Aussie senator resigns as he learns he is from NZ
An Australian Senator elected three times to Parliament resigned last Saturday after revealing he’d learned he was a citizen of New Zealand, and thus ineligible to serve. Scott ludlam, 47, a deputy leader of the minority Greens Party, apologised to constituents and said he was previously unaware of his New Zealand heritage. He said his family moved to Perth, Australia, when he was three and was unaware his parents had not renounced his citizenship, leaving him a dual citizen of both nations.
Under the Australian Constitution, members of Parliament have to be citizens. The revelation rendered his election moot and an Australian court will have to name his replacement.
ludlam had served in the Australian Senate for nine years without anyone realising he was ineligible to hold the office. He described the matter as an “avoidable oversight” that was “entirely my responsibility”.
In a tweet announcing his resignation, ludlam said: “Hey everyone. I’m sorry about this, but it’s a thing. There are other ways to make trouble. love and thanks.” (UPI)
Timber rattlesnake caught near US home
Timber rattlesnakes are known to thrive in some rural areas of Massachusetts, but finding them in urban areas is almost unheard of. That’s why state environmental police and animal control personnel were surprised to receive a report last Sunday of a large rattler hanging around a Springfield home.
Animal Control Officer Daniel Simpson told the Boston Herald the man was going to kill it with a shovel, but called authorities instead. The venomous snakes are protected in Massachusetts.
Simpson and state Environmental Police used a pillowcase and net to capture and relocate it about 14 miles way to Mount Tom in Holyoke. They doubt the snake slithered its way to Springfield, and think it was a pet that either escaped or was released, or was dropped by a bird of prey. (AP)
Their Forever starts tonight: Wedding set for total eclipse
An astronomy buff and her fiance want to make sure nothing eclipses their Missouri wedding ceremony. Samantha Adams told The Kansas City Star that her longtime fascination with the stars prompted her to schedule the ceremony for 12.30 pm on August 21 — during an extremely rare total solar eclipse. “I couldn’t think of a more dreamlike wedding for myself,” said Adams, 28, who has a tattoo of the space probe Voyager on her left arm.
The couple’s entire ceremony in St Joseph, Missouri, will have an eclipse theme and every guest will be provided with a pair of solar glasses. During the wedding, the couple plans to watch the eclipse with their guests before taking their vows. Adams’ fiancé, Cameron Kuhn, 27, said he’s happy to go along with the eclipse wedding because it makes his bride happy.
Adams once dreamed of becoming an astronaut, but multiple knee surgeries forced her to take a different path. She lives in Overland Park, Kansas, and has a Master’s degree in industrial education. The couple grew up in Platte City, Missouri, a grade apart in school before they started dating while attending the University of Western Missouri. (AP)
Cops: no drug paraphernalia needed for chemistry class
Arizona police tweeted an unusual warning to parents shopping for back-to-school supplies — pieces of drug paraphernalia are not required for chemistry class.
The Gilbert Police Department tweeted a photo showing items of drug paraphernalia including marijuana pipes, bongs and glass crack pipes. “If your kid tells you they need any of these items for chemistry class, they are lying #BackToSchoolShopping #IDontThinkSo #ThursdayThoughts,” the tweet read.
The tweet quickly went viral on the microblogging site, earning lauds from other police departments. (UPI)
Pope’s humour intact despite rough weeks
Pope Francis hasn’t lost his sense of humour despite a rough few weeks of clamorous exits of top Vatican officials and some other negative headlines. He has hung a sign on the door of his hotel suite reading: “No whining.” In smaller print, the sign continues: “Transgressors are subject to a syndrome of victimisation and the ensuing reduction of a sense of humour and capacity to resolve problems. Sanctions are doubled when the violation is committed in the presence of children.”
The online Vatican site of the la Stampa daily, Vatican Insider, published a photo of the sign last Friday.
In recent weeks, the Vatican’s auditor general resigned, its treasurer returned to Australia to face trial for sex abuse, and its top doctrine official was dismissed. (AP)