Thais turn to ‘child angel’ dolls as economy struggles
A craze for lifelike dolls thought to bring good luck is sweeping Thailand, reflecting widespread anxiety as the economy struggles and political uncertainty persists nearly two years after a coup.
Thailand is predominantly Buddhist and has been modernising rapidly over the past two or three decades, but many people are highly superstitious, their Buddhist beliefs co-existing with notions of animism, astrology and black magic.
The plastic dolls, about the size of a real baby, are called “look thep”, or “child angel”. Devotees buy them in shops or online and invite benevolent spirits to possess them, hoping they will bring good luck.
“The economy is bad right now. Everybody needs something to hold on to,” said Mananya Boonmee, 49, a doll owner and seller. Mananya said her doll, called Nong Petch, or baby jewel, had helped her win the lottery by telling her what numbers to buy in her dreams.
(Reuters)
San Francisco park has an open-air urinal
A popular San Francisco park that re-opened after years of construction is drawing attention for an unusual new feature: An open-air public urinal. The urinal, located right next to the train tracks at Dolores Park, was installed as part of the park’s $20.5 million renovations due to the city Parks and Recreation Department’s ongoing problems with public urination on buildings and bushes.
“The more options we can give them to relieve themselves the better for the park-goers,” San Francisco Supervisor Scott Wiener told KNTV. “The better it is for neighbours.”
The new feature was welcomed by park-goers. “Honestly, we were ready to go pee anywhere,” park visitor Aaron Cutler said after trying out the urinal. “So any facility is better than none.”
(UPI)
This ‘Polar Picasso’ paints with his paws
An Ontario sanctuary is raising funds by selling artwork created by one of its residents: A polar bear named Henry. The Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat shared video of Henry, a bear that formerly resided at Australia’s Sea World Gold Coast, acting as a “Polar Picasso” while wandering around a room filled with paint and paper.
“So how do you get a polar bear to paintIJ Very carefully! Henry loves pig fat, so our keepers placed the treat in strategic locations in Henry’s holding room so that he’d have to walk through non-toxic paint first and then across art paper. Once they know he’s done his best — the trick is to get the 600 lb bear out of there before he really expresses his artistic side — sometimes by rolling on, tearing up — or ripping apart the artwork,” the sanctuary said in the video’s description.
Henry’s paintings, and those created by the sanctuary’s other bears, are being sold on the sanctuary’s website, www.polarbearhabitat.ca.
(UPI)
Man dubbed ‘Bordeaux Bandit’ sent to prison for WII theft
The man who authorities dubbed the “Bordeaux Bandit” for allegedly stealing expensive bottles of wine around the Northeast was sentenced to prison in Rhode Island for stealing video game equipment.
Scott Deluca, of Cohoes, New York, was sentenced in Providence to 90 days in prison for larceny, with credit for time served since January 11. The remainder of his six-year sentence was suspended. The 25-year-old is accused of stealing rare wines from businesses in Connecticut, New Jersey and New York. One bottle he allegedly took from a Connecticut restaurant is worth $4,800.
In Rhode Island, Deluca pleaded no contest to taking a Nintendo Wii, games, a controller and jewellery from a Cumberland apartment in 2011. A warrant was issued after he failed to appear in court in June 2014. Deluca was ordered to pay $6,188 in restitution and have no contact with the victim. He answered questions from a magistrate judge, but did not say anything on his own behalf before the sentence was imposed.
Deluca was arrested on January 8 in Smithfield, where police learned during booking that police in Groton, Connecticut, had obtained an arrest warrant in the wine theft. Groton police say Deluca stole a bottle of 1990 Chateau Petrus wine from the wine storage area at the Octagon restaurant at the Mystic Marriott Hotel. Deluca’s lawyer, Thomas Thomasian, said he couldn’t comment on the other cases.
(AP)
Judge tells nuns to rework lawsuit against strip club
A convent in suburban Chicago plans to move forward with an effort to close a neighbouring strip club even after a legal setback. Cook County Circuit Judge Peter Flynn told the Missionary Sisters of St Charles Borromeo to rework their lawsuit against Club Allure in Stone Park alleging it violates prostitution regulations and is a nuisance. But Flynn also dismissed claims that the club violates zoning laws.
He asked the nuns’ lawyers to provide specific, detailed examples of nuisances or lewd behaviour. After the hearing, Sister Noemia Silva said her order is called to “protect our values, and we will not change them”. Attorney Robert Itzkow, who is the former owner of the club, says it’s a legal business.
(AP)