News of the Weird - this just in!

[Dannie Boy]

Although this is a very unusual occurrence, I find the comments from the sister of the deceased staggering, her comment "everyone seems to have turned a blind eye", applies to her as much, if not more than anyone else!!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-64400776

[Nereus]

Bizarre!

Radioactive capsule's loss in Western Australia described as 'highly unusual' as authorities urge public to keep their distance

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-01-28/ ... /101902914

A radiation safety expert has described the loss of a tiny radioactive capsule along a 1,400-kilometre stretch of road in Western Australia as a 'bizarre, one-in-100-year event'.

Health authorities issued an urgent warning on Friday after the 8-millimetre capsule — which has the potential to cause severe burns — was lost somewhere between a mine site in Newman, in Western Australia's north, and Perth.

It was part of a radiation gauge commonly used in the mining industry.

The gauge was packaged, then transported from the Rio Tinto mine site on January 11 and arrived in a depot in the Perth suburb of Malaga on January 16.

However, it wasn't until January 25 that authorities were notified that the radioactive capsule was missing, after it was unpacked for inspection.

Authorities believe it fell through a hole where a bolt had been dislodged after a container collapsed inside the truck.

Radiation Services WA general manager Lauren Steen said it was a “highly unlikely” scenario, due to the safety measures typically in place for the transit of radioactive materials.

“Typically they’re transported in highly protected casing that are subject to a certification verification stage. The housing is subjected to rigorous testing for vibrations, heat, high impact.

“If the source is certified and the packaging and the transport requirements … basically make it a very unlikely occurrence.”

Capsule poses health hazard

The radioactive capsule formed part of a gauge which is commonly used to detect radiation levels in oil, gas and other processing plants.

“If you were to stand 1 metre [away] … you would be receiving about the equivalent of 17 chest x-rays,” Ms Steen said.

“If you were to hold the source in your hand for a substantial period of time, you would start to notice some radiation burns.”

Western Australia's Chief Health Officer, Andy Robertson, has warned the community not to handle the device if they come across it, due to the dangerous radiation it emits.

“We strongly discourage people from picking it up. Certainly don't put it in a pocket. Don't put it in your car. Don't put it on your sideboard, because it will continue to radiate,” he said.

“While you may not have immediate health effects, they can occur relatively rapidly over a short period of time, if it is kept close to the body.

“If it's less than 1 metre, then people could end up developing redness of the skin and eventually burns of the skin.

"If it was kept long enough … They could also have some more acute effects, including impacts on their their immune system and their gastrointestinal system.”

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) Acting Superintendent and Incident Controller Darryl Ray said crews were searching for the missing device using specialist equipment.

“What we're not doing is trying to find a tiny little device by eyesight,” he said.

“We're using the radiation detectors to locate the gamma rays using the meters that will help us then locate the small device.”

Safety highest priority, Rio Tinto says

In a statement, Rio Tinto said the capsule was being transported by a contractor.

“An expert radioactive materials handler was engaged by Rio Tinto to handle and package the capsule and transport it safely off site,” the company said.

“Safety is our highest priority, and we are working with and supporting the Radiological Council, the contractors involved, as well as emergency services to assist in the search.”

DFES is leading a multi-agency search mission, which includes West Australian police and the Department of Health.

Authorities have flagged that it could take weeks to finish covering the potential search area and there was no certainty the capsule would be found.

This image shows the size of the capsule relative to a 10-cent coin. (Supplied: DFES)

radioactive capsule.jpg (80.15 KiB) Viewed 2545 times

[lindosfan1]

Wild bear poses for 400 selfies.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-64428039

[migrant]

Wild bear poses for 400 selfies.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-64428039

Only 400?? amateur, He needs to talk to my wife.

[pharvey]

Wild bear poses for 400 selfies.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-64428039

Only 400?? amateur, He needs to talk to my wife.

Indeed - the LHG manages that in a week!

Love the story though lindos!

[STEVE G]

In Japan, pet fish playing Nintendo Switch run up bill on owner’s credit card:

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/01/28/asia ... index.html

[Nereus]

viewtopic.php?f=17&t=11564&p=573539#p573539

Missing radioactive capsule found in WA outback after frantic search

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-01/ ... /101917828

A tiny but potentially deadly radioactive capsule has been found in WA’s outback, after it sparked a frantic search and unprecedented public health warning spanning hundreds of kilometres.

WA Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson said it was found just outside Newman this morning.

"I do want to emphasise this is an extraordinary result," he said at a press conference on Wednesday afternoon.

"The search crews have quite literally found the needle in the haystack."

The capsule was found by a team from the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services.

Capsule found near side of the road

The Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner, Darren Klemm, said the capsule was found two metres from the side of the road.

He said a search vehicle was driving past at 70 kilometres per hour on the Great Northern Highway when a detection device revealed radiation.

The stretch of Great Northern Highway where the capsule was found on Wednesday morning. (Suppllied: DFES)

capsule.jpg (191.87 KiB) Viewed 2469 times

long article at the link.................................

[sateeb]

viewtopic.php?f=17&t=11564&p=573539#p573539

Missing radioactive capsule found in WA outback after frantic search

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-01/ ... /101917828

A tiny but potentially deadly radioactive capsule has been found in WA’s outback, after it sparked a frantic search and unprecedented public health warning spanning hundreds of kilometres.

WA Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson said it was found just outside Newman this morning.

"I do want to emphasise this is an extraordinary result," he said at a press conference on Wednesday afternoon.

"The search crews have quite literally found the needle in the haystack."

The capsule was found by a team from the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services.

Capsule found near side of the road

The Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner, Darren Klemm, said the capsule was found two metres from the side of the road.

He said a search vehicle was driving past at 70 kilometres per hour on the Great Northern Highway when a detection device revealed radiation.


capsule.jpg

long article at the link.................................

Hmmm...Quite literally they haven't! They quite literally have found a small capsule in the outback. Pedantic?..moi?

[Nereus]

Man's wild find inside kitchen after weeks away: 'Amazing'

A triffid-like vegetable shocked the man and his wife after a two-month holiday.

https://au.news.yahoo.com/mans-wild-fin ... 44713.html

A long-forgotten potato left in a kitchen for months has astonished a homeowner by sending out shoots that took over the room.

The super spud sprouted at the man's house in the Chinese city of Shenyang while he was away with his wife on a two-month trip. When they returned, they found the potato had taken over the kitchen.

Remarkable photos show huge three-foot-long purple shoots spreading out from the triffid-like veg.

One appears to be so powerful it has attached itself to an induction cooker and is pulling the potato into the air.

"I was cooking on the day we left for the trip, and the potato fell on the ground and I forgot to pick it up," the homeowner Mr Wang said.

"When I came home I was terrified [at what I saw]. He described the root's ability to suspend the potato in mid-air as "amazing".

"I've seen potatoes sprout long but I have never seen such a thing."

The potato was left for two months, growing roots that left it off the ground. Source: AsiaWire/ Australscope

mad spud.jpg (67.81 KiB) Viewed 2427 times

[Lost]

This is usually a light-hearted fun thread but I didn't know where to put this. Anyone see the Dalai Lama video? What in the fuckity flibbert!? If you haven't watched it yet—warning—it's not pleasant to watch. I'd suggest, don't, it's the weirdest, grossest thing I've seen for quite some time.

I've unfollowed the Dalai Lama on twitter. He'll be devastated.

[dtaai-maai]

I've never liked a tease...

[STEVE G]

This is usually a light-hearted fun thread but I didn't know where to put this. Anyone see the Dalai Lama video? What in the ***** flibbert!? If you haven't watched it yet—warning—it's not pleasant to watch. I'd suggest, don't, it's the weirdest, grossest thing I've seen for quite some time.

I've unfollowed the Dalai Lama on twitter. He'll be devastated.

Closet Catholic!

[pharvey]

This is usually a light-hearted fun thread but I didn't know where to put this. Anyone see the Dalai Lama video? What in the ***** flibbert!? If you haven't watched it yet—warning—it's not pleasant to watch. I'd suggest, don't, it's the weirdest, grossest thing I've seen for quite some time.

I've unfollowed the Dalai Lama on twitter. He'll be devastated.

Fecking Hell, that was a disturbing video to say the least..... Certainly not weird - perverted perhaps.

[Dannie Boy]

This may not be the most appropriate place to post this so move by all means, but a pub in Grays Essex has been vandalised as a result of an issue regarding Golliwog Dolls.

I grew up in the ‘50’s so have cherished memories of Robertsons marmalade and mincemeat and the catchphrase on TV advert’s pronouncing “look for the Golly, the Golly on the jar”!!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-65297070

[STEVE G]

Pensioner urinating on a train track is killed by a flying cow that was hit by a carriage and flung 100ft through the air

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... riage.html