So apparently not too much happened in the UK today - the governing Labour party seems to be in meltdown, the various wars we're involved with are causing untold death and destruction, global warming threatens the fabric of our....ahh never mind. You can always find something interesting on the news, particularly if you scan the BBC website for those little gems others may have missed. Being the valuable news portal that I am, here are the important stories of the day, brought fresh to you with my pleasure.
1. "Goat-free roads made me speed"
A Swiss man caught speeding on a Canadian highway has blamed his actions on the absence of goats on the roads. The man was caught driving at 161 km/h (100mph) in a 100 km/h (60mph) zone. A traffic officer's notes said the Swiss driver had said he was taking advantage "of the ability to go faster without risking hitting a goat". Canadian police spokesman Joel Doiron said he had never found a goat on the highways of eastern Ontario in his 20 years of service. "Nobody's ever used the lack of goats here as an excuse for speeding," Mr Doiron told the AFP news agency. "I've never been to Switzerland, but I guess there must be a lot of goats there," he said. Link
2. "Football fan's colour diet"
A football fan told how he has taken his love for his team to the limit by vowing to only eat food in his club's colours for the whole of the season. Celtic supporter Scott Campbell, 20, has taken up a challenge from his housemates to only eat green or white foods for the 2006/07 season. The Edinburgh University student has been living on a diet of salad, vegetables and white meat. He said he was confident he would complete the 10 month challenge. Mr Campbell, originally from Glasgow, said: "Like all these things, it started on a drunken night out when one of the guys I was living with dared me to it. I'm quite stubborn, so I agreed. In the morning I'll just have apples, and I'm also allowed bananas because the inside of them is white, and a glass of milk." To help with the challenge, he has ordered six-month bulk supply of salad cream. Link
3. "Postcard delivered to washing machine man"
A postcard sent by a boy to his grandfather addressed only to "The Washing Machine Man, Ixworth" arrived at the right address two days later. James Tungate, 6, posted the card while on holiday in Bude, Cornwall. His father Richard wrote on top of the postcard: "I bet the Royal Mail can't deliver this." Two days later the card arrived at the home of Gordon Palastanga, 62, of Ixworth, Suffolk, who is known as a washing machine repair man in the area. James also wrote on the card, which was posted first class: "Dear Granddad, we caught 57 crabs. From James." Link
4. "Lethal 5ft bird roaming free in Kent"
A 5ft bird similar to an ostrich is on the loose in Kent after its owner put pigs into its enclosure. The South American rhea escaped from its home in Benenden on Monday and RSPCA officers warned it could kill a human with one strike of its claws. Spokesman Roy Jezard said: "People want to pat them, but I don't recommend it. They're so strong it's unbelievable. They will also go for your eyes with their beak, so if you see it, report it to the RSPCA or the police." The owner of the flightless birds, Sue Savage, said she kept them for their eggs. "They lay between 200 and 300 each year and these sell on Ebay for £30 each. I bought some pigs and introduced them to the rheas but the birds didn't like the look of them, leapt the fence and took off." Link
