Berlusconi on immigration

Silvio Berlusconi has said that while illegal immigrants were not welcome in Italy he would make an exception for "beautiful girls". The Italian PM, who is renowned for making jokes of questionable taste, was speaking to journalists after holding talks with Albanian PM Sali Berisha. He said an accord between Italy and Albania had successfully clamped down on the trafficking of illegal immigrants across the Adriatic Sea. He then joked: "I said to Sali -- we'd make exceptions for anyone bringing over beautiful girls."

Sick trends

An average person suffers from 6,284 ailments, including common colds, cramps, headaches and back pain, in a lifetime, a new study has reveals.
The study, based on a survey by www.activequote.com, an independent comparison site on private health insurance, claims that an average Briton experiences up to 80 minor ailments a year and spends 21 days a year on pain relief medication or 1,649 in total, given the average age people live to of 78.5 years.
The poll of 3,000 adults found the most common complaint is frequent bouts of cramp -- it affects people up to 19 times a year or 1,492 times over a lifetime, the Daily Mail reported.
One can also expect to get at least 16 headaches a year or 1,256 in total.
The third most reported ailment is back pain -- endured by the average Briton 14 times a year and 1,099 times in total.
The poll found the fourth most common minor ailment was pulled muscles, at nine times a year or 707 over a lifetime. This was just ahead of a cricked neck, tummy upsets, nose bleeds and strained or sprained wrists and ankles.
Interestingly, more than half of those polled believe they are fit and healthy, even though they suffered on average two colds, two cuts, an eye infection and earache, a dose of flu and heartburn over the past 12 months alone.
"While the ailments may seem minor, the survey shows just how disruptive they can be and this figure does not take into account the more serious illnesses," Richard Theo of Activequote was quoted by the British newspaper as saying

Stop that Rodent

Alton Towers theme park in Britain has been forced to ban a squirrel from one of its rides, the Sonic Spinball, as its antics pose a health and safety risk. The rodent was said to be causing problems for operators at Alton Towers by getting in the way of improvement work on an attraction at the resort. Workers noticed it riding a revamped roller coaster as it was tested in the mornings and joining visitors who were offered an early go on it before the official opening. Alarms were installed that emit a warning noise inaudible to human ears but designed to ensure the squirrel, nicknamed Sonic, avoids the ride in future.
''Unfortunately Sonic's behavior is a danger both to our guests and himself and so we're doing all we can to ensure that he stays away from the ride," Alton Towers sales and marketing director Morwenna Angove was quoted as saying.

"Sand War"

Singapore has been accused of launching a clandestine "Sand War" against its neighbours by paying smugglers to steal entire beaches under the cover of night. "It is a secret war for natural resources," said Nur Hidayati, Greenpeace Indonesia spokesman.
The island city-state's size has increased by over 20 per cent since the 1960s and demand for sand for lucrative land reclamation and development projects is higher than ever. However, recent bans on exporting sand introduced in Indonesia, Cambodia and Vietnam have cut off supplies and opened up a thriving smuggling trade. Thieves have begun making night-time raids on the beaches of Indonesia and Malaysia, carving out millions of tonnes of coastline and depriving Singapore's neighbors of their beaches.

The Tradition of the Queue.

The art of queuing is to be made part of the citizenship test for immigrants, under plans unveiled by a senior UK minister. Phil Woolas, the immigration minister, confirmed that he was working on it as part of moves to ensure that immigrants integrate properly.

Foreigners applying to settle in the UK will have to learn about the "revered" British practice of forming an orderly line for everything from buses to sandwiches. The ministers said,"This is not their fault that they cannot wait for their turn to use services as in less-wealthy countries the only way to get access to necessities is to push yourself forward."

Manure love

According to this man nothing says "I love you" like a half-mile wide heart made out of manure. A southern Minnesota man gifted the Valentine's Day to his 37 year old wife for Valentines day yesterday. Bruce Andersland told the Press that he started the project in their farm field about 12 miles southwest of Albert Lea with his tractor and manure spreader on Wednesday and finished Thursday. His wife, Beth, said it is the biggest and most original Valentine she has ever received.

Garden Wars

A Russian man, who planted landmines in his garden to defend it from intruders, has been convicted to two-and-a-half years suspended sentence on weapons charges, prosecutors said on Friday. Alexander Skopintsev, a resident of the far eastern Primorye region near Russia's border with China, built three explosive traps in his garage last July and planted them around his garden, Primorye region prosecutors said. "During the court hearings, Skopintsev testified that he had prepared the explosive devices to protect his garden against thieves," a statement said. Police arrested him after a trespasser set off one of the landmines in August and was injured, spokeswoman for the prosecutors Irina Nomokonova said.