Spring Break
Weird News
Issue date: 11/17/05 Section: Spectrum
Threats to man who shot domino-toppling sparrow
An animal worker who shot a sparrow after it almost wrecked a world record domino-toppling bid has asked for police protection after receiving death threats.
Several international animal rights groups expressed outrage over the killing of the sparrow that toppled 23,000 of the four million dominos set up for record attempt in Holland.
Investigations into the legality of the shooting in Leeuwarden also have been launched.
A representative of the animal management company that employs the man said, "We have not made an official complaint as that would be no use.
"But if an idiot comes around here, we want a direct line to the police so they can come quickly to help us."
Organizers of the upcoming event have hired extra security staff following the death threats and an offer of roughly $3,400 made on Dutch radio to anyone who topples the dominos prior to the event.
Village drops Old Smelly name
A Serbian village has changed its name from Old Smelly to stop embarrassed youngsters from moving out.
Smrdic, meaning Old Smelly, was changed to Izvor, meaning spring, after villagers petitioned to the government.
They wanted to change the village's name, which dates back hundreds of years to a legend about a dead horse.
Local Smilja Kostic said the new name for the village came from a nearby mountain spring famous for its sparkling clear water.
He added, "Young people used to leave the village just because they were ashamed to live in a place with such a name.
"It will be much easier for my daughters to live in Izvor than in Smrdic. They will no longer be ashamed of saying where they come from."
A pill to make your hair curl?
Scientists say they have identified the difference between straight and curly hair.
They believe it could lead to drugs that can make straight hair curly and vice versa, reported The Daily Telegraph.
Scientists also believe the discovery could lead to the death of hair dyes, as drugs could be used to restore color in the prematurely grey.
An animal worker who shot a sparrow after it almost wrecked a world record domino-toppling bid has asked for police protection after receiving death threats.
Several international animal rights groups expressed outrage over the killing of the sparrow that toppled 23,000 of the four million dominos set up for record attempt in Holland.
Investigations into the legality of the shooting in Leeuwarden also have been launched.
A representative of the animal management company that employs the man said, "We have not made an official complaint as that would be no use.
"But if an idiot comes around here, we want a direct line to the police so they can come quickly to help us."
Organizers of the upcoming event have hired extra security staff following the death threats and an offer of roughly $3,400 made on Dutch radio to anyone who topples the dominos prior to the event.
Village drops Old Smelly name
A Serbian village has changed its name from Old Smelly to stop embarrassed youngsters from moving out.
Smrdic, meaning Old Smelly, was changed to Izvor, meaning spring, after villagers petitioned to the government.
They wanted to change the village's name, which dates back hundreds of years to a legend about a dead horse.
Local Smilja Kostic said the new name for the village came from a nearby mountain spring famous for its sparkling clear water.
He added, "Young people used to leave the village just because they were ashamed to live in a place with such a name.
"It will be much easier for my daughters to live in Izvor than in Smrdic. They will no longer be ashamed of saying where they come from."
A pill to make your hair curl?
Scientists say they have identified the difference between straight and curly hair.
They believe it could lead to drugs that can make straight hair curly and vice versa, reported The Daily Telegraph.
Scientists also believe the discovery could lead to the death of hair dyes, as drugs could be used to restore color in the prematurely grey.
