Monday 30 January 2012

Shark attack provides incredible photos


An unfortunate diver was at the mercy of a tiger shark as he managed to get an extraordinary close up.


Russell Easton was snapping the shark in the Bahamas when it took a snap at him. “I was looking through the viewfinder of the camera when I suddenly saw this huge mouth and teeth,” said the 42-year-old conservationist.


“Sharks bite because that is how they find out what something is.


Inches from "Jaws"
“It had its mouth wide open and was about to bite me, but bit the camera ­instead. That gave me a few vital seconds to swim away.”


Despite his lucky escape Russell, from ­Newcastle upon Tyne, is aiming to return to Cat Island to photograph more sharks.

Man claims a GHOST assaulted his wife


Weird news and slightly bizarre news now, as  man has shocked police by claiming that a GHOST assaulted his wife. Michael West aged 41, made the claim after police were called to his house early on January 15th. 


The 'ghost' had apparently punched and strangled his wife, although at the scene his wife Rebecca stated that it was her husband who tried to strangle her twice and punched her in the face when she attempted to ring 911.


When pressed specifically about the injuries to his wife's neck Mr.West answered: "A ghost did it."


An intoxicated West was reportedly arrested and charged with domestic abuse, strangulation, battery, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Obviously the paranormal activities did not wash with police, experts have said that the only was Mr.West's defence may have a chance is if the house has been previously documented for having paranormal occurrences.


Remember to follow us on Twitter for all the latest weird news and funny news stories from around the globe.

Sunday 29 January 2012

Secrets to a happy marriage!



Two holidays a year, meaningful conversation twice a week and cuddles 11 times in a fortnight are among the secrets to a happy marriage include, a study has revealed.




Research among 2,000 happily married couples has identified the main ingredients for a successful union.
It shows that couples benefit from taking a short break away together twice a year and eating out in restaurants at least three times a month.
And it pays to be affectionate, as wedded folk tend to share a lingering kiss six times a week, have sex twice a week and say "I love you" up to nine times a fortnight.
But it doesn't need to be sweetness and light the whole time - as the average happy couple has at least one healthy argument a week.
Catherine Crone, spokeswoman for walking holiday specialist http://www.headwater.com, said: "The research indicates that marriage is all about give and take, and making time for one another.

"It is clear that while couples expect a great deal of love and affection from each other, they also understand that a real partnership includes having both deep and meaningful conversations as well as healthy arguments, to ensure they resolve anything which is bothering them.
"Taking time out from the daily routine is also fundamental to long term happiness while regular holidays or short breaks, coupled with nights out for dinner or trips to the pub all contribute to a healthy relationship."


For those people who go on two holidays a year, 58 per cent say they like to go because on each occasion they are reminded why they love each other so much.
And 55 per cent claim they are more likely to make time for each other on holiday than at any other time of the year.
The survey also indicates that while couples like to have drinks at the pub together three times a month, there will also be a couple of girls and boys nights as well, where people can enjoy a night out with friends instead of their other half.
Happily married couples tend to make time for at least five movie nights at home, in contrast to their usual evenings spent fighting over the remote control or disagreeing about what to watch.
And most men and women will make little romantic gestures - such as cooking a nice meal, or taking their spouse a cup of tea in bed - three times a month.
The Headwater Holidays spokeswoman added: "Sometimes stepping back from the daily routine can do couples the world of good.
"Holidays are a great chance for couples to be reminded how to have fun together and spending time together away from the usual distractions of home can reignite the spark that made them fall in love in the first place.


"Knowing these results, perhaps now more than ever it's important for couples to change their perception and see these shared moments as a fun way to invest in their relationship and weather-proof their marriage."
Interestingly, falling in love with a partner on first sight is NOT indicative that a relationship is meant to be, as only 42 per cent of happy couples say this was the case.
Friendship was important as 47 per cent of those people polled say they were friends with a partner before they became an item, and then eventually married.
Other contributors to a successful marriage include making quality time for each other (50 per cent), supporting each other (49 per cent) and being kind (39 per cent).
A fifth of couples make a point of never going to bed on an argument, and 21 per cent say the key to a happy marriage is to try to turn a blind eye to irritating habits.
Knowing when to say sorry is a big step in the right direction for 33 per cent of people, while 35 per cent claim to be happy because they share the household chores out equally.
Compromising on the television schedule, being honest, retaining a degree of secrecy and accepting each other's faults all play a part in a happy marriage

Saturday 28 January 2012

Toddler chews head off snake



Thirteen-month-old Imad Aleeyan, who has six teeth, was found chewing on the head of the 12 inch snake by his mother, who alerted the neighbourhood with her screams.
"I was making his milk and I looked over and saw he had a snake in his mouth," said his mother, Ghadir Aleeyan who lives in the Arab Israeli town of Shefa'Amr, 9 miles east of the port city of Haifa.
"I started to scream. I couldn't believe my eyes," she told AFP. "I nearly died of fright."
Her screams brought the rest of the family – and the neighbourhood – running.
"We rushed in and found the baby with a snake in his mouth, chewing it. It was really scary, just horrible," the boy's aunt, Yasmin Shahin, said.





A neighbour who had rushed to see what was going on yanked the half-dead reptile out of the boys mouth and killed it, she said.
"When he pulled it out, Imad started crying," she said, describing the snake's head as "very badly chewed" when it emerged from the boys mouth.
They immediately checked the child for any bite marks but found none, with doctors at Rambam hospital in Haifa confirming he was unharmed.
"Doctors at the hospital told us the snake was really poisonous but that we were very lucky because they release less venom in the winter," she said.
Dr Boaz Shacham, an expert on amphibians and reptiles, told AFP that from looking at images of the smashed-up serpent online, it appeared to be a coin-marked snake (hemorrhois nummifer), a non-venomous species which resembles a viper.
Such snakes grow up to three feet in length, he said suggesting it was a "very young" specimen.
"It probably didn't bite the child because of the cold," said Dr Shacham who is the head of the herpetology collection at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
"They are not really active in winter."
Source: AFP

Friday 27 January 2012

It's a life of crime for Spiderman

CCTV cameras in Liverpool have captured a 'Spiderman style break in' at a supermarket. By cutting a hole in the roof and abseiling down a rope into the store the daring thief managed to take £10,000 worth of cigarettes and alcohol.


The thief can be seen lowering himself into the store after dropping what appears to be multiple sports holdalls into the building, taking his time he casually fills up the bags before climbing back up the through the hole in the roof to escape from the Supersaver store in Litherland, near Liverpool.

Not content with only one trip to the store, he returned several times before making his escape out of the same route as he made his entrance.

Amazing Ball Boy Catch




When Dylan Colaci was handed the chance of an official role at the Australian Open he wasn't expecting to be centre stage for his cricket skills during the biggest tennis match of the year so far.
But the 14 year-old's eagle eyed catch during the semi-final showdown between Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer momentarily overshadowed the star attractions on the Rod Laver Arena.
His speedy reaction to snaffle a stray ball with an outstretched hand drew rapturous applause from the crowd. It even prompted the commentator to compare him to Australia's prolific slip fielder Ricky Ponting.
Now the video footage of his superior skills have caught the eye of online admirers with nearly 800,000 views on YouTube.
Speaking after the match, the teenager said he reacted instinctively when Federer casually disposed of a ball after a fault on his first serve.
''I didn't have much time to think about it. I just stuck my hand out and the ball just stayed there. I couldn't believe it myself but then I just had to get straight on with the match.
''As soon as I got off court everybody was talking about it. My parents texted me and it was on Facebook.''
But Aussie cricket fans who think they might have spotted the next Ponting could be left disappointed after Dylan confessed that while he had previously played club cricket he'd recently turned his attention to football.

Graffiti Love

A jilted boyfriend has covered the seaside town of Weston-Super-Mare with graffiti messages in a bid to win back his girlfriend.

The vandal sprayed at least 16 notes for a Danielle on houses, shops and walls.
Using green paint he declared in one message: “We were the best.” Another says: “Remember the good times we loved and missed.” The graffiti appeared overnight in Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset. The only clue to the pair’s identity are the initials SF and DP. David Gould, 36, whose office was targeted, said: “It’s a bit of a mess. Maybe if he does get his girlfriend back he can go and clean it all up.”

Thursday 26 January 2012

Homer Simpson glue blob £2,051 on eBay

Bidders on the auction site eBay have gone crazy over a blob of dried glue resembling The Simpsons character Homer. Christopher Herbert from London discovered the blob whilst cleaning out his stationery cupboard, his girlfriend pointed out the resemblance to Homer quoting his oval shaped head and large eyes. Putting it up for sale out of fun rather than expectation, Mr Herbert started the bidding at 99p.




Since then the item has increased to £2,051 with 10 bids, due to end Monday the price is expected to rise still. In his listing Mr Herbert described the odd item as the 'missing piece' in any Simpson's fan's collection and states its origins as "made naturally by an overflowing tube of Uhu glue,"


The 36-year-old Londoner, said: "I've never actually sold anything on it (eBay) before, so I thought I'd just stick it on for a bit of a joke to be honest. I didn't think anyone would actually bid for an old bit of dried glue, even one that looks like Homer Simpson.


Whatever happens in the next few days, one thing is for certain, the price of this will certainly not be sticking.

Wednesday 25 January 2012

Time Travelling French President

Hervé Morin, a French presidential candidate and former defence minister has become a national laughing stock as he boldly claimed he witnessed the Allied landings at Normandy in 1944, an event which took place 17 years before he was born.


Morin, who is a rank outsider for April's election, polling less than one percent is 50 years old. He made the claim during a campaign speech in Nice;

"You, some of you, with white hair, you saw nearby the landings in Provence... I, who saw the Allied landings in Normandy, we have lived through things much more difficult than what we go through today," he claimed.

Unsurprisingly his comments were instantly seized upon by the internet community.

"For a man born in 1961 to take part in the Allied landings of 1944 is a great achievement," wrote Voici.fr.

His Wikipedia page was instantly updated to describe him as a "pioneer of time travel" following his curious D-Day claim.

Internet jesters quickly homed in on the nickname of "Morin McFly", it spawned a raft of internet parodies. "I was there at the Big Bang, it was overrated," wrote one.

"I was in Rouen when Joan of Arc was burned," claimed a second.

"You should have seen the Trojans' face when the Greeks came out of that horse," said a third.

Taking the jokes on the chin Mr. Morin posted on Twitter: "Well done for your humour! I always said the French were full of creative talent."

Tuesday 24 January 2012

Never Liked It Anyway

Never Liked It Anyway is a brand new website (neverlikeditanyway.com) which has been set up by 28 yeard old New Yorker Annabel Acton. The idea of the website is to dispose of the unwanted gifts of previous relationships. 


Miss Acton, originally from Australia had multiple items after her relationship ended just before Christmas, she decided that instead of getting rid of the items using the conventional methods, eBay or the trash can, she would set up a website to sell the items on. 


One of the items that currently resides on the site is a 2K Yellow Gold ring;




The sellers on the website list items at a real world price in the ring's case, $6,400 and then the 'break up price',  $3,000. 


Other items currently on the site include, a three day weekend wedding package to upstate New York, a Tiffany silver heart necklace as well as a Brown Teddy Bear described as "My First Valentine Gift!!!!" 


There is also a size 6 never been worn Wedding Dress, the user selling it, beccey0609, writes; "I tried on this dress and fell in love! Unfortunately my relationship ended due to him being a cheater. yea..."


The most popular items for sale presently appear to be rings, it seems as though the idea of eternity rings is lost on some couples. The site also hosts a 'Let Your Anger Out' section where rants and raves at previous relationships are exposed. 


With Valentines Day quickly approaching it seems as though the website won't be short of business in the coming months.

Popular Viola?


Kmit's improvised musical riposte to the offending mobile phone has since gone viral and has been watched over one million times.


The incident, which is believed to have taken place at the Jewish Orthodox synagogue in Presov, Slovakia, was posted online over six months ago but has gained popularity after it was shared on social networking site Facebook on Jan 12.
However, some viewers have found the musician's unflappable reaction suspicious, suggesting the video may be a publicity stunt for the Finnish company Nokia.

#McDs Tweeting backfire

A twitter campaign used by McDonald's to highlight all the 'great' things about them backfired earlier this week as people started using the hash tag #McDs to instead describe and share their horror stories to thousands of others.

Initially a hashtag #MeetTheFarmers was used to praise farmers who worked for McDonalds and their fresh produce.


McDonalds
 McDonald's
A lot of love and passion goes into producing the beef for our burgers – evidence shown here: http://t.co/2HnjcC7M#MeetTheFarmers

On January 18l McDonald's sent out 2 tweets with the hashtag '#McStories', in an attempt to highlight the "hard work people" who provide McDonald's with their food.

McDonalds McDonald's"When u make something w/pride, people can taste it," - McD potato supplier #McDStories http://t.co/HaPM5G9F


Although things didn't plan out so smoothly and although the hashtag was only used twice by McDonalds it took on a life of it's own as users began tweeting their disaster stories.

_Scorch_ The Human Scorch#McDStories How the HELL can they be so popular when there's rats running around in their bun packages?

PrettyTallerr
 â™¥ MICHAELAlouise ♥
My brother finding a fake finger nail in his fries.#McDStories

deweymedia paul dewey#McDStories More than half a year since last McTerrible McFattening McMeal. I don't McMiss the McFood McOne McBit.

The tweets documented users describing their horror stories, unemployment stories, vomiting and stomach upset, finding fingernails in their food and more. Not surprisingly, McDonald's Rick Wion said the ad campaign had failed.

Monday 23 January 2012

Man Made Sun Brightens up London


Trafalgar square was 'brightened up' this morning, quite literally, with the presence of a giant man made Sun. The Sun was raised and started providing light from 6:51am this morning as a part of Tropicana's Brighter Mornings campaign. Designed by art collective Greyworld the Sun was a bemusing sight for London's early birds.

White Blackbirds, now pink elephants!?

A wildlife cameraman took pictures of the calf when he spotted it among a herd of about 80 elephants in the Okavango Delta. Experts believe it is probably an albino, which is an extremely rare phenomenon in African elephants.
They are unsure of its chances of long-term survival - the blazing African sunlight may cause blindness and skin problems for the calf.

Mike Holding, who spotted the baby while filming for a BBC wildlife programme, said: "We only saw it for a couple of minutes as the herd crossed the river.

"This was a really exciting moment for everyone in camp. We knew it was a rare sighting - no-one could believe their eyes."

Albino elephants are not usually white, but instead they have more of a reddish-brown or pink hue. While albinism is thought to be fairly common in Asian elephants, it is much less common in the larger African species.

Ecologist Dr Mike Chase, who runs conservation charity Elephants Without Borders, said: "I have only come across three references to albino calves, which have occurred in Kruger National Park in South Africa.

"We have been studying elephants in the region for nearly 10 years now, and this is the first documented evidence of an albino calf that I have come across.""This is probably the first documented sighting of an albino elephant in northern Botswana.





Thanks to Mike Holding for the photos and BBC News for the full story.

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No. It's a UFO.

Gary McDermott snapped the glowing red object, with bright flashing lights, after stopping his car to photograph a low-flying helicopter in Plymouth.

The disc-shaped UFO flashed across the sky - just as he was taking the picture - before it disappeared into the night at 9pm on Sunday.

Mr McDermott, who was working night shifts on the city's famous Royal Albert Bridge, said: "I just couldn't believe what I had just seen.





"It must have been a UFO - and I cannot believe I am saying that because I don't believe in them usually. I am always sceptical. But this was definitely not a normal aircraft. It was red, the shape they say UFO aircraft is, and had two bright lights coming out of it.
"It came into shot just as I took the picture - then as soon as I said to my mate 'look what I have just seen', it disappeared. Apparently there have been a few other similar sightings across Britain in recent weeks."
On January 6 two mysterious bright lights were spotted floating over Chatham in Kent. Less than a week later four similar lights were seen over Essex - but none were as clear as Gary's Devon snap.

Devon and Cornwall Police said they had not been informed of any reports of UFO sightings in the area.

Here at OTWD we are still a little unsure, however Mr McDermott has still provided a great news snippet.

Sunday 22 January 2012

World's oldest living dog dies



Uncle Chichi, a toy poodle whose unusual longevity led to fame andan appearance on “Good Morning America,” died on Tuesday after a yearlong battle with cancer. He was 26. Or 24. Or maybe 25.

Frank Pavich with Uncle Chichi in 2010. Proof of Chichi's age was lost years ago, but he was adopted more than two decades ago and appeared on “Good Morning America.
The imprecision over his age led to debate over whether Chichi, or the Cheech, as he was sometimes known, had been the world’s oldest living dog.




He was remarkably old; that much was agreed upon by veterinarians, his owners and the animal shelter in Charleston, S.C., that offered him for adoption more than two decades ago.

But when his owners considered seeking a place for him in Guinness World Records in 2010, after he had had a brush with death, the proof required — like puppy photos and veterinarian records — turned out to have been lost to the ages.

Chichi began showing signs of advancing age more than a decade ago; cataracts, glaucoma and a corneal ulcer led to trips to the Animal Medical Center on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Yet he always bounced back to promenade down Morton Street in the West Village, where he lived. He even attended his owners’ wedding in Croatia in October 2010, and continued to fetch — even though he could not see or hear.

When the cancer became too advanced, Chichi was put down, his owners, Frank Pavich and Janet Puhalovic said. They notified friends of the news in an e-mail on Sunday.

“We just feel completely empty; the whole apartment’s empty,” Mr. Pavich, 38, said in an interview. “That little 10-pound guy fills up not just your apartment, but your life.”

With Chichi ailing in the later months of his life, Mr. Pavich, a television producer, took him to Italy, Slovenia, Switzerland, Germany and France. They snapped souvenir photos in Gruyères, Switzerland, the birthplace of the pungent cheese, Chichi’s favorite indulgence.

“There was so much bonus time,” Mr. Pavich said. “It’s weird because the more time we spent with him, the more and more we loved him. We didn’t know that was possible.”

While the dog seemed unfazed by fame, others benefited from his star power: after Mr. Pavich revealed on “Good Morning America” that Chichi was particular to a dog food called Spot’s Stew, the manufacturer donated 10,000 meals to the Charleston animal shelter through the charitable site Freekibble.com Chichi presided over the ceremony.

In December, Guinness’s official oldest living dog, Pusuke, a 26-year-old Japanese mutt, died. Representatives from Guinness did not immediately respond to an inquiry about the identity of Pusuke’s successor.


Mr. Pavich was not concerned. “He wasn’t your average dog,” he said of Chichi. “He kind of transcended that.”

Colour changing Blackbird


This unusual blackbird is attracting bird watchers to a Nottinghamshire country park.

The bird is leucistic, which is a genetic mutation that prevents pigments from being deposited normally in its feathers. It has been residing for the last four years in the woodland of Rufford Abbey Country Park.

Each year, observers say, it has steadily shed its black feathers for white feathers.
Park rangers took this picture of the blackbird - which is now completely white with no visible pigmented feathers - in the summer of 2011.

Leucistic birds are often very vulnerable to predators, because of their bright white plumage. So the park's managers are urging birdwatchers to keep an eye out for this unusual blackbird.

Site manager John Clegg said: "This bird has been steadily turning whiter over the years and last summer it was completely white.

"It has become quite a character at the park in recent years. It tends to appear in the warmer months and we have not seen it for a few months but hope it will return here soon."

Most leucistic birds have some spots or patches of colouration in their feathers from other pigments, so this is a particularly unusual specimen.


Hit the nail on the head?

A suburban Chicago man accidentally shot a 3.25in (8.25cm) nail into his skull but is recovering after doctors successfully removed it from the centre of his brain.


Dante Autullo, 34, was in his workshop when a nail gun recoiled near his head.But he had no idea the nail had entered his brain until the next day, when he began feeling nauseous.Doctors told Mr Autullo that the nail came within millimetres of the area used for motor function.

His fiancee, Gail Glaenzer, told the Associated Press on Friday that he was in good spirits after the two-hour surgery to remove the nail at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Illinois.Sensor triggered

"He feels good. He moved all his limbs, he's talking normal, he remembers everything," she said. "It's amazing, a miracle."

Ms Glaenzer said she had no idea the nail had entered his skull when she cleaned a cut on his forehead.

Mr Autullo thought that the nail gun had simply hit his forehead, but realised later that when the gun came in contact with his head, the sensor recognised a flat surface and fired.She convinced him to go to the hospital after he felt nauseous for much of Wednesday.

While there are pain-sensitive nerves on a person's skull, there are none within the brain itself.

Hospital spokesman Mike Maggio said the part of the skull that was removed for surgery had to be replaced with a titanium mesh amid worries that it might have been contaminated by the nail.