110 Year Old Cancer Survivor Becomes Daddy to Be!

New Zealand

Move over Viagra... this is what I call getting a significant second wind. For the past forty years, Henry had shown no interest in sexual relations. That is until recently undergoing successful surgery to remove a cancerous tumor. From the time the tumor was gone, Henry's once lacking libido has done a 180 and he is well on his way to becoming a proud papa. Did we mention that in addition to being a cancer survivor, Henry is over 100 years old? Our re-born Don Juan is a tuatara, an endangered lizard-like creature that descended from dinosaurs found on a few of New Zealand's islands. Henry is the oldest tuatara ever to mate at Southland Museum.

"I had given up on old Henry," said curator Lindsay Hazley. He kept Henry in "solitary confinement" because he would attack females who showed interest in him as a mate. But in the years since veterinarians removed the lump in 2002, his mental health seemed to be improving too: "I say that he had a personality transplant at the same time," Hazley said Thursday. "If I had a tumor underneath my [genitals], when girls were passing by, I'd be a very grumpy boy too."

In March, Henry mated with Mildred, whose age is estimated between 70 and 80, and 11 healthy eggs are developing. Last month, she laid 12 fertile eggs, 11 of which remain healthy. And since tuataras can live well past 200 years old, these two love birds may just be hitting their prime! Hot stuff!

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/08/06/lizard.reproduces/index.html?iref=newssearch

Thanks to Garrett for alerting the Goose to this lizard love story!

Couple Gets (Re-)Engaged With Google Street View

The first time Michael asked Leslie to marry him was already a success... she said yes! But his proposal the Google engineer explains 'lacked pizzazz'. The "self-described nerd" he is, Michael Weiss-Malik decided to step up his game. He got the direction he needed using Google's mapping service, specifically the search engine's Street View technology. The feature allows internauts to view street-level panoramas of the areas they search for thanks to vehicle-mounted cameras which rove the covered areas. When Michael found out that the roving cameras were slotted to pass in front of Google's Mountain View headquarters where he works, he saw his chance to ask her before the entire world. Launching a website called MarryMeLeslie.com, Proposal 2.0 was as successful as the beta... and resulted in Acceptance 2.0!

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_10112631?source=most_emailed

Gas Prices' Downward Trend: 20 Days and Counting!

According to a survey of gas station credit card swipes across the country, gasoline prices have fallen for the 20th consecutive day, resulting in a national average down by 25 cents! The AAA reports that this is an indicator of drivers turning to more environmentally friendly transportation options as well. In related news, yesterday's Washington Post reported that 10% of the police car fleet in Howard County, Maryland is made up of hybrid vehicles. Good for the environment, good for the pocket.

Gas trend details:
http://money.cnn.com/2008/08/06/news/economy/fuel/index.htm?cnn=yes

Howard's Hybrid decision well rewarded: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/03/AR2008080301643.html

Random Acts of Kindness in the DMV

Good news turned up in the Washington Post's Metro section today! 'Random Acts' is an occasional column for Washingtonian inhabitants to share stories of kindness done to them, by them, or within their line of sight. Each is quite short, so I'll let their authors tell you the story in their own words:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/29/AR2008072902272.html

K-2 Update: Third Climber Survives Unaided Return to Base Camp

The third survivor of the K2 avalanche, Marco Confortola of Italy, was able to make his way down the rest of the mountain and to the relative safety of base camp. Marco, who was injured and severely frostbitten, accomplished the rest of his decent with neither staggered down help nor oxygen. Once he was down, a Pakistani military rescue helicopter was able to transport him to a hospital for treatment.


For the original story... http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/08/05/asia/k2.php

Harassed Mom Apprehends Assailant

Boulder, CO

23 year-old Danika Bueno was out for a bycicle ride with her 10 month-old baby when she was assaulted by a man who rode up behind her, grabbed her chest, and rode away. Where many might freeze with shock or call for help, Ms. Bueno took off after the pervert, chasing him on her bike for over a mile while she called 911. "I'm pretty comfortable on a bike," she says, "but I was nervous about getting too close to him." Nevertheless, with her help, police were able to arrest the assailant. He is now being charged with unlawful sexual contact and, because Ms. Bueno's child was with her on the bike, child abuse.

Way to go, Danika! Hopefully word will spread amongst potential sexual predators: Beware, women fight back!

Two Dutch Climbers Rescued after K-2 Avalanche

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan

A helicopter pilot braved the dangergously thin airspace surrounding the K-2 mountain in Pakistan, and was able to successfully save the lives of two climbers presumed lost after an avalanche Monday. The two frostbitten Dutch climbers were attempting to descend the world’s second-highest mountain along with several other climbers, when the avalanche occurred.
Having spotted Wilco Van Rooijen and Cas Van de Gevel, the helicopter pilot rescued the two climbers and brought them first to K-2’s base camp and then to a military hospital in Skardu, the nearest town. The avalanche struck over 26,250 feet up the mountain, but choppers generally don't fly above 19,700 feet. This risky manueuver was well rewarded with three people safely down from K-2. The search continues for 11 other climbers who were on agruably the world's most dangerous mountain that day.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25995028/