Jan. 12, 2010 (United Press International) -- 1908 Arctic expedition photos on eBay (NASDAQ:EBAY) NEW HAVEN, Conn., Jan. 12 (UPI) -- A Connecticut man said he hopes to get up to $8,000 on eBay for a rare find in his attic -- 85 photographs from a 1908 expedition to the Arctic.
Francis Boucher of New Haven said the photo album, which had been passed down to him by his parents, spent years in a trunk in his attic until he stumbled upon it about two weeks ago and decided to research its origins, The New Haven (Conn.) Register reported.
"This time, I started really looking at their historical value," he said. "I was surprised and kind of excited. It's one of those things you stick in a box and forget about."
"The book documents Harry Whitney's expedition with the Inuit Eskimo to the north and south of Etah (Greenland), along the Arctic frontier and overwintering in Annoatok," he wrote in an e-mail announcing his auction. "The images portray what real big-game hunting and survival in the wilderness was all about, making today's reality TV look like child's play."
70 ride Dallas trains sans pants DALLAS, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- Organizers of a pantless ride on the Dallas public train system said about 70 people turned out to drop their trousers in the cold and ride the rails.
Brian Alguire and Chris Linville, organizers of Sunday's no-pants ride, said the event marked the first time Dallas Area Rapid Transit riders participated in what has become an annual tradition in many cities, The Dallas Morning News reported.
The organizers said most of the participants were in their 20s but nearly every age group was represented.
The pair gave only vague reasons for organizing the unsanctioned event.
"Why not? I didn't have anything better to do today," Alguire said.
Participants offered similar reasons for coming out in the cold and shedding their pants.
"I'm a lifelong nudist. I usually stay in a warm place when being nude, though," said Ashley Ross, 19.
Jellyfish stings man on boat TOWNSVILLE, Australia, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- An Australian expert on irukandji jellyfish said rising water temperatures directed the creatures to the site of an attack off Queensland.
Rescuers with the Royal Automobile Club of Queensland said a man aboard a Singaporean-registered ship was stung in the face by an irukandji jellyfish while reeling in his line, The (Brisbane) Courier-Mail reported.
The man was standing on the boat 25 feet above the water level at the time of the sting, the rescuers said.
"After administering some pain relief, we were able to question him on the history of events and realized he'd been splashed with some sea water while fishing off the vessel," said RACQ helicopter crewman Geoff Abrahams.
Jamie Seymour, an irukandji expert with James Cook University in Townsville, Queensland, said the creatures are flocking to the province due to warming waters.
"The guy's unlucky, there's no doubt about it, but the waters are teeming with them at the moment," he said of the stung fisherman. "In just one hour off Cairns the other night we got 70 odd (irukandji) in the one spot."
Seymour said the stings are best treated by applying vinegar to the affected area. He said the stings can be lethal to those with pre-existing heart conditions.
Man dog sledding 745 miles across Manitoba THOMPSON, Manitoba, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- A Canadian man is celebrating Manitoba's 140th anniversary by traveling 745 miles across the province on a dog sled.
Dave Daley, 43, departed his home town of Churchill Jan. 3 with a team of 12 northern huskies and a support staff of four Canadian Rangers in minus 2 degree weather, The Globe and Mail reported.
Daley said Sunday in the city of Thompson he had 459 miles left to go to his final destination, the provincial capital Winnipeg. He said the trip is aimed at promoting the province's 140th birthday celebrations.
"It's a homecoming for me," he said.
The sled driver said his quest remains on track despite frostbite on his face and one of his dogs becoming too ill to finish the journey. He said the Facebook page documenting his journey has 293 followers.
