Summertime snow from 32C temps to freezing in minutes-Switzerland

• 30 August 2011, 9:59

Freak summertime snow storm

Holidaymakers told to prepare for a heatwave in Switzerland were caught cold when a freak ice storm left them with more than an inch of snow.

Within minutes tourists using the San Bernardino-Pass saw temperatures drop from 32 degrees Celsius to freezing within a few minutes.

Weathermen had warned of a thunderstorm heading towards the region but made no mention of snow.

"But instead of rain we got a thick covering of snow on the roads. We Swiss are used to snow, but not in the middle of a heatwave," said one local.

Mother gets fake breasts for 4-year-old pageant queen...

Fake breasts aged FOUR? Beauty pageant mother sparks outrage by boosting her daughter's chest and bottom 

• Maddy Jackson gets chicken fillets to emulate Dolly Parton on stage
• New series of Toddlers and Tiaras shows excesses of pushy parents

By SADIE WHITELOCKS

Last updated at 4:55 PM on 1st September 2011

Enlarge 

Disturbing: Maddy Jackson, 4, sporting the new must-have accessory - the removable breasts for toddlers

Barely out of nappies, four-year-old Maddy Jackson is already on the road to womanhood.

Sporting fake C cup breasts and padding on her bottom, she is the latest shock contestant on Toddlers and Tiaras, the U.S. reality show revealing the surreal world of beauty pageants.

In an attempt to mimic her curvaceous icon, country singer Dolly Parton - who is known for her ample cleavage - the toddler is shown sporting detachable bust and butt enhancements, before performing live on stage.

With the extra padding concealed under her Barbie pink Lycra catsuit, Maddy's tiny frame is transformed into an hourglass silhouette.

Barely able to string a sentence together, many will be shocked by the images of the peroxide blonde trying to emulate the appearance of a woman in her late 20s.

When questioned on NBC's Today show, her mother Lindsay, who entered her first pageant contest when she was nine months old, defends the enhancements used by her daughter.

She tells presenter Savannah Guthrie: 'To some people, it's over the top, to us it's just what happens... It's just normal. When she wears the fake boobs and the fake butt, it's just like extra bonus.' 

But others seems less convinced and Maddy's stylist Michael Booth believes the attire is a step to far.

Interviewed backstage at the competition, where hundreds of young hopefuls battle it out to be crowned beauty queen, Michael said: 'I wasn’t a big fan of the outfit with the boobs in it. She’s very young, but hopefully the judges will perceive it in good taste.'

Only $99 for a DIY house....

All this can be yours for just $99! Company makes tiny, 65 sq ft build-it-yourself homes 

By RACHEL QUIGLEY

Last updated at 7:49 AM on 1st September 2011

For those who are too broke to get on the housing ladder, an American firm is here to help.

Jay Shafer's Tumbleweed Tiny House Company makes cute little homes that start from the bargain price of $99.

The cheapest home is a flat-pack to be built by the owner but, if you're not very handy, there are ready-made versions for $38,997.

Cute: For those who are too broke to get on the housing ladder an American firm Tumbleweed Tiny House Company is here to help with homes that start at the bargain price of $99

Bargain: The cheapest home is a flat-pack to be built by the owner but, if you're not very handy, there are ready-made versions for $38,997

All necessities: The homes all have fully functioning kitchens, bathrooms and sleeping areas

The teeny homes, which start at just 65 square feet are kitted out with fully functioning kitchens,  bathrooms complete with composting toilets and sleeping areas.

Some models even come on wheels.

As well as being environmentally friendly the homes are affordable for people on meagre incomes. 

As the debt problem in the U.S. reaches tipping point Mr Shafer, who lives in one of his houses in Sebastapol, California, says that less can be more. 

'People are starting to get a clue I think,' he said.

'People are starting to understand that excess is not necessarily a luxury. It can be a burden, a liability. People are living in 4,000 and 6,000 square foot debtors prisons.'

Convenient: A lot of the homes have wheels, so you can move any time your heart desires

Mobile: The teeny homes, which start at just 65 square feet, are kitted out with fully-functioning kitchens, bathrooms and sleeping areas - some models even come on wheels

He said that having less belongings is also a pleasure.

'People spend 30 years or more paying for all this space and stuff that they don't really need.'

But one of the main reasons he likes to live small - less cleaning.

'I grew up in a 4,000 square foot home,' he said.

'And my sister and I were in charge of cleaning the house. But my main reason for building such a little home was nothing so grandiose as saving the world, or so pragmatic as saving money.

'Truth be known, I simply do not have the time or patience for a large home. I’ve found that, like anything else that’s superfluous, extra space merely gets in the way of my contentment, for it requires maintenance and heating and ultimately demands that I exchange a portion of my life for the money to pay for these luxuries. 

'I wanted a place that would maintain my serene lifestyle, not a place that I would spend the rest of my life maintaining. I find nothing demanding about Tumbleweed. Everything’s within arm’s reach and nothing’s in the way–not even space itself.'

Deals on wheels: As well as being environmentally friendly the homes are affordable for people on meagre incomes and can be wheeled anywhere

Mobile: The teeny homes designed by Jay Shafer, right, which start at just 65 square feet, are kitted out with fully-functioning kitchens, bathrooms and sleeping areas - some models even come on wheels

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2032402/Tumbleweed-Tiny-House-Company-makes-tiny-65-sq-ft-build-homes.html#ixzz1WgiJtzJF

4-year-old boy faces £5,000 fine for playing too loudly...

Boy of FOUR is threatened with £5,000 fine... for 'playing too loudly' in his garden

By PAUL SIMS

Last updated at 11:25 PM on 29th August 2011

Football mad: The parents Alfie Lansdell, pictured, were shocked by the threat of a fine

Like most boys his age, Alfie Lansdell can spend hours playing happily in his garden.

But playtime could soon be over for the boisterous four-year-old after a neighbour complained to council officials that he was too noisy.

As a result, his parents have been warned that if he doesn't keep quiet, they will be issued with an abatement order and could face a £5,000 fine.

Last night, they reacted furiously to the letter from Hull City Council. 'We were so shocked when we got the letter, then we just felt angry,' said his father, Simon, a 35-year-old engineer.

'Alfie is a lovely little boy. He likes to play football and skittles and play in his sandpit.

'He's like any other four-year-old. All children create a bit of noise when they play, it's natural. 

'Surely a child should be allowed to make a bit of noise when playing in his own garden? It's the summer holidays, for goodness sake. I just can't believe the council took this complaint seriously.'

He said that they had tried to explain the letter to Alfie and he was now trying to play a little  quieter. But he added: 'He's only four. He doesn't realise.'

The couple, who have lived on the street in Hull for five years, are unsure who made the complaint. But their immediate neighbours are standing by them.

Emma Ward, a 26-year-old student nurse, said: 'It is nice to hear children playing out. The council haven't got a leg to stand on.

Too noisy: Simon and Pippa Lansdell have been told that their son Alfie must play more quietly in their garden

Killjoy: An unnamed neighbour has complained about Alfie, but others fully support the Lansdells. One said: 'He is lovely. He is just a normal little boy playing'

Mother-of-two Carla Chester said: 'Alfie is no different from the other children who play out. It is disgusting they have been contacted by the council about him.'

Alfie's mother Pippa, 31, said: 'I always watch Alfie when he plays in the garden and he's never that noisy. I don't understand it. The weather's been so bad he's barely had a chance to play outside.' 

A bit of hush: Alfie is due to start primary school in September

Alfie, who starts primary school next month, has always played in the 8ft by 8ft front garden at the family's end-of-terrace home without a problem until now.

But the letter from the council's environmental health team claims he is a 'noise nuisance'. 

It states that the complaint relates to a 'child screaming/playing in garden' and asks the parents to consider the impact it could have on their neighbours.  

It then warns them that if the council receives further complaints about the noise, Alfie's behaviour could be monitored with digital recording equipment.  

The complainant has also been asked to keep a record of dates and times when Alfie's playing causes a nuisance, it adds.  

The letter says that if convicted, the Lansdells could be fined £5,000, as well as £500 daily 'for each day the nuisance continues'.  

Mrs Lansdell, a security officer, branded it 'pathetic', adding: 'What am I supposed to do, gag him and put him in his bedroom?' 

A council spokesman said: 'We have to investigate any noise complaints we receive and informed Mr and Mrs Lansdell a complaint had been received.'

Brother & sister SUE mother over wrong birthday card....

The $50,000 tantrum: Brother and sister SUE their mother after she bought the 'wrong' birthday card and refused them toys

• The Illinois lawsuit was filed against Kimberly Garrity
• One of their lawyers was their own father, Steven Miner
• She raised Steven II and Kathryn in a $1.5million home
• Children claimed 'emotional distress' in $50,000 lawsuit

By MARK DUELL

Last updated at 10:54 PM on 28th August 2011

Some children kick up a big tantrum when they’re refused toys or receive the wrong type of birthday card - but it doesn’t usually end up like this.

Kimberly Garrity, who raised Steven II, now 23, and Kathryn, now 20, in a $1.5million home in Illinois, was sued by her own children.

But the siblings, represented by three lawyers including their father, Steven A. Miner, have failed in their $50,000 lawsuit for ‘bad mothering’.

Screaming: Kimberly Garrity, who raised Steven II, now 23, and Kathryn, now 20, has been sued by her own children for 'bad mothering' (file picture)

They alleged Garrity failed to take Kathryn to a car show and threatened Steven II with phoning police if he did not buckle his seatbelt.

The children claim she ‘haggled’ over dress prices and called at midnight to tell Kathryn to come home from a party, reported the Chicago Tribune.

But after two years of battle an appeals court has dismissed the ‘emotional distress’ case, ruling Garrity's conduct was not ‘extreme or outrageous’.

A positive ruling ‘could potentially open the floodgates to subject family childrearing (to) excessive judicial scrutiny and interference,’ it said.

Mr Miner and Garrity were married for around ten years before she filed for divorce 16 years ago, reported the Chicago Tribune.

The birthday card in question was labelled ‘inappropriate’ by Steven II as it allegedly failed to include any money.

Unhappy: The siblings, represented by three lawyers including their father, have failed in their $50,000 lawsuit for 'bad mothering' (file picture)

It had a picture of indistinguishable tomatoes on a table, apart from one in the centre with googly eyes attached.

The card said: ‘Son I got you this Birthday card because it’s just like you ... different from all the rest!’

'It would be laughable that these children of privilege would sue their mother for emotional distress, if the consequences were not so deadly serious'

Shelley Smith, 
Kimberly Garrity’s lawyer

Garrity’s attorney Shelley Smith complained of her ex-husband trying to seek ‘ultimate revenge’ of her children, accusing her of ‘being an inadequate mother’.

‘It would be laughable that these children of privilege would sue their mother for emotional distress, if the consequences were not so deadly serious,’ she wrote in court papers.

Ms Smith wrote Garrity does still love her children but they wanted ‘the benefits afforded by a family relationship, but none of the restraints’.

‘(The children) do not view their (lawsuit) as an attack on mothering, but rather on accountability,’ the children’s father Mr Miner wrote.

‘Everyone makes mistakes, but... there must be accountability for actions. Parenting is no different,’ he added, reported the Chicago Tribune.

Bouncy castle church brings bouncy sermons to congregation-Russia

Bouncy castle church brings inflatable sermons to remote congregation 

Roving priest father Krzysztof Kowal, who couldn't tie down a solid place of worship in Russia, has finally begun conducting sermons - using an inflatable church. 

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Russia

Poland

Pop-up church: The inflatable parish on display in Poland before its journey to Russia (Picture: REX Features)

Father Krzysztof, a Roman Catholic missionary from Poland, has had trouble gaining permission - and cash - to build a permanent place of worship in the Kamchatka peninsula - a 1,250-kilometre stretch located in far eastern Russia.

But long-time friend Robert Wojcik, who builds inflatable toys for children in Kolobrzeg, Poland, stepped in to help by offering to build a temporary church for the isolated congregation. 

Money-raising efforts helped to pay for the alternative structure, which will remain open even in extreme conditions. During winter time, temperatures can drop to minus 40 degrees in the Kamchatka region. 

Father Krzystof - who is a rector of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face parish - said he was thrilled with the design but did admit some might mistake it for a bouncy castle. 

Prior to obtaining the church, most sermons were conducted in rented hotel rooms or outside areas close to lakes and rivers.

Read more: http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/873341-bouncy-castle-church-brings-inflatable-sermons-to-remote-congregation#ixzz1WLtJ4amj

Couple bought 'Priceless' Van Gogh for £1,500 at auction...

Couple bought 'priceless' Van Gogh portrait for £1,500 at auction

By ALANAH ERIKSEN

Last updated at 4:19 PM on 28th August 2011

A British couple may have unearthed a long-lost portrait of Vincent Van Gogh after buying it off the internet for just £1,500.

The pastel drawing is believed to be the only full-length portrait of the genius artist in existence and could be worth millions if authenticated.

It is thought to have been painted by a female artist who lived next door to him during his time in Paris.

The picture was simply described on an auction website as 'portrait of a man', but after extensive research, Michael and Mandy Cruickshankbelieve the work - painted in the 1880s - is of the legendary Dutch impressionist.

The painting was found in Versailles where it was last seen in public in 1892.

The couple, from Louth in Lincolnshire, became suspicious by the artist's crumpled hat, similar to one he sketched, and they believed it is the artist in the prime of his artistic career.

Mandy Cruickshank pictured with a not-yet authenticated portrait of Van Gogh she purchased on an online auction for just £1,500

And their view is backed up by several art experts.

A detailed examination by facial recognition experts at the University of Dundee gave the work a four out of six on the chances of it being Van Gogh.

Caroline Erolin, a lecturer in medical and forensic art, said: 'We have scale for matching up likenesses running from no support to powerful support. We rated the painting as having support which is just below strong support which is second highest.

'We compared the painting with a well known self portrait, two other portraits and a photo of Van Gogh from the period.  We were hampered slightly because it was a pastel drawing which is less clear, but there is a good case for it being Van Gogh.'

There a number of clues that painting may be of Van Gogh.

On the wall in the pastel, the words 'L'Incompris', meaning the misunderstood, are scrawled. Van Gogh was famous for writing on his own walls, according to experts.

The artist, Jeanne Donnadieu, wrote her address - 17 Rue Victor Massi -on the back of the original painting, seen in an exhibition in 1892.

The Cruickshanks discovered that the road's name had been changed in 1887.

The painting is thought to have been done by French artist Jeanne Donnadieu in the 1880s while she lived next door to the Dutch impressionist during his time in Paris

It was previously Rue Laval, where Van Gogh lived with his brother Theo, a well-known art dealer, just four doors away at number 25.

The Cruickshanks, who call themselves 'amateur collectors', believe Donnadieu would almost certainly have known the brothers and it is well documented that Van Gogh was allowing portraits at that time.

Mrs Cruickshank said: 'The artist would have known his brother Theo, the famous art dealer - every artist in the city would have known Theo.'

A bible with gilded corners in the portrait is the same as one he is known to have inherited from his father, who died shortly before the portrait was drawn.

The Cruickshanks have even been contacted by Louis Van Tilbourgh,curator of the Van Gogh Museum in Paris, to discuss whether or not the subject is him.

Mrs Cruickshank said: 'We have spent the past year of our lives researching this picture and it has been such an interesting journey.

'There is no way to prove for certain that the subject is Van Gogh, but the evidence is so strong that we are quite certain it is him.

'Mr Van Tilbourgh said he was unsure if Van Gogh would sit for a young female artist, but she was not a nobody.

'She was tutored by Feyen-Perrin, who was admired by Van Gogh which he mentioned in many of his letters.

'And there is a quill and piles of books on the desks - it is well-documented that Van Gogh was a lover of literature and wrote out quotes from these book.'

She added: 'When I look at it I get excited to think this was there in Paris at the centre of it all in such a significant period in art's history.

'We want to share it with the public as it is a little piece of history and a beautiful pastille work. People and galleries from all over the world are interested in displaying it.'

The portrait is currently being displayed in Abbey Walk Gallery, Grimsby until September 3.

Elaine Munson, co-owner of Abbey Walk Gallery, said: 'With programmes such as Fake Or Fortune, there has been a resurgence in art appreciation and the notion of being able to stumble across an original and undiscovered masterpiece.'