World Scene

Kitten survives wash and spin

A Persian kitten gave her Australian owners the shock of their lives when she emerged from the washing machine, dizzy and bedraggled after surviving a full cycle.

Brendon Rogers, from Sydney, said 4-month-old Kimba, a white, fluffy kitten, must have climbed into the front-loader machine when the door was open and curled up on the dirty clothes - unbeknownst to his father Lyndsay who turned the machine on for a cold wash.

They were both amazed when the cycle - including a high level spin - finished and they opened the door to pull out the clothes to find Kimba in the machine "looking like a drowned rat".

Although Kimba was alive she clearly needed help so they rushed her to the vet where she was put on an intravenous drip and treated for shock and hypothermia.

Her eyes were also badly affected by the detergent and needed treatment.

"It is just amazing that she survived but we reckon she's used all of her nine lives," said Rogers.

Everybody loves Cowell this week

Simon Cowell was known for being nasty and mean to aspiring singers on American Idol, but his final appearance on the show was a lovefest.

The caustic judge was feted in film and in song during Wednesday's season finale, which saw shy paint clerk Lee DeWyze win the Idol title.

There was a montage of Cowell's meanest insults ("It sounded like cats jumping off the Empire State Building ... just before they hit the floor") and memorable exchanges with fellow judge Paula Abdul.

She returned to the show to pay respects to Cowell, saying their work together "brought me immeasurable joy."

Comedian Dane Cook offered a musical tribute, melding Cowell's quips into a song.

"You have the honesty of Abe Lincoln and the charm of the guy who shot him," Cook quipped.

Cowell said he felt more emotional than he'd anticipated on his final Idol episode, the hit show's ninth season.

Reuters

(China Daily 05/28/2010 page10)