30/10/18: Sink or Schwimm, crime doesn't pay and Gotta Praise 'em All

Intro

Week 11. I came home this week. It's the first time in about a month or so and it's good to be back. Had a lovely takeout on my first night back. I mean, I can get takeout at uni but it's just not the same.

Crime

From Friends character to Blackpool's most wanted, David Schwimmer certainly gets around. However, it seems the actor has a doppelganger, and this time his name might not be Russ.

A thief was caught on CCTV running from a shop cradling a crate of lagers, in true Blackpool fashion, and as you can see, the pair bear a striking resemblance. Mr Schwimmer has since proved his alibi on twitter with a video, showing him spoofing his clone, stating "Officers I swear it wasn't me, as you can see I was in New York".

Both clips have since gone viral, and in an interesting turn of event, one Blackpool woman has suggested the culprit may be her son who went missing many years ago. If that's the case then it seems he's been on one hell of a break (sorry).

(Source: the Telegraph)

Gaming

Pokemon Go took the world by storm a few years ago, and still maintains a large fanbase. Since then, it seems the Vatican has tried to jump on the bandwagon with a augmented reality game of it's own.

Follow JC Go apparently took 2 years and $500,000 to develop and is currently only available in Italy and Spain. Pope Francis is reportedly a fan of the game, and while the pope hasn't watched TV in 28 years, he is very tech savvy, with an active social media.

The game works much like it's Pokemon themed counterpart, where the player walks around the world collecting various saints and biblical figure by answering various questions about them, as well as other items to top up hydration, nutrition and 'prayer count'.

This is in an effort by the Catholic Church to keep in touch with millennials, and if you take a look at most of the comments on the game's Google Play page, you'll know it doesn't seem to be going very well.
(Source: the Observer)


Business



Oh shrap(nel)! Imagine a relaxing trip to the loo when suddenly all hell breaks loose, and I'm not talking about the extra spicy burrito you had for lunch. Well, that's what has been happening to Americans recently as officials have recalled around 1.4 million flushing systems, following reports of exploding toilets.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission sent out a report regarding the Flushmate II 501-B system, which can apparently burst at or near vessel weld seams. When it does, it can do so with enough force to shatter the tank.

So far 1,500 of the systems have burst, causing $170,000 and some 23 injuries, one of which was serious enough to warrant foot surgery. This is why one should never skimp on bleach.
(Source: AJC)


Education



Hippity, hoppity, bipity, bee, this is one strange degree. A law school in India has offered prospective students a course which will take a look into the wizarding world of Harry Potter.

Shouvik Kumar Gaha, of the National University of Juridical Sciences in Kolkata, created the course which 'expects students to have read all of the books at least twice if not more'. It will also tackle more traditional law studies as well as social problems in India, such as discrimination, torture and slavery.

For example, the course will examine the way in which races such as elves, centaurs and giants are marginalised, and how the division between the country's Hindu majority and it's various minorities compares to the divide between wizards and muggles.
(Source: the Guardian)


Economy



The government has unveiled plans to create a commemorative Brexit 50p coin.

No design for the new coinage has been announced by the Treasury as of yet, however they have said it will be emblazoned with the slogan 'Friendship With All Nations', in either a fit of perfect satire or brilliant naivety (I'm not sure which is funnier).

But it seems the Treasury aren't the only ones having a laugh. Twitter has seen a variety of reactions, mocking the announcement and Brexit in general: "the only coin where no matter how many times you toss it, you always lose", "It will be due out in one year's time... Correction 2 years time... Hang on, my mistake it's a Euro."

With hopes that the new £50 will include a near naked Harry Maguire and this latest event, it seems the Treasury is trying to have some fun before the end.