Postie
18th November 2005, 13:11
some strange but true stories.
16.11.05 5.20am
A sparrow nearly ruined a world record attempt when it knocked over 23,000 dominoes before being shot dead in Holland.
The unfortunate bird flew into a building in Leeuwarden where 4 million dominoes had been set up.
Only a system of built-in gaps prevented all the dominoes being knocked down. The bird was shot with an air rifle while cowering in a corner.
The organisers are out to break their own record of 3,992,397 dominoes set last year with a new record of 4,321,000.
17.11.05
The Dutch animal protection agency is investigating the shooting of a sparrow that knocked over 23,000 dominoes during an attempt to set a world record in Leeuwarden.
An agency spokesman said the sparrow was an endangered species and a permit was needed to kill it.
"May I add, is it really necessary to kill a bird that knocked over a few dominoes for a game?"
17.11.05 3.20pm
LOS ANGELES - Plans to launch the remains of "Star Trek" actor James Doohan into space next month have been delayed pending more rocket engine tests, organizers said.
Doohan, who played the "Star Trek" engineer Montgomery "Scotty" Scott on the TV series, died in July at age 85. In accord with his last wishes, his cremated remains were set to be launched into space by commercial flight operators Space Services.
Charles Chafer of Space Services said the flight, due to blast off from California, was likely to be delayed from Dec. 6 until at least February because engineers working on the Falcon One rocket wanted to do some more engine tests.
Doohan's remains will be packed into a tube that is ejected from the rocket and expected to orbit Earth for 50 to 200 years.
Chafer said the remains of 200 other people from as far afield as Russia, Japan and Australia would also be on the flight.
"They literally come from all walks of life -- from rocket scientists to restaurant owners and truck drivers. They were mostly people who were interested in space or anyone who just liked to walk out and look up at the stars at night," said Chafer.
16.11.05 5.20am
A sparrow nearly ruined a world record attempt when it knocked over 23,000 dominoes before being shot dead in Holland.
The unfortunate bird flew into a building in Leeuwarden where 4 million dominoes had been set up.
Only a system of built-in gaps prevented all the dominoes being knocked down. The bird was shot with an air rifle while cowering in a corner.
The organisers are out to break their own record of 3,992,397 dominoes set last year with a new record of 4,321,000.
17.11.05
The Dutch animal protection agency is investigating the shooting of a sparrow that knocked over 23,000 dominoes during an attempt to set a world record in Leeuwarden.
An agency spokesman said the sparrow was an endangered species and a permit was needed to kill it.
"May I add, is it really necessary to kill a bird that knocked over a few dominoes for a game?"
17.11.05 3.20pm
LOS ANGELES - Plans to launch the remains of "Star Trek" actor James Doohan into space next month have been delayed pending more rocket engine tests, organizers said.
Doohan, who played the "Star Trek" engineer Montgomery "Scotty" Scott on the TV series, died in July at age 85. In accord with his last wishes, his cremated remains were set to be launched into space by commercial flight operators Space Services.
Charles Chafer of Space Services said the flight, due to blast off from California, was likely to be delayed from Dec. 6 until at least February because engineers working on the Falcon One rocket wanted to do some more engine tests.
Doohan's remains will be packed into a tube that is ejected from the rocket and expected to orbit Earth for 50 to 200 years.
Chafer said the remains of 200 other people from as far afield as Russia, Japan and Australia would also be on the flight.
"They literally come from all walks of life -- from rocket scientists to restaurant owners and truck drivers. They were mostly people who were interested in space or anyone who just liked to walk out and look up at the stars at night," said Chafer.