News In Briefs

Sometimes I Don't Have To Make It Up

Two Koreas Exchange Gunfire

North Korean and South Korean soldiers have exchanged gunfire in the demilitarised zone dividing the two Koreas, a South Korean newspaper reported.
A North Korean soldier took the first shot and a South Korean soldier returned fire, the Dong-A Ilbo newspaper said.
No-one on the South Korean side was hurt in Monday's incident, it said.




Chuck Norris leads the way in Budapest bridge-naming vote

If Hungarian voters have their way then Budapest could be the home for the first bridge in the world to be named after Chuck Norris, the high-kicking star of countless action movies.
The Ministry of Economy and Transport could well be kicking itself after the star become an early front runner in an online poll organised by the ministry to name a new bridge across the Danube.
Almost 9000 people have voted for the "Chuck Norris Bridge".
The name was suggested by somebody who said that it would be a good idea because "there is no such bridge in the world and Hungary would be the first".
Hundreds of nominations have been put forward, many of them less than serious.
In second place, only a few hundred votes behind Chuck, is Pato Pal.
Pato Pal was a character in a poem by Hungary's favourite poet Sandor Petoffi, and the name has become synonymous with people who do not want to spend money.
The wag that suggested Pato Pal said that "the name speaks for itself, because the bridge should have been built decades ago."
Szent Istvan, the founder of the Hungarian state, is languishing in ninth place with just over 2000 votes.
However, should Chuck Norris win the vote for the bridge, which is set to open in 2008, the ministry has a get out clause.
The top three names from the list will be added to suggestions from the local councils affected by the bridge, linguists and other experts and go before a government committee for consideration.
The poll closes on September 8.

posted by Steve @ Wednesday, August 02, 2006