The "And in other news..." thread

[Western 52]

BBC Weather app forecasts hurricane force winds

"Don't be alarmed folks," says weather presenter Matt Taylor after a data glitch on the site.

www.bbc.com

Still faulty, 17536mph wind here apparently! The app does now have a message to say data are wrong.

 

[PG]

BBC Weather app forecasts hurricane force winds

"Don't be alarmed folks," says weather presenter Matt Taylor after a data glitch on the site.

www.bbc.com

Was the latest update done by a Mr.Fish?

 

[dangie]

Still faulty, 17536mph wind here apparently! The app does now have a message to say data are wrong.

I can’t believe that the BBC are alerting people that this is a data glitch and reassuring them that the wind and temperature forecasts are incorrect. Would anyone actually believe those figures?

On second thoughts…..

 

[brad465]

I can’t believe that the BBC are alerting people that this is a data glitch and reassuring them that the wind and temperature forecasts are incorrect. Would anyone actually believe those figures?

On second thoughts…..

There are Americans whipping up conspiracy theories regarding recent hurricanes for political purposes, so yes if they believe them they'll believe anything.

 

[edwin_m]

There are Americans whipping up conspiracy theories regarding recent hurricanes for political purposes, so yes if they believe them they'll believe anything.

False claims about Hurricane Milton's origins spread online

Social media is awash with bogus claims that Hurricane Milton has been “engineered”. What are the facts?

www.bbc.co.uk

False claims suggesting that Hurricane Milton was “engineered” and that the weather in Florida is being “manipulated” have been spreading on social media.

There is no technology that allows humans to create and control hurricanes.

But on platforms like X and TikTok, posts alleging - without evidence - that the US government is secretly controlling the weather have been viewed millions of times.

Only a matter of time before someone accuses the BBC of manipulating the weather.

 

[dgl]

We on Portland were wondering what people were moaning about, that's just normal windspeeds for us, excellent weather for going out on the water.

 

[Calthrop]

A joke -- somewhat feeble, and in doubtful taste -- has insisted on coming to mind: viz., Florida is widely reckoned to be a holiday paradise; thus, Hurricane Milton is threatening to bring about Paradise Lost.

 

[dangie]

A severed foot believed to have ‘belonged’ to a climber who went missing 100 years ago has been found on Mount Everest. A discovery that may solve one of mountaineering's biggest mysteries.

Could this find lead towards the rewriting of history books? Did George Mallory & Andrew Irvine summit Mount Everest 29 years before Edmund Hillary & Tenzing Norga?

Everest climber Irvine's foot believed found after 100 years

The discovery could help solve one of mountaineering's greatest mysteries.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Calthrop]

It was the Yeti what did it...

 

[bleeder4]

Someone orders clothes online from China (I don't understand why people do that) and finds a live scorpion inside the box.

Student finds scorpion crawling inside Shein parcel

Sofia Alonso-Mossinger found the creature in a bag of boots which she had ordered online.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[najaB]

Could this find lead towards the rewriting of history books? Did George Mallory & Andrew Irvine summit Mount Everest 29 years before Edmund Hillary & Tenzing Norga?

The only way that could happen is if (a) the foot was found on the summit; or (b) the film survived. Not sure if either of those is likely.

 

[edwin_m]

The only way that could happen is if (a) the foot was found on the summit; or (b) the film survived. Not sure if either of those is likely.

I read/heard somewhere that if the camera is located and remains light-tight, there's a good chance the cold has preserved the film well enough to be developed.

 

[Gloster]

I must admit that when I first saw a picture I thought ‘Cash’s name tags’, something that was familiar to just about anybody of my generation who went to boarding school. I thought that the company went bust in 2014, but it was rescued.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

I read/heard somewhere that if the camera is located and remains light-tight, there's a good chance the cold has preserved the film well enough to be developed.

Is this a new film?

I thought they found an undeveloped film a few years back, it was not developable, so couldn't confirm things one way or the other.

Given recent pictures of the queues of climbers gaining the summit it can only be a matter of time before Deliveroo* offer a service up there.

*Other similar delivery services are available.

 

[edwin_m]

Is this a new film?

I thought they found an undeveloped film a few years back, it was not developable, so couldn't confirm things one way or the other.

It was mentioned in the story that Irvine was thought to be carrying a camera but it hasn't been found, so far at least. Mallory was apparently found in 1999 but I don't believe he had a camera.

 

[Gloster]

Apparently the camera has not been found: it was not with Mallory when his body was found. It may be on Irvine’s body or it may be lost on the mountain. It has also been suggested, just plausibly but with no specific evidence, that the Chinese could have found it, in which case it won’t appear unless it somehow proves that they didn’t reach the summit. (How do you prove a negative?)

 

[edwin_m]

Apparently the camera has not been found: it was not with Mallory when his body was found. It may be on Irvine’s body or it may be lost on the mountain. It has also been suggested, just plausibly but with no specific evidence, that the Chinese could have found it, in which case it won’t appear unless it somehow proves that they didn’t reach the summit. (How do you prove a negative?)

How do you prove a negative with a negative? But I suppose they could argue if there was no photo of the summit then they probably didn't get there, although the camera could have malfunctioned in the cold or something.

However, I'm not convinced the Chinese have any motivation to suppress any photo here - all it does is dethrone Hillary and Tenzing, neither of whom was Chinese.

 

[High Dyke]

BBC News - One man's campaign against his 'anti-fun' city

One man's campaign against his 'anti-fun' city

He wants to make residents smile and laugh against the city's "overregulation and lack of fun".

www.bbc.com

Calling himself the Chichester Anti-Recreation Partnership (Carp), he has put up spoof signs around central Chichester to make people laugh, but also highlight issues impacting the community.

 

[LUYMun]

Bugger me, should’ve checked the date

 

[Gloster]

BBC News - Japan heritage worker backs car into oldest toilet at Kyoto temple.

Japan heritage worker backs car into oldest toilet at Kyoto temple

The man, whose job is to help preserve cultural heritage, accidentally reversed into the toilet.

www.bbc.co.uk

That was almost two years ago!

 

[Sun Chariot]

A story from a couple of weeks ago: Five Acre Wood school (Maidstone) provides for young people with learning disabilities. In partnership with Costa, they purchased and refitted a former Mk2f RFB, providing great facilities for public and students alike.

It opened for public use on October 1st and I think it looks fabulous. I have a son with cognitive learning disabilities and I applaud this type of venture.

Redirect Notice

Redirect Notice

"A long-awaited unique train cafe has finally opened at a special needs school. Five Acre Wood ... officially declared that the FAWrient Express had 'arrived at the station'."

 

[dangie]

From the BBC:

Burning household rubbish now UK’s dirtiest form of power, BBC finds

Nearly half of waste is now burned for energy, but BBC analysis finds it is as dirty as coal.

www.bbc.co.uk

Burning household rubbish in giant incinerators to make electricity is now the dirtiest way the UK generates power, BBC analysis has found.

Now that all coal fired power stations are closed, this is probably true. Note: The jury is still out on Drax Biomass.

However this poses a question. If we don’t burn the rubbish, what do we do with it? Bury it? Dump it at sea? Send it abroad for someone else to burn or dispose of?

Of course the real solution is not to produce the waste rubbish in the first place, but that’s not going to happen any time soon.

 

[MotCO]

Oh, the irony!

Blaze Destroys New Fire Station in Stadtallendorf, Germany

The city decided not to install smoke alarms in the bay of the station that opened 10 months ago.

www.firehouse.com

Blaze Destroys New Fire Station in Stadtallendorf, Germany​

Oct. 16, 2024
The city decided not to install smoke alarms in the bay of the station that opened 10 months ago.


A new fire station in Stadtallendorf (Marburg-Biedenkopf) was destroyed by fire Wednesday.
The fire spread quickly from an apparatus and thick clouds of smoke were visible from afar. The flames blazed more than ten meters high from the roof of the station, according to Fire World at.
There were no fire alarms in the bay, a decision made by the city as it is a municipal building. There is no legal requirement for a fire alarm system in a fire station, an inspector said.

District Fire Inspector Lars Schäfer said the operation was extremely emotionally stressful. "This is every firefighter's nightmare. No one ever wants to have to put out their own fire station."
About 170 firefighters were involved in the operation.
Although crews tried by all means to limit the damage, the vehicle hall could not be saved and was completely destroyed. However, the adjacent social rooms of the building complex were protected from the flames.
The total damage is estimated at 20 to 24 million euros. The modern fire station, which was only officially opened in January 2024, was considered a showcase project in the district. It had the latest technology, a 23-meter-high training tower and energy-efficient facilities.
For Stadtallendorf, the fire not only means a severe financial loss, but also a temporary restriction of fire protection in the city center. An emergency plan must be developed as quickly as possible in order to provide vehicles from surrounding communities.

The cause of the fire is still unclear. No one was injured in the fire.

 

[Trackman]

Oh, the irony!

Blaze Destroys New Fire Station in Stadtallendorf, Germany

The city decided not to install smoke alarms in the bay of the station that opened 10 months ago.

www.firehouse.com

Seen the video, made a right mess of it too - well, it's been destroyed.
No smoke alarms makes me chuckle.

 

[brad465]

Oh, the irony!

Blaze Destroys New Fire Station in Stadtallendorf, Germany

The city decided not to install smoke alarms in the bay of the station that opened 10 months ago.

www.firehouse.com

They couldn't put smoke alarms in because they can't stand tall enough

 

[AlistairCowell]

Well that’s what happens if you don't install smoke detectors! The city council should have thought better to prevent such occurrences and now they’re blown it.

 

[edwin_m]

I bet they're fuming about it now, and the ears of whoever made the decision will be burning.

 

[GusB]

Oi! Put that kidney back!

Kentucky man declared brain dead wakes up during organ harvesting

Case of Anthony Thomas ‘TJ’ Hoover II is under investigation by state and federal government officials

www.theguardian.com

Case of Anthony Thomas ‘TJ’ Hoover II is under investigation by state and federal government officials

A man who had gone into cardiac arrest and been declared brain dead woke up as surgeons in his home state of Kentucky were in the middle of harvesting his organs for donation, his family has told media outlets

 

[MotCO]

Dunedin Airport has told passengers saying a fond farewell to family and friends that they should limit their embraces in the designated car passenger drop-off zone to under three minutes.
Anyone needing longer for a goodbye will need to use one of the car parks, the airport’s management said.

New Zealand airport introduces time limit on hugs

Dunedin Airport tells passengers in cars to keep farewells to under three minutes

www.telegraph.co.uk

New Zealand airport introduces time limit on hugs​

Dunedin Airport tells passengers in cars to keep farewells to under three minutes

Hug-limitation signs at Dunedin Airport have caused a stir




An airport in New Zealand has introduced a three-minute time limit on goodbye hugs.
Dunedin Airport has told passengers saying a fond farewell to family and friends that they should limit their embraces in the designated car passenger drop-off zone to under three minutes.
Anyone needing longer for a goodbye will need to use one of the car parks, the airport’s management said.
“Airports are hotbeds of emotion with people arriving and departing. But if you want a fonder farewell, go to the car park. You get 15 minutes free in the car parks. But it’s caused quite a stir. People are saying: ‘You can’t tell us how long we can have a hug for,’” Dan De Bono, the airport’s chief executive, said.
“It’s really about enabling enough space for others to have hugs. There is only so much space in the drop-off area. Too many people were spending too much time in the drop-off zones. There was no space for others. I reckon three minutes is plenty of time.”
Mr De Bono said that he had researched the new measures.
“It turns out you need 20 seconds to get the oxytocin and the serotonin release from a hug. Anything less, you don’t get the happy hormones. And any longer, I guess you’re getting into the awkward territory,” he told Radio New Zealand.
“But we’re not here to tell people how long to hug for. It’s more the message of ‘please move on if you are going to spend longer, move to the car park’.”
What happens if people exceed the three-minute limit? “All our team will do is ask them to politely move to the car park. We’re not going to call the hug police. That would be bonkers.”
Reactions to the new regulation were mixed. “New Zealand has lost the plot,” an Australian woman wrote on X, while a New Zealander remarked: “Toddlers won’t be happy.”
Other social media users said the whole thing verged on the “inhumane”, insisting that “hugging is a human right”.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Norfolk and Suffolk folk confusing man made objects for the Northern Lights...

"A woman was "slightly disappointed" after mistaking the bright colourful lights of a nearby tomato factory for a mystical aurora."

Lights from Suffolk tomato factory mistaken for 'lovely aurora'

A woman's excitement at sharing photos on social media is short lived.

www.bbc.co.uk

"Two friends mistook the purple glow from a Premier Inn, for the Northern Lights."

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c04348v8r9eo