This week, we feature intriguing stories that include the auction of Winston Churchill’s half smoked cigar at a bid of $12,000, Harvey Weinstein’s enablers and how the silent are complicit, how floating in salt water could treat mental disorders, and why 24-hour supply of electricity in India is a distant dream and much more..
Puffing history – Cigar smoked by Winston Churchill sold for $12,000
A La Corona cigar from Havana, Cuba with the former British Prime Minister’s name printed on it has been auctioned for $12,000 to a collector whose name hasn’t been revealed. It is reported that Churchill smoked the cigar on May 11, 1947 at Le Bourget Airport in Paris, France. Also included in the auction is a photo of Churchill smoking the cigar at the airport and signed by him.
You can read this story on Associated Press.
Vegas shooting – Gunman’s father was on FBI’s most wanted list
Benjamin Hoskins Paddock called himself an ‘alert psychotic’. He faced prison time for a number of bank robbery cases he was involved in. as the FBI are trying to construct a psychological make up of Stephen Paddock, they are looking into his family history to try and trace mental illness. The psychiatrist who treated Paddock’s father mentions that he had no history of ‘mental defect’ but also added that he had a ‘sociopathic personality’.
You can read this story on The New York Times.
Electricity 24×7 – A distant hope in India
Power cuts in India are very common. Many distribution companies are in debt and to cap their losses, supply less power to homes. This is referred to as load-shedding. The government launched the UDAY schedule to counter this problem and improve financial health of power distribution companies. Many states joined the UDAY scheme. However, it’s been two years to this and the losses incurred by states is only on the rise. Every home may have electricity but a round the clock supply is still a distant dream.
You can read this story on Scroll.in.
‘Pack of hyenas’ – Enabling perpetrators like Harvey Weinstein
The numerous sexual harassment and rape allegations against Hollywood mega producer Harvey Weinstein has cast a light on the grim, darker side of the film industry that no one talks about. In this story, the writer points fingers at those who knew of his behaviour and stayed silent and complicit. Weinstein was so powerful that he even cultivated journalists who could write positive stories about his revered actors and negative ones about those who defied him. The production company long knew that Weinstein had several allegations against him but only paid them off till it was inconvenient for them.
You can read this story on The Guardian.
Hope floats – Lying in salty water could treat mental disorders
Michael Harding was suffering from PTSD after he came back from Afghanistan as a soldier stationed there. He suffered from night sweats, nightmares and was constantly shaking, unable to perform routine tasks. He opted for therapy and medication but it made little difference to him. Later on, after his wife found testimonials of the benefits of floating, he went for it. after three floats, he found that he was refreshed and his anxiety had subsided. Floating in a tub with 2,000 pounds of Epsom salt could be a shortcut for people to reach a meditative state. Doctors and scientists are still investigating the success of floatation.
You can read this story on TIME magazine.
~ ~
Statutory Warning : Smoking is injurious to health and can kill !
#Pune365 does not advocate the consumption of alcohol and the use of tobacco.
- #OddlyEnough18: Guard Reunites Baby Elephant With Mother And More! - January 1, 2018
- Safety Remains Biggest Concern For Women Say Pune’s Authors - December 29, 2017
- Commemorating 200 Years Of The Epic Battle Of Bhima-Koregaon - December 28, 2017
