in several 'shires' where fighting over cheese been going on longer than over soccer, centuries fur sure. Comparatively, pride in butter in Quebec is peanuts (or soy, if that's your preferred legume.) :-)

Zoo sparks row over 'tribesmen' props for animals

ALLAN HALL

IN BERLIN

A GERMAN zoo has been accused of exploitation after it unveiled plans to put grass-skirted black men in mud huts from tomorrow to show off its elephants and rhinos in their "natural environment".

The zoo, in the southern German city of Augsburg, is promoting the plan in a glossy brochure entitled Discover the Dark Continent, and has put up posters advertising the new attractions.

The "tribesmen" - no-one is exactly sure which they are from, although most of them will be commuting from darkest downtown Munich - will be encouraged to carry out some traditional activities such as African basket-weaving, woodwork and various rituals such as tribal dancing.

According to the brochure, the idea is to let visitors "discover the Dark Continent" with its "genuine exotic ambience".

The human exhibits will be separated from the animals in an area where they can be observed easily by visitors, although the brochure does not make it clear whether the people on display would be in the cages with the animals or in an entirely separate enclosure.

The show is scheduled to go ahead despite attracting criticism from African communities and human rights activists.

Norbert Finzsch, a historian at the University of Cologne, said: "The idea is a direct result of 40 years of German colonialism and 12 years of National Socialism.

"People of colour are still seen as exotic objects, as basically dehumanised entities within the realm of animals."

more

http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=627152005

Mother Explains Fatal Pit Bull Mauling

Sunday June 12, 2005 11:31 PM

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The mother of a 12-year-old boy killed in his own home by one of the family's two pit bulls said she had been so concerned about one of the dogs that she shut her son in the basement to protect him.

Maureen Faibish said she ordered Nicholas to stay in the basement while she did errands on June 3, the day he was attacked by one or both of the dogs. She said she was worried about the male dog, Rex, who was acting possessive because the female, Ella, was in heat.

``I put him down there, with a shovel on the door,'' Faibish told the San Francisco Chronicle. ``And I told him: `Stay down there until I come back.' Typical Nicky, he wouldn't listen to me.''

more

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-5069774,00.html

Green Bay man charged in two slayings

By Andy Behrendt

abehrend@greenbaypressgazette.com

OCONTO -- William Hammersley Jr.'s competency quickly became an issue Friday as he was charged with the shooting deaths of his mother and nephew in the town of Lena a day earlier.

"It wasn't me -- it was the devil, George Bush," said the 29-year-old Green Bay man, re-entering the Oconto County courtroom in shackles after a recess to meet with a public defender.

Although told of his right to remain silent, an unfazed Hammersley blurted comments throughout his first court appearance facing two counts of first-degree intentional homicide for shooting Judy Hammersley, 55, and Nicholas Hammersley, 9.

At the request of the public defender, Oconto County Circuit Court Judge Larry Jeske ordered an exam to help determine whether Hammersley would be mentally competent for trial and set bond at $1 million.

According to the brief criminal complaint filed Friday, William Hammersley called 911 on Thursday afternoon and indicated he had used a 20-gauge shotgun to shoot his mother and nephew and a family dog.

more

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/news/archive/local_21475813.shtml

 Monday, June 27, 2005  

Soldiers take armoured vehicle to buy vodka

Two Russian soldiers are in trouble after driving an armoured personnel carrier 25 miles to buy vodka.

They were caught after crashing through a fence into a used car showroom, demolishing several vehicles, on the way back. The soldiers took the armoured vehicle from their military base, near Yekaterinburg in Siberia, and drove it to the nearest town. After stocking up on vodka they started heading back to the base but their driving declined as they sampled their shopping. ananova

 http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_27-6-2005_pg9_3

Cops: Mom rotated children in trunk during 8-hour drive

McLEAN, Va. (AP) -- A mother has been charged with felony child abuse and child cruelty after she allegedly forced two of her children to take turns riding in the trunk of a car on an eight-hour drive from Alabama to Virginia.

Cheryl Ann Schoonmaker, 38, forced the two girls, ages 8 and 10, to take turns in the trunk July 1 because there wasn't enough room in the car, according to Curtis Schoonmaker, her ex-husband.

The woman was driving five children, including an infant, to her ex-husband's home outside Washington, D.C. None of the children was injured during the trip. The girls told their father what happened the next day and he called police.

"They asked to be let out. ... It was a hot day," Curtis Schoonmaker said.

Efforts to reach Cheryl Schoonmaker were unsuccessful Monday.

Three of the five girls in the car were the Schoonmakers' children. One of the other children was a family friend and the infant was Cheryl Schoonmaker's.

Cheryl Schoonmaker is scheduled for arraignment July 22. The charges each carry a maximum of five years in prison.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-07-12-children-trunk_x.htm