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Oh, The Irony

Boys' Throats Cut In Sweeney Todd Show Mishap
Two teenagers are rushed to hospital after the school musical gets a little too real - despite the blade being bound in duct tape.

A high school production of Sweeney Todd in New Zealand went horribly wrong when a throat-slitting scene became all too real and two teenagers were sliced with a prop razor.

Students at Saint Kentigern College in Auckland were performing the opening night of the musical when the mishap happened.

Headteacher Steve Cole told radio station Newstalk ZB the razor used on stage was real, but had been bound in duct tape.

He said he had no idea what went wrong.
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http://news.sky.com/story/1674254/boys-throats-cut-in-sweeney-todd-show-mishap
 
Plymouth teen 'won't tweet for a year' after Manchester United prediction backfires
By samblackledge | Posted: April 24, 2016

An embarrassed football fan has sworn off Twitter for a year after his FA Cup prediction went horribly wrong.

During Saturday's semi-final between Manchester United and Everton, Callington 18-year-old Jordan Coombe told his followers: "If Marouane Fellaini scores I won't tweet for a year."
A few minutes later, the Belgian midfielder found the net to make it 1-0 to Louis Van Gaal's men.

Jordan's message was picked up by media outlets across the world and re-tweeted more than 1,000 times.
He told The Herald: "I tweeted it because I was very confident he was not going to score.
"When he did score, I had to do a double-take. I was like: 'Oh no.'" :eek:

Jordan, who works as a lifeguard at the St Mellion hotel and gym resort, said: "I can't tweet now for a year, I am going to go through with it. Otherwise I would get some abuse."

He said he was "very surprised" his tweet got so much attention. :twisted:
...

http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/Ply...r-Manchester/story-29167189-detail/story.html
 
Yet British and American war potential was a tangible reality even in 1941, and Lend-Lease aid meant that the Soviet Union was no longer fighting its war in exclusion. Symbolic of this fact was an incident that took place in mid-November. A German bomber flew over Moscow dropping leaflets declaring: ‘Your allies are not helping you and will not help.’ The German bomber, however, was shot down as it tried to return to its base – the Soviet pilot was flying a fighter from the United States.

Great book:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23340875-the-battle-for-moscow
 
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PCC Alison Hernandez 'should stand aside' over expenses probe
Chris Ellis

BBC News Online
Posted at 13:37

A newly-elected Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) being investigated by police "should stand aside", it is claimed.

Police are investigating Alison Hernandez's role in submitting expenses for MP Kevin Foster in 2015.
Tudor Evans, leader of Plymouth City Council, said: "She's under investigation, her Conservative colleagues are being investigated and she's a politically controlled PCC."

On Saturday on BBC Radio Cornwall, Ms Hernandez said: "I haven't been approached by any authority." She added she would assist with any inquires and has put arrangements in place so she will have no contact with officers investigating expenses.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-england-devon-36232423

rynner feels smug, having avoided voting for any big political party candidate! Mine was a protest vote - I picked a couple of no-hopers! :twisted:

EDIT 1550: The fuller story (same URL):

Newly-elected police commissioner under investigation
Simon Hall, Home Affairs Correspondent
BBC Spotlight
Posted at 12:11

Devon and Cornwall Police are to bring in another force to investigate allegations of undeclared general election spending by the newly elected police and crime commissioner, the BBC has learnt.
The allegations concern the use of the Conservatives' battlebus. Its expenses were declared nationally, rather than in the local areas. Alison Hernandez was the Conservative election agent in Torbay and responsible for declaring election spending. Ms Hernandez, who was elected commissioner on Friday, denies any wrongdoing. She is due to be sworn in tomorrow.

Senior officers told us they were in discussions with several police forces about taking over the case as "openness and transparency is vital to maintain public confidence".
 
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rynner2 said:
PCC Alison Hernandez 'should stand aside' over expenses probe
Chris Ellis

BBC News Online
Posted at 13:37

A newly-elected Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) being investigated by police "should stand aside", it is claimed.

Police are investigating Alison Hernandez's role in submitting expenses for MP Kevin Foster in 2015.
Tudor Evans, leader of Plymouth City Council, said: "She's under investigation, her Conservative colleagues are being investigated and she's a politically controlled PCC."

On Saturday on BBC Radio Cornwall, Ms Hernandez said: "I haven't been approached by any authority." She added she would assist with any inquires and has put arrangements in place so she will have no contact with officers investigating expenses.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-england-devon-36232423

rynner feels smug, having avoided voting for any big political party candidate! Mine was a protest vote - I picked a couple of no-hopers! :twisted:

EDIT 1550: The fuller story (same URL):

Newly-elected police commissioner under investigation
Simon Hall, Home Affairs Correspondent
BBC Spotlight
Posted at 12:11

Devon and Cornwall Police are to bring in another force to investigate allegations of undeclared general election spending by the newly elected police and crime commissioner, the BBC has learnt.
The allegations concern the use of the Conservatives' battlebus. Its expenses were declared nationally, rather than in the local areas. Alison Hernandez was the Conservative election agent in Torbay and responsible for declaring election spending. Ms Hernandez, who was elected commissioner on Friday, denies any wrongdoing. She is due to be sworn in tomorrow.

Senior officers told us they were in discussions with several police forces about taking over the case as "openness and transparency is vital to maintain public confidence".
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Oh dear, got to chortle at this. Friday to Monday could be one of the shortest times spent in the job. Mustn't jump to any conclusions though..

The battlebus saga does seem to have broken election expenses rules. Not that you're going to see them admitting anything.
 
CiB_x_DWwAEc0rN.jpg
 
Just clearing up a widely-held misconception.... PCCs aren't in charge of police forces.

They are there to hold the Chief Constable to account, ask questions on behalf of the public etc. They can indeed fire a Chief (or at least recommend removal), but they don't have any real control over day-to-day decisions or the running of a force.

The scandal in Devon & Cornwall was known about well before the election, so I can't really work out why the good people of the West Country voted her in?

That's clever campaigning, right there.
 
CarlosTheDJ said:
Just clearing up a widely-held misconception.... PCCs aren't in charge of police forces.

They are there to hold the Chief Constable to account, ask questions on behalf of the public etc. They can indeed fire a Chief (or at least recommend removal), but they don't have any real control over day-to-day decisions or the running of a force.

The scandal in Devon & Cornwall was known about well before the election, so I can't really work out why the good people of the West Country voted her in?

That's clever campaigning, right there.
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Would you elaborate a bit on the powers a PCC actually possesses?
 
Here ya go - as you can see, it's very 'top-level' stuff, a very political role, whereas the Chief Constable is 'the boss' as far as employees are concerned.

Under the terms of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011, PCCs must:
  • secure an efficient and effective police for their area;
  • appoint the Chief Constable, hold them to account for running the force, and if necessary dismiss them;
  • set the police and crime objectives for their area through a police and crime plan;
  • set the force budget and determine the precept;
  • contribute to the national and international policing capabilities set out by the Home Secretary; and
  • bring together community safety and criminal justice partners, to
  • make sure local priorities are joined up.
More detailed information on PCC powers and responsibilities is also available here on the Home Office website.

From http://www.apccs.police.uk/role-of-the-pcc/
 
Man drowns during lifeguard fitness test

http://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2016/05/28/man-drowns-during-lifeguard-fitness-test-in-orleans

"A man in his 20s drowned Saturday morning while taking a lifeguard fitness test at Pilgrim Lake in Orleans, according to the Orleans Fire Department.

The department said multiple agencies responded to the scene after the swimmer was reported missing around 8:49 a.m.

Divers located the man off-shore around 9:23 a.m. and immediately began resuscitation efforts, according to the department. He was transported to Cape Cod Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The incident is under investigation by the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office, according to the fire department."
 
Drunk Spider-Man rescued from cliff face by firefighters
By maxc73 | Posted: May 30, 2016

A drunk man claiming to be Spider-Man had to be rescued from a cliff face on Sunday night by firefighters, with a specialist team called in from Plymouth.
The man had climbed about 20 metres up a cliff wall in Teignmouth Road, Torquay - and and got stuck.

A crew from Torquay fire station were sent to the scene along with a specialist cliff rescue team from Plymouth which was not needed.
A fire service spokesman said: "We were called out about 7.30pm to a man who was very drunk. He had climbed up the cliff face from the bottom and was being very aggressive and very difficult. He was throwing things down towards the police.

"We went around the top towards Maine Avenue by Westhill and used our specialist line equipment to reach him. We then escorted him to police and the ambulance service.
"He was 15-20 metres up. It was a long way. He was telling everyone he was Spiderman and giving it lots but he was very much in a position of quite big danger."

On arrival crews confirmed the male was stuck 20 metres up. Crews used lines and safety at height equipment to rescue the male. Duty of care was left with the ambulance service.

http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/Dru...firefighters/story-29337415-detail/story.html
 
Too much sun blamed for closure of Penzance outdoor swimming pool
3 June 2016

Too much sunshine has been blamed for the closure of an outdoor swimming pool in Penzance, Cornwall just days after it reopened.
The Art Deco Jubilee Pool had been shut since it was wrecked by severe storms in January and February 2014.
The £3m refurbishment included major structural repairs, drainage and electrical work.

Tempus Leisure, which runs the pool, said a combination of sunshine and warmth had created an algal bloom.
The bloom is caused by a rapid growth in millions of microscopic algae, brought about by sunlight and heat.
In a statement the firm said the bloom was not harmful, but its presence meant lifeguards could not clearly see the bottom of the pool in all areas.
"It's a completely natural phenomenon," a spokesman told BBC News.

He said the aim was to operate the tidal saltwater pool - one of only a small number in Europe - as naturally as possible, without the use of chemicals, but that in this instance, "the absolute minimum amount of chlorine" had had to be used.
"The pool's been treated... and it's looking great and will 100% be open tomorrow," he added.

The pool was built in 1935 to commemorate King George V's silver jubilee.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-36446743
 
rynner2 said:
Drunk Spider-Man rescued from cliff face by firefighters
By maxc73 | Posted: May 30, 2016

A drunk man claiming to be Spider-Man had to be rescued from a cliff face on Sunday night by firefighters, with a specialist team called in from Plymouth.
The man had climbed about 20 metres up a cliff wall in Teignmouth Road, Torquay - and and got stuck.

A crew from Torquay fire station were sent to the scene along with a specialist cliff rescue team from Plymouth which was not needed.
A fire service spokesman said: "We were called out about 7.30pm to a man who was very drunk. He had climbed up the cliff face from the bottom and was being very aggressive and very difficult. He was throwing things down towards the police.

"We went around the top towards Maine Avenue by Westhill and used our specialist line equipment to reach him. We then escorted him to police and the ambulance service.
"He was 15-20 metres up. It was a long way. He was telling everyone he was Spiderman and giving it lots but he was very much in a position of quite big danger."

On arrival crews confirmed the male was stuck 20 metres up. Crews used lines and safety at height equipment to rescue the male. Duty of care was left with the ambulance service.

http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/Drunk-Spider-Man-rescued-cliff-face-firefighters/story-29337415-detail/story.html
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I don't buy it Rynner, you weren't even in Torquay that evening.
 
rynner2 said:
Drunk Spider-Man rescued from cliff face by firefighters
By maxc73 | Posted: May 30, 2016

A drunk man claiming to be Spider-Man had to be rescued from a cliff face on Sunday night by firefighters, with a specialist team called in from Plymouth.
The man had climbed about 20 metres up a cliff wall in Teignmouth Road, Torquay - and and got stuck.

A crew from Torquay fire station were sent to the scene along with a specialist cliff rescue team from Plymouth which was not needed.
A fire service spokesman said: "We were called out about 7.30pm to a man who was very drunk. He had climbed up the cliff face from the bottom and was being very aggressive and very difficult. He was throwing things down towards the police.

"We went around the top towards Maine Avenue by Westhill and used our specialist line equipment to reach him. We then escorted him to police and the ambulance service.
"He was 15-20 metres up. It was a long way. He was telling everyone he was Spiderman and giving it lots but he was very much in a position of quite big danger."

On arrival crews confirmed the male was stuck 20 metres up. Crews used lines and safety at height equipment to rescue the male. Duty of care was left with the ambulance service.

http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/Dru...firefighters/story-29337415-detail/story.html
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They should have used a giant glass and piece of card.
 
rynner2 said:
It's surprising how common this is - there are almost certainly other examples on this thread!
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I've read about one other example of this same thing happening but I haven't got a link to it sorry .. I think it was a fire station.
 
There was a retired fireman, near to where I live (as I type this, I feel sure I've already mentioned it on this thread, but never mind), who had an outbuilding in his garden which he used as a kind of museum for firefighting memorabilia.

And yes, it burned down.


EDIT: I did indeed post this story - see Jan 2nd of this year, post #800 (bottom of page 40). Sorry about that - I've even repeated myself almost word-for-word from that post!
 
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Here's one from back in April; I missed it at the time.

Run that past me again,

"Boardman later told her father, who worked for trading standards, that she had won scholarships to both universities and chose Oxford. Between 2011 and 2015 her father gave her more than £250,000, believing she needed the cash for research abroad, rent and travelling expenses."

:oops:
 
What a cow! Her parents were so good to her.
 
US pastor Tony Perkins, who believes natural disasters are sent by God to punish gay people, has fled his flooded home in Louisiana.

In 2015 he caused controversy when he agreed with a statement that natural disasters are sent by God as punishment for abortion and gay marriage.

Mr Perkins has revealed that he was forced to escape his property in a canoe with his family.

He shared photos on Facebook and discussed his experience in a podcast.

"This is a flood of near-biblical proportions," he said in an interview with the Family Research Council.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/artic...floods-are-gods-punishment-flees-flooded-home
 
More 'just deserts' than irony, but I'll drop it here.

CEO who jacked up price of Epipens by 400% in critical condition after being stung by swarm of bees... and no-one had an Epipen.

Mylan CEO Heather Bresch was hospitalized earlier today after being attacked by a swarm of bees.

Bresch was walking through a park during her lunch hour when the bee attack occurred. A large crowd of people formed to watch as she tried to run from the swarm.

“She must have gotten stung like 100 times, mostly on her face,” said one shocked onlooker, who asked to remain anonymous. “Her face was puffed up all huge, she kinda looked like a muppet.”
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Bresch, who is apparently allergic to bee stings, immediately suffered a severe anaphylactic reaction. However, none of the bystanders had an EpiPen on hand to inject Bresch with relief.

“Didn’t she raise the price to 600 bucks? Nobody got money for that,” said one Robert Selvidge, a bystander on the scene. “She kept pointing at her bag for some reason, who knows why? Was there something in there she needed? Maybe she had an Epipen in there. Whatever. If you ask me she got what she deserves.”
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TheGoodLordAbove
 
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