[prokroustis]

Crazy-low landings at Skiathos airport!

It is the European St. Maarten

The airport at St Maarten is often known as one of the most dangerous in the world – for spectators, if not for travellers – thanks to the location of its runway with a public beach at one end, and a mountain at the other.
The extremely low flights of planes, including double-decker 747s, on their approach to land in the small runway strip, has made it one of the most popular sights on YouTube.
Bit it might have a contender as one of the most insanely close landing runways in Greece. The airport of the island of Skiathos has also become very popular with plane watchers, as the videos posted on social media show.

Planes skimming over the beach and the ability to get so close to the runway makes it a huge draw for tourists and “avgeeks” (plane enthusiasts), who flock to take photos.

Videos of “dangerous” landings regularly do the rounds on social media, as do selfies of swimwear-clad tourists sunbathing as a plane passes over them.

https://youtu.be/qcpUmynoQVo

[Mintydreams00]

Meet Teddy the Terp, U.Md. College Park’s new comfort dog


Meet Teddy the Terp. He's the University of Maryland Police Department's new Therapy dogs

Teddy the Terp is short, friendly and chocolate brown — and he’s the newest member of the University of Maryland-College Park’s police department.

Teddy is a chocolate Labrador, and he has a special assignment as a comfort K-9 on the force.

“He has these amazing green eyes,” said Maj. Carolyn Consoli, who runs the department’s comfort dog program. “Who wouldn’t love him?”


Teddy the Terp is short, friendly and chocolate brown. He’s the newest member of the University of Maryland-College Park’s police department.

The department recently acquired the 4-month-old pure bred. He will undergo one year of obedience and comfort training to help people dealing with anxiety, depression or trauma.

After his training is complete, officers will take him on tough assignments, such as suicide calls, said Chief David Mitchell.

“He’ll be able to detect somebody that’s under stress,” Mitchell said. “You can imagine someone, who’s unfortunately the victim of a crime, when we visit with Teddy, it’s going to say we care about you.”


Teddy is a chocolate Labrador, and he has a special assignment as a comfort K-9 on the force.

The department modeled its nascent comfort dog program after the University of Maryland-Baltimore County’s program. Mitchell said having Teddy aboard is just the beginning.

“We’re working on a program, where we will respond to mental health concerns with a trained psychologist or mental health worker,” Mitchell said.

The department is now considering bringing in a second therapy dog.


Right now, Teddy walks around campus allowing student, who are stressed out from midterms and studying, to pet him and relieve some stress.

Master Police Officer Melissa Fischer is Teddy’s handler. She walks him around campus to get him acclimated to the grounds and the students. She also takes him to university events.

Officers have started passing out baseball cards with the pup’s picture and things he likes to do on campus.

“It is an introduction to the comfort dog in case students need to puppy love,” Consoli said.


The University of Maryland Police Department recently acquired the 4-year-old pure bred lab. He will undergo one year of obedience amd comfort training to help people dealing with anxiety, depression and trauma

Officers say Teddy will most likely get the most calls for comfort as midterm and final exams draw near. Teddy also has an email address, and students will be able to request him.

“We have 40,000 students, around midterms and exams, I promise you they’re stressed out,” Mitchell said. “When you have Teddy with you, they want to come over and say, ‘Hey, let me pet your dog.’”

[PennySerenade]

Plane makes emergency landing on Highway 407 in Markham, Ont.



TORONTO -- No one was injured when a plane made an emergency landing on Highway 407 in Markham on Wednesday morning.

The plane touched down in the eastbound lanes of the highway near Woodbine Avenue off ramp sometime before 11 a.m.

An image circulating on social media showed a single engine propeller plane on the roadway, with police vehicles parked behind it.



OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt told CP24 the aircraft took off safely but encountered problems soon after.

"They experienced some engine sputtering. They looked back at the airfield to see if they could make it back to Buttonville," he said.

"Unfortunately, it was too far in the distance and there were buildings in the way. They looked for an available area and Highway 407 was a perfect location."

Reporters at the scene saw two occupants exit the aircraft on foot.



Highway 407 ETR says three lanes of the highway were blocked due to emergency crew response.

Public aviation records identify the plane as a Piper PA-28 registered to Caribbean Flying Club in Toronto.

The OPP is conducting an investigation into the incident.

Schmidt said the plane did not sustain any damage and both occupants emerged unharmed.

Video Here:
https://twitter.com/i/status/1453378914097713160

The OPP is conducting an investigation into the incident. Schmidt said the plane did not sustain any damage and both occupants emerged unharmed.

A woman takes pictures of the flowering "penis plant" (Amorphophallus decus-silvae) in the tropical greenhouses of the Leiden Hortus Botanicus on October 22.

The rare 'penis plant' just bloomed for the first time in over two decades

By Kristen Rogers, CNN
Updated 11:56 AM ET, Thu October 28, 2021

(CNN)In a Netherlands garden blooms a rare plant with a tall, phallic shape. It's known as the "penis plant," and this is only the third time the species has flowered in Europe since 1997, according to the University of Leiden's botanical garden, Leiden Hortus Botanicus.

The six-year-old penis plant -- the scientific name for which is Amorphophallus decus-silvae -- was cultivated by garden volunteer Rudmer Postma, according to a news release. Garden personnel first noticed the flower bud in mid-September, and in just over a month, the bud has become about half a meter (over 3 feet) tall, with the narrow stem reaching up to 2 meters (over 6 feet) high.

"Few botanical gardens have Amorphophallus decus-silvae in their collection, making the flowering of the plant particularly rare," the release noted.

Native to tropical rainforest-rich Indonesia, the penis plant requires a very warm and humid growing environment and is therefore difficult to grow in Europe. But its terrible, pungent odor -- akin to rotting flesh -- helps gardeners predict when the plant will flower, which according to the release, happens in two stages: the female bloom phase and the male bloom phase.

During the female bloom phase, the white, phallus-shaped part of the flower called the spadix heats up and emits the stench.

"It didn't smell very bad yet, but (the odor) got more intense in the afternoon," said garden volunteer and yoga teacher Roos Kocken in a TikTok video she posted October 22.

Pollinators, including flies, are attracted to this smell, so they flock to the plant and become covered in pollen the plant produces during its male bloom phase. Since there isn't another penis plant at the Leiden Hortus Botanicus, staffers are collecting the pollen to use later or send to other botanical gardens, the university said.

For larger Amorphophallus plants, to have many years between blooms isn't unusual, said Susan Pell, the deputy executive director of the US Botanical Garden.

Amorphophallus plants' blooms emerge from their underground structures called corms, which are like the underground part of tree trunks, she explained.

"That bloom is just using up all of the energy that's been stored in that corm. And so in order to bloom again, that corm has to produce a series of leaves over ... somewhere between probably three and 10 or 12 years in order to get enough energy built back up in the corm to support a bloom, which really occupies that corm for more than a year," Pell added.

The plant's close relatives include Amorphophallus gigas and Amorphophallus titanum, or the corpse plant, the latter of which is well-known for its own stench during the flowering period. The corpse flower has been displayed at popular gardens including the Leiden Hortus Botanicus, the United States Botanic Garden and the San Diego Botanic Garden.

[goldie0608]

Texas Hooker, Alberta Clipper and Pineapple Express Are Types of Storms: Here's What They Mean

Have you heard any of these storm names before? This is where they came from



The West Coast was recently hit with historic rainfall that was quickly followed by heavy rain and wind on the East Coast.

Snow and rain will likely be on the weather forecasts for millions of Americans in the coming week as winter approaches, and that means terms like "Nor'easter" and "Bomb Cyclone" will soon be appearing in headlines.

While a "bomb cyclone" is certainly attention-grabbing, there is a reason for the term, just as there is for storm names such as the "Texas Hooker" and "Alberta Clipper."

Here are some of the ways our storms have been nicknamed.

Pineapple Express

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a "Pineapple Express" storm is a type of atmospheric river that transports moisture from the tropics to the northern areas of the planet and plays an important part in Earth's ocean water cycle.

But what makes a Pineapple Express unique is its moisture builds up around Hawaii (a state many may associate with a pineapple) before moving to the coasts of the U.S. and Canada, where it can bring with it heavy rainfall and snow.

"Prevailing winds cross over warm bands of tropical water vapor to form this 'river,' which travels across the Pacific as part of the global conveyor belt. When it reaches the west coast, the Pineapple Express can dump as much as five inches of rain on California in one day," the NOAA says of the storm.

Panhandle Hook, or Texas Hooker

The "Pandhandle Hook," or sometimes called, "Texas Hooker," originates out of the panhandle areas of Texas and Oklahoma, according to KARE. The storm travels north from the southwest, carrying moisture from the gulf into areas such as Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin and Michigan, causing gusty winds, rain and snow, according to ISCN.

The "hook" in the name comes from the shape of the storm's trajectory on a weather chart.

Alberta Clipper

An "Alberta Clipper" is a fast-moving storm system that sweeps over the Northern Plains and Great Lakes areas of the U.S. from Alberta, Canada, according to Farmers Almanac.

While the "Alberta" of the name stems from the Canadian province, the "Clipper" comes from the name of a sailing yacht that was known for being fast, much like the sailing vessel.

Bomb Cyclone

If you hear a "Bomb Cyclone" is headed your way, you're likely to take notice. The name, while eye-catching, refers to a meteorological phenomenon called bombogenesis.

Bombogenesis happens "when a midlatitude cyclone rapidly intensifies, dropping at least 24 millibars over 24 hours," according to the NOAA. This happens when a cold air mass collides with a warm air mass, typically over warm ocean waters.

Nor'easter

A "Nor'easter" storm emerges on the East Coast of North America and derives its name from the northeastern winds, according to the NOAA.

"The U.S. East Coast provides an ideal breeding ground for Nor'easters," the organization said on its webpage. "During winter, the polar jet stream transports cold Arctic air southward across the plains of Canada and the United States, then eastward toward the Atlantic Ocean where warm air from the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic tries to move northward."

"The warm waters of the Gulf Stream help keep the coastal waters relatively mild during the winter, which in turn helps warm the cold winter air over the water," the NOAA continued. "This difference in temperature between the warm air over the water and cold Arctic air over the land is the fuel that feeds Nor'easters."

Texas man arrested three times in 24 hours, then came the fourth arrest, NY cops say



A Texas man was released from custody three times in one day while in New York, officials say, before he was arrested a fourth time in 24 hours.



The 25-year-old man of Del Rio was arraigned three times on Monday: once for burglary in the third degree in Whitestown, once for grand larceny in the fourth degree in Oswego, and once for burglary in the third degree in Whitesboro, the sheriff said.

He was arrested and released in all three cases on the same day, The Post-Standard reported. The man was released in all three without bail, made possible under the New York State Bail Reform Law, according to the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office.

But about 10 minutes after his release from the Oneida County Centralized Arraignment at Oneida County Jail on Tuesday, the sheriff’s office said he entered a construction office and stole items at about 2:30 p.m.

Patrol officers who were called to the office in Whitestown found the man and arrested him. He was charged with burglary in the third degree, making it the fourth charge within 24 hours, officials said.

With his fourth arrest, the sheriff’s office said the Oneida County District Attorney’s Office filed a motion asking the judge to consider setting a bail “due to the fact that he had been released without bail on several other felonies.”

He was then held on a $10,000 cash bail or $50,000 bond, the sheriff’s office said.

The Texas man’s case is scheduled for a felony exam on Friday, which will decide if the man can continue to be held pending action from a grand jury.

(I'm sorry my fellow Texans are so dumb. If he had been smarter, he would have went to San Francisco where he could have shoplifted until his hearts content, free of the hassle of being arrested and arraigned. Talk about heading to the wrong coast. )

JCPS students give thanks to bus drivers with hundreds of handmade thank you cards



LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) - A nationwide school bus driver shortage is creating a lot of extra work for drivers everywhere, including in Jefferson County, but some JCPS bus drivers got a nice boost of confidence Thursday morning.

Students at Laukhuf Elementary worked for weeks to show their appreciation to the people who get them to school. They prepared hundreds upon hundreds of thank you cards, enough for each driver in the district.

”Knock knock. Who’s there? Bus Drivers,” one card read. “Bus drivers who? Bus drivers are awesome. I know that’s not funny but it’s all I could think of.”

Students also got up to tell their bus drivers face to ace how much they care about them

”Thank you for getting us home,” said one student. “Thank you for getting us safe and sound.”

Bus driver Kelley Williams said she was moved to tears by the students who took the time to do this.

“Just what they put into it, the children, the effort and time, to care about us like this, to let us know they care about us, it really means a lot,” said Williams.

In total, the students made over 1,000 cards for bus drivers, monitors and transportation workers.

[lush]

The 10 Worst and Best Halloween Candies
October 28, 2021 *

• Find out which candies will make the kids love or hate you, whichever you prefer.



Halloween is just around the corner, and that means trick-or-treaters are about to start a-knocking on our doors. Few of us are ready to risk getting our houses TP’d so it’s best to have something available for handing out.

But a disappointing Halloween offering might get your porch egged or car beaned anyway. So, what exactly should you offer to the ghosts and goblins that show up at your door?

There are a lot of opinions on the matter, and there are a few generally safe choices. But if we applied statistical data to find out what treats are the best for avoiding tricks?

Thanks to an extensive survey carried out by CandyStore.com, we now have scientific proof of what trick-or-treaters like and don’t like. So, here they are — the worst and best Halloween candies, at least for this year.



The 10 Worst Halloween Candies

10. Black Licorice

You’d imagine licorice as black as a tainted soul would be the perfect candy for Halloween. But apparently, kids these days don’t think so. This author, for one, can’t comprehend why — black licorice is delicious.

9. Good & Plenty

It shouldn’t really come as a surprise that Good & Plenty follows black licorice. After all, what is Good & Plenty is not black licorice, just wrapped in the hollowed-out shell of a better candy. Kids don’t think it’s good, and there’s plenty for them to hate.

8. Tootsie Rolls

A lot of people will choose to hand out Tootsie Rolls, if only because they’re cheap. It seems kids don’t really detest them on a principle, they’re okay. They just get so many of them that the novelty wears off.

7. Mary Janes

Kids probably rejoiced when Mary Janes went out of production in 2018. But in 2020, they came back. Hooray for the continuation of classic candy, we suppose, but don’t give them to kids.

6. Wax Coke Bottles

It’s no wonder these things are on this list. You bite into a nasty wax shell for a couple drops of warm sugary water. What’s not to hate?

5. Necco Wafers

Like Mary Janes, Necco Wafers disappeared in 2018 and made a comeback in 2020, to the horror of trick-or-treaters everywhere. They’re like Valentine’s candies. Is there anyone who actually likes this chalky garbage?

4. Smarties

This is a repeat of all the complaints about Necco Wafers. Might as well chew on classroom chalk.

3. Peanut Butter Kisses

The distaste for these things probably isn’t about the flavor, unless you just don’t like peanut butter. They’re just such a hassle to eat that most kids just throw them away.

2. Circus Peanuts

They’re not even candy. Enough said.

1. Candy Corn

Candy corn might be the most divisive candy ever. You either love it or hate it. Kids overwhelmingly seem to hate it, though, so don’t choose this.

Honorable Mention: Fruit

Honestly, fruit is probably the best thing to hand out on Halloween — in theory at least. It’s healthy but still sweet. But try telling that to the kids.

The 10 Best Halloween Candies

10. Nerds

What in the world are Nerds doing in the top ten Halloween candies. There must’ve been some kind of a mistake. But the numbers don’t lie — a box of Nerds is a solid choice.

9. Butterfingers

Unlike Nerds, this one isn’t a surprise. Butterfingers are a crunchy classic that’s sure to please.

8. Hershey Bars

Hershey Bars are an interesting case, since according to CandyShop.com data, they also almost made the worst candies list. We’ll leave it up to you if you want to give them out.

7. Twix

There’s little to not like about Twix. The only question is whether you should hand out the full bars, the one-stick version, or the “fun-sized” ones. Here’s a pro-tip: the right choice isn’t the no-fun size.

6. Kit Kats

These guys should be higher on the list if you ask this author. You’d imagine the kids would think that too, since you get half a Kit Kat even with the smaller version. But is that the Kit or the Kat half?

5. Sour Patch Kids

Honestly, this only makes sense. Most of the other candy you’ll get is so sickly sweet that Sour Patch Kids probably feel like a breath of fresh air when devouring your haul.

4. Snickers

It’s Snickers, what’s there to say. You get chocolate, caramel, and even some peanuts. Satisfying, even as a fun-sized bar.

3. Skittles

Kids apparently like tasting the rainbow. This year, at least. Skittles have historically bounced up and down the top rankings, so they’re not exactly the safest choice.

2. M&Ms

An age-old fan favorite. But which of the billion different kinds of M&Ms should you go for? Any, if you go by the data.

1. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

These things have been the #1 choice for Halloween candy for years and probably always will be. So, if you want to be popular with the kids in your neighborhood, here’s what to give them.

On the other hand, if you want to be left alone forever on Halloween, hand out candy corn. And remember to be generous with it, reputations aren’t easy to build.

[johngriffen]

I sometimes get REALLY DEPRESSED reviewing the news these days.
It's always about a global pandemic threatening life as we know it,
protests around the world, stupid politicians, natural disasters,
or some other really bad story.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

Welcome to The mobi weekly news magazine
IN OTHER NEWS
FRIDAY OCTOBER 29
What is it?
Here is your chance to become an "ACE REPORTER" for our weekly news magazine.
It is your job to fine weird, funny or "good feel" stories from around the world and share them with our readers in our weekly magazine

How do you play?
Just post a story that you have come across that made you smile, laugh, feel good...
BUT NOTHING DEPRESSING

EXAMPLE POST

​Naked sunbather chases wild boar through park after it steals his laptop bag

A naked sunbather was seen chasing wild boar through a park after it stole his laptop bag.
Amusing photographs from Germany show the man running after the animal to try and claim the plastic bag back.
But the cheeky boar and its two piglets appear to be too quick for the sunbather, who can't keep up with their speedy little trotters.
As the incident unfolds, groups of friends and family sat on the grass watch on and laugh.
Heads are seen turning in surprise and amusement in the hilarious photographs.
The incident happened at Teufelssee Lake - a bathing spot in the Grunwell Forest in Berlin, Germany.

Rules:
Each Edition of IN OTHER NEWS will be open for 7 days...
You can post as many stories as you like, but you will only get paid for One Story in any 24 hour period
So in other words, you can only earn WRZ$ once a day.
Each news day will start when I post announcing it
OR at:
9:00 AM CHICAGO TIME (UTC -5)
2:00 PM GMT (UTC -0)
on those days I space out and forget to post or can't due to Real Life
Stories may be accompanied with images - but No big images, please! 800x800 pixels wide maximum
Videos are allowed, but please keep them short, and post a short summary for those that don't like to click on videos
No Duplicate stories - Where a post has been edited resulting in duplicates, then the last one in time gets disallowed.
And please limit this to reasonably family friendly stories

Reward:
Each news story posted that I feel is acceptable (must be a real story, too few words or simply a headline are not considered acceptable) will earn you 50 WRZ$
If you post multiple stories on any given day, you will only earn 50 WRZ$ for the first story of the Day
All payments will be made at THE END of the weekly news cycle.
Special Bonus - Each week I will award "The Pulitzer Prize" for the best story of the week
The weekly winner of the "The Pulitzer Prize" will receive a 100 WRZ$ bonus
It's just my personal opinion, so my judgement is final

So help bring GOOD news to the members of mobi, and join our reporting team...

IN OTHER NEWS

Woman relieved after finding her dog is behind her constantly 'filthy' windows

A woman is relieved after finally discovering why she constantly had 'filthy' windows after catching her dog mindlessly licking them.

Anna Dunford, 36, has two Siberian huskies, Bear and Baloo, and for the past two years her windows had been growing increasingly hard to keep clean and she had no idea why.

Then one day, her mother was looking after the dogs and went to prepare their food in the kitchen, and to de-stress the process she shut the dogs in the next room, separated by a door with glass windows, as Plymouth Live reports.

The hungry dogs lined up to watch as their dog-sitter scooped out their food, and as she glanced back she noticed that eager Baloo had his nose pressed against the glass and was licking away in anticipation.


Anna, from Plymouth, Devon, said: "Baloo makes a habit of this pose. He licks the glass when he is watching something happening and he wants to come in but is shut out the room.

"If we are in our kitchen and he wants in, he is licking the window. It always amuses our guests who have come round to visit him a lot recently.

"He has such a character about him, if he was human he wouldn’t be the sharpest tool in the shed that’s for sure.

"No wonder my windows are filthy. He really does make me laugh."

Anna attributes Baloo's unusual habit to his unique personality and added that he is the loving and caring one out of the pair of dogs.

She continued: "I have been pregnant recently, and during my pregnancy around 7pm each night he wouldn’t rest until he could lick my feet.

"It was gross, he would sit licking them for an hour at a time, and he really wouldn’t settle unless I allowed him to do so.”

Anna shared the pictures of her goofy Husky’s behaviour on Facebook, and it has attracted lots of attention from people who couldn’t help but laugh at the pup.

The post has received more than 1,000 likes with many people commenting on the comedy moment saying ‘what a goofball’ he is.

[ozswede]

Cambridge University college hands back looted cockerel to Nigeria


His Royal Highness Prince Aghatise Erediauwa (centre) during a ceremony at Jesus College in Cambridge

The master of a Cambridge University college has described the return of a looted bronze cockerel to representatives of Nigeria as a "momentous occasion".

The statue, known as the "Okukur", was taken by British colonial forces in 1897 and given to Jesus College in 1905 by the father of a student.

A decision for it to be returned was made in 2019 after students campaigned.

A ceremony has been held at the college to sign the handover documents.

"It's massively significant," said Sonita Alleyne, master of Jesus College. "It's a momentous occasion."


Sonita Alleyne, master of Jesus College (left) said it was the "right thing to do" to return the artefact

She said returning the artefact was the "right thing to do" to and said the bronze piece was of "cultural and spiritual significance to the people of Nigeria".

"It's part of their ancestral heritage," Ms Alleyne added.

The college's Legacy of Slavery Working Party concluded in 2019 that the cockerel "belongs with the current Oba at the Court of Benin".

The Oba of Benin is head of the historic Eweka dynasty of the Benin Empire, centred on Benin City in modern-day Nigeria.


The Benin bronze cockerel was given to Jesus College in 1905

Ms Alleyne said the Nigerian delegation would decide how and when to move the Okukur.

The statue was removed from display at the college in 2016 and will be given to Nigeria's National Commission for Museums and Monuments.

Oba of Benin, Omo N'Oba N'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, said it was hoped others would "expedite the return of our artworks, which in many cases are of religious importance to us".

Source

[prokroustis]

Female Phantoms of Stirling Castle: Ghostly encounters with a Handmaiden & her Queen



According to locals raised on tales of Stirling since youth the castle is filled with female ghosts of all hues of the rainbow

Approaching Stirling Castle in the day time is rather daunting. Filled with the scent of ancient dust, damp stone, and dew-covered grass, the palace exudes magic from the moment one steps inside its grounds. Now, imagine that same feeling, those same scents, in the dark of the night. The fields around the castle are empty; the only noises are your gentle footsteps on the hard stones, echoing throughout the structure, as if someone, somewhere close, is following you. There are shadows in every corner; no sun chases them away through open windows, no burning torches cast them aside as they did once upon a time. The stones are weathered with age, coarse and cold against your fingertips. There are stories within them, hidden in the cracks and crevices, but those who could tell those tales died long ago.

Yet in the dark, in the echoing silence, all alone in a room chilled by the dampness alone, you suddenly feel a cold breath against the back of your neck.

And you know, that while the storytellers are dead, they are not gone .

Stirling Castle has a long history as the royal residence of Scottish kings and queens. It was the seat of power in the north. The land upon which the castle stands has passed through more hands than can be counted, from native tribes to the kings of Mercia to the Picts in the 12th century, and so on. As such, it is no wonder that its history is filled with as much bloodshed as treason and treasure.

It is therefore the perfect breeding ground for specters and shades to make their eternal home.

https://youtu.be/Jc12eP0JJOk

The Green Lady: A Repentant Handmaiden?

A woman known as the ‘Green Lady’ is said to wander the castle’s halls. According to locals raised on tales of Stirling since youth and the guides who provide ghost tours at Stirling, the castle is filled with female ghosts of all hues of the rainbow. The Green Lady, however, is feared the most—perhaps it is due to her appearance, known only by her long hair and green gown, or perhaps it is because of the legend of her death. Regardless, it is her likeness who is said to frequent the halls most often; so naturally it is with her story where we must begin.

Alligator found lurking in apartment complex storm drain in Alabama



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WW9vKWGnsSE

An alligator was relocated from an Alabama apartment complex after being spotted lurking in a storm drain.

Anthony Patterson and Kenisha Miller said they were driving home in Mobile when they spotted the alligator in a storm drain at a local apartment complex.

"We saw a gator coming out of the drainage hole, and we were like, 'Is that a real gator?'" Miller told WKRG-TV.

The couple said the gator crawled out of the drain and was lurking about 50 feet from where a school bus was dropping off kids.

"A lot of people in the neighborhood started coming out with their phones and stuff and were trying to record it 'cause they were just as shocked as we were," Patterson said.

Alabama Game and Wildlife officials responded to the scene and captured the alligator.


https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2021/10/28 ... 635452975/

[Fatima99]

Heartwarming moment fireman is surprised with Pride of Britain Award on This Morning

Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary were delighted on Friday's show when they got the chance to surprise a fireman ahead of this year's Pride of Britain Awards.

The 2021 ceremony will take place this weekend and This Morning shared the incredible stories of their four nominees this week for the Emergency Services Award.

Heroic firefighter Stephen Wharton had no idea that he had been invited to the ITV studio to be told the good news, and looked genuinely stunned as Alison, 46, came backstage to tell him.

Stephen rescued 13-year-old Kacper Krauze from the River Eden in Cumbria back February 2019.



Kacper had been attempting to swim across the river when the cold water sent his body into shock and he sank 12ft below and remained there for 20 minutes.

Alison and Dermot invited Stephen, who was dressed in his uniform, onto the sofa to share his incredibly brave story.

Dermot asked Stephen how he felt about winning the award, to which he replied: "I don’t know. It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster ride these last few weeks, thinking I’m having an interview and then you just came in!"



Alison then asked if him if he had realised how serious the incident was when he first got to the scene.

"We didn’t, we actually thought Kacper was stuck in a concrete area just under the bridge," Stephen replied.

Asked if he thought the worst had happened when he arrived, Stephen revealed: "I suppose you do, but you never give up hope - you always think you can achieve a successful rescue.

"We are what you call wade in first responders, so we’re only allowed to go waist deep, so we put a system in where we can take a small amount of risk to save a life… we knew the location of Kasper, so we entered the river and said, ‘Maybe we can get him'."

Stephen continued: "We had dry suits on and then had to remove a personal flotation device, so I could get down to him.

"The suits contain a bit of air, so we had to release the air so it didn’t keep you buoyant, then I saw a blurred outline of him. That’s when I thought, 'one chance, got to get down'.

"Kacper was in the river just with a pair of shorts on, so I had a limited amount of things I could get hold of him to bring him back up…

"We got him onto the side of the river and at that time paramedics, doctors, they were all in attendance and we were out of the river and straight into the hands of the medics and had the best medical attention he could have got at the time," Stephen added.

Kacper was put into an induced coma for three weeks but has since recovered.

[PennySerenade]

Halloween is just around the corner and that means the resurgence of your favourite spooky activities like haunted houses and light festivals.

This year, you won't have to travel outside of the city to see a spooky light show.

Video Here:
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And Here:
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Savage Lights returns this year to get you in the spooky spirit and to raise funds for SickKids. Located in Etobicoke, this Toronto family home is transforming into a Halloween light show this weekend.

The annual light show has been running twice a year since 2018, during the Halloween season and winter holidays.

Just like their Christmas lights show counterpart, the lights show will feature over 60,000 LED lights synchronized to festive music and a 92" hand-built screen to display animated lights.

Albert Barone, the owner of the home, told blogTO he's happy to bring back joy to the neighborhood and raise funds for a good cause.

"I chose SickKids because for me the holidays are all about the kids and what better way to share the light of the season than to support a hospital that is continually striving to do better and support kids and their families," says Barone.

The light show is located at 1 Fletcher Place and runs from Oct. 29 through Oct. 31.

There are no tickets for the event but a donation to SickKids is recommended. The family's goal this year is to raise $5000 for the hospital.

For those in Scarborough who want to check out a Halloween attraction closer to home, there's a creepy house decked out with decorations on Brenyon Way.

Toronto's Creepiest Halloween House:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CVlGGysrzBb/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=8af7ffd0-e70d-4c9d-aa28-b5f1870e4fe1

It's also the final weekend of the season to check out the scary home at Glenlake and Dorval near the Junction Triangle.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CVifCkAFBtt/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=3e71f935-466b-4480-9930-a65658813fa4

For those more into a super-scary haunted attractions, the Haunted Office has extended hours this weekend.