News Round Up
by Patrick O'Connor
HOW'S this for a weird medical condition...
The Daily Telegraph quotes an article in the New Scientist magazine about a man who suffers from the rare Cotard's Syndrome which is also known as 'Walking Corpse Syndrome' because it makes people think they have turned into zombies.
In the article, a British man, identified only as Graham, relates how he woke up nine years ago convinced that he was no longer alive even though he was still breathing.
Cotard’s Syndrome is among the most rare diseases in the world.
Graham said: “I lost my sense of smell and my sense of taste. There was no point in eating because I was dead. It was a waste of time speaking as I never had anything to say.”
What do the Brits like doing over the Bank Holiday? Why chasing cheese down a hill of course!
According to the BBC, a crowd of around 3,000 people turned out to watch the annual cheese-rolling races near Brockworth in Gloucestershire.
The annual event dates back to at least the early 19th century but this year organisers replaced cheese with a lightweight foam copy of a double Gloucester cheese in an attempt to make the downhill race safer because police had warned that they could be liable for legal action in the event of an incident.
It's a funny old word...
If you popped along to the opening night of a new exhibition at the Void Gallery, in Derry, Northern Ireland, last week you have been asked for an unusual contribution – your blood!
The Independent says that Catholic Blood, an exhibition by Andre Molodkin, consisted of a hollow acrylic replica of the Rose Window from the Houses of Parliament and a fridge containing samples of freshly donated human blood, which is circulated through the window using a medical pump.
Apparently Molodkin insisted that all donors must be Catholic, to make a point about the fact that “there have been no Catholic British Prime Ministers”.
According to the paper, 36 donors came forward.
One of the great treasures from a bygone era is under threat, reports the Daily Telegraph.
Heritage train companies in the UK are scrambling around for coal as they prepare for the usual summer surge in interest from tourists.
Apparently the problem stems from a fire at Daw Mill in Warwickshire and the collapse of Scottish Coal.
Paul Lewin, a director of the Heritage Railway Association, is quoted as saying:“There are a lot of worried people out there. Like any business, we need to know our source of supplies and materials are secure.
“Until recently there were four different places where you could get coal which was suitable for steam trains. It was coal which gave off a lot of heat and little smoke, unlike household coal which gives off a load of ash.”
“Going down from four to two suppliers is worrying. I think it is getting close to some railways shutting completely and others using diesel engines.
Not so smart...
The BBC reports that passengers on the London Underground have been warned to keep better hold of their smartphones after claims from Tube drivers and staff that dropped devices have caused delays in service.
It used to be the case that most Tube stations would be communications black holes but Wi-fi internet access has now been installed across much of the system.
A spokesman for the Victoria Line said that owing to the short intervals between trains, delays caused by phones needing to be retrieved from the track had created problems.
Dean Horler, its stations manager, is quoted as saying: “We're asking customers on the Victoria Line to be more careful with their mobile and smart phones while waiting for a train, There have been a number of incidents where the service has been delayed due to staff having to retrieve phones.”
Reference lists:
The Independent (www.independent.co.uk)
Daily Telegraph (www.telegraph co.uk)
BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)