116-year-old orange 116年的橘子

A dried-up orange from the lunchbox of a miner fatally injured on the day he was due to eat it has gone on display in a Staffordshire museum.

The fruit belonged to Joseph Roberts who was injured in an explosion at a Stoke-on-Trent colliery in 1891.

It had been kept by his family but has been donated to the Potteries Museum.

Spokeswoman Deb Klemperer said it may just be a piece of dried fruit but the story behind it made it an amazing piece for the museum.

Underground blasting

She said Mr Roberts, 37, of Hanley, had taken it to work at the Racecourse colliery in Etruria for his lunch on 19 February.

Unfortunately, he was badly injured when underground blasting at the colliery went wrong.

He died in hospital leaving a wife and six children.

The lunchbox was one of his effects handed back to his family, who kept it.

Now his great-granddaughter Pam Bettaney has donated it to the museum.

The orange is completely blackened and dried out - the pips can be heard rattling when it is shaken.

"His death was just one of many of the tragedies of the time. He was just one of many who died while working down the mines," Ms Klemperer said. (BBC)

The mysterious "mass suicide" of 152 dolphins in Iran 152條海豚在伊朗神秘「集體自殺」

The mysterious "mass suicide" of 152 dolphins washed up on Iran's coast over the last month has alarmed environmentalists, with the blame pointed at regional fishing practices.(Xinhua/AFP)

Gold mice hit the market 金鼠上市了

Photos taken on Oct. 24 shows an ornamental gold mouse on display at a gold shop in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province. A variety of lovely gold mice have hit the market although there are several months to go before the coming of 2008, the Year of the Mouse, according to Chinese lunar calendar.(CRIEnglish.com)

Grumpy Aussie miners get sex lessons 性情乖戾的澳洲礦工接受性課程

Grumpy Australian coal miners are getting lessons on "exploring their wives" to revive their sex lives and boost production at work.

Men working at the Bulga mine near Sydney attend classes on issues such as menopause and foreplay because, a manager told the Sydney Morning Herald, a miner not having sex at home "can get mighty grumpy at work".

Nurse Tammy Farrell said the mostly middle-aged miners sniggered when she mentioned extra-virgin olive oil in a nutrition talk but became "very serious" when the subject turned to cranky menopausal wives rejecting their advances.

"There was no laughter then, just a lot of interest," she was quoted as saying on the Herald's website Friday (October 26th).

"I told them that they needed to start exploring their wives like they did when they were 18 and they were all extremely attentive.

"And they snapped up all the flyers left out after the talk so we've obviously got some cranky men with cranky wives out there who want some help," Farrell said.

The Xstrata mining company's communications manager James Rickards said the classes had been successful because the men were keen to learn about the changes associated with menopause and why their sex lives might be suffering. (AFP)

Pumpkin bras 南瓜胸罩

HERE'S a bra that's a trick and a treat - it's made out of real pumpkins.

Farmers from Sussex came up with the wacky creation ahead of Halloween.

And brave volunteers Beth Heath and Sally Duguid stripped off yesterday to show them off.

Pumpkin expert Sally Duguid from Tully's Farm hopes the range of wearable food will be a hit at the farm’s two-week long Halloween festival.

"We usually sell loads of pumpkins and I think this quirky bra will be a great addition to the range of costumes and props we offer in the farm shop.

"We'll be modelling the bras and showing visitors how they can make their own. They’ll be great fun at any Halloween Party.?

And best of all, the bras come on a whole host of sizes. So, whether you're an A cup or a DD, pumpkins and squashes come in all sizes, so you will be able to find one that's a perfect fit!" (The Sun)

Harry Potter first edition sells for nearly $41,000 at auction 哈利波特第一版拍賣近4萬1千美元

A copy of J.K. Rowling's first Harry Potter novel sold at auction Thursday for almost $41,000.

The copy of the hardback first edition of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone," published in 1997 and signed "Joanne Rowling" on the back of the title page, was sold to an anonymous private bidder for $40,326 at Christie's auction house.

At a London auction in May, a copy of "Philosopher's Stone" inscribed with a personal dedication to the owner sold for more than $55,000, including buyer's premium.

The book was published by Bloomsbury PLC with an initial print run of about 500 copies. Many were purchased by libraries, making copies in good condition extremely rare.

It was published in the United States in 1998 as "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," and the boy wizard soon became a publishing phenomenon.

The seventh and final installment in Harry's adventures, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," was published in July. The seven books have sold nearly 400 million copies and have been translated into 64 languages. (AP)

Singaporean woman goes 30 years without a bath 星一老婦30年未洗澡

She doesn't have to worry about laundry, because she never washes her clothes.

There's an old woman in the Lion City who never washes her clothes. She wears them for a whole month, then throws them away and wears a new set.

She also hasn't taken a bath for 30 years!

The woman looks normal enough, except for the foul odour emanating from her body The smell causes other residents to avoid her.

Zhang, the 67-year-old woman, not only refuses to take a bath, but also does not wash her face, brush her teeth or wash her clothes. Her actions are baffling.

On Sunday, she suddenly began camping on the ground floor of the apartment block with her wardrobe, bed and other necessities.

When interviewed, the old lady said she used to stay with her younger brother and his children in one of the units upstairs, but someone moved her things to the ground floor on Saturday. When she found out her bed had been moved outside, she didn't feel like sleeping on the bare floor of her bedroom, so she went to the ground floor of the apartment block to sleep on her bed there.

Personal belongings removed after pleas fall on deaf ears

From what is known, the woman is still single. She used to be an artisan, but has since been unemployed for over 20 years now.

Her nephew Mr. Zhang, 30, who works as an accountant, told reporters, "I've lived with my aunt since I was little, and have never seen her take a bath or wash her clothes. She wears her clothes for a whole month straight and throws them away, then puts on new ones.”

Mr. Zhang said his wife would give birth in two weeks' time, and he is worried an unhygienic environment would affect the baby's health. He had pleaded with his aunt, asking her to start bathing. It was only when she continued to refuse that he felt he had no other choice but to move her things out.(Sin Chew Daily -- 星洲日報)

Vienna to host world's first-ever 'divorce fair' 維也納將舉辦全球首見的「離婚展」

Vienna is to host what organisers have dubbed the world's first "divorce fair" this month, aimed at couples whose wedding dreams have turned sour and who need help in untying the knot as painlessly as possible.

At the October 27-28 event, would-be divorcees can consult, anonymously if they wish, a whole host of lawyers and mediators on their rights and obligations, and seek advice on frequently difficult questions, such as alimony and child access.

They can also consult experts on how best to organise their new post-married lives.

Nearly 50 percent of all marriages in Austria end in divorce - the figure is 66 percent in Vienna - and the two-day fair is being held under the motto: "Start your life afresh". Organisers are hoping it will bloom into a twice-yearly event.

Up to 20 exhibitors have so far registered, not only lawyers and mediators, but also estate agents, life-crisis experts and - reflecting the messier side of divorce - private detective firms and DNA laboratories offering paternity tests.

The archdiocese of the city of Vienna will also have a stand, as will a company offering package holidays for freshly divorced people.
There will also be a series of lectures ranging from a children's view of divorce to single-parenting.(AFP)

6-kg pure gold calendar 6公斤重2008年純金日曆

Ginza Tanaka Pure Gold 2008 Calendar was unveiled by Tanaka Kikinzoku Jewelry K.K. (田中珠寶公司)at its flagship store in Tokyo's Ginza shopping district. The calendar is 67 centimeters by 42 cm and weighs about 6 kilograms.

The jewelry dealer initially planned to put a 20.08 million yen price tag on the calendar, but soaring gold prices have forced it to raise the price.(Xinhuanet/AFP)

9 bolts caught at a time 一次拍到9道閃電

Flickr user DJB31st's awesome picture is possibly caught by a life-a-time chance! It was taken from somewhere up in the hills overlooking Paphos, a coastal city in the southwest of Cyprus, during the storms in winter 2006.(Random Citations)

China's "Cock King" 中國的「公雞王」

With a cock and a bird standing on his head for several years, Wu Qingxing(吳慶興), a Chinese street barber, is well-known as "cock king" in his hometown in Guangdong province of China.

The 60-year-old man is still single just because he only loves types of animals such as birds, geese and dogs, especially cherishes the beautiful cocks. He thinks the animals are his family members.

What a cool old man! (Random Citations & news.qq.com)

117-year-old woman from Russia loves eating raw fish and drinking champagne 俄羅斯117歲阿嬷喜歡吃生魚喝香檳

Varvara Semennikova is 117 years old. She is probably the main contender for the title of the world’s oldest human being. She was born in Yakutia in 1890. Semennikova is confident that her beloved husband was the source of her longevity.

Varvara met a hunter called Alexei Semennikov in 1944. Soon they got married. Varvara’s husband was her junior by 27 years.

"We used to share the yurt with his parents. We were a really close-knit family back then…" said Varvara.

She does not seem to be concerned about her age.

"Once I fell ill and had a dream. I saw myself lying in a casket in that dream. Then somebody helped me climb out of the casket right before I woke up. I think death was walking pretty close around me," Varvara said.

These days Varvara lives in a house made of timber. She shares it with her daughter Elena, 59, and her grandson Roma, 17. A TV set sits opposite to her bed. The TV is on all the time – the old lady loves following the news.

Varvara's usual diet comprises fresh fish (she eats it in the raw after flaking away small pieces with a knife), boiled meat, tea with milk, jam, bread and butter, sour cream. Varvara seems to enjoy eating every bit of her food. At an average, her dinner lasts for two or three hours. The old lady does not look like a frail helpless creature. She seems to be fully coherent; her speech is loud and clear. Varvara Semennikova raised four children and ten grandchildren. (Pravda – 俄羅斯「真理報」)

24 carat full gold Apple 8GB iPhone 容量8GB的24K金iPhone

Parts adorned in .999 hardened 24ct gold inc front full surround and 3/4 of the rear, the stunning gold iPhone is to be launched by Goldstriker International since the middle of this month. (www.goldstriker.co.uk)

Duck-shaped cucumber 鴨子形狀的黃瓜

British Alexandra Stevens, 29, of Haultwick, Herts, grows this cute duck-shaped ucumber. She revealed it has become an office mascot since she took it into work at the ccounty council.

She said: "It is a favourite. Everyone wants to have a look." Guess that makes it a peeking duck... (The Sun)

Nissan Pivo 2 360 degrees no reverse concept car 日產推出無須倒車、車身可360度旋轉的概念車

Nissan has worked up a new version electric-powered Pivo 2 concept car. Designed for urban use, the Pivo 2 features a 360-degree revolving cabin, allowing the driver to always face forward while driving, even when parallel parking, and to access the unique front door from any direction.

The three-seat car is equipped with safety systems such as Around View Monitor (AVM), Distance Control Assist System (DCAS) and also a Robotic Agent that uses facial monitoring technology to interact with the driver - in English or Japanese.

It will be on display on the 40th Tokyo Auto Show on October 26 to November 11.(MSN)

Yu Nakajima wins Rubik's Cube world championship 日本少年中島贏得世界魔術方塊錦標賽冠軍

Yu Nakajima of Japan won the main event at the 2007 Rubik's Cube world championship Sunday, October 7.

Nakajima, 16, was able to solve the classic 3x3 cube — which has six sides of a different color with nine tiles each on each side — in an average time of 12.46 seconds over five attempts.

He earned the top award of €5,000 (US$7,000), from total prize money of €20,000 (US$28,000) distributed at the three-day, which began Friday.

Andrew Kang of the United States was second and Mitsuki Gunji of Japan third.

Kang set the best time for a single attempt at the championship — 10.88 seconds. The world record is 9.86 seconds, held since May by Thibaut Jacquinot of France.

More than 250 competitors from 33 countries took part in the event, the fourth world championship overall and the first to be held in Hungary — where the game was invented by Erno Rubik in 1974 — since competition began in 1982.

Others showed their skill at solving the cube blindfolded, with one hand or with their feet.

Finland's Anssi Vanhala was fastest with his feet at 49.33 seconds, although his favorite cube — which players customize with everything from silicon lubricants to talcum powder — was stolen during the competition.

"I am very happy with the victory because I had set myself a target of 50 seconds, which I bettered," said Vanhala, 15, who also was a finalist in the 3x3 category won by Nakajima.

Ryan Patricio, 18, a high school senior from Temecula, California, defended his world title in the one-hand category with a new world record, averaging 21.13 seconds in five attempts.

"Definitely there is room improvement and I expect a sub-20 (second) average at the next world championship in two years," said Patricio, who competed in an anorak.

Hungary's Matyas Kuti was fastest solving the 4x4 and 5x5 cubes and also won several of the blindfold events, which seemed to draw the biggest respect from his peers.

Blindfold contestants try to solve the game by memorizing the position of key cubes before covering their eyes. Kuti's best blindfolded time for the 3x3 cube was just over 1 minute, 7 seconds.

Electronic timers were used and players solved the cubes set to a certain position — which varied by category and were determined with the help of computers.

Rubik, an engineer who developed several other mechanical games after the cube, made a rare public appearance at the medal ceremony, helping to hand out the main awards.

"I'm glad the cube is reaching new generations, who face it with fresh wonder, curiosity and enthusiasm," the game's creator said.

World championships were also held in Canada in 2003 and in the United States in 2005.(AP)

China's largest tobacco pipe 中國最大的煙斗

A bronze tobacco pipe weighing 116 kilograms is on display at an exhibition centre in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province on Saturday, October 6, 2007. At 1.16 meters in diameter and 2.8 meters in length, the pipe is reported to be the largest in China.(CRIenglish.com)

Top 10 most romantic hotels in the world 全球前10家最羅曼蒂克的飯店

When it comes to romantic hotels or romantic getaways in general, I'm always stressing here on Romance Tracker that the size of your pocketbook has little to do with whether or not you can put together an unforgettable honeymoon vacation or romantic escape. And truthfully, there are so many romantic hotels in the United States and throughout the world, that you shouldn’t have to be rich to find one that's within your budget.

Admittedly, though, there are lots of romantic hotels in the world that are way outside the price range of myself and most of our readers! Even though we can’t afford to stay at the most romantic hotels in the world, though, doesn’t mean that we can't still check them out and have fun imagining.

Of course, "most romantic hotel in the world" is a subjective categorization, and one person's romantic hotel is another person's nightmare vacation. Some of us might prefer a more low-key, inexpensive romantic hotel to the upscale, multi-million-dollar version... even if we did have the money to pay for it!

Below is a list of what many people in the world consider to be the top ten romantic hotels out there. I compiled the list through research on the Internet, and hope you enjoy it. Check out each romantic hotel website and have fun imagining yourself and your lover living in opulence... but remember: what truly makes a hotel romantic is the people who are staying there. If you have a truly romantic relationship, any hotel that you and your sweetheart stay in can be made into the most romantic hotel in the world!

Top Ten Most Romantic Hotels in the World

1. Twin Farms: Bernard, Vermont

2. Mala Mala Game Reserve: South Africa

3. The Inn at Irving Place, New York

4. La Villa Gallici, France

5. The Bauer, Venice

6. Dar Mimosas, Morocco

7. Four Seasons at Jimbaran Bay, Bali

8. La Sirenuse, Italy

9. The Point, Saranac Lake, NY

10. Hotel Ritz, Paris
(romancetracker.com)

World's smallest butterfly 世界最小的蝴蝶

Discovered in China's Shaanxi Province in 2002, the butterfly Tongeia minima Shou et Yuan (小玄灰蝶), was recently officially confirmed as the world's smallest butterfly. The full wing span of this kind of butterfly species ranges from only 12-17 mm.(Sina & Xinhua)

Giant space-bred pumpkin 太空培育的大南瓜

The giant space-bred pumpkin weighs 74 kilograms and is currently displayed in a supermarket in Xining, capital of Northwest China's Qinghai Porvince.

Two-headed turtle in Pennsylvania 賓州的雙頭龜

The 2-month-old turtle, known as a red-eared slider, is a rare example (one-in-a-million freaks of nature) of a conjoined-twin birth. It has two heads sticking out from opposite ends of its shell, along with a pair of front feet on each side. But there is just one set of back feet and one tail.

The extreme rare two-headed turtle which was bought from a collector in Fort Lauderdale of Flarida, would have likely died in the wild because it swims awkwardly and would be an easy target for predators, according to Jay Jacoby, manager of Big Al's Aquarium Supercenter in East Norriton, Pennsylvania.

The video of David Letterman's Late Night Show below featured the unique conjoined two-head turtle. Take a look!(Random Citations)

Man, 24, weds 82-year-old bride 阿根廷24歲男子娶84歲某大姊

A 24-year-old Argentine man has married a woman 58 years his senior.

The groom, Reinaldo Waveqche, told reporters after the ceremony in Santa Fe, northern Argentina: "I've always liked mature ladies."

Mr Waveqche added: "I don't care what other people say." He and bride Adelfa Volpes, 82, are planning to travel to Rio de Janeiro for their honeymoon.

Asked if the marriage was purely spiritual, Ms Volpes laughed and replied: "There is going to be more."

The couple were married in a civil service after several years of engagement, and later walked through a local church surrounded by reporters.

Their love blossomed when Mr Waveqche went to live with her after his mother's death when he was 15.

He said he admired his new wife's zest for life, and emphasised how special she was to him. (BBC)

Pure gold Hello Kitty playing cards 純金 Hello Kitty 紙牌

On September 27, Sanrio announced plans to begin selling solid gold Hello Kitty playing cards, which the company will make available through its online shop beginning October 3. Each of the 54 cards (2 jokers included) measures 58 x 89 mm and is made from 0.73 gram of 99.99% pure gold. Pressed to a thickness of 7 microns with precision rolling technology developed by the Mitsubishi Materials Corporation, the cards are sealed in a protective laminate printed with colorful designs that depict Hello Kitty in royal dress.

The reverse side of the cards show Hello Kitty against a background featuring the Union Jack and apples, a reference to the fact that Hello Kitty was born in London and is said to be 3 apples heavy and 5 apples tall.

The cards are priced at 567,000 yen ($4,900).(pinktentacle.com)