QUIRKY WORLD ... A daily look at some of the world’s stranger stories
People who count housework as exercise could be fooling themselves, research has suggested.
Including gardening, DIY, or cleaning in a tally of weekly exercise might give people a false sense of how active they have been. Until now, studies have suggested housework counts towards a weekly round-up of moderate activity.
Housework doesn't count as strenuous exercise, say experts. Reckon they've never had to clear up after a toddler playdate... #toyarmageddon
— madeformums (@MadeForMums) October 18, 2013
The Philippines’ main Manila airport terminal has been named the world’s worst for the second year in a row in a survey by an online travel website.
Officials brushed off the survey results, insisting conditions were being improved.
The ‘Guide to Sleeping in Airports’ website said Manila’s crowded Terminal 1 was ranked the world’s worst by travellers based on comfort, convenience, cleanliness, and customer service.
Reviews posted on the site mentioned “dilapidated facilities”, dishonest airport workers — particularly taxi drivers — long waiting times, and rude officials.
“These are old issues,” said Terminal 1 manager Dante Basanta, adding the problems were already being addressed by the government.
He conceded that Manila airport, with a capacity of about 6.5m passengers annually, was overstretched, handling 8.1m last year.
Manila International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 was once again voted worst airport in the world (2013) by the website Sleeping In Airports.
— Masidi Manjun (@MasidiM) October 18, 2013
The English would like to see St George’s Day celebrated more, despite most not knowing when it is, a new poll has found.
Only 40% of those asked were aware the patron saint’s day is on Apr 23, compared with 70% who said they knew US Independence Day was on Jul 4. Two thirds said St Patrick’s Day is now more widely celebrated in Britain. However, the online survey by ICM of 2,360 British adults, including 1,739 respondents in England, found 76% would like to see that change.
Israeli eagles threatened by pesticides, electrical wires, and poachers now apparently face a new danger — Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas. The militant group’s Al-Manar website boasted of capturing an eagle with Israeli labelling that carried a transmission device on its back. It claimed the bird was an Israeli spy.
Israeli ornithologist Yossi Leshem said he was tracking the bird for research and was “incredibly frustrated” it was harmed. He has specialised in the Bonelli’s eagle for decades and says it is in great peril, and says just nine pairs of mating age remain in Israel.
He said Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Turkey all targeted migrating birds from Israel before and made similar unfounded espionage accusations. Egyptian authorities recently arrested a stork accused of spying for Israel.
No words... “@StewartBellNP: Hezbollah shoots down eagle, claims its spying for Israel #ConspiracyMindedMorons http://t.co/04x7pOZ9tY”
— David J. Chmiel (@DavidJChmiel) October 17, 2013
An Oklahoma family is terrifying neighbours with home Halloween decorations depicting two eerily realistic accident victims.
The gory tableau at the Mullins family home in Mustang includes a man who appears to have been run over by a truck and another whose head has been squashed under a garage door — complete with fake blood splatter. The scene has drawn sightseers and some concern. At least one woman called 911 to report the crushed head; emergency personnel responded and found the dummy.
Jennifer Mullins, 32, says she was inspired by the social media website Pinterest. She says Halloween has always been a favourite holiday for her family and they knew the display would raise eyebrows — but perhaps not quite so much attention.
A man and a woman accused of engaging in oral sex on a US flight from Medford, Oregon, to Las Vegas have pleaded guilty in court to disorderly conduct charges.
Christopher Martin’s lawyer, Lawrence Hill, said yesterday that his client was remorseful, had suffered personally and professionally, and hoped to put the incident behind him. Michael Pariente, representing Jessica Stroble of Medford, did not immediately respond to messages.
US District Court Magistrate Judge George Foley in Las Vegas fined Martin and Stroble $250 each. They were issued summonses charging them with lewd, indecent and obscene acts on an airplane following the June 21 Allegiant Air flight.
A lake that inspired William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter is up for sale on eBay. Esthwaite Water, the Lake District’s largest privately owned lake, is the first in the world to be sold on the internet auction site.
Owner Nigel Woodhouse is approaching retirement and is selling the 280-acre lake and established leisure businesses.
should clarify..... you get the whole lake (though officially it's called a water) Esthwaite Water for £300,000 pic.twitter.com/kG2JtN94hh
— Annabel Tiffin (@annabelvtiffin) October 18, 2013
