What weird news stories make you either laugh out loud, or just say "huh?'

[BubbleWright]

If the artist can control the speed of the rotors front to back and side to side, he might be able to impart forward motion and bank right or left. RC boats with 2 props and no rudder maneuver by just using one or the other props to turn. Just guessing.

[Rowan MacD]

Or put another rotor in a certain place

I went there.  LOL. 

[Merlin the Elder]

You would classify that as rear propulsion.

[NoBill Lurker]

Sword-wielding knights rob medieval festival

[arbcoind]

http://www.cnn.com/video/?hpt=hp_t3#/video/us/2012/08/15/car-mechanics-in-kilts.kotv

Oklahoma mechanics wear kilts.  "like"

Gina

[Rowan MacD]

like!

[arbcoind]

http://www.cnn.com/video/?hpt=hp_t3#/video/bestoftv/2012/08/22/drew-bts-too-sexy-too-soon.hln

This news story makes me say "what the fa...."! 

Gina

[Merlin the Elder]

'Wiki Weapon Project' Aims To Create A Gun Anyone Can 3D-Print At Home:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2012/08/23/wiki-weapon-project-aims-to-create-a-gun-anyone-can-3d-print-at-home/

This is bizarre enough on its own merit. The fact that this was one of our program's grads weirds me out a little more...

[Rowan MacD]

  That's just freakin' scary. 
The potential for a whole bunch of homemade mayhem.

[Elennare]

Interesting.  I would be a bit worried about the plastic not being able to stand up to the stress of firing, though.  There certainly are options that would work, but I wonder if anyone has researched if this printer uses one?  If not, best case scenario is the thing deforms the first time you shoot it and won't work again (better hope you didn't miss if you printed it to use for home defense...).  Worst case is it explodes in your hand.

I will avoid any comments on the political side of the discussion to help keep from dragging the thread off-topic.

[NoBill Lurker]

Ebola Phone Theft: Man Steals From Quarantined Uganda Hospital Patient, Contracts Virus

[Rowan MacD]

From The Independant in GB:   The Vigilantes should have consulted a dictionary before they grabbed the pitchforks and lit the torches....    

Vigilantes have forced a doctor from her home after daubing her walls with anti-pedophile graffiti.

Vigilantes have forced a doctor from her home after daubing her walls with anti-pedophile graffiti.

Yvette Cloete, who works at Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport, found her home daubed with the word "Pedo".
Police said they believe vigilantes confused the words pediatrician and pedophile.
A spokesman said: "There is nothing to justify what was written on the walls and door of Dr Cloete's home. These people should think long and hard about what they have done to a member of the community who has devoted her life to helping children."
Dr Cloete confirmed she had left because of the attack last weekend. "For the time being I have moved out... We removed the graffiti within hours but what happened was a terrible thing and it has been extremely distressing."
A Royal Gwent Hospital spokesman said: "This... has been a pointless and distressing event for Dr Cloete. She is a valued and respected member of the pediatric team, where she has worked for the last two and a half years."

[dbaldock]

"Missing" Tourist in Iceland helps to "find" herself...   

http://boingboing.net/2012/08/28/missing-woman-searches-for-sel.html



The first thought that crossed my mind was, didn't anyone think to count the people on the Tour Bus, before setting out with a Search Party?      

[Merlin the Elder]

Rowen, that is just downright pathetic, and frightening.  Very sad, indeed.

On the other hand, David's story is hilarious!

[Rowan MacD]

  OK-How old is too old to drive?

 He backed slowly into the crowd, but said his car was out of control because his brakes failed?  WTF?
wanna bet there is nothing wrong with his caddy?

Police: 100-year-old driver hits 11 near L.A. school

By Shaya Tayefe Mohajer, Associated Press


LOS ANGELES – A 100-year-old man backed his car on to a sidewalk and hit 11 people, including nine children, across from an elementary school in South Los Angeles just after classes had ended Wednesday, authorities said.

Four of the children were in critical condition when firefighters arrived but they were stabilized and were in serious condition at a hospital, city fire Capt. Jaime Moore said. Everyone was expected to survive, he said.

The powder blue Cadillac backed slowly into the group of parents and children buying snacks from a sidewalk vendor, and the crowd banged on his windows and screamed for him to stop, but not before some of the children were trapped under the car, witnesses said.

L.A. County-USC hospital spokeswoman Rose Saca said one child remained in critical but stable condition, another would remain for observation overnight and another would likely go home later in the day. Others were treated and released.

Children's backpacks, shoes, candy and loose change were strewn about the scene behind a discount grocery store across from Main Street Elementary.

Police identified the driver as Preston Carter and said he was being very cooperative.

Carter talked to television reporters after the crash some five miles southwest of downtown Los Angeles. He said he has a driver's license and will be 101 years old Sept. 5.

"My brakes failed. It was out of control," Carter told KCAL-TV.

Asked about hitting the children, Carter said: "You know I'm sorry about that. I wouldn't do that for nothing on earth. My sympathies for them."

Carter was pulling out of the grocery store parking lot, but instead of backing into the street, he backed onto the sidewalk, police Capt. George Rodriguez said.

"I think it was a miscalculation on his part. The gentleman is elderly," Rodriguez said. "Obviously he is going to have some impairment on his decision making."

Older drivers have been involved in other tragedies. In 2003, an 86-year-old man mistakenly stepped on the gas pedal of his car instead of the brake and then panicked, plowing into an open-air market in Santa Monica. Ten people were killed and 63 injured.

According to California's Department of Motor Vehicles, people over age 70 must renew their driver's license in person, rather than via the Internet or by mail. Older drivers can also be required to take a supplemental driving test if they fail a vision exam, or if a police officer, a physician, or a family member raises questions about their ability to drive.

Rodriguez said the collision was being investigated as an accident, and Carter was not under arrest. He has a valid driver's license, Rodriguez said.