estimated 700,000 children are being taught in unsafe school buildings in England that need major works to repair them, according to a report.

The National Audit Office (NAO) says the Department for Education (DfE) has, since 2021, assessed the risk of injury or death from a school building collapse as "very likely and critical".

But the risks have not been addressed because of years of underfunding.

The DfE says it has been "significantly investing in transforming schools".

An official said "nothing is more important" than safety at school - and the department had allocated more than £15bn since 2015 to keep schools safe and operational.

But the NAO, the UK's independent public spending watchdog, said the deteriorating condition of school buildings was damaging pupil attainment and teacher retention.

Carla Ashman
Image caption,
Mother-of-two Carla Ashman "could've been killed" when a piece of fascia board hit her in the face
Mother-of-two Carla Ashman, from Sheffield, was struck in the face by a 15ft (4.5m) piece of fascia board, covered in nails, that fell from the school building as she waited to collect her children.

She was left with a black eye, repetitive headaches and tinnitus, which still affects her several months later - but says it could have been much worse.

"It was a really long board but it also had really large nails sticking out of it, so the thought of what could've happened - it was a real near miss for the children," Ms Ashman says.

"If something like this happens again, are my children safe?"

A school building with a missing fascia board which fell and hit mum Carla as she waited for her children
IMAGE SOURCE,CARLA ASHMAN
Image caption,
The 15ft (4.5m) piece of fascia board fell from the school building as Ms Ashman waited to collect her children
The NAO's report found more than a third (24,000) of all English school buildings had passed their estimated initial design life.

And it highlighted continuing concerns for school buildings that still contain reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) - a lightweight form of concrete prone to collapse, used widely between the 1950s and mid-1990s.

The DfE has identified 572 schools where RAAC might be present, so far confirming it in 65, of which 24 required immediate action.

The NAO said the safety risk from asbestos was also more severe in poorly maintained school buildings.

In a written response to Liberal Democrat MP Munira Wilson, in February, the government said at least 39 schools had had to close since December 2019, over various safety concerns.

The NAO said the DfE had recommended minimum funding of £5.3bn per year to mitigate the most serious risks of building failure, in its 2020 spending review, with £7bn per year being the "best-practice" level.

But the department was subsequently given an average of £3.1bn per year from the Treasury.

Primary head teacher Rachel Jones
IMAGE SOURCE,BBC/HAZEL SHEARING
Image caption,
Head teacher Rachel Jones feels self-conscious showing prospective parents around the school
Rachel Jones, head teacher at Kingsley St John's Primary School, in Cheshire, says her school building is suffering from "completely stretched" budgets.

"Most of the cuts that are being made in school are on the building, because I'm putting things off," she says.

"We're using gaffer tape instead of having things replaced."

Ms Jones feels "embarrassed" showing prospective parents around the school, despite the "excellent" standard of teaching.

"You're constantly making apologies and it's a constant battle to overcome those first impressions," she added.

'Case-by-case basis'
A separate NAO report, also released on Wednesday, found the DfE had insufficient plans for making state-funded school buildings in England more environmentally friendly.

Responding to both reports, the National Education Union's joint general secretary Kevin Courtney said the government was spending "nothing like enough" on school buildings.

"That not only has an impact on education. If you're not sure which buildings might collapse, or if there is asbestos in the buildings which isn't well managed, then there are risks to life and limb as well," he added.

A DfE official said the government was investing in 500 projects for new and refurbished school buildings, through its school-rebuilding programme.

Academy trusts, local authorities and voluntary-aided school bodies were responsible for the maintenance of schools and should contact the department with concerns.

"We will always provide support on a case-by-case basis, if we are alerted to a serious safety issue by these responsible bodies," the official added.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

This caught my eye - it seems our schools are falling down.

I seem to recall having been schooled in the 1980's and 90's, most of the schools I attended were in various states of disrepair. I recall a chimney pot crashing into the playground during high winds once (fortunately not during break).

On the other hand, since a lot of problems today seem to be due to lightweight concrete, perhaps those solid old Victorian schools weren't so bad afterall !

Estimated 700,000 pupils in unsafe or ageing schools in England, says watchdog

Teachers describe health risks as a report finds 700,000 pupils are in unsafe or ageing buildings.

www.bbc.co.uk

If you think 'Aero' concrete was bad, look at the buildings they are throwing up now! Cheese slices on a chipstick frame held together with blu-tack. You can't beat (or drill holes in) a good old school built with Accrington Nori bricks.

 

[yorksrob]

If you think 'Aero' concrete was bad, look at the buildings they are throwing up now! Cheese slices on a chipstick frame held together with blu-tack. You can't beat (or drill holes in) a good old school built with Accrington Nori bricks.

Or indeed stone, as with one of my former ones. Still going strong, albeit converted into housing.

 

[341o2]

With the state of the roads locally, potholes have been marked with a phallic symbol, but this practice seems to have gone on for quite a while nationwide, as in

After another cyclist friend was injured by potholes, Wanksy, a graffiti artist for some, a hooligan for others from Greater Manchester, England, decided to act. He used washable paint to draw graffiti tags shaped like penises around potholes in his neighborhood, and suddenly, they were repaired in 48 hours.

“People will drive over the same pothole and forget about it,” Wanksy said in an interview. “Suddenly you draw something amusing around it, everyone sees it, and it either gets reported or fixed.” A Bury Council spokesman disagreed: “Painting obscene graffiti around potholes will not get them repaired any quicker, but simply waste valuable time and resources, and is considered vandalism.”

https://www.boredpanda.com/wanksy-penis-pothole-graffiti-manchester-england/

 

[yorksrob]

With the state of the roads locally, potholes have been marked with a phallic symbol, but this practice seems to have gone on for quite a while nationwide, as in



https://www.boredpanda.com/wanksy-penis-pothole-graffiti-manchester-england/

If it warns road users of the obstruction, Wanksy is doing the area a service.

 

[najaB]

He stepped in and gave the roads team a hand, job done.

 

[yorksrob]

He stepped in and gave the roads team a hand, job done.

I see what you did there

 

[Cowley]

Language Timothy…

 

[341o2]

Or as Paul Temple would say "Did he now, by Timothy!"

Somebody has started doinf this locally, including Lower Pennington Lane, where it has been over a year since someone from the Highways Authority marked the worse areas with spray paint. Apparently, this means repairs are in hand.

 

[D6130]

Or as Paul Temple would say "Did he now, by Timothy!"

Somebody has started doinf this locally, including Lower Pennington Lane, where it has been over a year since someone from the Highways Authority marked the worse areas with spray paint. Apparently, this means repairs are in hand.

....or that they are aware that the job needs doing, but don't have the money to do it just yet!

 

[341o2]

It was left so long that all the white paint was rubbed off, after phallic symbols started appearing, workmen soon turned up and patched the worst areas

Phallic graffiti appearing along a rural lane in Lymington has had residents turning their heads.

Photographs of genitalia spray painted along Lower Pennington Lane have been shared on social media.
The drawings are near potholes in the road suggesting it is a plea to the council to make repairs.

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/23...appearing along a,the council to make repairs.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

This seems like a good method people have been using to get attention to issues that could otherwise be ignored for longer, all from some harmless graffiti.

 

[najaB]

A referendum on constitutional arrangements in Scotland could be on the cards sooner that expected!

Orkney council to look at proposals to become territory of Norway​

The Orkney Islands could change their status in the UK or even become a self-governing territory of Norway under new proposals.

A motion will go before the council next week to investigate "alternative forms of governance".

Council leader James Stockan said Orkney does not get fair funding with its current relationship within the UK.

He wants to look at Crown Dependencies like the Channel Islands and overseas territories like the Falkland Islands.

He suggested another possible future could be like the Faroe Islands - which is a self-governing territory of Denmark.

Orkney council to look at proposals to become territory of Norway

The islands' councillors will consider a motion to investigate alternative forms of governance.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Gloster]

A referendum on constitutional arrangements in Scotland could be on the cards sooner that expected!

Orkney council to look at proposals to become territory of Norway

The islands' councillors will consider a motion to investigate alternative forms of governance.

www.bbc.co.uk

It does make you wonder what the SNP’s attitude to this desire for independence will be. Not that anything is going to happen quickly.

 

[D6130]

I wonder what the Norwegian government and population think about this proposal? It is, however, true that Orcadians - and Shetlanders - have far more in common culturally and linguistically with the Norwegians than they do with the Scots and Gaels.

 

[dgl]

Nigel Farage has had a bank account with Coutts closed, not for political reason as Farage claimed but because he didn't have enough money, he's been offered a regular account with Coutts owners, Natwest, instead.

Nigel Farage bank account shut for falling below wealth limit, source tells BBC

Nigel Farage's account with the bank Coutts is not being closed for political reasons, the BBC is told.

www.bbc.co.uk

Nigel Farage fell below the financial threshold required to hold an account at Coutts, the prestigious private bank for the wealthy, the BBC has been told.
It is understood that he was subsequently offered a standard account at NatWest which owns Coutts.
Last week, Mr Farage said he believed his account had been shut for political reasons and he was turned down by seven other lenders when he went elsewhere.
But people familiar with Coutts' move said it was a "commercial" decision.
"The criteria for holding a Coutts account are clear from the bank's website," they told the BBC.
Coutts requires its customers to borrow or invest at least £1m with the bank or hold £3m in savings.

 

[PG]

Nigel Farage has had a bank account with Coutts closed, not for political reason as Farage claimed but because he didn't have enough money, he's been offered a regular account with Coutts owners, Natwest, instead.

Nigel Farage bank account shut for falling below wealth limit, source tells BBC

Nigel Farage's account with the bank Coutts is not being closed for political reasons, the BBC is told.

www.bbc.co.uk

I guess he'll have to slum it like the common folk with an ordinary bank account - your call is very important to us but not important enough to avoid the queue

 

[341o2]

Police called to Tatnum Rd Poole regarding two people coming to blows regarding the custody of a duck

TWO PEOPLE were spotted 'fighting in the middle of a Poole road over the custody of a duck'.

Passersby reported seeing a man and woman 'wrestling' in Tatnam Road at around 6.30pm on Wednesday.
Officers were called out, however, by the time they arrived, the duo had left the scene.
A Bournemouth woman, who wished to remain unnamed, said: “They were wrestling on the floor in the middle of the road... and trying to get the duck off each other.

https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/23637553.police-called-tatnam-road-poole-fight-duck/
Well, I don't give a Donald

 

[Purple Train]

Police called to Tatnum Rd Poole regarding two people coming to blows regarding the custody of a duck


https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/23637553.police-called-tatnam-road-poole-fight-duck/
Well, I don't give a Donald

If only we still had the ducking stool to mete out appropriate punishment

 

[yorksrob]

Police called to Tatnum Rd Poole regarding two people coming to blows regarding the custody of a duck


https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/23637553.police-called-tatnam-road-poole-fight-duck/
Well, I don't give a Donald

That's kwakers !

 

[birchesgreen]

Well these two will soon be up before the beak.

 

[najaB]

I'm sorry, but these puns are just fowl.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I'm sorry, but these puns are just fowl.

Don't be such a downer!

 

[edwin_m]

I'm sorry, but these puns are just fowl.

They don't bother me. Just water off a duck's back.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Well these two will soon be up before the beak.

And end up doing 'bird'?!