Boxer who spent 26 years in jail for a murder he didn't commit wins his first fight... at the age of 52

This is the stuff Hollywood stories are made of!! He spent 26 years in New York's notorious Sing Sing prison for a murder he did not commit. But today he is feted by President Barack Obama and has finally fulfilled his dream of boxing professionally - at the age of 52.

Victory: Dewey Bozella, 52, raises his arm after defeating an opponent 22 years younger than him in his first professional fight after serving 26 years in jail

For more than a quarter of a century he knew daily despair as he battled to clear his name over the brutal killing of a 92-year-old woman. He could have become a free man FOUR times if he had pleaded guilty. Each time he refused, maintaining his innocence.

Bozella found comfort in boxing, training daily in the prison gym and studying at night for his bachelor and master's degrees.

Finally In October 2009, Bozella was formally cleared. This summer he was honoured by ESPN as its 2011 Arthur Ashe Award winner for his courage. Legendary boxer Bernard Hopkins heard Bozella's story and offered him the chance to fight against 30-year-old Larry Hopkins on the undercard of his own championship bout. Hopkins told the Los Angeles Times last week 'This is not a charity case. This man is fulfilling his dream.'

One wonders when the director is going to come calling about the film rights? Spielberg if you're listening his number is listed somewhere in the phone book so why not give him a call!



Read:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2049704/Dewey-Bozella-Boxer-spent-26-years-jail-wins-fight--age-52.html?ITO=1490

Aisle be damned! We spend 64 days of our lives walking round supermarkets (that's a total of 22,000 miles)

We've all seen those research papers that tell us we spend 100 days of our lives on the tolet, a further 55 days picking our noses, and 3 gazillions years sleeping in our beds. Well now there's a new one in town. Apparently, the average Briton covers 22,784 miles travelling to and from the supermarket and traipsing around the aisles over the course of their lifetime, a study claims. That is almost the equivalent of a trip around the globe.

Check it out: Around half of us will visit at least two supermarkets each week in a bid to track down the best grocery bargains

The study claims that we spend an average of 1,539 hours – 64 days – of our life walking around supermarkets. It also revealed that one in 20 Britons spends up to 30 minutes looking for deals on price comparison websites before heading to their chosen supermarket.

 

Nearly half of us – 47 per cent – visit at least two supermarkets each week in our quest to find the best deals.

Independent financial expert Alvin Hall points out that this may not necessarily be cost-effective, saying: ‘Driving or taking public transport from one supermarket to another to look for the best deal increases the cost of the goods, even if you get them at the lowest price.’

Despite putting so much effort into shopping, 55 per cent of those surveyed said the chore left them frustrated. That would include me in that category. I detest shopping and a cold shiver runs down my spine whenever my wife says those dreaded words that many husband dread - "Let's go to the shopping mall darling!"

Read more:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2047842/Aisle-damned-We-spend-64-days-lives-walking-round-supermarkets-thats-total-22-000-miles.html?ITO=1490

Foal electrocuted by heartlss cable thieves who tested live wires on it

 What a bunch of compeltely heartless bastards! How low do you have to go in order to make a buck these days? Apparently, copper cable thieves who cut down a pylon leaving live wires exposed may have used a foal as a 'tester' to check if electricity was still moving through the line. The burnt remains of the six-month old animal were discovered in its field near Sittingborne, Kent the next day by its owner who is in his eighties.

 

Burnt to death: Callous copper cable thieves cut down a pylon leaving live wires exposed before using a six month old foal as a 'tester' to check if electricity was still moving through the line (file picture)

After the incident, around 3,000 homes were plunged into darkness as the criminals took stole the copper cabling cutting the electricity supply. One resident told the Daily Telegraph : 

'Almost all of us had no electricity on the night in question, but when we heard about the foal being burned alive everyone was horrified.

'Most of us believe the people responsible used the foal to test whether the wires were still live - either by putting it on the cable or tempting it over with food.'

The owner of the field where the foal was found said the animal was horrifically burnt. She said the owner was left heartbroken after having to remove the remains of his horse.

The world is full of very greedy people who will stoop to the lowest levels in order to satisy their own personal needs.

Read more:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2046757/Cable-thieves-test-wires-live-electrocuting-horse.html?ITO=1490

Fuhrer furore! Thai student Nazi dress-up day causes outrage

 I'd like to think that this could have happened anywhere but there is something about Thais, probably their lack of travel which brings about a certain culatural unawareness, that makes you think - "Ah! Another size nine cultural cock up!"

They had been meticulously planning their costumes for quite some time.The annual summer sports day had a long tradition of fancy dress and, eager to impress, the pupils of Sacred Heart Catholic School kept their outfits under wraps for weeks.

They wanted to surprise their parents and teachers as they made their entrance at the school in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand. And surprise them they did. With a flourish and a fanfare, they revealed their costumes - to outraged gasps from the crowd.

The smiling pupils arrived at the school dressed in full Nazi regalia and carrying large Swastika flags, leaving foreign parents and teachers open-mouthed. Leading the march into the sports ground was a girl dressed as Adolf Hitler - complete with toothbrush moustache - seemingly unaware of the offence she had caused.

She was followed by a procession of pupils dressed as SS guards - brandishing plastic machine guns. Stunned ex-pats were appalled. Surely the pupils were aware of what the Swastika and Nazis represented?

Read more:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2042097/Student-Nazi-dress-day-causes-outrage-Thailand.html#ixzz1Z8i0ih6M

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/501209-thai-student-nazi-dress-up-day-causes-outrage/

Women in Saudi Arabia to vote and run in elections

 Wow! never thought I'd see the day in my lifetime! I guess we are all seeing the tangible results of the Arab Spring.

Here is the BBC article which I'm reprinting in full.

 

Saudi women face severe restrictions in their working and personal lives

 

Women in Saudi Arabia are to be given the right to vote and run in future municipal elections, King Abdullah has announced. He said they would also have the right to be appointed to the consultative Shura Council.

The move was welcomed by activists who have called for greater rights for women in the kingdom, which enforces a strict version of Sunni Islamic law. The changes will occur after municipal polls on Thursday, the king said.

King Abdullah announced the move in a speech at the opening of the new term of the Shura Council - the formal body advising the king, whose members are all appointed.

"Because we refuse to marginalise women in society in all roles that comply with sharia, we have decided, after deliberation with our senior clerics and others... to involve women in the Shura Council as members, starting from next term," he said.

"Women will be able to run as candidates in the municipal election and will even have a right to vote."

This is something we have long waited for and long worked towards”

Nimah Ismail Nawwab Saudi writer and activist 

The BBC's world affairs correspondent Emily Buchanan says it is an extraordinary development for women in Saudi Arabia, who are not allowed to drive, or to leave the country unaccompanied.

She says there has been a big debate about the role of women in the kingdom and, although not everyone will welcome the decision, such a reform will ease some of the tension that has been growing over the issue.

Saudi writer Nimah Ismail Nawwab told the BBC: "This is something we have long waited for and long worked towards."

She said activists had been campaigning for 20 years on driving, guardianship and voting issues.

Another campaigner, Wajeha al-Huwaider, said the king's announcement was "great news".
"Now it is time to remove other barriers like not allowing women to drive cars and not being able to function, to live a normal life without male guardians," she told Reuters news agency.

Correspondents say King Abdullah has been cautiously pressing for political reforms, but in a country where conservative clerics and some members of the royal family resist change, liberalisation has been very gradual.

In May more than 60 intellectuals called for a boycott of Thursday's ballot saying "municipal councils lack the authority to effectively carry out their role". Municipal elections are the only public polls in Saudi Arabia.

More than 5,000 men will compete in municipal elections on Thursday - the second-ever in the kingdom - to fill half the seats in local councils. The other half are appointed by the government. The next municipal elections are due in four years' time.


 Read here:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-15052030

No more anonymous 'defriending': New Facebook feature will allow users to know who doesn't like them...

So, you don't wanna be my friend any more? Sob, sob, boo hoo. It seems Facebook has been busy lately and, just as in recent updates, it has managed to upset its fanbase again.

With a slew of cosmetic changes and tweaks, Facebook users could be forgiven for getting a little frustrated over the last few days. But the social network's new Timeline feature looks set to really enrage users after it emerged the ability to anonymously 'defriend' people will become a thing of the past. Using the new feature, which is set to be rolled out in the near future, users will be able to see all their entire Facebook history - including their shifting friends lists.

Is it just me or are other people wondering what road Faceboook has decided to walk down lately because the company really has put its size nine foot in it a lot recently. 

Read more:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2041574/Facebook-No-anonymous-defriending-New-Timeline-feature-leave-users-hopping-mad.html?ITO=1490