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Christmas tree-throwing contest
Rob Thompson,
323 views 8 comments
Woman loses £650,000 injury claim after being pictured winning Christmas tree-throwing contestt SOURCE - The Telegraph Date - 25-Feb 2024 A woman who tried to claim €760,383 (£649,967) for injuries she suffered in a car crash lost her case after she was pictured winning a Christmas tree-throwing contest. Kamila Grabska, 36, said she was left with a ‘‘disabling’’ condition following an accident in February 2017 when the vehicle she was in was hit from behind. She had sued RSA Insurance on the basis that she could not work for more than five years, play with her children or carry out basic chores because of constant back and neck pain. But the Irish High Court, sitting in Limerick, was shown a photo in a national newspaper of her hurling a spruce tree on Jan 8 2018, during her hearing. Mrs Grabska argued that while she looked happy in the pictures from the charity event, she was still suffering from her injuries and endured pain to this day. But Judge Carmel Stewart threw out the case and remarked that the “very graphic picture” of her tossing the tree had helped her make the decision. The Irish Independent reported the judge as saying: “It is a very large, natural Christmas tree and it is being thrown by her in a very agile movement. I’m afraid I cannot but conclude the claims were entirely exaggerated. On that basis, I propose to dismiss the claim.” Kamila Grabska told doctors her injuries were so severe after the accident that she could not lift a heavy bag Mrs Grabska, a mother of two from Ennis, Co Clare, told doctors her injuries were so severe after the accident that she could not lift a heavy bag without feeling shooting pain. She said there were times when her husband had to bring medication to her in bed because of her pain. She quit her job following the crash and took disability payments, writing in court documents that her past and future loss of earnings amounted to £427,340. But the court heard that just a few days before she had informed doctors of her condition, she had finished top in the charity Christmas tree-throwing event. During the hearing, some footage was also submitted in evidence from November last year that showed Ms Grabska training her large dog in a park for more than an hour. She denied the suggestion that she had faked her injuries, telling the court she was simply “trying to live a normal life”, the Irish Independent reported. Her case was dismissed after the judge ruled her activities following the crash were “completely at odds” with the medical evidence she had given of her injuries.
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Santa Claus goes underwater diving to spread holiday cheer
Drosselmeyer,
476 views 2 comments
Santa Claus goes underwater diving to spread holiday cheer Santa was spotted going scuba-diving at an aquarium in the Florida Keys to celebrate the Christmas holiday. Spot the big man swim with fish! FOX NEWS December 28, 2023 Santa Claus goes underwater diving to spread holiday cheer | Fox News Video WWW.FOXNEWS.COM Santa was spotted going scuba-diving at an aquarium in the Florida Keys to celebrate the Christmas holiday. Spot the big man swim with fish! Source: https://www.foxnews.com/video/6343883237112
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Woman Busted For Beating Man With Xmas Tree
Drosselmeyer,
464 views 4 comments
the Smoking Gun - DECEMBER 26, 2023 Woman Busted For Beating Man With Xmas Tree Christmas Eve "verbal altercation" turned violent, police charge DECEMBER 26--It was a Christmas Miracle gone wrong. Police charge that a 20-year-old woman “repeatedly” beat her boyfriend with a Christmas tree during a predawn skirmish in the pair’s Florida residence http://www.thesmokinggun.com/sites/default/files/assets/miraclerivera23.jpgon December 24. According to a court filing, Miracle Rivera, 20, and the victim, 24, engaged in a “verbal altercation” early Sunday morning in the bedroom of their St. Petersburg home. Cops say the victim separated himself from Rivera and relocated to the living room around 3:40 AM on Christmas Eve. Rivera allegedly followed the man into the living room, where he was lying on the couch when Rivera “picked up a Christmas tree and began to strike the victim with it repeatedly.” The size of the tree is not detailed in a criminal complaint. The tree battering, investigators allege, “resulted in the victim sustaining numerous minor scratches over much of his upper body and arms.” Rivera (seen above) was subsequently arrested for domestic battery and booked into the county jail. She was released from custody around 2:40 PM on Christmas Day and has pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor count. A judge has ordered Rivera to have no contact with the victim. The tree was not seized as evidence Source: Woman Busted For Beating Man With Xmas Tree | The Smoking Gun WWW.THESMOKINGGUN.COM Miracle Rivera, 20, is facing a misdemeanor domestic violence charge for allegedly “repeatedly” striking the victim in a predawn December 24 attack.
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Santa falls to his death during stunt-gone-wrong...
Drosselmeyer,
615 views 7 comments
Children watch in horror as Russian Santa falls to his death in 'monstrous' stunt The tragedy was described as a "completely unpredictable incident" by the residential management company that staged the event. DAILY EXPRESS US By ALICE SCARSI, WILL STEWART 04:17 ET, Fri, Dec 22, 2023 | UPDATED: 06:36 ET, Fri, Dec 22, 2023 The man dressed as Russian Santa Claus plunged to his death from the 24th floor (Image: EAST2WEST) A man dressed as the Russian Santa Claus, Grandfather Frost, was the victim of a "monstrous misfortune" as he plunged to his death during a stunt for children. The man, an experienced industrial climber aged between 25 and 35, had intended to stun children gathered around a Christmas tree by climbing down from a residential high-rise building. But the amazing surprise turned into tragedy as the red-robed Grandfather Frost fell to his death from the 24th floor. The climber, who reportedly mixed up his safety ropes, crashed on a snow-covered structure on the first floor of the building - which spared the children the sight of the body. To add to the horror, the man's wife and his young child were reportedly among those waiting for Grandfather Frost to complete his stunt. One eyewitness said: "Everyone was having fun, and no-one could even think this would happen. "I thought until the last minute that it was some kind of dummy, that it was a prank. The festivities carried on. There was at first no suspicion that this was a tragedy.” Another later revealed the incident left some parents in shock, while many of the children didn't understand the tragedy that had unfolded. They said: "My son didn’t understand anything. Others understood, and they left in hysterics. All the parents, naturally, are in shock." In a clip catching the horror fall and its immediate aftermath, one voice can be heard saying in disbelief: "He didn't fall?" This concern was echoed by another, who said: "Now he’ll come out [to see the children]...he couldn't fall!" The residential management company that staged the event apologised for the incident and described the man as an "experienced specialist". They added: "Today’s holiday turned into a monstrous misfortune." It was, they also said, a "completely unpredictable incident". The company continued: "We will do everything in our power to help the police understand the reasons and never allow this to happen again." Source: https://www.the-express.com/news/world-news/122195/russia-santa-claus-falls-to-death
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Florida doctor's viral warning about the Christmas presents that parents should avoid buying for kids
Drosselmeyer,
516 views 1 comments
Florida doctor's viral warning about the Christmas presents that parents should avoid buying for kids Emergency room doctor advises parents against buying these 5 items for kids By Gretchen Eichenberg Fox News Published December 22, 2023 4:45am EST Last-minute Christmas gift shoppers beware, as a Florida doctor is sharing the toy items that are on her naughty list every holiday giving season. In an Instagram Reel viewed by 8.1 million users, Meghan Martin, a pediatric emergency medicine physician at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg, revealed what she says are "the top 5 Christmas gifts that can land your kid in the ER." Martin also went viral in March when she issued a BBQ grill brush warning on TikTok after a child swallowed a bristle and had to be taken to the emergency room. Read on for Martin's list of holiday gifts that should not be placed under your tree this year. Here are her five. There are some Christmas gifts that parents should avoid purchasing this holiday season, according to Meghan Martin, a pediatric emergency medicine physician at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida. (iStock/Johns Hopkins All Childrens Hospital/iStock) 1. Button batteries "There are fatalities every year, unfortunately, from button batteries," said Martin, who is also a mom of kids who are in elementary school and middle school. The button batteries, she said, are "secured with these little cheap screws, and they can easily come open … They do all the time," Martin said of the toys that expose the button batteries. Meghan Martin, M.D., Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital Pediatric Emergency Medicine, shared items to avoid giving kids this holiday season. (Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital) Lots of toys and ordinary household items are powered by button batteries, also called coin batteries and watch batteries. They are small, single-cell batteries shaped like cylinders that are usually about 5 to 25 mm in diameter and 1 to 6 mm high — and because of their size and shape, they are a choking hazard. "These are hard in some cases to get completely rid of," Martin said. "But obviously, especially with young kids and even sometimes pets, they are something to keep a close eye on just because they do have such a great potential for injury." Button batteries are a major choking hazard for small children, so avoid switching out any batteries around your young kids. (iStock) Choking isn’t the only potential danger present by these small batteries, Martin said. If button batteries are swallowed and get stuck in the esophagus, they can cause significant tissue injury in the esophagus and also in the airway. "It can happen very quickly," Martin said "You can start having tissue damage within about 15 minutes. Within a couple of hours, it can go all the way through the esophagus into major blood vessels from the esophagus into the airway. This can be life-threatening — and even if you figure it out, sometimes it can be too late," she said. Some holiday presents that require button batteries include stuffed animals and books that play music. (iStock) One popular Christmas gift that potentially includes button batteries, Martin said, are noise-making books, small stuffed animals that move and talk, and many other toys. "With these toys, make sure you know what's in them. And if you're able to get them out of your house — if you don't like that book anyway — just get it out of your house and don't have that risk available." One of the things to do if a child may have ingested a button battery, Martin said, is give small sips of honey on the way to the hospital, as long as the child is over 12 months old. If your child swallows a battery of this size and he or she is over 12 months of age, a sip of honey as you head to the hospital is advised, said a pediatric emergency medicine physician. (iStock) "It helps to coat the button battery," Martin said. "It decreases the contact between the battery and the tissue and so it decreases the injury until you can get the battery out," she added. 2. Water beads Water beads contain superabsorbent polymers that can expand to hundreds of times their original size after exposure to water, according to the National Poison Control Center. These beads, which are often sold as sensory toys for children, are a choking hazard and can cause life-threatening intestinal blockage if swallowed. Water beads are another thing to avoid around little ones because they're a major choking hazard and can cause life-threatening intestinal blockage if swallowed, according to experts. (iStock) "Water beads can be choking hazards if they're kind of expanded," Martin said. "But if they're not expanded and they're ingested, they can swell in the GI tract and cause things like obstructions or something called an intussusception," she said, adding that there have been fatalities associated with kids swallowing water beads. Intussusception is a serious condition in which part of the intestine slides into an adjacent part of the intestine, according to Mayo Clinic, based in Rochester, Minnesota. It's difficult for medical professionals to detect a water bead inside the body because "it's the same density as the rest of the tissue." (iStock) Martin said sometimes doctors can't detect swallowed water beads because the product is the same density as the rest of the tissue. "A lot of times we just have to go in surgically and kind of explore the intestines and see what's going on," she said. "So these can be very dangerous for lots of reasons." Though the polymers used to fill water beds are listed as nontoxic, Martin said parents cannot be too cautious here. "I think the obstruction is definitely a concern," Martin said, "but also there is that potential that these are not necessarily regulated with what polymer they are using. So there is the potential of it being toxic." Water beads are a choking hazard, experts say. Also, water beads may be toxic, since the polymer used is not necessarily regulated. (iStock) 3. Electric scooters and hoverboards Motorized vehicles, such as scooters, are a no-go for Martin. "We're giving kids the power to kind of go fast and we know that kids don't always make the best decisions," Martin said. Helmets do decrease the risk of injury, she said, but a lot of the injuries she sees are to the face, which isn't protected by the helmet, and also to the forearms and elbows. Motorized vehicles like hoverboards and electric scooters are another major gift that parents may want to avoid giving their kids, according to Martin. (iStock) "So a helmet does help with head protection, but it doesn't fully eliminate the risk of injury," Martin said. Martin said she’s a "big fan" of kid-powered things, but that electric- and gas-powered things for kids are quite a bit lower on her list of safe things. Fractured forearms and head injuries are a direct result of motorized and electric vehicles, said a pediatric emergency medicine physician. (iStock) "Same thing with hoverboards," Martin said. "They can get going a little bit fast. We see so many kids fall on these, especially right after Christmas when everyone's using their new toys." A lot of the injuries Martin sees are forearm fractures, elbow injuries and occasionally head injuries, too. Martin said parents are also at risk when trying out their child’s new motorized toys. "We see a lot of parents say, ‘Oh my gosh, I tried to pretend I was a kid and I fell on my butt on the hoverboard,'" Martin said. Parents should also be warned about the power behind these "toys" because kids are not the only ones who can get hurt. (iStock) 4. Trampolines "Trampolines can be really fun," Martin said. "But there are a lot of risks associated with them and a lot of the injuries that we see in the emergency department are pretty common trampoline injuries." Martin said most trampoline injuries occur in the lower extremities, to the lower leg, the tibia, fibula or the upper part just below the knee. "We actually named a fracture a ‘trampoline fracture’ because we see it so commonly associated with trampolines," Martin said. There is a fracture that doctors call the "trampoline fracture" because it is commonly associated with trampoline accidents. (iStock) The risk goes up, Martin said, when kids are on a trampoline with an adult. "When there are two people bouncing, the kid kind of gets double bounced," Martin said. "But we do see kids absolutely get hurt even when they're on trampolines by themselves." Head and neck injuries are also a concern. Parents may want to look into homeowners insurance if they plan on purchasing a trampoline. "A lot of people are not able to have trampolines, or they will get dropped by their homeowners insurance," said an expert. (iStock) "I actually saw a sternal fracture from a trampoline a couple of years ago," Martin said. "I hurt my own back on a trampoline when I was 13, so I might be holding a little bit of a grudge. So for my family, we've chosen to avoid them as best as possible." "Most of the injuries actually happen on the trampoline itself, not actually from falling off," she said. "So using the net or putting it in the ground really is kind of a false sense of security." While nets may seem to be a form of protection, they actually serve as a "false sense of security." (iStock) 5. Magnets Martin said toys that include small magnets, like magnetic blocks or tiles, are to be avoided. "It's important to realize that these little magnets can be dangerous, especially when they're swallowed together," she said. When magnets are swallowed separately, they will find their way together even on the inside of the body, said Martin. Magnets can be dangerous around kids because they can create holes in the stomach and intestine if they're swallowed. (iStock) "That can be dangerous because it can create holes in the stomach and the intestine," Martin said. "Those are not places you want holes." Martin’s 'nice list' "We're choosing things that allow them to be creative," Martin said of the gifts she's giving her own kids this year. "My younger one is getting dolls and Barbies, things that she can play with quietly by herself." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Martin’s older kids are getting shoes and clothes, and some are getting non-motorized bicycles and scooters. They're also getting soccer accessories. "It’s about getting outside and getting moving," she said. Source: https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/florida-doctors-viral-warning-reveals-christmas-presents-parents-avoid-buying-kids
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Little girl in Miami tells Santa she doesn't want to sit on his lap and his reaction goes viral
Drosselmeyer,
552 views 11 comments
Little girl in Miami tells Santa she doesn't want to sit on his lap and his reaction goes viral Santa in Florida tells little girl 'it's her body' and she gets to decide what she wants to do By Gretchen Eichenberg Fox News Published December 19, 2023 3:55am EST | Updated December 19, 2023 12:08pm EST After waiting in an endless line, most kids are plopped down on Santa’s lap for a quick conversation and an obligatory photo. But a Miami toddler wasn’t having it. She told Santa "no" — and he was only too happy to hear it. "When she said, ‘No,’ I’m thinking, ‘OK, I'm Santa. That’s a huge responsibility,'" Steve Lantz, a pastor and paid Santa Claus in Miami, Florida, told Fox News Digital. "Because you're not just a celebrity impersonator — there's a legacy. Even before he was Santa, he was Saint Nicholas, Bishop of Myra," added Lantz. "I’ve got to get this right." Steve Lantz, a pastor and paid Santa Claus, has gone viral after a young girl told him that no, she did not want to sit on his lap. (Carolina Apey) Last week, Katie Love and her three-year-old daughter Adley dressed up to visit Santa Claus at the Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne in Miami. "They were having a holiday party and my daughter for weeks has been so excited to meet Santa and tell him that she wants a purple bike for Christmas," said Love, a social media strategist, to Fox News Digital. MEET THE AMERICAN WHO CREATED THE FIRST DEPARTMENT-STORE SANTA: IMMIGRANT ENTREPRENEUR JAMES EDGAR "We're actually Jewish, but she is obsessed with all things Christmas," the mom added. As they waited in line, Love said her daughter was watching kids go up to sit on Santa’s lap. Katie Love (left) and her husband Aaron Martin (right) are Jewish, but their daughter Adley (center) is obsessed with all things Christmas. (Katie Love) "I could tell she was getting a little nervous," Love told Fox News Digital. "So I said, ‘Adley, you can go up there, but you don't have to sit on his lap. That's your choice. You can decide what you feel most comfortable with.'" Then it was finally Adley's turn to go up and talk to Santa. Seated in a grand red upholstered chair, Santa asked her if she would like to sit on his lap. And the child answered, "No." "It could have been a moment for Santa to make her feel awkward or uncomfortable, or he could have even just ignored it," Love said. But instead, Santa affirmed Adley’s decision. "I'm thinking this is my opportunity as a minister to be a legit Santa," Lantz said. "So I'm not thinking of the ‘ho ho hos.’ I'm just thinking about what's good, what's loving, what's kind, what's right, what's godly." GEN Z PARENTS REFUSING TO TEACH THEIR KIDS ABOUT SANTA, CLAIM IT'S 'TRAUMATIZING' Katie Love got out her phone and started recording. Lantz told little Adley that it was her choice to sit on his lap or not — a message that Love said she wanted her daughter to hear. When "Santa," whose real name is Steve Lantz, asked Adley if she wanted to sit on his lap, the young girl answered, "No." (Katie Love) "He told her it’s her body and she gets to decide — and that not even Santa can make that decision for her," Love said. "And I thought that was a really incredible moment because the idea of sitting on Santa's lap is very antiquated," added the mom. "The idea of exchanging physical touch in order to get something or to get a present is a concept that I want to move away from, as I am trying to teach my daughter to be a confident woman." ELF IN LOUISIANA FAMILY'S HOME GOES MISSING: DOG LOOKS GUILTY, KIDS ARE CRYING Love posted the video on her TikTok account — where it has garnered some two million views. "I wasn't expecting the video to resonate with so many people, but I got so many messages and comments from people who say they feel the same way," Love said. At the Santa encounter, Katie Love pulled out her phone to share how Lantz encouraged Adley's response and her ability to say, "No." (Katie Love) "We love an educated Santa," one TikTok user commented. "Way to teach your little lady boundaries early," another user wrote. "All Santas take note," another person commented. Lantz, a father of two young children himself, said there’s a song called "My Body" that he and his wife taught their kids. "It's part of a curriculum to help protect your children from sexual abuse," Lantz said. "The chorus is, "My body's nobody's body but mine. You run your own body. Let me run mine.’ Instead of warning them about freaks and instilling fear, we thought, Let's teach them how valuable their body is, how valuable they are and that they control their body, not adults." Some viewers said they thought the little girl looked confused by the whole interaction — and neither Love nor Lantz can deny that. "Her mom said she was probably more confused that I didn't respond to her request," Lantz said. "That she's probably going, ‘Wait. I said I want a purple bike, and you’re telling me my body’s my body.’" Lantz is also a father of two young children, and he taught both of them a song called "My Body," he said. (Lynda Lantz) Love said other commenters on TikTok thought Adley was "way too young" to be taught such lessons. "I really don't agree with that," she said. "Children have such little control, and for her to understand that she's in control of who touches her body and who she wants to give physical touch to is very important. I don't think that that's something that she needs to wait to learn." The larger message, Love said, is for women to stand up for themselves and listen to their instincts. "I think that teaching my daughter that ‘no’ is a complete sentence, and that she should be empowered to say it without ramifications, has been really important," Love said. Katie Love has encouraged her daughter to draw personal boundaries. (Katie Love) "I grew up saying ‘yes’ and trying to be a people pleaser. We were just taught to be polite and to hug the uncle we didn't want to hug or to sit on Santa's lap." In this — his very first season as a paid Santa — Lantz said he’s already picked up on a lot. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER "One thing that I've learned, and you learn this real quick, is that every kid matters," Lantz said. Katie Love recorded the moment that Santa (aka Steve Lantz, at left) told her daughter that she didn't have to sit on his lap and that "no" means "no." (Katie Love) "You have to deal with the kid in front of you. You can't worry about the line. And so you treat every kid as special and you don't rush," he added. At home, Adley is an affectionate child who gives her mom and dad hugs and kisses all the time, Love said. But she knows how to draw a boundary. "Kids can still have a magical interaction with Santa without having to sit on someone's lap that they don't know," Love said "As she grows up, I hope that's something she remembers and that it leads her down a path of feeling strong and empowered." Source: https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/little-girl-miami-tells-santa-she-doesnt-want-sit-lap-reaction-goes-viral
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25 Best Christmas Light Displays Across the Country
Drosselmeyer,
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25 Best Christmas Light Displays Across the Country This year will be even merrier and brighter than ever! ✨ The PIoneer Woman BY JILL GLEESONPublished: Dec 8, 2023 Christmas lights really have a way of making the holiday season extra merry and bright, whether they're strung around a tree or dangle from a rooftop. And you don't even have to go through the hassle of hanging them yourself to enjoy their twinkling beauty! Luckily, there are plenty of stunning holiday light displays all over the country, just waiting to be explored. Visiting one of these light shows is one of the best Christmas activities to share with friends and family because it never fails to put you in the holiday spirit—and best of all, it's often free! Start a brand new Christmas tradition this year by visiting one of the best Christmas light displays near you. We've rounded up the prettiest ones across the U.S., so you probably won't have to travel too far to check out at least one. (Plus, with all of your favorite Christmas songs playing, the road trip will be almost as fun as the destination!) Our list includes all kinds of holiday displays, including light shows in botanical gardens, entire neighborhoods in large cities and small towns alike decked out in colorful Christmas lights, and even exhibits on race courses and amusement parks. And while some close right after the holidays, others stay open all winter long! So, keep reading to find out more about the best Christmas light displays in the United States and get ready to feel extra festive this year. See the whole list here: https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/holidays-celebrations/g37610201/best-christmas-light-displays/
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Launched in 2007, The ClausNet Santa Claus Network is the premier online community for men and women actors dedicated to the traditions and faithful portrayal of Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, Elves! Reindeer handlers/breeders are also welcome to join.
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