Clock shock: British admit Big Ben’s bongs not quite on time

The Boudica statue stands in the foreground as fog shrouds the clock tower which houses the Big Ben bell at the Palace of Westminster, London

Don’t set your watch by Big Ben.
Officials say the famous clock at Britain’s Parliament — used by Londoners for decades to check the time — has recently been slow by as much as six seconds.
The 156-year-old clock chimes every 15 minutes and emits deep bongs to mark the hour. Its inaccuracy was noticed by staff at BBC radio, which broadcasts the bongs live at 6 p.m.
Ian Westworth, one of Parliament’s three clocksmiths, told the BBC the clock had become “a little temperamental” with age.
“Imagine running your car for 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for the last 156 years,” he said.
Parliamentary officials said earlier this week that mechanics had corrected the clock to within “normal parameters” — within 2 seconds of the right time. They will continue to adjust it by placing pennies on the pendulum — or removing them — to fine-tune its speed.
Parliament’s neo-Gothic clock tower is one of London’s most recognizable landmarks, and its bell is one of London’s characteristic sounds. The famous bongs echoed through the city without fail through World War II bombing raids, though they have been silenced a few times for repairs, and by accident or the weather.
Although the clock tower is popularly known as Big Ben, the name actually refers to the 13 ½- ton Great Bell inside. The tower was renamed the Elizabeth Tower in 2012 to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s 60 years on the throne. Jill Lawless, London, AP

People gather to attend a memorial service for Vittorio Casamonica, a local clan leader identified by officials as one of the bosses of the Casamonica clan, in Rome

Italian police keep peace at memorial for presumed Mafia boss

Italian police have formed human chains to keep the peace outside a memorial service for a local clan leader after his ostentatious funeral prompted officials to complain that it glorified the mob.
Vittorio Casamonica’s relatives have lashed out at the media for portraying their family as Mafiosi, and there were some scuffles with journalists outside the private family memorial yesterday. It was no way near as extravagant as last week’s funeral, which included a horse-drawn carriage carrying Casamonica’s casket, a helicopter dropping flower petals and a band playing “The Godfather” theme song.
In interviews with Italian gossip magazine Oggi published yesterday, several Casamonica family members acknowledged some had criminal records but denied they were Mafiosi. Family photos showed the same carriage used for the funerals of Casamonica’s parents. AP