Barometer | 14 February 2013

Takes all sports

The government is to introduce a new strategy for sport in schools. To what educational ends can sport be used?
— ‘Using Sport to Tackle Youth Crime’ US qualification for the over-14s
— ‘Maths Through Sport — boost your pupils’ maths levels through physical activity and sport’. Active Learning Programme
— ‘Using sport for drug-use prevention’ Paper by United Nations’ Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention
— ‘Women Win spotlights the harmful traditional practice of female genital mutilation (cutting) and how the strategy of using sport can play a powerful role in shifting cultural practices’.
— ‘Harnessing the popularity of sport to run HIV prevention programmes’ Washington-based Grassroot Project

Long service

Pope Benedict XVI became the first Pope in 600 years to retire, saying that at 85 he lacked the strength to fulfil his duties. Some priests who make him look a stripling:
— Msgr Gerald Ryan, 92 St Luke’s in the Bronx, New York
— Msgr Anthony Majchrowski, 94 All Saints Catholic Church, Flint, Michigan
— Msgr Vincent J. Topper, 100 St Catherine Laboure Catholic Church, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
— Father Geoffrey Schneider, 100, St Aloysius’ College, Kirribilli, Sydney
— Father Alvaro Fernandez served as parish priest in San Tirso, Asturias, Spain until his death aged 107 in 1988.

Dogs vs foxes

A one-month-old baby in Bromley had his finger bitten off by a fox which had entered his home. Recorded fox attacks over the past three years:
— November 2012: Angler in East Sussex bitten while he slept in a tent
— June 2010: Two nine-month-old girls attacked in their bedroom in Hackney
— June 2010: Toddler bitten in garden in Brighton Number of people treated for pet dog bites in NHS hospitals in past three years: 18,000
Source: NHS episode statistics

Why not eat horse?

More horse meat was found in food. How does horse compare nutritionally with 100g portions of other meats?

Source: Danish National Food Institute