In Other News

[Broken_Erika]

Australia: geologist beaten up by 'angriest octopus' on beach


A man has been whipped by what he describes as the "angriest octopus" while swimming on holiday at a Western Australian beach.

In a video that has gone viral, the octopus can be seen in shallow waters lashing out at geologist Lance Karlson.

The creature came after him again later and struck him on the arm, before whipping his neck and upper back.

The tentacles left stinging red welts on his skin, which Mr Karlson said only eased after he poured cola over them.

The former lifeguard told Australian news outlet 7News that his preferred treatment for sea animal stings is vinegar, but he did not have any on him at the time.

However, he said that he knew anything acidic may help, and decided to try using cola. "Turns out it works."

Mr Karlson said was about to take a dip near the resort where he and his family were staying at in Geographe Bay when he saw what he thought was the tail of a stingray striking a seagull.

He discovered it was an octopus only when he walked closer with his two-year-old daughter, and was filming a video of it when it suddenly struck in their direction.

"The octopus lashed out at us, which was a real shock," Mr Karlson said in e-mailed comments to news agency Reuters.

Later, when he went into the water alone, the octopus found him again and struck him.

"My goggles became fogged, the water was suddenly murky and I remember being shocked and confused," he said.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-56612257

[BeBMan]

Hopefully container prices at local supermarkets go down again now....

[Broken_Erika]

Ever Given: Stranded Suez container ship freed from shoreline


A huge container ship that has been stuck across the Suez Canal for almost a week has been freed from the shoreline, officials say.

The course of the 400m-long (1,300ft) Ever Given has been corrected by 80%, according to the Suez Canal Authority.

It added that further efforts to move the boat would resume later on Monday.

The Ever Given has been blocking one of the world's busiest trade routes, forcing companies to reroute ships and causing long tailbacks.

The reports that the ship had been freed raised hopes that traffic along the canal could resume within hours, clearing the way for an estimated $9.6bn (£7bn) of goods that is being held up each day.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-56559904

[Kidlicious]

Thought shalt not erect a strawman argument as the Pagans do.

[Uncle Sparky]

Have a safe Passover

[Uncle Sparky]

Is this a picture of home schooling in Australia?

Spoiler:

[-Jrabbit]

"You shall give him his wages on the same day, before the sun sets (for he is poor and counts on it),
lest he cry against you to the Lord, and you be guilty of sin."
- Deuteronomy 24:15

[Uncle Sparky]

Too bad we don't have pennies in Canada anymore. I'd have gladly sent the ex-employee a couple of rolls of them to mix in with the 90000 US pennies if they were going back as payment to the asshat ex-boss. Our pennies used to be the same size, shape, and colour as US pennies, and not accepted by any US banks..

[Kidlicious]

"In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right,

until someone comes forward and cross-examines."

- Proverbs 18:17

[-Jrabbit]

Still a dick move. Everyone seems to agree the money was legitimately owed. The shop owner went to a lot of trouble to be an ass. He was also foolish enough to post on his website that he accepts pennies in payment. Good chance that comes back to bite him.

[Kidlicious]

Definitely two sides of the story. People don't just do that for no reason.

[Berzerker]

or what Rabbit said

[Berzerker]

what a dick, I'd take my car elsewhere

[-Jrabbit]

I would definitely look for a sympathetic friend who needed about $900 in auto repair services - which should not be difficult after this news - and work out a deal to use that grimy pile of pennies in payment. FU right back, Miles Walker!

[Broken_Erika]

Auto worker employee receives 91,500 pennies in final wages


An auto repair shop in Georgia has been accused of delivering a final wage package to a departing employee by dumping a pile of oil-covered pennies on his driveway - 91,500 of them.


The pennies amounted to the $915 (£667) that Andreas Flaten said he was owed by A OK Walker Autoworks.

Mr Flaten said he faces having to wipe down each coin individually to get rid of the grease the pile was covered in.

A OK Walker Autoworks has not commented publicly on the incident.

But on its website, it says: "And yes we accept pennies as payment! They are cash you nitwits!"

The owner, Miles Walker, told a reporter from CBS46 he did not remember dumping the coins on Mr Flaten's drive but added: "He got paid - that's all that matters."

Mr Flaten said he was a manager at the auto repair firm, which is based in Peachtree City, south of Atlanta, until he quit last November in a disagreement over when he could leave work to pick up his child from day care.

When his outstanding pay failed to arrive, Mr Flaten filed a claim with the US Department of Labor, which confirmed to US media it had contacted the repair shop three times over the issue.

The money did eventually materialise, as a pile of coins at the end of Mr Flaten's drive. On top of the pile was an envelope, with an expletive written on the front, and a pay stub inside - which was filmed by his girlfriend Olivia Oxley and posted to her Instagram account.

The pennies are now in a wheelbarrow in Mr Flaten's garage in Fayetteville, and the weight is so heavy it has deflated the tyres.

Mr Flaten said he had tried bathing the coins in a big tub of water, soap and vinegar, without success, and the only way to get the grease off was to wipe each one individually.

He added it had taken him around two hours to clean up about $5 worth.

"I think that's going to be a lot of work for money I've already worked for," he told Fox 5 Atlanta.

And it appears that paying your staff this way - while not practical, moral or fair - might also not be illegal.

"There is nothing in the regulations that dictates in what currency the employee must be paid," Eric R Lucero of the US Department of Labor was quoted by the New York Times as saying.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-56521173