ABRACADABRA

Tobacco pouch alerts quake

A tiny tobacco pouch tied to the hand of an elderly man saved the lives of nearly 800 people in a remote Chinese village when a powerful earthquake struck Sichuan province last week, killing about 200 people.

The incident took place in Fujiaying village in Longmen township, just five km from Lushan county, the epicentre of the 7.0 magnitude quake.

68-year-old Li Xianhe has being hailed as the saviour of Fujiaying after he pulled out this miracle, all thanks to his humble tobacco pouch. Li carries the pouch everywhere he goes, securing it to his wrist by a piece of string when he lies down to sleep.

Just before the quake struck, Li was woken by the violent rocking of the tobacco pouch hanging from his arm. "It's really weird, you know? I experienced the Wenchuan earthquake in 2008 and my instincts told me just one thing earthquake. I yelled out 'earthquake, earthquake' and rushed my family out of the house immediately," he told state-run China Daily.

Rather than trying to re-enter their house and collect valuables, Li and his family rushed along the village road and shouted to their neighbours, warning them of the impending disaster.

"Run! Quickly! Leave everything behind and run!" yelled Li in the hope his voice would alert those still indoors. As his cries rang out, many villagers ran from their homes and joined him in the road.

Fearing a large number of injuries in the village, Li and the other residents went from door to door, calling out and checking to see if anyone was trapped inside. Li let out a long sigh of relief when every one of the more than 800 villagers was gathered unscathed outside.

"Thank goodness, we were all alive and fine," said Li, his voice still hoarse a few days after the disaster. Li served as a village Communist Party chief for three decades and helped villagers to organize the cleanup operation in the immediate aftermath of the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake.

Over 90,000 were either illed or went missing in the 2008 quake.    

Shirts for 100 days without wash!

New York: Who needs laundry? A US company claims to have developed an incredible shirt that can be worn for 100 days straight without needing a wash or ironing.

Manufacturers claim the wool-blended shirt remains wrinkle-free and resists odour so effectively that it even smells fresh after being worn during rigorous exercise. 

“We wanted to create the perfect staple shirt for a modern wardrobe, which is why we have developed the oxford solid blue fabric and a small navy and blue gingham check pattern,” the company said on its website.

The US company Wool & Prince claims that people can wear their wool button-down shirts for days on end without them wrinkling, smelling or showing any dirt, ‘Gizmodo’ reported. Testers recruited by the company all claim that no matter what they do, the shirts look fresh from the dry cleaner all the time.

The company says wool is six times more durable than cotton plus it naturally fights wrinkles and odours and no chemical finishes are needed.

A video also shows the company’s founder Mac Bishop wearing the shirt for 100 days and talking to people on the street, who all respond favourably. The material for the shirts is woven out of fine wool thread and there’s a lot of “Wool Science” about temperature, wicking, thread dynamics and cotton comparison.

Wool&Prince is six days into a Kickstarter and is already collecting for stretch goals because it has exceeded the initial USD 30,000 target. The shirts are USD 98 each, which might be worth it if there’s really no dry cleaning or washing needed for months at a time, the report said.

“We stuck to what everyone wants for the shirt they can wear everyday. A simple button-down collar, clean cuffs with pleats, and standard back pleats and yoke to ensure great fit,” the website said.

Want to quit smoking? Slap a policeman !

A woman slapped a sheriff’s deputy in the US state of California so that she could get arrested and be put in jail, where she would not be allowed to smoke cigarettes. 

Deputy Matt Campoy said the 31-year-old woman, Etta Mae Lopez, blocked his way as he left his shift at the Sacramento Country Jail. “All of a sudden, she stepped into me & slapped me in the face,” he said.

Lopez was detained at once. She apparently wanted to use California’s ban on tobacco in prisons to kick the habit.Lopez reportedly admitted having waited in front of the jail for hours to hit an officer, get arrested & be put in jail, where she would not allowed to smoke. 

Lopez pleaded no contest to misdemeanor battery on a peace officer. She was sentenced to 63 days in jail. 

Briton to carry on licking cathedrals!

London: A Briton, who works for a government-backed group that protects the historic environment, has embarked on a bizarre quest of licking all Anglican cathedrals in the country. He has licked 42 cathedrals in England, and has vowed to lick eight more in Scotland and eight in Northern Ireland.

Lawrence Edmonds, 27, works for the English Heritage, which protects and promotes the historic environment and ensures that its past is researched and understood. Edmonds thought he had already completed a bet with friends after licking all 42 Anglican cathedrals in England, the Daily Mail reported. But then he discovered there are eight in Scotland and eight in Northern Ireland, and so he vowed to lick them too. The challenge came about in January 2011 when Edmonds accepted the bet. He thought he had finished his tour in June this year. But then his friends told him about the rest, and all had to be visited by Dec 16. If he fails, Edmonds will have to streak around the cathedral in his home town, York Minster. Edmonds’ antics have become a global discussion, thanks to his Facebook page “I bet I can lick every Anglican cathedral in the UK” and his “Cathedral-Licking” blog.”