Fifteen-year-old Anthony Ruelas, trying to rescue a classmate gasping from an asthma attack, became the latest casualty in public schools' relentless insistence on "zero tolerance" of any deviation from rules. Gateway Middle School in Killeen, Texas, suspended Ruelas for two days for what others called his "heroic" assistance in gathering the girl in his arms and taking her to the nurse's office - while the teacher, following "procedure", waited passively for a nurse to email instructions. (Ruelas had defied the teacher, declaring, "F*** that - we ain't got time to wait for no email from the nurse.") The school district's superintendent later cited a federal law he interpreted as justifying the procedure. (Source: News of the Weird)
Sofas tae stop ye gettin' kilt
A Scottish company has designed bullet-resistant furniture aimed at the market for home and public security. Osdin Shield said the sofas and chairs were meant to save lives, because "gun attacks can happen anywhere". The Glasgow company said the range should help protect against 9mm handguns, sub-machine guns and shotguns. As well as domestic customers, it hopes to tap into markets including hotels, embassies and government buildings. A spokesman said: "There are many threats in the world today, so to protect you and the general public we use bullet-resistant technology in our furniture to try and secure the wellbeing of clients." Osdin said the material used was hidden from view, within the carcass of the furniture. The furniture, which has not yet gone into production, will cost up to £10,000 ($20,900). A range of ballistic test standards the range aims to meet includes weapons such as 44 magnums, high-powered rifles and AK47s.
