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Len Lye sculpture worth $300,000 broken in pieces by would-be daredevil
Amber-Leigh Woolf·16:02, Oct 09 2018


SUPPLIED
The Len Lye Water Whirler sculpture snapped at the base when a man decided to climb it.

A Wellington sculpture worth an estimated $300,000 has been broken in two by a would-be daredevil.

The Len Lye Water Whirler in Wellington has been under restoration for more than a year, but on Monday a man decided to climb it, breaking the 'wand' at the base.

Len Lye Foundation director Evan Webb said the sculpture was almost ready to be declared fixed, and it was planned to be re-opened this month.


WILL PALMER
The acrobat climbs out of the sea after swinging off the Len Lye sculpture.

Photos of the man emerging from the water after the stunt went wrong show blood coming from his head.

Webb said almost $200,000 had been commissioned in 2009 to fix the sculpture. One of the things they were trying to fix was the extent to which the wand could bend.


WILL PALMER

Almost $200,000 had been commissioned in 2009 to fix the sculpture, and restoration work was ready to be finalised this month.

It upset him greatly to hear that the wand had been broken, he said.

Wellington resident Will Palmer said about 70 people watched the man break it.

"Then he came out of the water quite slowly, and everyone saw him come out of the water with a big gash on his head."

Everyone was shocked, he said.

"They were saying it was very sad, and saying 'why would he do that'."

A Wellington Free ambulance spokeswoman said the man, who was in his 20s, was taken to Wellington Hospital with moderate injuries.

The Water Whirler was installed in Wellington 2006, with installation pushing the final bill up to $1 million. In 2016 it was turned off for repairs.

When the sculpture is operating the wand oscillates, revolves and gyrates, spraying water from jets.

Motors designed to work with a computer programme choreograph the movement and water patterns of the wand, playing in 10-minute cycles on the hour, but only in winds of less than 20 knots.


WILL PALMER

About 70 people were watching the would-be daredevil bend the sculpture's wand when it snapped, an onlooker has said.

Wellington City Council spokesman Richard MacLean said the sculpture was out of action for repairs when it was vandalised.

"It would be safe to say that everyone associated with the sculpture will be appalled by today's act. The bloke also appears to be lucky he narrowly avoided a Darwin Award."

The council would be speaking to the police and other interested parties about their options, he said.

Wellington Mayor Justin Lester tweeted "You break it, you buy it" - but said the comment was tongue in cheek.

"It will be covered by our insurance ... we're not going to ask them to pay for all those costs."

They didn't yet know how much repairs would cost, he said.

"It's a bespoke design, it's not something you can fix easily. It will cost a lot.

"It was a very silly act ... it's very unfortunate."

Wellington Sculpture Trust chair Sue Elliott said the trust was a "hair's breadth" away from getting the Water Whirler running again.

For over a year they'd been working to solve complicated issues with the sculpture's motor, she said.

"This has set us back for months."

The sculpture recently had an entirely new system made for it so that it could operate again, which they were just weeks away from installing, she said.

"It will need a whole new pole by the look of it now."

The cost of the sculpture's restoration to date wasn't known, because many people were helping with repairs "out of the goodness of their heart", she said.

"The team will regroup I expect, and decide what the next steps are."

There has been an ongoing discussion about if the sculpture's pier should be closed to the public.

"This really probably squashes that for good ... I think we have to take drastic measures now."

Stuff

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/107689 ... -daredevil

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Train hits car in Auckland after motorist ignored barriers and signs
Mandy Te·15:53, Oct 19 2018

A car was hit by a train after the motorist apparently ignored the barrier arms and flashing lights at a level crossing in Auckland on Thursday evening.

The train was travelling in the west Auckland suburb of Henderson when two cars drove through the level crossing on Bruce McLaren Road.

In a statement, Auckland Transport (AT) said the barrier arms were down, lights were flashing and bells were sounding, "clearly showing that a train was approaching".


AT/SUPPLIED
The train was damaged after the car ignored the barriers, lights and bells.

"Two car drivers decided to blatantly ignore this and drive through the level crossing," AT said.

The second car was hit by the train, damaging the front of the train. The car drove off, fleeing the scene.

"The cost of repairs now has to be covered by the ratepayers," Auckland Transport said.

Metro service delivery's group manager Stacey Van Der Putten said the drivers' decisions were "foolish and dangerous".

"It's incredibly lucky that no one was killed.


AUCKLAND TRANSPORT/SUPPLIED
Two cars drove through a level crossing in Auckland and one was hit by a train on Thursday evening.

"The lights were flashing and the barriers were down, these drivers made the conscious and idiotic decision to ignore them, putting themselves, the other drivers nearby and the people on the train in danger," Van Der Putten said.

Megan Drayton, manager of Tracksafe, said the drivers' behaviour was reckless and endangered many people.

"Incidents like this can have a devastating effect on the driver of the train," Drayton said.


SIMON MAUDE/STUFF
A train travelling in west Auckland hit a car at a level crossing - the driver fled the scene (FILE PHOTO).

Detective Senior Sergeant Roger Small said this was an alarming incident.

Police wanted to hear from anyone who witnessed it.

Anyone with information was asked to contact Henderson Police on 09 839 0600.

click the link below for the movie

https://www.stuff.co.nz/video/107980143 ... -and-signs

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Hey Punk, Have You Lost Your Mind Like Rudy?

A gang of robbers walk into a shop. The owner asks them to come back later when he has more money. And that's what they do ! ...


Being Belgium, the gang were probably distressed at being lied to.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-45958404

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"Welcome to the Frank Zappa Memorial Country Club & BBQ" at wgt.com 75 members and counting.

Somebody stole something (it's like a hardware/farm implement place) where my son works. He saw the guy leave with it and get into his truck. He then handed it to his girlfriend or wife and told her to go get a refund, as if they bought it. The girlfriend/wife brings whatever it was in to the store and asks for a refund. My son tells her that they can send a check from the corporate office to their home. He asks her for her home address to send the check, and......she gave it to him. After giving her information, she left and got in to the truck. Her.boyfriend husband then calls the store and asks if they can bring the check in to the store once they get it so they can cash it.

He was told no.

Missed by two letters!

York police charge Toronto woman with witchcraft and fraud in $600,000 ‘evil spirit’ scam

"Samantha Stevenson, 27, of Toronto, has been charged with pretending to practice witchcraft, fraud over $5,000, and possession of property obtained by crime."

https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2018/1 ... F2Z_WJNB-c

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https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/terrorism-charge-france-train-syria-lille-montpellier-wine-fire-a8634026.html

This happened yesterday afternoon.

A man who doused himself with wine (apparently the really cheap, smelly SNCF certified Rosé) and tried to set himself on fire on a train in France is being held by police on a potential terrorism charge.

The man, who identified himself as Syrian, waved a phone showing images of armed combatants, according to an unnamed official, who was not authorised to speak officially about the case.

He was then tackled by a soldier and a police officer, who were both off duty at the time.

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"Welcome to the Frank Zappa Memorial Country Club & BBQ" at wgt.com 75 members and counting.

School principal bans Christmas candy canes because “shape is a ‘J’ for Jesus”

OMAHA, Nebraska, December 7, 2018 (LifeSiteNews) – An elementary school principal has been put on leave after banning candy canes, which she said are a Christian symbol.
According to Liberty Counsel, Jennifer Sinclair, the principal of Omaha-area Manchester Elementary School, wrote a memo this November to teachers banning all decorations and school assignments that make any reference to Christmas, including the colors red and green.
“Please remember that we are not to be doing any Christmas or holiday-specific themed activities with students,” she instructed. “Santa and Christmas items are not to be on activities or copies. We have varied religious beliefs in our school, and it is our job to be inclusive.”
Sinclair was so thorough in her inclusivity that she banned candy canes on the grounds that their shape is a “‘J’ for Jesus.”
"Historically, the shape is a ‘J’ for Jesus,” she claimed. “The red is for the blood of Christ, and the white is a symbol of his resurrection.”
The principal also rejected differently colored candy canes.

https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/schoo ... ents-jesus

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You're probably wondering why I'm here
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Man burned in boat explosion after using flame to detect gas leak
Caroline Williams·11:37, Dec 28 2018


SIMON MAUDE/FAIRFAX NZ
A man who suffered burns following a boat explosion was flown to Auckland City Hospital on a Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter.

A man suffered serious burn injuries in an explosion on his boat after a lighter or match was used to detect a gas leak.

The Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter was alerted to the explosion on the boat near Motuihe Island in the Hauraki Gulf, about 3.20pm on Thursday.

The man, in his 60s, was transported to the Motuihe jetty by Coastguard North Shore where they were met by the rescue helicopter and intensive care paramedic Chris Beacon.

The man was flown to Auckland City Hospital in a serious condition, with burns to his hands and face. The man's wife, who was also on-board, took control of the boat with assistance from the Lion Foundation Rescue. A Coastguard Northern Region spokesman confirmed there were no other injuries.

He confirmed an open flame - either a match or a lighter - was used to locate a gas leak, which caused the explosion.

Later, Coastguard issued a warning to never use open flames to locate a gas leak.

"Test with a soapy water solution, which will bubble at any point where gas escapes."


The Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter crew were initially attending a surfing accident on Great Barrier Island when they were re-tasked to Motuihe Island.


Stuff

https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/109637 ... t-gas-leak

Clarification: Auckland is still a hell hole.....

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Hey Punk, Have You Lost Your Mind Like Rudy?

Well, some has to shame their past behavior.
Some should shame their present behavior...

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No doubt, we're doomed ! For a real diplomacy: abolish Electoral College
Ignore list: DiscoBoy

"Bikini Mountain Climber" freezes to death after falling 65 feet into ravine during a solo trek.

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I can think of better "ravines" to fall into.

Suspected rhino poacher is killed by an elephant and then eaten by lions in South Africa

Only a skull and a pair of trousers remained after a suspected rhino poacher was killed by an elephant and then eaten by lions in Kruger National Park, South African National Parks said.

The incident happened after the man entered the park with four others to target rhinos, according to a parks service statement released Friday.

His family were notified of his death late Tuesday by his fellow poachers, and a search party led by Kruger's regional manager, Don English, set out to recover the body. Rangers scoured on foot and police flew over the area, but due to failing light, it could not be found.

The search resumed Thursday morning and, with the help of added field rangers, what was left of his body was discovered.

"Indications found at the scene suggested that a pride of lions had devoured the remains leaving only a human skull and a pair of pants," the statement said.

2 for the price

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" Music is the only religion that delivers the goods " FZ

They charge me double for an ice cream sundae They charge me double for an ice cream sundae

But did you get extra cream

Japanese drug mule swallows 246 packets of cocaine, dies mid-flight

"MEXICO CITY: A Japanese man with 246 packets of cocaine in his stomach and intestines died mid-flight on his way from Bogota to Tokyo, authorities said Monday in northern Mexico, where the plane made an emergency landing.
The cause of death was swelling of the brain caused by a drug overdose, said the statement."


https://www.nst.com.my/world/2019/05/491938/japanese-drug-mule-swallows-246-packets-cocaine-dies-mid-flight

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FILE UNDER: WE DON'T NEED NO STINKIN' PERMITS

City says private border wall didn't have a building permit and orders construction to 'cease and desist'



(CNN) City officials in Sunland Park, New Mexico, have delivered a "cease and desist" order to the owners of land where a private border wall is being built.

The project doesn't have proper permits to proceed because an application filed was incomplete, Sunland Park spokesman Peter Ibarbo told CNN.

"The rules apply to everyone," Ibarbo said. "That's the process."

The incomplete application isn't the only issue, Sunland Park Mayor Javier Perea told reporters Tuesday.

"My understanding is that city ordinance only allows a wall up to six feet tall, and this far exceeds that," he said.

The city's chief inspector is scheduled to visit the site Wednesday to help determine the next steps, Ibarbo said.

Brian Kolfage, whose GoFundMe campaign raised more than $20 million to build the wall on private property, disputed the city's assessment, describing the "cease and desist" order as political intimidation.

Construction at the site halted Tuesday after the order was received, Kolfage said. Attorneys for his group, We Build the Wall, met with city officials about permits Tuesday evening and subsequently submitted a revised site plan, he said.

"What we really think it is, we think it's a political issue. People are raising a fit about this. People don't like that it's happening," Kolfage said. "That's why we waited as long as we did to file the paperwork."

Kris Kobach, general counsel for We Build the Wall, said in a statement that building, development and rock wall permits had been filed, and that city inspectors had given the project a green light before Memorial Day weekend.

"We were then instructed by the same city officials that we were good to proceed with construction over the holiday weekend and that we would not have any issues being shut down," Kobach said.

Sunland Park City Manager Julia Brown told CNN the city's "cease and desist" order has nothing to do with politics.

"There is no political motivation on the part of the city, simply our interest in having our code and ordinances complied with," she said.

"This applicant is not being treated any differently from any other applicant in that all applicants are expected to comply with the law. We don't selectively enforce the law, do not show favoritism or ignore our own laws."

On Monday, We Build the Wall trumpeted its swift efforts to build a half-mile stretch of wall on private property, and pledged to continue its efforts on other sites.

Kolfage said word of his project's progress spurred an increase in donations this week.

"We have raised an additional $600,000 in the last few hours," he told CNN on Tuesday.

He pushed back against critics who've noted the privately funded wall doesn't sit directly on the border and who've dismissed the effort as "theater."

"It's protest wall," Kolfage said. "We are standing up. We are saving lives. It's stopping the flow of drugs and illegal migrants."

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Never argue with stupid people; they will drag you
down to their level and then beat you with experience.

The Original Dancing Fool
https://youtu.be/8LAQV6vuqPU

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You're probably wondering why I'm here
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That's no way to treat a case of beer.