Some random numbers and a crime

Off-topic
1

900 competitors in the Unicycle World Championships in Switzerland.
10 August 2006
New Zealand Herald
English
© 2006 The New Zealand Herald

900 competitors in the Unicycle World Championships in Switzerland.

76 million litres of Agent Orange sprayed over Vietnam’s jungles during the war.

3300 New Zealand soldiers who served in Vietnam.

3600km Length of a horseback trek across Australia by an Englishwoman and an Aussie bloke.

21,588 Maori voters who have changed the electoral roll they are on.

3000 Maori artefacts in the British Museum.

35,000 Dairy goats in New Zealand.

47,000 Drop in beehive numbers between 1990 and 2005.

64,000km Length of muttonbirds’ round trip each year. - compiled by Sabrina Fernandes

Holy smoke! My Batman’s flown
News
247 Words
9 August 2006
Coventry Evening Telegraph
covevt
131
English
© 2006 Coventry Newspapers Ltd

A NINE-FOOT Batman statue won by a Warwickshire boy has been stolen - less than a week after the youngster gave it pride of place in his garden.

Twelve-year-old Aron Buxton won the huge model of the superhero a month ago after winning a competition in the final episode of BBC 2’s The Mighty Truck of Stuff.

He had secured his place on the show after volunteering to unicycle while dressed in a monkey suit and won the prize after answering a series of questions.

But when his prize arrived Aron, who has a brother and two sisters, couldn’t fit it into the family home in Luddington Road, Stratford, and had to put it in the garden. The model, which is on a 4ft high pedestal and is believed to be worth around £500, was taken at the weekend while the family were on holiday.

And when his parents told him it had gone, Aron thought they were trying to wind him up.

Mum Sandra Buxton, 47, said: When I told Aron he said ‘You’re teasing me’, but when he realised it had been stolen he was really upset."

She added: “It had given everybody a giggle and been a real talking point.”

Anyone with information should call 01926 415000, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

A 3ft plastic sheep was stolen from a garden at Hampton Croft, Hampton on the Hill, earlier this month.

2

Of course… no wonder I couldn’t get it to work!

3

3 cats in my house

4

19 model k fords

5

who would steal a twelve year old’s 9ft batman statue?

makes me sad

6

[QUOTE=JJuggle
A 3ft plastic sheep was stolen from a garden at Hampton Croft, Hampton on the Hill, earlier this month.[/QUOTE]

It has probably been taken on holiday: see

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/14671390

Which lists a pair of ornamental sheep that were stolen from a garden , and taken on a 3 year round the world trip, eventually being returned somewhat jet-lagged with their holiday photos, including Goa and the Taj Mahal.

Nao

7

The whole garden gnome phenomenon started, I believe, by the movie Amelie.

8

Is this beehives in nature, or human assisted?

Wow! There’s far fewer bees, too.

I’m ordering a beehive and a queen for next spring.

9

73: the number of times almonds are mentioned in the old testimant

10

18: The number of times Alton Brown says the word “now” in the first episode of Good Eats.

And no, I’m not that obsessed with Good Eats (though it is my favorite show), he just said that once on last night’s episode.

11

I only count 10 in the King James version. What’s your source?

12

There’s this trail I run a lot, and there’s a house along it, and on the porch of the house there is always this creepy manequin lady sitting there…but someone stole her. I kinda miss her.

13

I never knew her…but I miss her too…we had something…special…

14

I’m pretty sure the concept existed before the film.

15

You sir, are correct.

According to Wikipedia’s article Travelling Gnome Prank, the practice began in Australia in the 1980s.

The first vague reference I find to this in the news is, in fact, from the Sydney Morning Herald:

News and Features; Column 8
REGULAR SHORTS
800 words
24 September 1986
Sydney Morning Herald
1
English
Copyright of John Fairfax Group Pty Ltd

…

AN EASTERN suburbs gnome-owner was distressed when she discovered her gnome had been stolen at the weekend. A note was found in its place: “Dear mum, couldn’t stand the solitude any longer. Gone off to see the world. Don’t be worried, I’ll be back soon. Love Bilbo xxx.”

…

I find no follow up in the news to the above.

The first full instance of this with details is from England:

No place like home for traveling gnome
Associated Press
227 words
7 June 1987
St. Petersburg Times
CITY
19A
English
(Copyright 1987)

HUTTON, England - For nine months, the mystery of Bobby the missing garden gnome had baffled the people of this western England village.

In September, Pam and Gordon Barwick discovered the 10-inch carved-stone gnome missing. In his place was a note saying: Gone off for a few months on my holidays. Don't worry. I'll be back.

Then the postcards began to turn up - wish-you-were-here messages, all signed Bobby, from Norway, Denmark and Sweden, then Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, France, Austria, Italy and Yugoslavia, and finally the Greek island of Corfu.

We were absolutely baffled, said Mrs. Barwick, 55.

Then one morning last week, Bobby was back in the Barwick’s garden, wearing sunglasses and clutching a miniature travel bag with toothbrush, toothpaste and holiday photos. One showed him in a Norwegian bar with a blonde woman.

A note beside the gnome said: Had a lovely time. It's nice to be back with the family. I will try not to disappear again.

The local paper, the Mercury, did some digging and on Friday exposed the culprits: Michael Sanders, 22, and Steve Kerslake 24, who cheerfully admitted taking Bobby with them on their camper tour of Europe.

Bobby's back intact and we've had a good laugh, Mrs. Barwick said.

16

Make sure you get the Africanized variety. They are much heartier and less prone to disease. Next to impossible to kill with any pesticide known to man, and make lots of honey. They polinate like crazy, so if you have fruit trees or flowers you are guaranteed polination.

17

thats alot of random numbers! SCARY!