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Posted: 19-07-2013 12:39 Post subject:

An 18th Century Hoax of Roman Britain

The motive remains mysterious. Smile

Posted: 20-07-2013 22:17 Post subject:

Susan Taylor Channel swim fund's £300,000 donation was hoax

The family of Susan Taylor, who died attempting to swim the English Channel, have said they were left "disappointed and upset" when a £300,000 donation in her memory proved to be a hoax.
The 34-year-old, from Barwell, Leicestershire, collapsed in the water close to France and died on Sunday.
Since then, donations have flooded in to her chosen charities - Diabetes UK and Rainbows Hospice in Loughborough.
But it has been confirmed the £300,000 was a bogus offering.

About £80,000 has now been donated to the charities.
In a statement, Ms Taylor's family said: "Since news of Susan's death the family has been comforted by the extraordinary response from those who knew her and also many more people who didn't but wanted to show their admiration for what Susan had achieved.

"The family were obviously delighted when news of a donation pledge of £300,000 to the two charities was announced.
"Unfortunately, it would appear that this pledge was bogus since the funds have failed to materialise in the charities' accounts.
"Susan's family are disappointed and upset that an individual has taken actions which have misled the family and Susan's chosen charities in this way.
"We do not intend to allow the actions of one person to detract from what Susan has accomplished and the pride we feel for her."

Charity bosses first became suspicious when the donor talked about his celebrity lifestyle and a £100m yacht.
The final realisation came when he sent a screenshot of the supposed bank transfer which had been crudely altered with a computer graphics programme.
Scott Lea, spokesman for Rainbows, said it was important not to let the hoax overshadow the other generous donations.
He said the family's first thought was for the person behind the deception and whether they could be suffering from a mental health problem.

"For this [hoax] to come on the back of everything else they are going through it is really not fair on them," he said.
The charity has contacted police but the deception is not thought to be a crime, he said.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-23389086

Posted: 20-07-2013 22:49 Post subject:

A rather nasty hoax.

Posted: 21-07-2013 18:11 Post subject:

What is it about anonymity that makes people act dreadfully?

Posted: 21-07-2013 20:45 Post subject:

Possibly the fact that they can remain anonymous.

Posted: 21-07-2013 22:52 Post subject:

Yeah, but a lot of people see it as a compulsory condition of anonymity.

Posted: 28-07-2013 15:20 Post subject:

Colne Valley spoof sculpture trail of 'eyesores'

A spoof sculpture trail has been created in West Yorkshire highlighting "artwork" such as an abandoned bath and a derelict house.
The leaflet promoting the fictitious Colne Valley Sculpture Trail near Huddersfield showcases what many people would consider eyesores.
The leaflet, which has been left in public buildings, contains ironic art critic style commentary on each piece. Cool

Its author said in a different setting the pieces could be viewed as artwork.
The leaflet details the real life route of a three mile walk featuring 12 highlights such as an abandoned bath in a field, a derelict house and a collapsed wall, which have been attributed to fictional artists.

The abandoned bath is supposedly a piece called Wash Behind the Ears and is described as dealing with the "contradictory concepts of filth and cleanliness, typically by placing a familiar bathroom item in a countryside setting".

A section of collapsed dry-stone wall titled Wall/Fall/Wall is supposedly the work of Karen Braithwaite who built it then destroyed it "with some sense of violence".
It continues: "The resulting piece suggests a sense of bereavement, the turf above almost seeming to weep."

The author, who wished to remain anonymous but lives locally, said: "I genuinely think that the 'works' on the trail could, in a different setting, be viewed as art.
"I'm not keen on the angle that it's all eyesores.
"All of it is interesting to look at. Perhaps it could be called accidental art."

The author said good feedback had been received, adding: "My favourite thing I came across was somebody's blog, which, as far as I can tell, showed that they had walked the trail believing the 'sculptures' to be genuine works of art."

The author added: "My advice to people is if they want to do the walk, do it asap because the 'sculptures' could disappear at any time.
"My dream would be to have a preservation order put on the lot of them." Very Happy

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-23482587

Posted: 28-07-2013 22:05 Post subject:

That sums up art buffs perfectly. Smile

Posted: 29-07-2013 18:15 Post subject:

The artistic view has offered a different angle on what was previously neglected and dismissed. If you took a few moody photographs of these objects the photos would be regarded as art, so why not cut out the middle man? Sounds like a great way to enliven a country walk, the author of the leaflet has the right idea. Creative thinking shouldn't be sneered at if it brightens up the mundane.

Posted: 29-07-2013 19:03 Post subject:

Posted: 29-07-2013 19:03 Post subject:

I found this by accident while linking to the Ring prank further up:

Extremely Scary Coffin In Elevator Prank - Creepy Must See!!

It's really one of the most horrid pranks i've ever seen Shocked

The second one is just harrowing. Sad

I'd like to see the buggers try that one in Texas and see where it gets them.

Posted: 29-07-2013 22:26 Post subject:

Posted: 07-08-2013 18:16 Post subject:

Not sure if this is the right thread, but what the hey:
http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/08/06/discovery-channel-megalodon-controversy/