Pope Benedict XVI delivered high praise of skiing yesterday, telling instructors the sport developed the tenacity to surmount life’s problems and reminded humans of their smallness in creation.
“Your engagement as ‘ski masters’ helps to boost certain capacities, for example steadfastness in pursuing aims, respect for the rules, tenacity in confronting and surmounting difficulties,” the Pope told the group, adding, “In this way, the balance between the physical and spiritual dimensions leads one not to idolise the body but to respect it”.
The Pope said another advantage of skiing is that it is done in the mountains, “an environment that in a special way makes us feel small, returns us to our true dimension as creatures, makes us capable of asking ourselves about the significance of creation, lifting our eyes to the top, opening ourselves up to the Creator.” (AFP)
Rudolph for Christmas dinner
German discount chain Lidl was under fire yesterday for selling reindeer meat in its British stores in the run-up to Christmas.
Reindeer are traditionally associated with the festive season – the story going that Father Christmas travels around the world delivering presents on a sleigh pulled by a team of flying reindeer.
“Lidl is destroying the magic of Christmas by selling dead reindeer,” said Justin Kerswell, the campaigns manager for Vegetarians International Voice for Animals.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said: “The idea of ‘Rudolph’ being slaughtered and sliced into steaks for a novelty Christmas dinner is revolting. (AFP)
Branson to serve as air stewardess
Lotus F1 boss Tony Fernandes said yesterday he will auction off seats on an AirAsia flight where Virgin boss Richard Branson will dress up as a flight attendant after losing a cross-dressing bet.
The two airline bosses placed a bet at the beginning of the 2010 Formula One championship, agreeing that the one whose Formula One team lost would serve as a “stewardess” on the winner’s airline.
Lotus placed ahead of Branson’s Virgin Racing in the rankings by virtue of their better race finishing positions.
Mr Fernandes, the principal of the new Malaysian-backed Lotus team and group chief executive officer of AirAsia, Southeast Asia’s biggest budget carrier, said he gave the British tycoon a red stewardess outfit when the duo met at the celebrations on track last Sunday. (AFP)
Lovesick worker’s unusual appeal
An Australian public servant took the unusual step of e-mailing all staff at a government department to help him find a woman he met at a party.
The man, who works for the Department of Immigration, sent the mass e-mail asking if anyone could put him in touch with a woman who had made a strong impression on him, saying that “life is too short for regret”.
“I understand this is not the most appropriate channel. It is not my intent to misuse this e-mail address,” he reportedly wrote, adding that he had struggled to write the message.
The Department of Immigration said “the matter is being investigated by the values and conduct section. (AFP)
Stale greetings
Most people write the same message every time they send a greetings card, usually just saying “Happy birthday” or “Have a good day”, according to a new report.
A survey of 2,000 adults for the Royal Mail found that many, especially younger people, would send more cards if they could think of something creative to write.
Just half of those questioned said they wrote a personal message in greetings cards, with most admitting they could never think of anything amusing to say. (PA)
Special offer: Free rifle with trucks
A Florida car dealer is offering a free AK-47 assault rifle with every pickup truck sold.
Manager Nick Ginetta said that since the deal was announced business has more than doubled.
He has faced some complaints about the deal but added: “My buyer is absolutely a gun owner, no question.” (PA)
New father gets a buzz
A new father faces drug charges after he celebrated his child’s birth with a marijuana joint at a Pennsylvania hospital.
A nurse smelled the drug when she took a cigarette break in the same area and police were called.
He told them: “I’m having a baby and wanted to get a buzz” then pulled a bag of marijuana from his shoe. (PA)
Dumb thief
A woman who robbed a pharmacy in New Hampshire was not hard to find: her name was on the personalised number plate of the getaway car.
It read “B-USHER” and police said it was registered to 43-year-old Bonnie Usher, who was arrested at her home.
They found the stolen money and a ski mask used in the robbery. (PA)