MS PAC-MAN TAKES OVER GOOGlE MAPS FOR APRIl FOOl’S DAY
Google transformed its Maps application into a game of Ms. Pac-Man in honour of April Fool’s Day. Google Maps users can open the app on their desktop or smartphone and tap an icon or click on a small window bearing the words “Insert Coin” to guide the bow-wearing, mouth-flapping heroine to collect dots around a map of their current location.
If the player’s current location doesn’t contain the proper geography or amount of roads to create a game area, the app selects a random location somewhere in the world. Players are given five chances to eat up all the dots and fruit that appear on the map while avoiding the five enemy ghosts Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde.
Google released a similar Google Maps-based game in 2014 that had players collect creatures from the video game series Pokemon by tapping map locations around the world using the app.
(UPI)
WWII BOMB REMOVED FROM RIVER THAMES
Hours after police removed an unexploded World War II-era bomb near the start of the course on the River Thames, Oxford reclaimed the boat race title from Cambridge on Sunday.
The bomb was discovered by a member of the public near Putney Bridge in southwest london, just meters (yards) from the starting line of the famous race between rowers from Oxford and Cambridge universities.
The ordinance was found submerged on the Chelsea shoreline Saturday and it was removed by a marine policing unit, the london police force said.
london was heavily bombed in the war, particularly during the Blitz years in 1940 and 1941, as German planes concentrated on civilian and industrial targets. Unexploded devices are still occasionally uncovered.
Oxford won the 163rd boat race by a length and a quarter in 16 minutes, 59 seconds. The course is 4 miles, 374 yard (6.8 kilometres) long.
(AP)
HOW VODKA SAVED BRITISH CAT AFTER BRAKE FlUID POISONING
Veterinarians in london said a cat that accidentally poisoned herself with brake fluid was saved by an unusual antidote: Vodka.
The Blue Cross animal hospital in london said 7-year-old cat Princess was brought in by her owner, Teresa Correira Maria, after the feline was found covered in spilled brake fluid in a garden shed.
Veterinarians said Princess quickly became ill after attempting to clean the chemicals off her fur with her tongue.
The hospital said veterinarians rushed to the nearest liquor store to buy a bottle of high alcohol content vodka, which they said can counteract the effects of ethylene glycol, the poisonous chemical in brake fluid, if given to a pet quickly after ingestion. The vodka was administered to Princess via an IV drip. “Princess was in a really bad way and it was really touch and go,” veterinarian Heather loh said. “Household products containing this type of chemical are very dangerous to pets, and Princess needed 24-hour intensive care.”
“Pets should never be given alcohol but this was the only solution to prevent the poison from taking over and killing her,” loh said. “She was a bit worse the wear for several days afterwards but we were relieved blood tests showed the effects of the drip were working and the poison would no longer be fatal.” Maria said Princess has since been able to come home and is recovering from her ordeal.
(UPI)
RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY POKED FUN AT HACKER SCANDAl
Need some election interferenceIJ The Russian Foreign Ministry is ready to help — or so it says on April Fools’ Day. last week, the ministry posted on its Facebook page an audio file of the purported new automated telephone switchboard message for Russian embassies. “To arrange a call from a Russian diplomat to your political opponent, press 1,” the recording begins, in Russian and English. Press 2 “to use the services of Russian hackers,” and 3 “to request election interference.”
A ministry duty officer, who did not give his name in line with official practice, confirmed to The Associated Press that the post was an official joke. last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin emphatically denied allegations of Russian meddling in the US Presidential election.
(AP)
‘BRIE-ONCE’ CHEESE SCUlPTURE TRIBUTE TO PREGNANT BEYONCE
AUK sculptor preparing for the country’s Cheese Carving Championship unveiled his warm-up creation: Brie-once, a statue of Beyonce carved from cheese. David Bradley, who is preparing to compete in the Cheese Carving Championship as part of london’s East Village Cheese and Wine festival, teamed up with london ad agency The Robin Collective and veteran food sculptor Jacqui Kelly to craft the tribute to the Queen Bey based on a famous Instagram photo of the singer holding her baby bump. “A lot of cheese puns floated around, and Brie-once was the one everyone liked the most,” Robin Collective creative director Brandy Klingelpuss told CNN. The 5-pound sculpture is made from five blocks of cheddar, rather than the softer cheese brie. “We talked about putting Babybel in the stomach, but it never actually happened.”
(UPI)