Fake rhino goes on the rampage at Japanese zoo

Follow link to watch video of fake rhino try to escape:
Fake rhino goes on the rampage at Japanese zoo

Fake Rhino Tries to Escape Tranquilliser Guns and Net

A Japanese zoo has given hundreds of its workers a training exercise with a difference.

Police, paramedics and zoo staff were on hand yesterday to help capture a giant fake rhino. The creature made of papier mache, and operated by two zoo employees, was designed to help staff think about how they would deal with a dangerous animal escape. 

Having watched the video of the "great escape" I do not see how this will prepare the staff at Tokyo's Ueno Zoological Gardens for a real animal rampage. The rhino went on a slow wander before being hit by a tranquilliser dart and captured in nets. All the same, a totally bizarre and funny watch. (see video above)

Sources:
http://newslite.tv/2012/02/09/fake-rhino-goes-on-the-rampage.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-16950361

Scottish Stereotyped Islands - Shetland

Many people have stereotyped views of areas in Scotland that are often very wrong. “So you live in Glasgow, you’re going to get stabbed!” is something that people frequently say to me. But it’s definitely not true. Brits also seem to think that the Northern Isles are places that civilisation has not yet touched with terms such as “the middle of no-where and mud huts” being branded around. Shetland is no different, except in reality it is.

Boats in Roots, Fair Isle - by claire.shovelton

Voted one of the world’s top ten holiday destinations by Lonely Planet, the Shetland Islands have a huge range of attractive features. Shetland is home to the largest fire festival in Europe and houses over 100,000 visitors each year compared to its almost 22,000 person population. The local produce of fish, livestock and knitwear is shipped to countries across the globe. (www.shetland.gov.uk) Shetland is also well known for its stunning scenery and local sports. (visit.shetland.org) The varied landscape makes hiking and fishing popular pastimes for tourists and locals alike. Visitors to Shetland include famous presenter Simon King.(www.simonkingwildlife.com)

Donna Marie Hughson (18), resident of Vidlin, said: “The nature, landscapes and wildlife are the things I miss most about Shetland. The people are all very friendly and there’s a great sense of community. It does surprise me that it’s 1 of the top 10 holiday destinations because there are so many other places I would rather go too. But it is really beautiful I suppose.”

“When people say bad things about Shetland it makes me feel annoyed because they have no idea what it’s actually like. Even though it might be a bit behind, it’s still an amazing place to live and it doesn’t make it a bad place to live. Other people get really angry about it but they’re a lot more fond of the place.”

The fire festival, Up Helly Aa, is a tradition which is over 100 years old and begins on the 31^st January. It includes a torch-lit procession of around 1,000 guizers and the burning of a “Galley” or, traditional Viking rowing boat. (www.uphellyaa.org) The event attracts visits from around people, this year even featuring as the main story on the front page of MSN.co.uk this year.

Lerwick - by Vincenzo_1949

Donna Marie continued: “It’s pretty exciting. I've grown up with Up Helly Aa so I’m not amazed by it like I would be if I was seeing it for the first time. The after-party bit is very very good. I still like to go and see it but it’s more because I recognise people in their funny costumes. Local people sometimes call it transvestite Tuesday! A lot of the men dress up as women when they go out on the parade.”

Perhaps the most compelling piece of evidence to stop slating Shetland is the oil they produce. Around 600,000 barrels of oil are pumped out of the sea surrounding the island every day. This amounts to about one third of Britain’s oil production. As well as paying the usual business rates, the council collects its own royalties. This is money which is used to fund local activities, because of a deal that the Shetland Islands Council set up with the government in the 1970's. The deal was to ensure that Shetland would not break away from Britain, taking much of its oil with them. (www.economist.com)

The only negative points I can make about Shetland is it is a 12-13 hour overnight crossing from the Mainland, often across choppy waters. Also the weather can be quite unpredictable and the islands are renowned for their gale force winds. (visit.shetland.org) But, the economists have proven that if Shetland separated from the rest of the UK it would be a great loss for us in terms of oil and tourism. These contributions are even recognised by the UK government. So maybe we should stop taking our little Scottish islands for granted.

Sources:

http://www.shetland.gov.uk/documents/sins2008.pdf

http://www.simonkingwildlife.com/ShetlandItineraryW.pdf

http://www.uphellyaa.org/

http://visit.shetland.org/about-shetland

http://www.economist.com/node/741453

The American Twitter Danger

The Daily Mail:Emily Bunting and Leigh Van Bryan  

Most people in this technology fuelled age, including myself, love a good tweet from time to time. We all seem to be using Twitter as a way to post our thoughts and feelings as they happen so people can keep updated with our lives. But now it seems that for some in America, Twitter can be cause to ban people from entering their country...

Anyone who travels anywhere by plane will have noticed that over the past few years airport security has tightened hugely causing controversy. From biometric eye checks to the 385 full-body scanners which now occupy 68 US airports, America is a country very concerned with security (SITA, USA.travel Today).  And as a result a single tweet cost two friends, Leigh Van Bryan (26) and Emily Bunting (24), their USA holiday to Los Angeles. (BBC News)

The pair were forced to return home to England after both spending a 12 hour stay in an American prison. Their deportation was caused by a single, misinterpreted tweet from Mr Bryans which read: "Free this week, for quick gossip/prep before I go and destroy America." Mr Bryans said that all he meant by the tweet was a party. But this was not accepted by the US Homeland Security who he said treated him “like some kind of terrorist.” (BBC News)

The Daily Mail: The Offending Tweet

This is the latest in America’s use of social networking sites to prevent people they believe to be a threat, from entering their country by plane. Whether you believe the deportation of these British friends is America gone too far, or a justified security measure, it is unlikely to be the end of social networking used in this way.  

Sources:

http://www.sita.aero/product/iborders-biothenticate?gclid=CL_Rvb_s_a0CFVAhtAodXWersw

http://travel.usatoday.com/flights/2010-11-18-airports-with-scanners_N.htm

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/twitter/8163080/Whats-the-point-of-Twitter.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16810312

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2093796/Emily-Bunting-Leigh-Van-Bryan-UK-tourists-arrested-destroy-America-Twitter-jokes.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

GAY - A Product of Nature or Society?

The Natural History Museum of the University of Oslo's "Against Nature?" Exhibition

"We have a Darwinist mentality that all animals only have sex to procreate." – Petter Boeckman

Following a discussion I had with my flatmates I found myself questioning "at what point did people start being gay?" I had always believed that there was no such thing as a gay or lesbian animal so I wondered if homosexuality was a product of changes in society. Animals are there solely to reproduce but humans have developed purpose than this in life. The results of my investigation shocked and surprised me.

Throughout the history of humanity, being gay has always been somewhat "taboo" and people have often shied away from this minority group. Homosexuals live all over the world as part of all groups in society, and have done since records began. There are many examples of famous historical figures who were gay, such as Julius Caesar, Plato and Alexander the Great (Minh T. Nguyen, 1999).

Also there is evidence to show that more than 1,500 animal species practice homosexuality. The study was carried out by the Norwegian Natural History Museum of the University of Oslo for their exhibition “Against Nature?.”

Petter Boeckman, exhibition advisor, said: “One fundamental premise in social debates has been that homosexuality is unnatural. This premise is wrong. Homosexuality is both common and highly essential in the lives of a number of species.”

The study revealed that one of our closest relations, the dwarf chimpanzee, practiced same gender sex to avoid violence and the whole species is bisexual. Bisexual behaviour is also present in lion prides. There is evidence of some completely gay and lesbian couples within species. For example geese and ducks where it is estimated that four to five percent of couples are homosexual, and they are often better at raising young than heterosexuals. This creates the issue of whether humans might be the same. Gay couples have fought a long battle to be able to adopt children, highlighted by celebrity cases such as that of Elton John and his partner. Although it is now legal in many places for homosexual couples to adopt this is still met with a lot of controversy. (Medical Net)

There has been a lot of progress for “gay rights” in the 21^st century but inequalities still exist. A recent article by the “I” showed that a quarter of gay actors and actresses are afraid to come out in case they are discriminated against.

Chris New, a 30-year-old actor, said: “I have never hidden my sexuality… People will turn on you because you’re gay. But I just carry on; this prejudice is ridiculous.” (I, Nick Clark)

It is hoped a charter which enshrines the rights of gay members of the film industry will be agreed later this year. Entertainment trade union, Equity, has proposed the charter after the results were released showing that some homosexual actors and actresses were afraid to come in case they were victimised by the media and lost out on jobs. (I, Nick Clark)

So now I have completely changed my opinions. I realise that homosexuality is widespread in humans across the globe and even in the animal kingdom. And it always has been. My original belief about society manufacturing a lifestyle which allows people to be gay was wrong. I now realise it is actually society which has supressed homosexuality throughout history deeming it as "unnatural", when in fact it is this belief that is unnatural itself. 

Sources:

http://www.enderminh.com/minh/civilrights.aspx

http://www.news-medical.net/news/2006/10/23/20718.aspx

I, Nick Clark, 28/01/12

Tchai-Ovna

Tchai-Ovna, a photo by Akuppa on Flickr.

The Tea House in Otago Lane, Glasgow which holds free gigs including the one with singer-songwriter Andrea Heins (see below for article)

Quirky Venue - Amazing Local Gig

Last week I visited the quirky Tchai-Ovna House of Tea to see singer-songwriter, Andrea Heins, and was surprised by what the free gig had to offer.

The venue was not my usual bustling with people, blaring music and in the heart of Glasgow. Instead it looked like someone's living room, filled with trinkets from across the globe and musty old books. But as I sat down in one of the old wicker chairs and listened to Heins I found myself enjoying a completely different music experience.

The atmosphere was relaxed and the gentle chatter during the performance seemed to rise and wane with the artists music as though it was part of the performance. The whole event reminded me of sitting infront a friends fire on a cold Winter's night, talking and laughing about our week. Listeners ranged from casual teenagers with their friends to smartly dressed business men with briefcases.

Her voice was sweet with a tinge of old country western and Indie, but also versatile and strong. The lyrics seemed to centre around love and were quite poetic at times, while still sending out a clear message. The easy switch between harmonica and guitar in the songs continued their easy flow whilst adding an interesting twist for the listener. Heins was obviously nervous as she had to stop a song or two and begin again and the shaking in her voice was clear at the start. However this is my only critism of the entire night.

Tchai-Ovna has an atmosphere unique to any other music venue I have visited. I highly recommend it if you enjoy intimitate local gigs or even just want a relaxing lunch. By the end of my visit there I was also left questionning, "Why is Andrea Heins not signed?" Her website has music and photography both of an equally high standard.

Andrea Heins and Tchai-Ovna's websites if you want to take a look:
http://www.andreaheins.com/index.html
http://tchaiovna.com/

Feel free to comment please, the more I know the more I can improve!