Posted on April 8, 2010 - by Andrew

Children forced to use death slide

I don’t know whether to be impressed or horrified.

In stark contrast to UK’s health and safety laws check out this “death slide” made by workers in Bolivia.

This is their way home.

Please be aware that this video is a clip from Current TV’s Deadliest Journeys which is being distrubute as part of a promotion campaign.

In Pure Spirit

Would you even consider a slide like this as a way home?

These are Bolivian coca workers. Even if the coca is far trade the workers and their families may still take this sort of risk. Does it make you think twice about chocolate?

Posted on March 21, 2010 - by Andrew

Pope in Edinburgh: Pope Benedict XVI’s itenary

The Pope will make his first trip to Britain since 1982 when Pope John Paul II made a hugely popular six-day tour. On September the 16th, Pope Benedict XVI will travel to Edinburgh and meet the Queen.

During his visit he is also expected to visit Glasgow, London and Coventry.

Where will the Pope visit in Edinburgh?

As you might expect the details of the papal visit are being kept secret but we know some details.

We know that the Pope’s meeting with the Queen will occur at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. We also know that Pope Benedict XVI will be greeted at Holyrood Palace.

Where might the Pope visit in Edinburgh?

This is just speculation but there are a number of possible venues Pope Benedict XVI may visit while in Edinburgh. These locations are near the Royal Mile and Holyrood.

The Pope may visit St Giles Cathedral. The Cathedral is in the centre of town, near the officially recognised venues for the Pope’s appearance and religiously noteworthy.

Pope Benedict XVI may visit Greyfiars Kirk. This is a quintessentially Scottish Church, famous, and near venues on the official schedule.

The Pope will be holding mass prayer at Bellahouston Park in Glasgow. It is not impossible he’ll also hold a mass gathering in Holyrood Park behind Holyrood Palace.

Where will the Pope visit in Glasgow?

It’s been said that the Pope will lead a mass prayer at Bellahouston Park. This will follow Pope John Paul II who held mass in Bellahouston Park in 1982.

Where will the Pope visit in London?

It is expected that the Pope will meet the Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth Palace. He is also likely to pray with church leaders at Westminster Abbey.

Pope Benedict XVI will give major speech in Westminster Hall in the Houses of Parliament.

The Pope will hold a public Mass at Hyde Park.

Where will the Pope visit in Coventry?

The Pope is expected to land in Coventry Airport. He will beatify Cardinal John Henry Newman, founder of the Birmingham Oratory, during a Mass at the disused airfield.

In Pure Spirit

Where do you think the Pope wil visit during his 4-day tour of Edinburgh and the United Kingdom?

Where do you think he should go?

Posted on March 21, 2010 - by Andrew

The Chinese zodiac in crayon

These ordinary crayons have been gracefully carved into the 12 symbols of the Chinese zodiac.

The artist behind this clever feat is Diem Chau. She normally works in other materials but I’m glad she made a colourful exception with these crayons.

In Pure Spirit

What do you think? Aren’t they as beautiful as they are clever?

Posted on March 13, 2010 - by Andrew

Heidi Montag appoints intuitive psychic as manager

America reality TV star Heidi Montag (technically now Heidi Pratt since marrying Spencer Pratt) is in the news for replacing her manager with a psychic.

The thing is; her manager was husband Spencer Pratt. Despite the severing of business ties the couple are remaining together.

Heidi’s new manager is a bloke called Aiden Chase. He describes himself as an Intuitive Healer.

Here’s a vid.

People magazine has the exclusive inside on this.

She said;

“After the incredible experiences I have had healing my life and truly connecting to my dreams with healer intuitive Aiden Chase, I have officially asked him to become my manager,

“Having an intuitive psychic leading my team gives me an edge no one else has.”

Posted on March 10, 2010 - by Andrew

Two captured ghosts sell for nearly £1,500

Here’s an interesting auction item on New Zealand site TradeMe.co.nz; two captured ghosts.

The seller, melvin_s has 98.4% positive feedback on the auction site, put the two captured ghosts up with a reserve price of $1.00.

They sold for $2,830.00 NZD.

The spirits are said to have been trapped by an exorsist from a spiritualist church. One if a man called Les Graham who died in the haunted house in 1920.

The other spirit is said to have been summoned when Melvin and partner tried their hands at a Oujia Board. They suggest it is a little girl who likes to turn lights off – a spirit that will get more powerful over time.

Melvin told bidders that to revive either spirit, the water must be poured into a dish and left to evaporate in the house.

In Pure Spirit

Do you think $3,000 NZ dollars (about £1,400) is too much or too little to pay for these bottles which may contain ghosts?

Was Melvin clever in putting the two bottles up for auction – a ploy to make money or did he really just want rid of them?

Posted on March 10, 2010 - by Andrew

Middlemist’s Red rescued by Chiswick House restoration

There are only two surviving blooms of the rare camellia; one is in Waitangi, New Zealand, and the other one is in Chiswick House in London.

It is thought that Middlemist’s Red has been present in Chiswick conservatory since the early 19th century. The plant is believed to have come from China, brought to Britain by John Middlemist of Shepherd’s Bush.

The camellia is thought to have arrived in the UK just after 1823 – only a decade after the conservatory first opened in 1813. The conservatory has stood, but slowly run down, over the centuries. At one point the home actually served as a lunatic asylum. The conservatory was hit by an unexploded bomb during World War II; it survived but all the glass was broken.

The current restoration of the conservatory was cost more than £12 million and was co-managed between Chiswick House and Gardens Trust and the English Heritage.

In Pure Spirit

Are you pleased to see such a rare planet safe and sound in a newly restored, historic conservatory? Or is £12m too much for projects such as this?

Posted on March 8, 2010 - by Andrew

Australian man burns witches house after “sex curse”

In the Northern Territory, Australia, David Laurin has been sentenced to three years for burning a woman’s house down.

Laurin, 31, pleaded guilty to the charges as the court heard he believed the woman was a witch who had cursed his sex life.

In the NT Supreme Court, Chief Justice Dean Mildren heard how David Laurin met his girlfriend Kelly on the internet.

His relationship with Kelly went down hill and they split up in January 2009. Kelly’s since given birth to their child.

A psychiatrist told the NT court that Laurin had a “borderline personality disorder“. The psychiatrist also blamed the role of “internet wars games” played in Laurin’s life; suggesting they helped form his identity.

In Pure Spirit

Do you think Laurin got what he deserved? Is the psychiatrist did the right thing by pointing a finger at the internet?

Boots do digital recycling – club card points for your old mobile

by Andrew on March 1, 2010

Catch: Slow motion jumping dogs

by Andrew on February 25, 2010

Banned: Valentine’s Day leads to hand holding and free sex

by Andrew on February 14, 2010