18th c statue destroyed by selfie-taking tourist
A priceless 300-year-old statue in lisbon’s National Museum of Ancient Art shattered after it was knocked over by a tourist trying to take a selfie. Museum officials said the statue of Saint Michael, which dates back to the early 1700s, is broken beyond repair.
The tourist reportedly posted a photo of the destroyed statue to Facebook and said, “It’s the price to be paid for free entrances on the first Sunday of every month.”
Portugal’s Ministry of Culture said the accident has raised concerns about adequate security in the museum, which officials said was lacking. “This misfortune has called attention to these issues,” the Ministry said, adding an increase in museum staff “is underway.” Portuguese authorities are still investigating and are unsure if any charges will be filed against the tourist.
(UPI)
Expert eats bug After donald trump wins
A Princeton University polling expert who said he would eat a bug if Donald Trump got more than 240 electoral votes has followed through on his promise. Sam Wang, of the Princeton Election Consortium, made good on his Twitter word on CNN last Saturday.
He ate from a can of gourmet-style crickets and added in some honey. He said John the Baptist ate locusts and honey in the wilderness, and he considers himself to be in the wilderness as well.
Wang, a data scientist and neuroscientist, says on the consortium’s website that polls failed, but that his analysis “amplified” that failure. He apologised for “underestimating the possibility” of Trump winning.
(AP)
Care Bears, bubble wrap in National Toy Hall of Fame
The National Toy Hall of Fame has inducted its 2016 class from a group of 12 finalists, which include Care Bears, Clue, Uno, and bubble wrap. Also nominated are Fisher-Price little People, Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots, Transformers, Nerf foam balls, pinball, the swing, Dungeons & Dragons, and colouring books. The inductees will be housed along with other historical toys at The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester. The winners will be announced during a ceremony at The Strong. To be nominated, toys should be multi-generational and foster learning and/or creativity through play.
(UPI)
Novel in single sentence wins UK Goldsmiths Prize
An Irish writer won the Goldsmiths literary award for his novel written in a single unbroken sentence. Mike McCormack won the $12,530-award granted by Goldsmiths, University of london for his novel Solar Bones.
“Set over a few hours in a single day, and told in the first-person voice of a middle-aged engineer, Mike McCormack’s Solar Bones transcends these seeming limits magnificently,” Chair of Judges, Professor Blake Morrison said.
McCormack became the third Irish writer to claim the Goldsmiths Prize since its inception in 2013 and said the win served as “payback” for the publishers and agent who supported him throughout his career. “It’s about time the prize-giving community honoured experimental works and mainstream publishers started honouring their readership by saying: ‘Here are experimental books,’” McCormack said.
(UPI)
US lawmaker is re-elected, arrested on the same day
A New Hampshire lawmaker wanted by police for failing to show up for a court hearing was re-elected and arrested on the same day. New Hampshire Public Radio reports that Republican state Rep Dick Marple was sitting outside a polling place with his campaign signs on Election Day when an officer recognised him. Marple was charged with driving without a valid license in December 2014.
Authorities had issued a bench warrant for his arrest after he failed to show up for a court hearing in October. Police say Marple drove himself to the police station and was arrested. He also was re-elected to a fifth term. Marple said he was being targeted as a troublemaker because he strictly interprets the state constitution.
(AP)
Baby inherits family’s streak of white hair
An 18-month-old girl from South Carolina has inherited her family’s unique white hair birthmark, following three generations of women who have the trait. MilliAnna represents the fourth generation of women in her family to have the patch of white hair.
MilliAnna’s mother, Brianna Worthy, also has the bright white patch on the front of her head. Worthy’s mother and grandmother have the streak, too. “We are unsure how far back the birthmark goes as my grandmother was adopted as a child and hasn’t met her biological family,” Worthy said.
The hereditary trait is caused by a condition called poliosis, or a lack of melanin in a hairy area. “I was hoping she did have it,” Worthy said. “My younger sister didn’t get it, so I didn’t know if MilliAnna was going to, but once I had her and they laid her on my chest and I saw she had it, I was so happy.”
Though Worthy was teased about the streak as a child, she has grown to embrace it and plans to raise MilliAnna the same way. “I’m going to tell her, ‘you’re unique’.”
(UPI)