HitchBOT takes robot road trip to Germany

Hitchbot and co-creators Frauke Zeller and David Smith. Chad Hipolito/CP

Torstar News Service
HitchBOT is headed for the Autobahn. The Canadian-made hitchhiking robot that talked and tweeted its way from Halifax to Victoria last summer — that talked and tweeted its way in the Rockies and being bestowed with an honorary name at a powwow on Manitoulin Island — is gearing up for its next quest: thumbing its way around Germany.

The robot’s designers are hoping it will receive a comparably warm welcome on its first foreign foray, after it won the adoration of hundreds on its maiden trek across Canada.

“I think being helpful to something that needs help is something that is innate to everybody,” said Frauke Zeller, the Ryerson University professor and hitchBOT co-creator, who is also from Germany.

Meet Woman With World's biggest fake boobs 'bra size 32Z'

31 year old German model Mayra Hills better known by her online name, Beshine claims to own the world's largest fake boobs. The surgical enhanced boobies reportedly contains 10 litres of saline solution and weigh a whopping 9kg (20lb) each. Her bra size is a mammoth 32Z. And she's very proud of them!

The world's largest natural boobs are 48V. See more photos after the cut...

German nurse admits killing 30 patients out of boredom

The handcuffed ex-nurse covers his face with a folder in a courtroom of the regional court in Oldenburg, northern Germany

A German court has heard that a former male nurse admitted killing more than 30 patients at a hospital where he worked, allegedly out of boredom.

A psychiatric expert told the trial that the 38-year-old defendant had confessed to the killings during recently held assessments, a court spokesman said.

The ex-nurse went on trial in Oldenburg in northern Germany in September, accused of the murder of three patients and attempted murder of two others.

The expert said the defendant had admitted to those charges, as well as saying he had over-medicated another 90 patients, 30 of whom died, the spokesman said.

Germany Police Hunt Stolen Pigeon Worth $184,000

Police in Germany are looking for a missing pigeon, and any finder could be in line for a 10,000-euro ($12,250) reward. Duesseldorf police said Tuesday that the 6-year-old male homing pigeon, named AS 969, was stolen at some point on Saturday night from a locked aviary in the city's suburbs.

They say the light gray bird is valued by its owner at 150,000 euros ($184,000) and police suspect the thief or thieves were "connoisseurs" as it was the most valuable in an aviary full of other homing pigeons.

The owner offered a 10,000-euro reward for the bird's recovery.

McDavid's early goal helps Canada beat Germany

 McDavid's early goal helps Canada beat Germany

The Canadian Press
Of course, everyone knew that Connor McDavid's so-called scoring "drought" wasn't going to last.

The player tabbed by many to go first overall in the NHL draft in June broke out with a goal and two assists as Canada downed a surprisingly stubborn Germany 4-0 on Saturday at the world junior championship.

The 17-year-old McDavid had been held without a point in Canada's tournament-opening 8-0 drubbing of Slovakia the night before, but any talk of a slump was put to rest when he scored on a power play only 4:11 into the game.

"It's exciting, I haven't scored in a long time," said McDavid, who got his first goal in a real game since he broke his right hand in a fight during a game on Nov. 11. "I missed a whole bunch of games.

Read Heartwarming Letter About WWI Christmas Truce With German Military

A touching letter, penned 100 years ago, has been released by the Royal Mail detailing the Christmas Day ceasefire of the First World War from a soldier's perspective. Read below

Dearest Mother,

I am writing this in the trenches in my "dug out" - with a wood fire going and plenty of straw it is rather cosy, although it is freezing hard and real Christmas weather.

I think I have seen today one of the most extraordinary sights that anyone has ever seen. About 10 o'clock this morning I was peeping over the parapet when I saw a German, waving his arms, and presently two of them got out of their trench and came towards ours.

Beyoncé Covers Interview Magazine Germany

Beyoncé Covers Interview Magazine Germany with a Fierce Stare. There is no doubt that Beyoncé loves a good mask – from wearing them at concerts to wearing them on magazine covers. The pop star covers Andy Warhol’s Interview Magazine in a black netted mask but we can still feel her awesomeness.