The unimportant news thread

[SimonNZ]

Classical music to continue at rail stations



Rail firm Northern has said it will continue to play classical music at 35 stations to combat bad behaviour.
Works "inspired by Handel, Beethoven and Mozart" are piped out over public address systems at certain times.
The music was rolled out to more than 20 additional places last April following a pilot scheme at nine sites.
Northern said it had led to a "reduction" in reports of large groups loitering at its stations in the North West and North East of England.

BBC News

Perhaps what these roaming groups of yoof don't like is the ahistorical use of oversized orchestras, modern instruments and ponderous tempos.

[Todd]

From the Graun: California the culprit for spike in little-known greenhouse gas more potent than CO2

[Pohjolas Daughter]

This made me upset when I saw what the people were doing in (to) this national park.  I hope that they catch them!

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68822318

PD

[Todd]

This made me upset when I saw what the people were doing in (to) this national park.  I hope that they catch them!

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68822318

PD

Rocks don't have rights.

The actions were misdemeanors on their face, so while the police and feds should spend a little time looking for the perps, it should be measured in minutes, not hours, let alone days or weeks or months.  The statement in the linked article that this action could be a felony demonstrates a perverse criminal prosecutorial mindset.  Something similar happened in Oregon a while back when vandals (not to be confused with Vandals) toppled Duckbill rock.  The hooligans were not caught and the statute of limitations ran out. 

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Rocks don't have rights.

The actions were misdemeanors on their face, so while the police and feds should spend a little time looking for the perps, it should be measured in minutes, not hours, let alone days or weeks or months.  The statement in the linked article that this action could be a felony demonstrates a perverse criminal prosecutorial mindset.  Something similar happened in Oregon a while back when vandals (not to be confused with Vandals) toppled Duckbill rock.  The hooligans were not caught and the statute of limitations ran out.

I couldn't remember if I had seen the video on CNN or BBC.  The CNN one also included an interview with one of the park rangers.  He brought up what they could be charged with.  https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/2-visitors-captured-on-video-destroying-ancient-rock-formations-at-lake-mead/ar-BB1lDgpB

I'm sorry about the Duckbill rock.  I would have loved to have seen it.  I'm sure that it meant a lot to the locals and made everyone who saw it smile and thought what a cool thing Mother Nature had created over the years.  I read the story about the toppling (despite having a fence around it and signs!).

PD

[Todd]

He brought up what they could be charged with.  https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/2-visitors-captured-on-video-destroying-ancient-rock-formations-at-lake-mead/ar-BB1lDgpB

Yes, he mentions they could face a felony charge, which I mentioned previously.  That's the whole perverse criminal prosecutorial mindset.  He also goes on about how people should watch and take photos of other people doing whatever.  That is borderline obscene.

I'm sorry about the Duckbill rock.

Why?  It was a rock.  It's no more significant than when the world's largest Sitka Spruce further north on the Oregon coast toppled during a storm. 

[DavidW]

I agree with Todd.  I thought they were stupid for going out of their way to topple a rock formation... but seeing it on national news was odd.  You would have thought they defaced Mt. Rushmore or hunted an endangered species to bring it to the attention of such a large audience.