A teacher in Mexico calmly talks to her students as a fierce drug rages just meters outside her classroom. Five men died in the violence, but none of the children were injured. The battle began at a taxi stand outside the classroom, which doubled as a location for drug smuggling.
This teacher is enormously brave.
For the past couple of days, President Obama has been touring Ireland and England and meeting with leaders. His trip, however, has been filled with embarrassing moments, gaffes and strange photo opportunities. What has he been up to? Take a look.
1) His Limo Gets Stuck: As Obama was leaving the US Embassy to give a speech in Dublin, his limousine (nicknamed “The Beast”) became stuck on an elevated curb. Secret Service agents obscured the limo from public sight while they worked to free the tires.
2) He Inexplicably Writes the Wrong Year: Obama got a tour of Westminster Abbey and lay a wreath on the Grave of the Unknown Warrior. He signed the guestbook on his way out with the words “It is a great privilege to commemorate our common heritage, and common sacrifice.” Then, he signed the date “24 May 2008.” Yeah, not the correct year.
3) Ping Pong Politics: Obama and Prime Minister David Cameron decided to play ping pong against two students. They looked ridiculous, and Obama looked bad. Not as bad as bowling though. Still, why would you allow for this photo opportunity that allows pictures like this to be taken.
4) He Flubs Toast to Queen: The royal family honored President Obama with a royal dinner, but he flubbed the toast and spoke over the national anthem. Oops. See more here.
5) He Meets Jedward: The Irish twins performed their hit song for the President of the United States, who apparently liked their hair.
6) He Randomly Talks to Random Person on Phone: What would you do if your daughter handed you the phone and President Obama was on the other line? That happened to one mother today.
A tornado nearly three quarters of a mile wide ravished the city of Joplin, Missouri and killed 89 people. The tornado touched down around 6 p.m. on May 22 and cut a four-mile path of destruction, severely damaging an area hospital and destroying hundreds of homes in the surrounding area. There were 68 reported tornadoes over the weekend throughout the country.
Two storm chasers appear to have captured one of the only videos of the storm, as it strikes the town. Jeff and Kathryn Piotrowski of TornadoVideos.net uploaded this clip to YouTube shortly after the storm first touched down. It also shows them driving through the town of Joplin shortly after the storm, and gives a sense of the utter destruction there.
This image shows the damage to the area hospital. Thankfully, staff members were able to move patients into the hallways before the tornado struck.
This video actually gives a sense of what it was like to take cover as the storm passed overhead. There isn’t much video, but the audio is horrifying to hear. Hats off to the brave people who kept everyone calm.
A helicopter flew over the town and attempted to chronicle the devastation.
Residents survey the damage of their neighborhood after the disaster.
Finally, this eerie video shows the town after the tornado. The devastation is overwhelming.
On the day of their scheduled wedding, Wang Lu got cold feet and called off his wedding with Li-Wan. The incident occurred in Changchun, eastern China and prompted the bride to attempt suicide. She sat on the ledge of her apartment, more than 80 feet above the ground and contemplated ending her life. Then, just as she was about to jump, a local rescue worker came to her aid. He managed to grab her by the neck, and with the help of some people in the apartment below, hauled her back to safety.
The woman was taken to hospital for observation. Attempts to reach her ex-fiancee were unsuccessful. The man who rescuer was very modest after the fact, saying only “I did what anyone would have done.”
For more on the story, see the New York Post story.
Not Intent on Arriving 