Church in CAR gives shelter to Muslims fleeing Christian militia

Posted on January 24, 2014 By Chris

A Christian church in the Central African Republic is currently providing shelter to a group of 700 Muslims, who are attempting to flee the vengeful “anti-balaka” (anti-machete) Christian militia.

For months, violence between Christians and Muslims has ravaged the country, leaving more than 1 million displaced from their homes. Following a series of atrocities committed by the Muslim Seleka rebel group targeting Christian communities, Christian “anti-balaka” militias have undertaken retribution attacks against Muslims in the country.

The pastor of the church in the city of Boali, which is currently being guarded by about 70 French troops, however, wants an end to the violence. He told France 24 news,

“I am not going to let anyone hurt the people inside my church, it doesn’t matter whether they are Christians or Muslims,”

and encouraged his congregation to greet their Muslim neighbors with a “kiss of peace.”

Church and local officials are working on an evacuation plan for the Muslim families taking shelter at the church.

A Dad for Christmas

Posted on December 3, 2013December 29, 2013 By Chris

When it comes to Christmas, it might be safe to assume children will ask Santa for an extensive list of toys, games and treats. But a survey highlighted in The Telegraph of their typical lists for Father Christmas has shown many have more serious concerns, requesting “a dad” instead.

A study of 2,000 British parents found most children will put a new baby brother or sister at the top of their Christmas list, closely followed by a request for a real-life reindeer.

A “pet horse” was the third most popular choice, with a “car” making a bizarre entry at number four. But despite their material requests, the tenth most popular Christmas wish on the list was a “Dad”.

The survey, of consumers at Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City, found children aged three to 12 years also wanted a dog, chocolate and a stick of rock. Traditional hopes for a white Christmas were represented by a wish for “snow” in ninth place, with sensible youngsters also requesting a “house”.

Of the top 50 festive requests, 17 related to pets and animals, with some imaginative children hoping for a donkey, chicken and elephant.

iPhones and iPads also appeared on the list, with some quirky children asking for the moon, a time machine, a pond cover and beetroot. One child asked for Eva Longoria and another wanted Harry Styles from One Direction.

A request for a “mum” reached number 23 on the list.

The Pope’s New Car is a 29-Year Old Renault

Posted on September 13, 2013September 17, 2013 By Chris

Pope Francis has a new car. Or, rather, a new-to-him car. Renzo Zocca, an Italian parish priest, offered his 1984 Renault with 186,000 miles, to the Pope:

In response, the priest received a papal call on his cell phone at the beginning of August and they spent a half hour talking about the priest’s work. Zocca said the pope had initially been unsure about the gift suggesting that it would be best if he gave it to the poor, but the priest had insisted that his much-loved car had already given much to the poor over the years and he wanted it to go to the pope as a “testimony” of the work he had done in it.

Once Francis had been reassured the priest had another car, the pope flicked through his diary for the perfect day for the car hand-over. […]

Pope Francis has impressed many since his election earlier this year with his humble and direct style. On election he quickly stressed his desire for “a poor church for the poor” and refused many of the trappings that went with being pope, preferring a simpler, less-ostentatious style. He continues to live in the Vatican Santa Marta guest house rather than in the papal apartments and has abandoned the use of limos and motorcades to be closer to the people.

Pope Francis plans to drive the car himself.

Toddler Buys Car While Playing with Dad’s Phone

Posted on August 6, 2013August 6, 2013 By Chris

Don’t give your smartphone to anyone that you don’t trust with your money. Paul Stoute of Portland, Oregon found that out when his 2-year old daughter Sorella used the eBay app on his phone to purchase a 1962 Austin Healey Sprite:

“She decided to open the eBay app, and started clicking around and one thing led to another and we own a car,” he told KOIN 6 News, laughing.

Mom and Dad had an “initial panic,” he said. “‘What do we do? We can’t really afford it’ kind of thing.”

But they decided to keep it.

Paul plans to keep the car, restore it, and give it to Sorella for her 16th birthday or high school graduation, read here for more.

This guy Is 3D printing an Aston Martin

Posted on July 31, 2013 By Chris

Car-enthusiast Ivan Sentch really wanted an Aston Martin DB4. The only problem is, he doesn’t have several hundred thousand dollars to purchase one. Sentch does, however, own a relatively cheap Solidoodler 3D printer (they start at about $500). Using a 3D drawing he found online, Sentch, who was a 3D printing novice when he started the project, began printing parts for his dream car. Though he’ll use parts from a Nissan for the engine, he hopes the end result will look like a replica of the 1958 classic when it is complete …

Funny stories from around the world

Posted on January 18, 2013 By Chris

Some more funny and random headlines from around the world:

Cat ‘arrested’ at Brazil prison: A cat is “arrested” in the grounds of a jail in the Brazilian city of Arapiraca, with contraband goods for prisoners taped to its body.
Honduras police seize golden gun: Honduras police put on display a gold-plated, jewel-encrusted AK-47 assault rifle, seized during a raid.
Twilight leads Razzies shortlist: The final instalment of the Twilight saga dominates the Razzie awards for worst film of 2012, with 11 nominations in 10 categories.
Your local, ‘independent’ (quietly owned by Tesco) coffee shop: Is your artisan cafe quietly owned by Tesco?
Mannequin charge woman acquitted: An Aberdeen woman charged after a mannequin was entered as a candidate in last year’s city council election is acquitted.
Florida holds python hunt contest: The US state is set to begin a competitive Burmese python hunt, in an attempt to rid the Everglades wetlands of the invasive species.
Runaway boy drives across Europe: A 13-year-old boy takes his father’s Mercedes and drives from Italy all the way to Germany after an alleged row with his mother.
Mother gives birth on Armenia jet: A baby girl born on a plane flying to Armenia is named after a member of cabin crew who helped deliver her, local media say.
Top US judge breaks court silence: US Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, who has not asked a question in court since 2006, breaks his silence by uttering four words.
Should Scrabble letter values change?: Are the letters Z and X worth too many points?
‘Stolen’ train crashes into flats: A cleaning woman stole an empty commuter train in a suburb of Stockholm and crashed it into a house, injuring herself, Swedish officials say.