If two things go wrong people will say they always happen in threes. How about six or even more?
What is it with electrical appliances? Or have I just been unlucky recently?
In chronological order in 2009:
1. Push button door switch and unlock fails on microwave. Fixed mechanically.
2. Push button mains switch on dishwasher fails. Fixed with a new one but not the same as the original as it was so old.
3. Micro-switch on oven fails -again. Sick of replacing it every few months, so a new oven.
4. Freezer suddenly stops cooling anything, though motor is still, noisily running. After farming out its contents to neighbours and ordering a replacement, I test it one last time. It works perfectly. Still working.
5. Flat battery in car; very embarrassing. Use jump start, take it for a drive. Still flat. Price up new one while putting it on charge. Ever since: no problems.
6. Wall clock stops. Take it down, check battery – seems OK. Try new one anyway; still no good. Put it to one side, check it later; nothing. Check it even later; it’s working!
7. Oscar is trapped outside in today’s awful weather. The electromagnetic cat-flap has stopped working; try a new battery. No good. Logic suggests rain might have been the problem, though it doesn’t look wet inside. Ten minutes with a hair dryer and it works again.
About six weeks of 2009 left. What else can go wrong? Or am I tempting fate?
Electrical woes November 14, 2009
Flasher causes bus to hit police station November 13, 2009
“A FLASHER on board a Hamilton bus in New Zealand has led the driver to crash into a police station.
A 14-year-old male passenger allegedly exposed himself to a female passenger on the bus on Friday morning, causing her to scream.
The bus driver called his company office, who advised him to take the bus to the nearest police station.
When the bus arrived at the Hamilton North Community Policing Centre, the driver activated the emergency door lock, thinking the bus was in neutral.”
But, guess what .. ?
Read the full story: here
Weird search phrases that find this blog November 8, 2009
Today’s prize goes to “climbing out of an ash tray”.
I can’t think of a suitable comment. To use the vernacular, WTF?
Strange book titles November 8, 2009
Have you ever seen a book whose title makes you think “What on earth is that about?”
I did this week, in a charity shop.
“Salmon fishing in Yemen” All I know about (the) Yemen is it’s in the middle-east, mostly desert and extremely lawless and dangerous. So, I wonder what the book is really about.
Any more examples, dear readers?
Edited today when I caught the end of a review of this book on Radio 4 this morning. a quick Google search revealed it was published nearly 3 years ago and is an extremely funny and readable novel. “Yes minister meets The Monarch of the Glen” or “a cross between Yes Minister and The Office” ran the reviews.
I should have bought it.
man appears at his own funeral November 5, 2009
“A 59-year-old Brazilian man has surprised his family by turning up at his own funeral, local media report. Police told O Globo newspaper that relatives had trouble identifying the corpse because it was badly disfigured. He did not get word of his funeral until it was already happening on Monday morning, his niece Rosa Sampaio said.”
Read the full story: here
It could happen to any of us, I suppose.
Fish found in boy’s bladder November 3, 2009
“The patient was admitted to hospital with complaints of pain, dribbling urine and acute urinary retention spanning a 24-hour period. According to the boy, the fish slipped into his penis while he was cleaning his aquarium at home.
After detecting the fish in the boy’s bladder, Vezhaventhan and Jeyaraman used a technique known as cystourethroscopy to insert a special set of forceps down the patient’s penis.”
This story will make you grit your teeth, guys. Read the full story: here
Belly button ring stuck in nose November 3, 2009
“A YOUNG woman caught her belly button ring in her nostril this morning after falling from her bed.
The distressed 22-year-old called NSW Ambulance at 4am begging for assistance from paramedics.”
How do you do that ??? Just try getting your nose anywhere near your navel!
Read the full story: here
The (sarcastic?) final comment by the ambulance spokeswoman is amusing, too.
Pilot warns passengers to pray November 3, 2009
“A worried Iranian airline pilot asked passengers to start praying after his plane was hit by a technical glitch, highlighting once again the notorious record of Tehran’s aircraft.”
Read the full story: here
That’s really not what you want to hear over the plane’s PA, is it?
Not that I was thinking of flying to Iran but, if I had been, I won’t be. I like adventurous holidays but you can have too much of a good thing.
Wal-Mart starts selling coffins October 30, 2009
BBC news reports today that:
“The world’s largest retailer, Wal-Mart, now plans to hold on to customers even after they die – by selling coffins. Prices range from a “Mom” or “Dad Remembered” steel coffin for $895 (£540), to a bronze model at $2,899. The retailer is offering caskets at prices that undercut many funeral homes, say correspondents.”
This is the best bit:
“But an industry spokesman said it was not gravely concerned about Wal-Mart’s move”
Weird x-ray pictures October 25, 2009
Browsing for weird news items, as you do, I came across this:
and this:
The first is fairly obvious. The second much less so. I won’t spoil the surprise for you but you can see all 60 images and read the stories behind them here
