Monday, Aug. 03, 2009

Unicorn rehab: A few more rainbow treatments at the Avalon Therapeutic Equestrian Center Ixonia, Wis., and the forehead horns should start coming in.

We will, we will, crok you: The Sonisphere rock festival in Knebworth, England, features heavy metal and lightweight spelling.

Oh, stop your swiping. I'm trying to unlock it! Feeding time can be hazardous at the Johannesburg Zoo if you don't pick the right key. Volunteer keepers have been doing most of the daily work at the zoo since the beginning of a nationwide strike last week.

The karat-ty kid: American Ryan Lochte tests his gold medal (men's 400m individual medley) with a diamond-encrusted bicuspid at the FINA Swimming World Championships in Rome.

May all your chutes open in a timely manner: A Russian Orthodox priest blesses the paratroopers during the armed forces holiday in Red Square, Moscow.

Snore spot: A trippopotamus naps on the sand at the Prague Zoo.

Sound sleeping advice: Always pick the cab that's not going anywhere. (Calcutta.)

It does everything except open the pod bay door: Employees of Japanese robotics venture Cyberdyne demonstrate the HAL (Hybrid Assistive Limb) while crossing a Tokyo street. The HAL suit, designed for the elderly and disabled, anticipates the user's movement while supporting the leg and hip.

One small step for man, one easy decision for bureaucrats: Villagers watch as 22-year-old Wu Zhongyuan rotates the blades of his homemade helicopter in preparation for a maiden flight in Songxian, China. Wu built the chopper from a 150cc motorcycle engine, a steel cage and wooden rotor blades. Local government officials, apparently unimpressed with aircraft's ability to stay aloft, refused to let him take off.

He has the cutest little change-up: Mariners rookie Shawn Kelley heads to the bullpen wearing his "Hello Kitty" backpack, a gift from his teammates, before a game against the Rangers in Arlington.

Shoot. I think I lost a contact: The most crowded beach in the world might be this one in Dalian, China's Liaoning Province.

Under a barrel: Dominique Williams of the Denver Broncos support staff does some supporting at training camp in Englewood, Colo.

Spike it! Either Kristin Richards has terrific hops or Germany's volleyball team is a little on the short side. (World Grand Prix volleyball, Rio de Janeiro.)

Hot-air balloons take off in Chambley-Bussieres, France, as part of the yearly "Lorraine Mondial" international air-balloon meeting.

Not quite extreme enough: Rune Glifberg still needs a little more practice before he's ready for the Men's Skateboard Vert at X Games 15 in Carson, Calif.