A man who planned to walk from Bristol to India without any money has quit, after getting as far as Calais, France.

Mark Boyle, 28, who set out four weeks ago with only T-shirts, a bandage and sandals, hoped to rely on the kindness of strangers for food and lodging.

But, because he could not speak French, people thought he was free-loading or an asylum seeker.

He now plans to walk around the coast of Britain instead, learning French as he goes, so he can try again next year.

Mr Boyle, a former organic food company boss, belongs to the Freeconomy movement which wants to get rid of money altogether.

Oh, baby. That's made my week. I particularly love the caption under the photo: "Mr Boyle was hoping to prove the kindness of humanity".

(Thanks to Frank)

"You feel like saying 'You don't know what I do, you don't know what a writer is.'"

- Ronald Harwood, Oscar Nominee

"There comes a time when you aren't working for money any more."

- Walt Disney

Yeah, well... ain't that the truth!

It's a terrible movie.

"... plus, the new Renault Clio is supercool. If you buy one, members of the opposite sex will want to make lots of babies with you."

At last: honesty in advertising! Well, honesty about the principles behind it, anyway.

[Thanks to Classicfm]

VIDEO

Runaway lawnmower kills Buddhist monk

A Buddhist monk known for his campaigning against nuclear weapons died when he fell from his sit-on lawnmower and became trapped underneath the machine. Gyosei Handa, 50, who was born in Japan, was the chief monk at Willen Lake’s Peace Pagoda in Milton Keynes, which he helped to build in 1980 and where he held an annual Hiroshima Day lantern ceremony.

(Possible contender for Headline of the Year, methinks.)

[Thanks to The Times]

More often than not, it's the seemingly obscure that has the most lasting influence on our lives. In the 1960s a man called J.C.R. Licklider at MIT started thinking about the esoteric subject of communication between computers. That idea changed the world.

Thanks a bunch, pal.

(p.s. He would be a lid licker, wouldn't he.) 

Y'know, given all the evidence to the contrary.

"I don't mind if Schalk does ballet as long as he's competitive and gives it everything."

- Schalk Burger, Sr., on his massive offspring.

And other publishing highlights.

 "How to Write a How to Write Book" also appeals.

"Girl" at school was 39-year-old man

A Japanese man was arrested for trespassing this week after turning up at a high school dressed in a girl's uniform and a long wig, local police said.

Control your computer with your mind.

But does that mean that when I have a hangover, my computer will slow right down and beg for aspirin?

David - 'not Dave' - Aaronovitch seems to agree.

Changes in guidelines for helping obese people are being demanded today after firefighters were called to a house four times last week to lift a 41-stone man.

Robert Marsden needed ten firefighters to move him 2ft across his bed at his council flat in Grangemouth, Stirlingshire.

I can't help noting that the article appears in the Grauniad's Health and Well-Being section.