Tidbits & News Bytes
Otherwise known as … News that Makes You Go "Hmmm" …
Anti-Tourism Tactics…
In rural Australia south of Brisbane, near the coastal resort of Byron Bay, reside wild white bushmen known locally as "ferals," who closely resemble the savages from the Mad Max movies, reek of stale body odor and "bush herbs," and some of whom carry pet rats in their severely matted hair. While the ferals’ occaional forays annoy residents and tourists, other locals are thankful for them for environmental reasons, according to a report in Times of London.
Curtains…
From the Mirror of London: "A deadly package of bacteria was sent to a store’s curtains department instead of a germ warfare base after a blunder by a courier firm. Staff at Debenhams in Plymouth were horrified when they discovered a warning label that said it should be handled only in an approved laboratory."
Gee… It really could have been curtains for them.
Other Strange Newsbits…
The Times of London reported that a convicted rapist in his 30s has been recommended for British government-provided Viagrato treat a depression he has been suffering since his release from prison a year ago. Doctors at St. George’s hospital in Tooting, South London, say his main problem now is the lack of a girlfriend.
An oldie but goodie:
An Associated Press report from Fort Lupton, CO, detailed municipal Judge Paul Sacco’s punishments for violators of the town’s boombox noise ordinance: They must report to court weekly to listen to selections ranging from Roger Whitaker standards to bagpipes to Navajo flute music to Judge Sacco’s own guitar compositions. (Several violators interviewed by the AP admitted they were scared straight by the music.)
Citizens Bank, the holder of the mortgage on Edward J. Brown’s $90,000 Dartmouth, MA home, sold it at auction for $60,000 because Brown had dallied over paying the final $324 last year. He had made 299 of the 300 payments but held off on the last because he mistakenly thought having a mortgage reduced his legal liability. Brown also apparently ignored several letters and phone calls inquiring about the final payment.
A couple of items to ponder…
The Nebraska Bar Association rejected Paul Converse’s application because it said he is too abusive to be a lawyer.
Three teenagers in Des Moines, Iowa, swiped a small, attractive box from JoAnn Walker, assuming it to contain valuables when actually she had just walked her dog and had used the box for the droppings.
A hospital in Szekesfehervar, Hungary announced that a husband and wife had decided to trade roles and were undergoing sex-change operations.
A Home and Garden TV channel study revealed that more men would rather tend their lawns than have sex.
Don’t let this get around, but…
Two Canadian astronomers admitted that they made a serious error in their 23-page message beamed into outer space designed to inform extraterrestrials that there is intelligent life on Earth. One section was to show, via symbols, that Earthlings have mastered mathematics, but two different "equals to" symbols were used. The Dutch researcher who found the error was chagrined that aliens will now believe Earthlings a "sloppy species."
Don’t you love good customer service?…
The Dallas Better Business Bureau began charging consumers $9.50 for the privilege of listening to their complaints of being ripped off by local businesses.
And, in conclusion, the Loser of the Month Award goes to…
Philip Racicot was arrested in Norwich, CT, for carrying an unlicensed gun; he had called attention to himself when, trying to hide the gun in his car, he had shot himself in the buttocks.