No witchhunting
A Scottish township plans to mark Halloween by officially pardoning 81 people - and their cats - executed centuries ago for being witches.
"There'll be no witches' hats, dress-ups or that sort of thing - it will be a fairly solemn occasion," said a spokeswoman for the baronial court that granted the pardons.
More than 3,500 Scots, mainly women and children, and their cats were killed in witch hunts at a time of political intrigue and religious excess. Many were condemned on flimsy evidence, such as owning a black cat or brewing homemade remedies.
Making amends – a trifle too late!

 

Speaking the Duck way
Customers at a restaurant in southern China expressed their opinion during the US election by naming their duck dishes after about the presidential candidates.
The restaurant in the city of Foshan in Guangdong province had put
up a banner urging customers to "come in, participate and select the candidate of your choice."
On the menu are Bush duck, a spicy concoction to match his "war-mongering personality," and Kerry duck, a bonier version with sauce in line with his "keen-witted and capable nature."
Kerry duck was ahead with 53 per cent, while Bush duck trailed with 47 per cent.
Fortunately for Bush, the Americans had a different view!
 
Pet massage
A six-month-old female Boston terrier, Cheese, has just finished a three-month course with her owner who spent about 4,000 dollars to learn the art of canine massage.
"I think Cheese definitely feels the benefits of massage," said owner Miwa Suzumiya, 32, who took her dog in to the glitzy Ginza shopping district in downtown Tokyo twice a week to learn how to massage her.
The historically warm relationship between humans and dogs is reaching a new level in Japan, with a flourishing one-trillion-yen (9.3-billion-dollar) a year pet industry letting canine owners hang out with their pets at doggie massage, aromatherapy salons, mud spas and hot springs.
"I wouldn't spend that much if I were going to a hot spring. But for my dogs, the fee doesn't seem expensive," a businessman said.
Canine luxury!		 Too fat to fight!
A young woman volunteer has been banned from the Italian army for being too fat. The 1.65-metre (5.4-foot) tall 21-year-old, identified only by her first name, Francesca, was considered unsuitable for the army as her 78.5 kilos (173 pounds) was "incompatible with the parametres of physical aptitude of military service".
The lady argued before an administrative tribunal in the central coastal city of Ancona that she had passed her first army medical, but then put on weight during her first 10 months of training due to the stodgy food served.
But her argument did not hold weight with the court, which said that she had failed to lose her surplus kilos during a convalescence period given her by the military go to on a diet.
It seems the lady is not taking the matter lightly, and will fight the ruling. Bravo!
 
Court stunt
A couple who sparked outrage by having sex on stage in front of thousands of stunned rock concert goers in Norway shocked again when the man pulled down his trousers in court.
"Oops, I must have dropped my pants," Tommy Hol Ellingsen, 28, said as he stripped in front of reporters during a break at a local court in Kristiansand, southern Norway.
Hol Ellingsen and Petra Leona Johansson, 22, were in court after refusing to pay a fine of 10,000 crowns ($1,574) each for copulating on stage during a concert in July.
The two, who are members of an environmental group, said their sex stunt was meant to draw attention to a campaign to save the rain forest.
Absurd explanation! 		Cola for pests
Cotton farmers in some Indian villages are flocking to buy Coca-Cola and Pepsi, believing that the sugar in the fizzy drinks kills pests.
Farmers say scientists advised them to mix pesticides with a sugary syrup to control pests, and they found the mixture cheaper and more effective than pure chemicals - although soft drink makers and scientists dismissed the claims.
N. Hamunayya, who has become a celebrity in his village in the south-eastern state of Andhra Pradesh, said his crop survived an attack of pests which had resisted other remedies.
"We found that all the colas had uniform effect on pests. The pests became numb and fell to ground," he said.
Whatever the reason, cola sales have fizzed up, thanks to the farmers. Though the companies would hardly be very pleased about that!

 

Come back tomorrow
An Albany man turned himself into police after seeing himself on TV news robbing a bank but was turned away by officers who told him to come back the next day.
The man went to a different station the following day and was charged with robbery. The incident has prompted an internal investigation.
The cops surely need a check-up!
 

Tailpiece

A pregnant woman with her first child, paid a visit to her obstetrician's office. After the exam, she shyly said, "My husband wants me to ask you something...", to which the doctor replies "I know...I know..." placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"I get asked that all the time. Sex is fine until late in the pregnancy." "No, that's not it," the woman confessed. "He wants to know if I can still mow the lawn."