KEY POINTS:
In 1951, A.C. Gilbert introduced his U-238 Atomic Energy Lab (see picture), with the dream that nuclear power could capture the imaginations of children everywhere. The kit came complete with three "very low-level" radioactive sources, a Geiger-Mueller radiation counter, a Wilson Cloud Chamber (to see paths of alpha
particles), a Spinthariscope (to see "live" radioactive disintegration), four samples of uranium-bearing ores, and an electroscope to measure radioactivity.
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A council worker has been sacked after he sent out a waste permit authorising a man to dump his grandmother's dismembered body parts. Dave Straughton was horrified to receive the permit from Cumbria County Council. He applied for the permit over the phone and was asked to state what he wanted to get rid of. Straughton said he felt harangued by all the questions about the exact nature of his waste, and facetiously asked if they would accept his grandmother's dismembered body parts in black bin bags. The permit, which arrived several days later, said: "The following waste can be disposed: Guitar, Organ, Grandma's dismembered body parts in bin bags."
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Christmas rage: No marks for the woman driver having a meltdown at an intersection one block from St Luke's shopping centre on Saturday about 10.30am. Honking furiously at the driver in front of her, who couldn't turn into the traffic as it was so heavy, she lost it, yelling and swearing her head off. One driver going past called to her, "Take it easy, eh?" at which she exploded into more swearing and screaming. Lady, we saw you. You really do need to cool it.
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Murray Hunter says the piece in yesterday's Sideswipe is not the first time that baby has been for sale. "When Heinz Foods launched their many varieties of baby food in Asia, one country had no sales so they sent a marketing expert to find out why. Her report explained that many people in that country could not read and relied on the picture on the can. A can of peas showed a nice picture of green peas and Heinz baby food showed a nice picture of a smiling baby. No one wanted canned baby. Heinz then adapted the packaging for that market and showed a nice picture of baby food (if that is possible) instead and sales took off."
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Rats on a plane: Passengers on a Saudi plane were freaked out by dozens of mice running down the aisle. Eighty small rodents escaped from the bag of a man travelling on the domestic flight. Some of the mice fell on passengers' heads, Al-Hayat newspaper reports. The incident occurred in midair and police are investigating the infestation.
