Weird News

Tom Flapwell · Postby **Tom Flapwell** » Tue Jun 21, 2005 5:25 pm

I've seen something like that meter story in a Warner Bros. cartoon. While a woman's in a hair salon, two guys who might work for the city or the mob quickly install a hydrant near her car. She comes out, surprised, and tells the ticketing officer that the hydrant wasn't there when she parked. He says, presumably in sarcasm, "Of course not, lady. Someone went and put it there just to annoy ya."

VisibilityMissing · Postby **VisibilityMissing** » Tue Jun 21, 2005 7:03 pm

Life imitates Looney Tunes. Who knew? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Well, this is good news for bears, I guess . . . Oh, and for future reference: Polar bears carry trichinosis, and you should never eat their liver (poisonous levels of Vitamin A).  <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' ><tr><td class='quotetop'>Quote: </td></tr><tr><td class='quotebody'> Jun 20, 9:56 PM EDT Homeless Shelter Stops Serving Bear Meat JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) -- A Juneau homeless shelter has stopped serving donated bear meat after learning the state prohibits nonprofit groups from accepting wild game meats such as bear, fox and walrus. "We didn't know that it is illegal," said Jetta Whittaker, executive director of the Glory Hole. For years, the shelter accepted bear meat to supplement its meals for the homeless. The meat went into many recipes, including burgers, casseroles and spaghetti. But last year, Whittaker learned that serving it was contrary to rules set by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. This year, it has meant turning down five offers of bear meat. "That was 250 pounds of ground meat I could use for spaghetti sauce," said Bob Thompson, operations manager of the shelter. "We are protein-poor." The Glory Hole rarely gets offers of deer because venison is more palatable to most people while bear meat has a stronger, wild smell, Whittaker said. Some of the people served by the Glory Hole said they miss meat of any kind. David Kelley, who is staying at the shelter, said he appreciates the three meals a day but he is tired of eating starchy vegetables. "I will eat whatever you put in front of me," Kelley said. "But you cannot live by starches alone." 2005 The Associated Press.</td></tr></table>

Zaaphod · Postby **Zaaphod** » Tue Jun 21, 2005 7:27 pm

Good for the bears, bad for the homeless. Pity, there's lots of meat on a bear. (And who'd want to eat liver anyway. Yuck!)

VisibilityMissing · Postby **VisibilityMissing** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 7:00 pm

Either be a thief or apply for a job, not both . . .  <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' ><tr><td class='quotetop'>Quote: </td></tr><tr><td class='quotebody'> Jun 22, 11:28 AM EDT Pizza Shop Robber Left Job Application LAS VEGAS (AP) -- A man accused of holding up a pizza parlor left behind a job application with his real name and address, authorities said. "I would chalk it up to either inexperience or plain stupidity," Clark County prosecutor Frank Coumou told the Las Vegas Review-Journal for a Wednesday report. Alejandro Martinez, 23, of Las Vegas, was being held Wednesday at the Clark County jail pending a Monday appearance in Clark County District Court. He faces felony burglary and robbery with a weapon charges in the May 25 heist. Authorities said Martinez ordered a pizza and started filling out the application before displaying a gun and demanding money. The clerk handed over $200. Outside, a witness wrote down the license plate number of a getaway car, leading police to Martinez' home. Martinez' lawyer, Deputy Public Defender James Ruggeroli, said authorities have the wrong man. He said said the pizza shop clerk couldn't identify Martinez as the robber, and the job application was not presented as evidence at a preliminary hearing. --- Information from: Las Vegas Review-Journal, <a href='http://www.lvrj.com' target='_blank'>http://www.lvrj.com</a> 2005 The Associated Press. </td></tr></table>  >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Echos of the <a href='http://www.crockerfarm.org/ac/gr3/molasses/' target='_blank'>Great Boston Molasses Spill</a> . . .  <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' ><tr><td class='quotetop'>Quote: </td></tr><tr><td class='quotebody'> Jun 22, 2:26 PM EDT Giant Popsicle Melts, Floods New York Park NEW YORK (AP) -- An attempt to erect the world's largest Popsicle in a city square ended with a scene straight out of a disaster film - but much stickier. The 25-foot-tall, 17 1/2-ton treat of frozen Snapple juice melted faster than expected Tuesday, flooding Union Square in downtown Manhattan with kiwi-strawberry-flavored fluid that sent pedestrians scurrying for higher ground. Firefighters closed off several streets and used hoses to wash away the sugary goo. Snapple had been trying to promote a new line of frozen treats by setting a record for the world's largest Popsicle, but called off the stunt before it was pulled fully upright by a construction crane. Authorities said they were worried the thing would collapse in the 80-degree, first-day-of-summer heat. "What was unsettling was that the fluid just kept coming," Stuart Claxton of the Guinness Book of World Records told the Daily News. "It was quite a lot of fluid. On a hot day like this, you have to move fast." Snapple official Lauren Radcliffe said the company was unlikely to make a second attempt to break the record, set by a 21-foot pop in Holland in 1997. The giant pop was supposed to have been able to withstand the heat for some time, and organizers weren't sure why it didn't. It had been made in Edison, N.J., and hauled to New York by freezer truck in the morning. 2005 The Associated Press. </td></tr></table>

Muninn · Postby **Muninn** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 9:02 pm

They should've just eaten their way out of it.

Ruedii-X · Postby **Ruedii-X** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 12:52 am

What do you get when a giant Snapple popsical melts? Wet and sticky!!! *ROFL*

Zaaphod · Postby **Zaaphod** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 2:30 am

First <a href='http://www.ozyandmillie.org/1998/om19980135.html' target='_blank'>tomatoes</a>, now cabbage....  <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' ><tr><td class='quotetop'>Quote: </td></tr><tr><td class='quotebody'> There's no room for cabbage in baseball... Wed Jun 22,11:41 AM ET SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's baseball players have been banned from putting frozen cabbage leaves under their caps to beat the summer heat. The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) took action after Doosan Bears pitcher Park Myung-hwan's cap fell off during a game last weekend, revealing his secret cooling agent. After an emergency meeting, KBO officials ruled that cabbage leaves are a distraction and cannot be considered part of the baseball uniform. "Park has been using frozen cabbage to cool down since last summer, but we didn't know until now," KBO chief of referees Heo Koo-youn told Reuters Wednesday. "We had to act because imagine if it happened in the World Series. If something drops out of the pitcher's cap, it could put the batter off. Does the umpire call strike or ball?" Park, who twice dropped leaves on the mound during last Sunday's game with the Hanhwa Eagles, said he was disappointed with the ruling but would not appeal. "I'm sensitive to the heat and my wife recommended I put frozen cabbage leaves under my cap to cool my head," he said. "I will respect the KBO's decision. Even without the cabbage, my pitching won't be affected." </td></tr></table>

VisibilityMissing · Postby **VisibilityMissing** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 12:32 pm

Flying while intoxicated . . .  <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' ><tr><td class='quotetop'>Quote: </td></tr><tr><td class='quotebody'> Jun 22, 11:10 PM EDT Man Charged With Joyriding Plane Drunk By JIM FITZGERALD Associated Press Writer HARRISON, N.Y. (AP) -- An intoxicated 20-year-old stole a small plane and took two friends on a three-hour, predawn joyride early Wednesday that ended with a safe landing at a closed airport, authorities said. A Westchester County Airport security car met the plane at 4:15 a.m., and "a significant number of beer cans" spilled to the ground when the plane doors opened, County Executive Andrew Spano said. The plane's pilot, Philippe Patricio, of Bethel, Conn., was arrested with a blood alcohol level of 0.15 percent - nearly double the legal limit for driving in New York state, said county Police Commissioner Thomas Belfiore. His two 16-year-old passengers were not charged. The single-engine, four-seat Cessna had taken off at about 1:30 a.m. from the Danbury (Conn.) Municipal Airport, some 25 to 30 miles from the Westchester airport. Spano was incensed, saying that the post-Sept. 11 security measures in place at the Westchester airport were not duplicated at Danbury. "We can only make ourselves safe here (Westchester)," Spano said. "It still leaves us vulnerable to what happened." Paul Estefan, administrator of Danbury Municipal Airport, rejected the criticism, saying the airport is fenced in and patrolled by police officers. Patricio was charged with criminal possession of stolen property, reckless endangerment, resisting arrest and driving while intoxicated, Belfiore said. He said the DWI charge accuses Patricio of taxiing through the airport while drunk, since there are no state laws applying to flying while intoxicated. The plane was nearly out of gas when it landed, and it appeared that Patricio became lost during his time in the air, authorities said. It was unclear how he managed to land safely in his condition, on a small, unlighted taxiway, authorities said. "There has been some internal talk about that accomplishment," said Belfiore. Spano said Patricio had seven hours of flight instruction but no license. Arlene Murray, a Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman, said the agency was investigating. She identified the owner of the plane as Arrow Aviation of Danbury. A call to Arrow was answered by a man who said the company was not making any statements. A message was left at the only listed number in Bethel for a person named Patricio; it was not immediately returned. 2005 The Associated Press</td></tr></table>  >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.. Traffic signal mayhem:  <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' ><tr><td class='quotetop'>Quote: </td></tr><tr><td class='quotebody'> Jun 22, 10:15 PM EDT Calif. Prankster Changing Traffic Lights SUNNYVALE, Calif. (AP) -- A tech-savvy prankster has been tampering with traffic lights in this Silicon Valley town, turning them off and rejigging wires so the lights flash red in all directions. The prankster also has surreptitiously turned traffic lights to face the wrong way, mixed up the audible crosswalk signals that help guide the blind and thrown off the timing of lights to delay drivers. City officials have launched a publicity campaign in hopes of thwarting the unknown crafty engineer, who has evaded the law for months. The trickster has been performing antics for three months and has used a key to open control boxes and reprogram the lights. Most audaciously, he or she recently used a cherry-picker truck to turn an overhead signal across a busy intersection - but no residents or city officials reported any unusual activity. No one has been hurt because of the pranks. Nonetheless, after ruling out insiders who work for the traffic division, Sunnyvale officials are asking residents to put down their cell phones and handheld computers and look for anyone tinkering with lights. 2005 The Associated Press.</td></tr></table>

Tom Flapwell · Postby **Tom Flapwell** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 6:48 pm

<table border='0' align='center' width='95%' ><tr><td class='quotetop'>Quote: </td></tr><tr><td class='quotebody'> He's No Hero A Fort Myers, Fla., man has been accused of setting fires to be a hero. Derek Peete, 18, was arrested Sunday on arson charges, after setting a string of fires during several months so he could pretend to find the fires and help put them out, Lee County sheriff's officials said. Peete set six fires just this past weekend, investigators said, including fires at two storage buildings and a trash bin. Authorities are now looking into whether he is connected to any other fire incidents.</td></tr></table>  Six fires in one weekend? Did it ever occur to him that "finding" fires that frequently would make him suspicious? He must have either a total fetish for heroism or a semi-sublimated pyromania.  <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' ><tr><td class='quotetop'>Quote: </td></tr><tr><td class='quotebody'> It's Not Whether You Win or Lose... A Canal Winchester, Ohio, youth baseball team has been kicked out of the recreational leaguenot because the players misbehaved or broke rules, but because they were too good. The Columbus Starswhose ages are 11 and 12have won games since May by scores of 18-0, 13-0, 24-0, and 10-2, the Arizona Republic reported. Soon, teams just didn't want to play them and began canceling games against them. "I wasn't going to subject my players to that," said one coach. So the Stars had their league entry fees returned and were removed from the league schedule. "This isn't something I've had to deal with before," said Stars coach Jerry Glick.</td></tr></table>  That's terrible! Couldn't those boys split up to play for various teams? I hope they all get into a more competent league. I don't take sports seriously, but you should be allowed to pursue your vast talent and interest as long as it's not vicious. Finally, a story that could have come from the Bible:  <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' ><tr><td class='quotetop'>Quote: </td></tr><tr><td class='quotebody'> Girl Abducted in Ethiopia Saved by Lions, Police Say Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A 12-year-old girl who was abducted and beaten by men trying to force her into a marriage was found being guarded by three lions who apparently had chased off her captors, a policeman said Tuesday. The girl was found June 9 by police and relatives and had been guarded by the lions for about half a day, Sgt. Wondimu Wedajo said. "They just left her like a gift and went back into the forest," Wondimu said. Stuart Williams, a wildlife expert, said the girl may have survived because she was crying from the trauma of her attack. "A young girl whimpering could be mistaken for the mewing sound from a lion cub," he said.</td></tr></table>  <img src='http://definecynical.mancubus.net/forum ... /blink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='blink.gif' /> <img src='http://definecynical.mancubus.net/forum ... /smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /> <img src='http://definecynical.mancubus.net/forum ... iggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' />

Bocaj Claw · Postby **Bocaj Claw** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 12:49 am

Hm. Another instance of animals kinder then humans...

VisibilityMissing · Postby **VisibilityMissing** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 8:16 pm

Another slippery problem . . .  <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' ><tr><td class='quotetop'>Quote: </td></tr><tr><td class='quotebody'> Over 200 Gallons of Animal Fat Spill Thu Jun 23,10:33 PM ET SHELDON, Iowa - At least 200 gallons of animal fat were spilled into a storm sewer Thursday morning, state environmental officials said. A hose separated from a truck that was delivering the animal fat to the Midwest Farmers Co-op in Sheldon, according to a news release from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. More fat may have been spilled, but all of it didn't enter into a nearby storm sewer, where much of it had solidified. A small, but unknown amount of the fat reached the Floyd River, the news release said. A small dam was built by the co-op to prevent additional fat from reaching the river, and DNR officials said a private contractor from Spencer was scheduled to jet clean the storm sewer late Thursday to remove the solidified fat. Environmental officials were expected to inspect the area as needed.</td></tr></table>  >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Save the whales . . . for dinner?  <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' ><tr><td class='quotetop'>Quote: </td></tr><tr><td class='quotebody'> Whale burger on menu at Japanese fast food chain Thu Jun 23, 3:03 AM ET TOKYO (Reuters) - With Japan under fire for plans to expand its whaling programme, a fast food chain is offering a new product aimed at using up stocks from past hunts -- whale burger. ADVERTISEMENT The 380 yen slice of fried minke whale in a bun went on sale on Thursday at Lucky Pierrot, a restaurant chain in the port city of Hakodate on Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido. "The taste and texture are somewhere between beef and fish," said Lucky Pierrot manager Miku Oh. "People in Hakodate have a long history of eating whale, so customers are looking forward to trying it." Japan's plan to expand its scientific whale hunt to an annual catch of 900 minke whales were dealt a blow on Wednesday when the International Whaling Commission passed a resolution at a meeting in South Korea urging it to instead cut back on the catch. "We are not going out to catch whales because we want to eat them, we are just using up meat from whales that have been killed for experiments," Oh said. Asked about customers' reaction to the whale burgers, a worker at one of the restaurants said: "We get a lot of tourists here and even children who had never eaten it before said it was good. The grown-ups said the flavour made them nostalgic." Whale meat was a staple of school lunches in Japan before a moratorium on whaling was introduced in 1986. </td></tr></table>

VisibilityMissing · Postby **VisibilityMissing** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 7:34 pm

This too shall pass . . .  <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' ><tr><td class='quotetop'>Quote: </td></tr><tr><td class='quotebody'> Jun 24, 10:36 PM EDT Man Swallows Key, Locksmith Uses X-Ray NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) -- Arthur Richardson thought he'd pull a prank and pretend to swallow a friend's truck key. Unfortunately, Wednesday's prank backfired when Richardson plopped the key in his mouth and gravity took over. Richardson went to a doctor Thursday, who X-rayed his stomach and got a clear picture of the key. The doctor said the key posed no danger, but Richardson's friend needed to use his truck. So Richardson and his friend took the X-rays to a locksmith, who used the pictures to fashion a new key. And it worked in the truck. John Somers, owner of Al's Lock and Safe, said he'd never made a key before from the image of an X-ray. "I have done all sorts of lock work, I've done all sorts of safe work," Somers said. "This is truly a first in my career." Somers said he didn't have any immediate plans to set price rates for X-ray keys, but it's something he might consider. 2005 The Associated Press.</td></tr></table>  >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Pets are taking over the world . . .  <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' ><tr><td class='quotetop'>Quote: </td></tr><tr><td class='quotebody'> Jun 25, 6:23 AM EDT Hawaiian Pets Gain Right of Inheritance By TARA GODVIN Associated Press Writer HONOLULU (AP) -- The audience was eager for the governor to put pen to paper. Some drooled. Catching the spirit of excitement, a few even lost control and barked. Canines of all sizes and a spotted rabbit named Roxy were among those gathered Friday at the Capitol to watch Gov. Linda Lingle sign into law a measure that allows residents to leave a trust for the care of their dog, cat, or other domestic animal. Lingle's two cats, Nani Girl and Stripes, were not in attendance. "As you know cats don't do as well in public settings like this as dogs do," Lingle said. Friday also marked National "Take Your Pet to Work Day." Several legislators and a number of other workers showed off their four-legged friends, who mostly behaved. "These aren't just pets. These are a part of the family. You miss them when you're away. You worry about them. They really are important parts of your life," Lingle said. Animal law attorney Emily Gardner helped draft the original bill. Garner became attracted to the issue while visiting elderly long-term care patients at St. Francis Hospital with her dog, Toby, who works as a therapy dog. Some of the residents told her they were concerned about their animals and wanted to be able to provide for them after they died. "I had to tell them that, unfortunately, that the way the law was currently written there was no legally enforceable means for them to do that," said Gardner, as she cradled Toby. Researching the state's options, Gardner said she found 20 states had legally enforceable trust laws for pets. "So why not Hawaii? And now Hawaii does," she said. But for those concerned that the new law might mean their rich, slightly daffy uncle might now leave his empire to his beloved little Fifi, the law has attempted to address those fears. A court can reduce the amount transferred to a trust "if it determines that the amount substantially exceeds the amount required for the intended use and the court finds that there will be no substantial adverse impact in the care, maintenance, health, or appearance of the designated domestic or pet animal." But it might also help to be a trustee. --- On the Net: Hawaii State Legislature: <a href='http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/' target='_blank'>http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/</a> Emily Gardner: <a href='http://www.animallawhawaii.com/' target='_blank'>http://www.animallawhawaii.com/</a> 2005 The Associated Press</td></tr></table>

Gizensha · Postby **Gizensha** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 10:13 pm

But will a political party ever be left to a cat in the US? It's happened in the UK before...

Zaaphod · Postby **Zaaphod** » Sun Jun 26, 2005 12:49 am

Hopefully. A cat could probably do just a good a job running a political party as a human.

Bocaj Claw · Postby **Bocaj Claw** » Sun Jun 26, 2005 12:54 am

"Stranger things have happened in politics. Granted the only one that springs to mind is Caligua appointing his horse to the roman senate"

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