Oddity Central

Oddity Central

Inmates in Thailand Can Reduce Their Sentences by Beating Foreigners in Muay Thai Prison Fights

Posted: 24 Feb 2014 03:00 AM PST

In a world where prisoners' sentences are reduced for good behavior, the rules at Klong Prem Central Prison, in Thailand, come across as bizarre. They basically have it the other way around – inmates battle foreign fighters in a tournament called 'Prison Fight', a charity event organized by Thailand's Department of Corrections. The organized boxing matches, held regularly across various Thai prisons, give them a shot at reducing their sentences or even gaining their freedom.

Winning inmates receive prize money as well as the chance to meet with the warden to have their sentence reduced. Needless to say, the Thai prisoners win at least 9 out of 10 fights, both because they are eager to get out of confinement and because most of them have years of experience. But they also need to have a track record of good behavior to be let off the hook.

"Prison fights are done to help the prisoners. It lets the prisoners fight so they can earn money," said Mr. Pek, Prison Fights coordinator. "They also fight to reduce the time of their sentences. To reduce their sentence and to bring honor and fame to Thailand, if they can defeat foreign fighters and fight a lot. Some of the fighters are in for drugs, robbery or murder. There are boxers doing life or 50 years. There are boxers who can never get out."

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Solvay Hut – The World’s Most Precariously Placed Mountain Hut

Posted: 24 Feb 2014 02:00 AM PST

The Solvay Hut may be quite humble in its construction, but the view it offers its residents is priceless. This tiny hut is perched right on the narrow north-eastern ridge of Matterhorn, in the Canton of Valais, Switzerland. It is the highest mountain hut in the region, at over 13,000 foot above ground level.

The emergency refuge is owned by the Swiss Alpine club, and is intended to provide food and shelter to mountaineers, hikers and climbers. At about 1,500 foot below the summit and two-thirds up the mountain, it provides respite to many Matterhorn climbers and rewards them with the breathtaking view of all the Monte Rosa summits. It is only meant to be used during emergencies, but climbers do stop there to rest and click photographs.

The hut, which can accommodate about 10 people, is not a recent construction. It was actually built way back in 1915 and took only five days to complete. All the building materials were brought up to Hornli Hut, just 2,500 foot below, with the help of animals. A small temp cable car was used to haul up the materials from there. It was rebuilt in 1966 and an emergency telephone was installed in 1976.

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Chinese Girl Agrees To Leave Disabled Boyfriend If He Doesn’t Start Walking Again in Three Years

Posted: 24 Feb 2014 01:00 AM PST

A 23-year-old Chinese girl is being forced to leave her boyfriend for a weird reason – he can't use his legs. Yang Nan's parents permitted her to live with Yan Hongbo for three years, in which time he had to start walking again. But the time is up now and the boy is still wheelchair-bound.

Yang has begged her parents for more time, and they've allowed her another 6 months. But she has almost no hope that things might improve. "I don't know what to do, I know that he can be cured but we don't have any money now for medical treatment. We don't even have enough money to properly get by day-to-day. We need a miracle," she said. Yan on the other hand is being the sacrificial lover – he wants Yang to listen to her parents and leave him. "I don't see any future for her with me, she has a bright future ahead of her," he said. "If we can't get my legs fixed I have made her promise that she will do as her parents want if we don't get things sorted in the next six months."

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