In Other News

[Ming]

A classical drive: Road rumble strips play Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony in UAE emirate of Fujairah



FUJAIRAH, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The humble road rumble strip, used around the world to alert drifting drivers to potential hazards or lane departures, can play Beethoven on a mountain highway in the far reaches of the United Arab Emirates.

For nearly a kilometer (a half mile) along the E84 highway — also known as the Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Road — motorists in the right-hand lane coming into the city of Fujairah can play Ludwig van Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony where the rubber meets the road.

“The ‘Street of Music,’ of course, is an art project that exists in some countries ... but we wanted this project to be in our country,” said Ali Obaid Al Hefaiti, the director of Fujairah Fine Arts Academy, which recently wrapped up the project in collaboration with local authorities.

“I think that the project is focused on spreading the art culture. The combination of music in our lives and our normal lives,” he added.

For drivers coming into Fujairah, the rumble strip initially looks like a larger, rectangular version of the dash lines separating the three-lane highway. That’s until you hit the first block, and the grooves of the road combine with the speed of the vehicle to make music.

Driving over each block sounds out the best-known parts of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony — the final movements known commonly as the tune “Ode to Joy,” or in its more modern form, the official anthem of the European Union. Al Hefaiti recommended motorists hit the blocks at around 100 kph (60 mph) to get the tune just right.

The road has become a social media sensation, bringing visitors to one of the lesser-known emirates in the UAE along its eastern coast with the Gulf of Oman.

Drivers have been spotted slowing down to experience the musical road as they come into the city. Passers-by can get the same effect from standing on the side of the road, though motorists often come in quickly.

The concept isn’t new — there have been so-called “singing shoulders” deployed in other countries including across the Persian Gulf in Iran. But Al Hefaiti believes this is the first one in the Arab world. Beyond it going viral, Al Hefaiti thinks it will bring classical music into everyday life and “raise awareness about the importance of art culture.”

As for why an Emirati fine arts school picked a European composer born in the 18th century to represent Fujairah, Al Hefaiti said that he always encourages his students to explore different cultures.

[Ming]

Woman is arrested after her pet raccoon 'Chewy' is caught smoking a meth pipe inside her car

An Ohio woman was arrested after her pet raccoon was found holding a meth pipe to its mouth in her car during a routine traffic stop.

Victoria Vidal, 55, was pulled over in Akron by a Springfield Township Police officer on Monday after it was determined that she had an active warrant and a suspended driver's license, according to a post from the department.

Upon approaching the vehicle, an officer 'made contact with the driver,' who was then detained 'without incident,' the post stated.


Victoria Vidal, 55, was pulled over by a Springfield Township police officer on Monday

'However, things took an unusual turn' when the officer returned to Vidal's car, the police department said.

According to police, 'he observed a raccoon named "Chewy" sitting in the driver's seat with a meth pipe in its mouth.'

'Chewy had somehow gotten hold of a glass methamphetamine pipe, leading officers to further inspect the vehicle,' the post continued.

The discovery prompted a search of the vehicle that turned up a significant quantity of meth, crack cocaine and three used glass pipes, police said.

Vidal, a resident of Akron, was then taken into custody.


Vidal was arrested after her pet raccoon, Chewy, was found holding a methamphetamine pipe in the driver's seat

The incident sparked outrage, and a few jokes, from commenters.

'I love raccoons and this makes me so sad. If you are a druggie don't get your pets involved and subject them to it too,' one wrote.

'Looks like Springfield just saved some money on a trained drug dog, "field trained" Chewy just got promoted to the position,' another added.

'Chewy needs a tox[icology] screen so they can add an animal cruelty charge as well. It doesn't look like this is his first time handling a meth pipe!' a third chimed in.

[Dauphin]

In English that would be a pepper-only pizza.

[N35t0r]

Fun fact: pepperoni in Italian means peppers. (edit: as in capsicums, regular pepper is pepe)

[Dauphin]

Pope Pepperoni Panzerotti

[BeBMan]

Too bad the guy would change his name in case he becomes pope indeed

[-Jrabbit]

Pierbattista Pizzaballa -- really??

Sounds like something Fr. Guido Sarducci would post...

[BeBMan]

I hope this guy becomes the new pope. I dunno if he's a good choice, but his name makes me smile

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/05/middleeast/cardinal-pizzaballa-jerusalem-pope-contender-intl-cmd

[BeBMan]

Something that is not spectacular -- just a nice bit which we don't get often in the news these days:

‘Book brigade’: US town forms human chain to move 9,100 books one-by-one

A small Michigan community banded together to help a beloved local bookstore move its stock to a new storefront

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/17/book-brigade-us-town-forms-human-chain-to-move-9100-books-one-by-one

[BeBMan]

Brave goat

[Ming]

The pictures make the story

[N35t0r]

Goats

[Ming]

Unbelievable moment goat balances on a power line to reach shrubbery snack

A goat has been snapped hilariously defying gravity to get a snack - while balancing on top of powerlines.

The animal was spotted by a passerby who couldn't believe their eyes when they saw it reaching for shrubbery while feet in the air. The video was filmed by an onlooker in Ceará, Brazil, on Sunday after they noticed the goat had climbed a nearby tower to get to the electric wires where a bunch of greens had got caught.

In the clip the animal looks up every few seconds to check out his surroundings before digging back into his meal.

This is not the first time a goat has ended up in a surprising place.

Emergency services were rushed to save a brown goat roughly 50ft above the ground in a street named Calle Potes, just seven miles south from the centre of Madrid. Soon after arriving, the fire brigade became the centre of Spanish media attention, with many wondering how they would attempt to save the goat, who had perched itself in the most awkward of places.

In the clip, firefighters can be seen carefully clearing a path on the balcony across from where the animal had gotten itself comfy and lay down on the ledge.


Hilarious footage shows a goat balancing on power cables in Brazil to get a snack


The animal showed off its balancing skills.


Ceará locals watched on in amazement as the animal snacked on some shrubbery

Outstretched over the adjoining vent and approaching the goat with a tub of water, the animal seemed initially confused by the workers' attempts to bring it to safety. But after the ingenious idea of using carrots as bait, the goat suddenly became interested and the firefighter holding the camera can be heard saying 'we got her' as the goat began to walk towards them.

However, the initial cheers from the crowd below soon stopped and the goat instead had them holding their breath once more, after it decided to take the risky route of walking over the balcony's ledge. Scared to startle it, the firefighters are heard urging each other not to make any sudden movements.

'Leave her, leave her!,' one can be heard saying. 'She'll come on her own.'

Authorities remain unsure how it got there in the first place, with particular confusion being raised due to the flat where the goat had gotten itself stuck being uninhabited. The animal, which has since been identified as a 'male dwarf goat' remains in supervision at the protection centre of Madrid Salud and is said to be in 'good health' according to Municipal sources.

[youtube]https://youtu.be/mJOBqwCBUXM[/youtube]

The 'dwarf goats', also known as pygmy goats, are said to be good pets known for their playful nature. They are also said to be friendly with children, with their small stature allowing for them to be petted and handled.

It is unclear whether the goat has an owner.

Relief is eventually struck when the goat is seen entering the living room of the flat, with the animal finally safe following the stressful ordeal. Once its safety was secured, the animal was passed to the city's emergency vetinary service, Sevemur, who take care of sick and injured animals found in Madrid.

In a conversation with Telemadrid, one local Calle Potes resident said the animal 'must have come down from the sky'.

[BeBMan]

Two stories that caught my attention

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/12/tennessee-man-shot-by-dog

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/11/turtle-concealed-mans-pants-new-jersey-airport

[BeBMan]

A great initiative