Farmer races pigs to predict UK's EU vote
LONDON: Forget the opinion polls and betting odds, one English farmer has his own way of predicting the outcome of Britain's looming referendum on whether to stay in the European Union or leave - racing his miniature pigs.
The pigs of Pennywell Farm in Devon successfully predicted the outcome of Britain's national election last year and are again fighting it out on the track in some political racing that rival the 'Remain' and 'Leave' sides' own campaign battles.
Prime Minister David Cameron is leading the 'In' campaign and former London mayor Boris Johnson, also from the ruling Conservative Party, is urging Britons to vote 'Out' in the June 23 referendum.
As the latest polls show growing momentum for the 'Leave' camp, the farm in southwest England is putting four pigs to the test each afternoon on a 150 yard (137m) long course, with both sides represented.
Racing for the 'Remain' camp are 'David Hameron' and 'George Hogsborne,' a play on the name of finance minister George Osborne. For the 'Leave' camp the racers are 'Boar-is Johnson' and 'Iain Duncan Sniff,' a reference to leading Eurosceptic and Conservative ex-cabinet minister Iain Duncan Smith.
Monday kicked off the farm's first 'referendum race' despite dense fog hanging over the track.
"I think this is most appropriate weather for this occasion," Pennywell Farm owner Chris Murray said.
"It's a murky question, we are all in the fog about it and I think that these little Pennywell miniature pigs will actually find a way through this fog of confusion and indecisiveness."
The track features jumps named 'Bacon Brook' and 'The Trough,' leading to the finish that consists of two Union Jack and EU-themed gates.
Once the starting gate was opened, spectators cheered as David Hameron, George Hogsborne and Iain Duncan Sniff rushed off, easily clearing the hurdles, while Boar-is Johnson trailed behind. The result in the end was decisive.
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Japanese black watermelon sells for $4700
Asahikawa: A rare black watermelon was put up for auction in Asahikawa, Japan, with the winning bid coming in at approximately ¥500,000 (about $4700).
It was one of 260 Densuke variety watermelons sold in Asahikawa and Sapporo markets this week; by July, an estimated 70,000 will be in circulation. The designer fruits - Japan also specializes in giant strawberries, often fetch high prices because they’re perceived as a premium gift idea, with produce from the first harvest of the season inducing the greatest sticker shock.
Is it worth the money? In 2014, the Toronto Star enlisted staffers in a blind taste test after nine of the melons arrived in Canada carrying a $200 price tag. The results were inconclusive, with some tasters preferring the texture of an Ontario-grown melon. Price? $6.99.
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9-year-old becomes youngest to swim Alcatraz
SAN FRANCISCO: A nine-year-old boy has become the youngest person ever to swim to Alcatraz and back, beating out the previous record-holder, who was 10.
James Savage, whose father offered him US $100 to complete the 4 km round trip across San Francisco Bay, said he almost gave up 30 minutes into the swim, but persevered when his dad doubled the cash reward.
"I wanted to turn back and they kept yelling, 'I believe in you, you can do it'," the plucky youngster from Los Banos told yourcentralvalley.com.
"We kind of pushed each other," James's coach, Josh Weinberger, told the website. "Finally got him going. Smooth sailing all the way."
It took James a little more than two hours to complete the swim Wednesday, putting him slightly off the pace of the previous youngest record holder, 10-year-old Anaya Khanzode, who set a time of 1:37.02 in August last year.
James says his next goal is to swim the 2737.4m length of the Golden Gate Bridge.
