Reporting Daily Weirdness
Archive for April, 2008
The birds and the bees
Apr 30th
A couple from Germany went to a fertility clinic to find out why – after eight years of marriage – they were still childless. The cause of their trouble conceiving was an unexpected one
After eight years of childless marriage, the 30-year-old wife and her 36-year-old husband decided it was time to find out why they couldn’t get pregnant.
They visited a fertility clinic and the doctors ran some tests which indicated they shouldn’t have any trouble conceiving a child.
A spokesman for the clinic said: “When we asked them how often they had had sex, they looked blank, and said: “What do you mean?”
“We are not talking retarded people here, but a couple who were brought up in a religious environment who were simply unaware, after eight years of marriage, of the physical requirements necessary to procreate.”
The couple now knows about the birds and the bees, and with some luck they will have a child in about 9 months.
source: ananova
Slow news day: Sex toy closes airport
Apr 30th
A vibrating sex toy was mistaken for a bomb. The entire Mackay Airport in Queensland was closed down for nearly an hour because of it.
The alarm was raised by cafeteria manager Lynne Bryant, whose staff was cleaning the tables when they noticed a strange humming noise coming from a rubbish bin.
Lynne Bryant said: “It was rather disconcerning when the rubbish bin started humming furiously. We called security and the next minute everybody was being evacuated while they checked it out.”
The police spokeswoman said: “Another two flights were expected to land at that stage but alternate arrangements were made for the passengers to collect their luggage away from the terminal,” the spokeswoman said.
While the police was calling in bomb experts, a passenger came forwards to identify the contents of the package. The unidentified passenger forgot his bag after diner.
Source the BBC
A Crushing Issue: How to Destroy Brand-New Cars
Apr 30th
Mazda destroys 4,703 shiny new (and apparently undamaged) cars worth $100 million. Reason: The ship carrying them tilted while en route to the US.
PORTLAND, Ore. — “Fire in the hole!” shouts Ron Hoodenpyle, covering his ears and stepping away from a brand-new Mazda 3 he just wired with special detonators. Suddenly, all six of the car’s airbags explode at once.
Within hours the metallic blue sedan will be drained, gutted, squished and shredded — one of thousands to meet the same fate here. The cars are so new, most don’t even have 10 miles on the odometer.
Auto makers usually try to find the best way to build new vehicles. These days, Mazda Motor Corp. is busy figuring out how to most efficiently destroy them.
It all started about two years ago, when a ship carrying 4,703 shiny new Mazdas nearly sank in the Pacific. The freighter, the Cougar Ace, spent weeks bobbing on the high seas, listing at a severe 60-degree angle, before finally being righted.
The mishap created a dilemma: What to do with the cars? They had remained safely strapped down throughout the ordeal — but no one knew for sure what damage, if any, might be caused by dangling cars at such a steep angle for so long. Might corrosive fluids seep into chambers where they don’t belong? Was the Cougar Ace now full of lemons? More >
300-pound inmate complains Ark. jail doesn’t feed him well
Apr 28th
BENTONVILLE, Ark. –An inmate awaiting trial on a murder charge is suing the county, complaining he has lost more than 100 pounds because of the jailhouse menu.
says he isn’t happy that he’s down to 308 pounds after eight months in the Benton County jail. He has filed a federal lawsuit complaining the jail doesn’t provide inmates with enough food.
According to the suit, Laswell weighed 413 pounds when he was jailed in September. Police say he and a co-defendant fatally beat and stabbed a man, then set his home on fire. More >
Priest Carried Off By Balloons
Apr 25th
SAO PAULO, Brazil—- Brazil’s air force on Thursday suspended its search for a Roman Catholic priest who vanished after sailing into the air under a cluster of colorful balloons. The cleric’s family chartered a private plane to continue the hunt.
The Rev. Adelir Antonio de Carli has been missing since Sunday, when he lifted off from the port city of Paranagua strapped to 1,000 balloons and wearing a helmet, an aluminum thermal flight suit, waterproof coveralls and a parachute. More >
Carjacker Stops To Ask TV News Crew For Directions
Apr 25th
A carjacking suspect stopped during the crime to ask a television news crew for directions, police said.
The 19-year-old was arraigned Thursday on a charge of aggravated robbery and ordered held on $50,000 bond.
WOIO-TV newswoman Shannon O’Brien and photographer Eric Walls were doing a sidewalk report Monday on bank problems when the passenger in a car asked for directions to a bank. The driver signaled that he was being held at gunpoint, O’Brien told police.
The news crew called police and followed the car until officers caught up. Police Lt. Thomas Stacho said the suspect was carrying a loaded handgun.
Honey I’m Home
Apr 25th
SUV ends up in family pool; driver arrested in DUI
The sudden, thunderous, splashing crash outside their bedroom sent Bill and Laura Haggerty from deep sleep to instant fright.
Bill Haggerty rushed outside to see what had happened while his wife called 911. He found a maroon sport utility vehicle with its back end submerged in his swimming pool.
The driver, who appeared unharmed, opened her door and promptly fell into the water.
It was about 11:30 Wednesday night.
Haggerty helped the woman out and asked if she was okay. She stank of alcohol, he said, and had a glazed look in her eyes. More >
Chest hole man saved by fags
Apr 23rd
A CHINESE man with a huge hole in his chest has survived for 10 years by covering the wound – with CIGARETTE PACKETS.
Rao Jiacang, 51, was left with a gaping hole over his chest – through which his beating heart can be seen – after he ran out of cash to complete surgery.
Rao says he changes the sterile plaster over his chest himself.
He uses cigarette-box cartons on the opening and changes it several times a day. More >