Pets take to the air; looking out for the bald and overweight; and an alternative Olympics
• Need Fluffy or Spot to take a plane trip but don’t want them sitting in a dimly-lit, cold cargo hold? Pet Airways may be just what you’re looking for. Your beloved pets will travel in their own pet carrier in the main cabin instead of with the cargo; they’ll be constantly monitored by a trained pet attendant; and you can monitor the trip remotely with the company’s “pet tracker”. At this stage sadly, it only operates in US cities.
• The Church of England is asking clergy to make sure that overweight and bald people feel welcome in their congregations, with the realse of a book which says they should be regarded like other ’special needs’ people such as the blind and deaf. The UK’s Daily Telegraph reports that the book, Everybody Welcome, claims that only one in 10 visitors to church return because congregations are so unwelcoming. The book suggests clergy may want to consider whether overhead heaters are a problem for bald people and whether the size of their pews are big enough for larger people.
• The 8th World Games - which sees competitions in sports ranging from billiards and petanque to artistic roller-skating, canoe-polo and flying disc - have just finished in the Taiwanese port of Kaohsiung. More than 3,000 athletes from 91 countries, including Australia, were scheduled to take part in the games which provide the opportunity for people to compete in more than 30 sports, many of which you won’t see at the Olympics. (Korfball, anyone?) Russia finished with the highest medal tally - 18 gold - while Australia, which retained it’s lifesaving title, finished in 10th place with five gold, 10 silver and five bronze.