Weird News

[Tom Flapwell]

I was proposing a spoof on "American Idiot," that's all.

[Steve the Pocket]

His sister in danger, 4-year-old plays hero

DURHAM - The robber was holding a gun to 5-year-old Mary Long's head when a 3-foot-tall Mighty Morphin Power Ranger leapt into the room.

"Get away from my family," 4-year-old Stevie Long shouted, punctuating his screams with swipes of his plastic sword and hearty "yah, yahs."

The robber and his accomplice, who was waiting outside the apartment Friday night, fled with credit cards, jewelry, cash and other items that Stevie's mother, Jennifer Long, dumped from her purse.

"I scared the bad guys away," Stevie said Tuesday evening at the apartment at 901 Chalk Level Road in north Durham.

Two men had approached Jennifer Long's boyfriend and his son Friday night as they stood outside the apartments she helps manage, according to a police report. The strangers asked for pot, and then a cigarette, and as the son went to get one, both men pulled guns, police said.

One stayed with the boyfriend as the other forced the son back into the apartment, police said. Inside were Jennifer Long, a cousin, Stevie, Mary and two other children, police said.

They were forced on the floor. The robber pointed the gun at Mary and a 1-year-old girl named Sierra, said Stevie's uncle, Bernie Evans, 33, who lives above the Longs.

Enter Stevie.

"During the robbery, a ... boy snuck into his bedroom, dressed himself in a Power Ranger costume and armed himself with a plastic sword," police said. "The child then exited his room and approached the armed suspect, in an attempt to protect his family."

Relatives said the robber abandoned plans to take Stevie's mother to an ATM to withdraw cash when he saw Stevie.

"It tripped him out, and that's when they moved on," said Evans, who did not witness the incident. Jennifer Long declined to comment, saying her employers at the apartment complex would not allow it.

Stevie likes to think he cuts an intimidating figure in his red-and-black mask and foam suit that replicates the rippling muscles of the kiddie adventure show heroes. But Evans said the robber was more startled that Stevie was able to retreat to his bedroom and morph.

Fantasy, reality

Though the robbers wore no masks, victims could only give vague descriptions of them. Police have no suspects in this or the other 10 armed robberies reported in Durham in the past six days, said Kammie Michael, a spokeswoman.

Evans said family members are struggling to help their children understand their ordeal. A counselor said Stevie needs to improve his distinction between fantasy and reality, said Heather Evans, Stevie's aunt.

"He fully believed he morphed," she said.

Mary grasps her danger better. She stayed home from school Monday and Tuesday.

"My doctor said I get a day off," she said.

"My mommy said I was crying in my sleep because I had bad dreams."

http://www.newsobserver.com/145/story/515756.html

[VisibilityMissing]

OK, so who thinks this just sounds like a challenge:

"It is impossible to burn it to the ground this year, although you might be able to singe its paws."

Dec 3, 12:35 PM EST

Swedes Guard Christmas Goat From Vandals

STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AP) -- For 40 years it has been torched, vandalized, had its legs cut off and even been run over by a car. But officials in the Swedish city of Gavle are guaranteeing that this year's giant straw Christmas goat - the victim of Sweden's most violent yule tradition - will survive unscathed.

The 43-foot-high goat - a centuries-old yule symbol that preceded Santa Claus as the bringer of gifts to Swedish homes - has been burned down 22 times since it was first set up in Gavle's square on Dec. 3, 1966.

But for its 40th anniversary Sunday, officials think they have finally outsmarted the resourceful vandals by dousing the battered ram with flame-resistant chemicals normally used on airplanes.

"It is impossible to burn it to the ground this year, although you might be able to singe its paws," said Anna Ostman, a spokeswoman for the committee in charge of building the goat. "After 40 years, we think we finally found the solution."

The company providing the fireproof treatment is so sure of its resilience that its spokesman Freddy Klassmo told newspaper Aftonbladet that "not even napalm can set fire to the goat now."

For those who want to follow its fate, a 24-hour Web cam has been set up to film the straw goat where it stands on the central square in Gavle, 90 miles north of Stockholm. However, the security guards that have watched over previous versions have been called off, Ostman said.

"We can sleep very soundly at night now," she said. "The goat can too."

While the origins of the Christmas goat are unclear, the symbol is believed to date back to Norse mythology and the two goats that drew the carriage of Thor, the god of thunder.

Many Swedes place a small straw goat underneath their Christmas tree, or hang miniature versions on the branches.

Since 1966, just 10 of Gavle's giant goats have survived beyond Christmas Day. Aside from being burned, several were beaten down and the 1976 goat was hit by a car.

The vandals are seldom caught, but the 2001 culprit - 51-year-old American Lawrence Jones - was convicted and spent 18 days in jail.

The 2005 vandals - who witnesses said were dressed up as Santa Claus and the Gingerbread Man - remain at large. The pair fired flaming arrows at the goat, reducing it to its steel skeleton.

----

On the Web:

http://www.merjuligavle.se/merjuligavle ... .aspx?id52

[Holyman83]

hmmm *grabs his flamethrowers* I love a good challenge

[VisibilityMissing]

Any symbolism is purely unintentional. . .

November 6, 2006

Intrepid Move Is Called Off After Hitting Mud

By PATRICK McGEEHAN and JOHN HOLUSHA

The U.S.S. Intrepid was to leave its dock on the West Side of Manhattan today for the first time in 24 years, aided by an unusually high tide and six powerful tugboats. A fire boat was on hand to fire off its water cannons as the aircraft carrier-turned-floating museum moved away, and dignitaries were assembled on the Forbes yacht Highlander waiting to accompany ship downriver.

Looks like the Intrepid decided to move this time . . .

December 5, 2006

On Second Try, Intrepid Agrees to Leave Dock
By PATRICK McGEEHAN


ABOARD THE INTREPID IN THE HUDSON RIVER, Dec. 5 — The Intrepid is no longer stuck in the mud.

This morning, one month after the first attempt failed, a team of tugboats yanked the old, gray ship from its berth on the West Side of Manhattan, where it has served as a military museum for 24 years.

After three weeks of dredging provided by the United States Navy to clear the Intrepid’s four giant propellers from the river bottom for a second try, the lead tug, the Christine M. McAllister, started pulling at 8:30 a.m.

For the first 25 minutes, the ship hardly budged, and officials who had gathered for the event looked concerned. But just before 9 a.m., the Intrepid began slipping away from the pier.

“We got it!â€

[Spray]

Words fail me.

Flatulent passenger grounds flight

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Dec 6 (Reuters Life!) - It may be one problem airline security officials never envisioned -- a passenger lighting matches in flight to mask odors from her flatulence.

The woman's actions resulted in an emergency landing on Monday in Nashville of an American Airlines flight bound for Dallas from Washington, D.C., said Lynne Lowrance, a spokeswoman for Nashville's airport.

Other passengers reported the odor of burned matches, but the woman was not forthcoming when asked about it, Lowrance said on Wednesday.

"Of course, she was scared and embarrassed but all the passengers had to disembark, all the luggage had to be searched, a canine team was brought in, and about three hours were consumed in sorting out the situation," she said.

The woman was not allowed back on the flight and barred from flying on American Airlines, Lowrance said.

"Since there was no malice involved and the incident was accidental, she was not charged with anything," she said.

Passengers are permitted four books of paper safety matches on a plane but cannot light them during flight, Lowrance said.

"I've had calls from people all over the country about this," she said. "And I don't have the answer to this problem."

© Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved.

[osprey]

I can see why that would be an emergency, though I don't see why it was that huge.

[Tom Flapwell]

That's something to bother me: airports confiscate even nail clippers before you can take them aboard, yet you could get on with a box of matches.

[VisibilityMissing]

Well, what if you want to have a little smoke on the plane . . . oh, yeah, can't do that anymore . . .

WAIT! Just think of the pyromaniacs!! Do we ever do anything for them?!

[VisibilityMissing]

Future criminal mastermind at work!

Dec 8, 4:23 PM EST

Overloaded Pants End Shoplifter's Escape

LAPEL, Ind. (AP) -- A teenager arrested for shoplifting had filled her pockets with so many items that her weighted-down pants dropped to her ankles as she tried to run out of the store, police said.

Cheyanne E. Dwiggins, 18, is accused of trying to steal several pieces of candy, kitchen utensils and a 15-ounce box of strawberry Nestle's Nesquik from Bauer's Market in Lapel, about 25 miles northeast of Indianapolis.

Dwiggins, who was arraigned Thursday on one count of theft, was being held Friday at the Madison County Jail on $5,000 bond.

Store employees became suspicious on Wednesday when Dwiggins, who had been in the store about 30 minutes, walked to the cash register to pay for a 59-cent candy necklace, but only had 40 cents.

Store owner Scott Law had watched Dwiggins and knew she had pocketed several items, so he confronted her as she tried to leave the store, according to court papers.

Dwiggins tried to run from the store, but he grabbed her coat from behind and held onto her until police arrived.

When Lapel Police Chief Dennis Molina pulled up, he saw Dwiggins' bare behind as she tried to escape from Law and back out of the door, her weighted-down pants at her ankles, court records say.

Police found a potato peeler, ice cream scoop, a set of measuring spoons, two cake decorating gel tubes and six Rollo candy bars on Dwiggins. At the Madison County Jail, a deputy removed a can of Nesquik that Dwiggins had placed in her crotch, according to court documents.

Law, who's owned the store for four years and has dealt with numerous other shoplifters, called the arrest "very irritating."

"Yesterday's incident was just the icing on the cake," he said.

---

Information from: The Herald Bulletin, http://www.theheraldbulletin.com

[VisibilityMissing]

"A homeowner said Friday that whoever stole the babby Jesus from his manger scene was disrespectful by replacing it with an empty beer can."

No, stealing Jesus isn't wrong . . . it's putting a beer can in his place, that's wrong!

Nativity Jesus replaced with beer can

Fri Dec 8, 9:09 PM ET

A homeowner said Friday that whoever stole the babby Jesus from his manger scene was disrespectful by replacing it with an empty beer can. Bob Chooljain said that the Jesus figure was stolen from the manger scene on Wednesday night.

Chooljain said that he made the nativity scene more than three decades ago with his children.

"It's something we kind of did together," he said.

"You just wonder, what was in the person's mind that actually did that? What was the reason for it? Why leave the beer can? What's the connection?" said Chooljain, doesn't want to press charges.

Wooden cutouts of sheep and cows remain; only two of the three wise men stand on either side of the manger. Chooljain said the third was stolen eight years ago.

Chooljain said he will replace the illuminated figure with another doll for the time being.

___

Information from: WMUR-TV, http://www.thewmurchannel.com/index.html

[Tom Flapwell]

I'm going to inform Richard T. Matheson of this!

[Zaaphod]

Ohgodbees....

3 Million Bees Removed From Kitchen Of Couple's Apartment

POSTED: 12:51 pm EST December 12, 2006
UPDATED: 6:32 pm EST December 12, 2006

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. -- A south Florida couple was happy to not be sharing their home with millions of bees. Jesus Molina said he and his girlfriend were ready to buzz off after a swarm of bees invaded the kitchen wall of their Miami Beach apartment.


Molina said the bees were there for at least two and a half years. The couple finally had enough and called in the professionals.

"So we're trying to, like, get rid of most of them, but without professional help we can't. So now we almost...They're biting me!'" Molina screamed, running from the home during an interview with reporters.

Beekeepers removed more than 3 million bees from the apartment. They also extracted nearly 60 pounds of honey.

Beekeepers said the insects got in through a small hole and built a home in the kitchen cabinet.

Copyright 2006 by wftv.com.

[Tom Flapwell]

I didn't know that many bees could fit in one apartment. Why exactly did the couple let it get so bad before calling professionals?

And why do people still talk of bees "biting"? How ignorant is that?

[Tum0spoo]

I didn't know that many bees could fit in one apartment. Why exactly did the couple let it get so bad before calling professionals?

Maybe they're poor and couldn't afford it?

And why do people still talk of bees "biting"? How ignorant is that?

As far as I know, bee's have two methods of attacking. 1) A head-butt type kamikazi dive. And 2) stinging.

Yeah, people are so dumb.

Also, the guy's name is Jesus.
Jesus Molina: "Oh Dad Bees!"