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What Is Your Favorite Wacky News Story?

CitizenSugar — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:30:54 -0800

This year a lot of strange things happened around the US. A mom stole her teen daughter's ID so she could live out her dream of becoming a high school cheerleader, and a sports bra saved a hiker's life. In Nebraska, one town banned porch couches because their popularity among college students was bringing down the town's aesthetic appeal, and another town battled a resilient butt bandit who left Vaseline enhanced imprints on store windows. And on the wacky crime beat, a man admitted to murdering for junk food, while a wheelchair bound man got himself charged with drunk driving his scooter on a highway. Which head-scratching headline did you like the most? Source

What Is Your Favorite Wacky News Story?

Tremayne Durham Admits to Murder in Exchange For Junk Food

Sports Bra Saves Hiker's Life

Nebraska Town Plagued by Butt Bandit

Mom Steals Kid's ID to Become Cheerleader

Town Bans Porch Couches

Man in Wheelchair Charged With Drunk Driving on Highway

Group Wants to Create a Clothing-Free Polling Site

CitizenSugar — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 14:30:00 -0800

Talk about exposing your ideals, politics and, well, ahem, all at once. A nudist community in Florida wants to create the first clothing-optional polling site in the US.

According to reports, the Caliente Resorts, located north of Tampa, has approached election officials about the idea. There's nothing in Florida law that would prevent the unusual polling place, but the supervisor of elections says he is opposed to creating any new precincts before redistricting in 2010.

Casting your feelings about nudity aside, do you think citizens should be allowed to vote in the buff?

Source

Petitioners Seek Pardon For Executed Witches

CitizenSugar — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 12:30:13 -0700

A group in London plans to petition the British government for a posthumous pardon for the hundreds of people executed for witchcraft between the 16th and 18th centuries.

The head of Angels, a large costume shop in London, is leading the effort and said she believes it's time to put the associations about witches and Halloween to rest. The group has created a website to collect signatures for their petition and had about 200 signatures this morning.

Around 400 suspected witches were executed in England and some 4,000 in Scotland, according to the group that worked with a historian to research cases they hope will motivate the government to act.

The cases include a woman who offered cures in Essex, England in the 1500s, but was accused of having "uneven results," and a woman who was jailed for begging for food and then accused of having shaky hands that suggested she was "tormenting someone."

A Scottish group took a separate petition to the Scottish parliament last month.

Source

Boo! The Scariest Halloween News — an Alien Endorsement?

CitizenSugar — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:30:38 -0700

This is absolutely the most important news we will bring you all day. The paper of record, the Weekly World News has published a hard-hitting October Surprise endorsement: John McCain has picked up the coveted alien vote. Not illegal immigrants, real honest-to-goodness outer-space folks. The vote has been reportedly secured by Cindy McCain reaching across atmospheric lines to forge a diplomatic relationship with the alien. According to the WWN here's how it went down:

At a recent McCain rally, inside sources say Cindy McCain disappeared with the alien after sharing several champagnes with the notorious intergalactic lightweight. Ms. McCain’s alien-like good looks and natural blood temperature of 54°F may have proved too much for him to resist as she reportedly put her cyborg husband into sleep mode and worked her charms.

To see the effect of this turn of events on the election, check out the whole piece.

Back on Earth, Detroit and Oil City, PA, are dealing with Halloween hijinks of their own. To see how,

Man Who Bought 2000 Voting Machine Buried in Chads

CitizenSugar — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 07:00:39 -0700

In a weirdo-political garage sale that keeps on giving, remnants from the 2000 Florida election are a hot commodity. Jim Dobyns, one Republican consultant who purchased 1,200 Votomatic III voting machines from the 2000 election debacle in Florida is starting to see his own returns. In 2005, a man who originally bought the machines from the county was reselling them from his warehouse. When Dobyns saw them all stacked to the ceiling amidst thousands of spilled chads, he bought the whole lot calling his buy the “Holy Grail of the 2000 election."

What does one do with a pile of old voting machines? Well, when the HBO movie Recount wanted to find the very same voting machines at the the center of the controversy, they called Dobyns, who leased them 26 machines for the shoot. Dobyns doesn't own all of them though — to see who else does, and how much a bag of chads is worth,

88-Year-Old Waitress Gives Tips on Her Secret to Success

CitizenSugar — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 00:00:51 -0700

If it's Monday-morning-back-to-work time and you're just not feeling it, consider this gal for inspiration: at 88-years-old, Rosie Donaghey is still slinging hash. That is waiting tables — and her gig isn't necessitated by the economy. Rosie’s been working as a waitress since she was in her 70s when she first applied for a job as a waitress. Since then, this fiery lady has become her restaurant’s main attraction.

When at 70 she first applied for a waitress position, the manager thought Rosie was asking for her daughter or granddaughter — but was persuaded into hiring her. Though that restaurant eventually went out of business that same manager moved to another establishment and immediately brought Rosie to work there. Some customers only come in when Rosie's working, Tuesdays and Wednesdays 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Although Rosie collects Social Security and has the support of her three surviving children should she need it, she still continues working. What does she do with the money? Those that know her think it all goes into the church basket — she never misses a Mass either in person or on TV. As for the service, the restaurant manager said of Donaghey: “She’s a little bit of a spitfire ... She always tries to order for you. You ask for a burger well done and she says, ‘I’ll have it cremated.’ “

Prisoners Win Gardening Competition & New Bathroom!

CitizenSugar — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 03:00:44 -0700

Prisoners in Cardiff may soon have a fancier bathroom to keep a good grip of the soap in — they've just won $2,000 of luxury bathroom goods in a gardening competition. After entering the Cardiff in Bloom competition — and coming in second place in the community building category — their entry was automatically put in a drawing to win the luxury bathroom fixtures. When their name was pulled as the winners, a ripple of laughter spread through the City Hall venue. No decision has been made on whether the prisoners will be able to claim the prize.

The prison community garden is a regular entrant in the gardening competition, and they've won their division several times. Cardiff prides itself on being a green city, and competitions like Cardiff in Bloom, according to the city council, is a way of "increasing a sense of civic pride and making Cardiff a brighter and better place to live and work."

Pending the decision on the prize, the prisoners have been sent a brochure to peruse to see if anything strikes their fancy.

Source

Czech Men Wage Legal Battle Over Fake Land

LibertySugar — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 04:00:49 -0700

Actor Bolek Polivka is suing his former business partner Tomas Harabis over the rights to the Wallachian Kingdom. Only the Wallachian Kingdom isn't on a map — it exists in a magical land, far, far away and was founded by Tomas and some friends as a joke.

The Wallachian Kingdom shows up on tourist maps in the south-east corner of Moravia, which is part of the Czech Republic. Since its creation in 1997, hotels, restaurants and bars have popped up, profiting off believers and perpetuating the fake world. There's currency (the Jurovalsar) and even a University of the Wallachian Kingdom (it's like Hogwarts, without the wizards). More than 90,000 people own special Wallachian passports. And of course, there's a lot of mead imported.

To learn about this legendary legal battle,

Restaurant Drops "Naked" Promo to Appease Town Council

CitizenSugar — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 10:00:52 -0700

Would you run naked down to the dock and jump in for a free "Skinny Dip" sandwich? If that sounds like a fair price for a free lunch, the town council of Greenville, ME, advises you to think again.

The town's Black Frog Restaurant stopped its promotion offering a sliced prime rib on a baguette for free (regularly $10.95) to diners willing to run naked into Moosehead Lake. The reason? The town council (perhaps in cahoots with the local police department, who'd been responding to complaints about nudity, a misdemeanor in their community) was holding the restaurant's liquor license renewal hostage. The local police chief said that he would most certainly recommend any business lose its license that promoted an ongoing campaign to encourage illegality.

The restaurant has (sadly? That depends, I suppose . . . ) ended its promotion, stating that "au jus" wins out over "au naturel."

Source

Cops Nab Motorist Who Owes $1.9 Million in Traffic Fines

CitizenSugar — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 15:37:58 -0700

Cops Nab Motorist Who Owes $1.9 Million in Traffic Fines Brazilian police reportedly have caught up with a motorist who owes the equivalent of nearly $2 million in unpaid traffic fines. Folha OnLine said police stopped a 36-year-old man on Wednesday night and discovered he has been ticketed nearly 1,000 times since 2001, the year he bought his current car. Folha OnLine said the accumulated fines for speeding and running red lights total 3.4 million reals ($1.9 million). The man said he never received the tickets because he was always too busy to register the car in his name.

NE Town Bans Porch Couches: Should Lawmakers Relax?

CitizenSugar — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 06:00:00 -0700

Perhaps fearing scenes just like this dotting older neighborhoods, the town of Lincoln, NE, just passed a law banning indoor furniture from being used outside. The development could have big ramifications on the chillaxing abilities of the town's large population of college students, traditionally grand proponents of the "porch couch." The city council voted 5-2 in favor of the new measure, and no one testified against the proposal during the open public hearing. An aide close to the mayor says he intends to sign the ordinance into effect on Oct. 7. Other towns have similar aesthetic or quality of life bans on furniture outside, including Ames, IA, Boulder, CO, and East Lansing, MI, but some question whether the law unfairly targets the large population of students renting homes in older neighborhoods. Is it discriminatory? Should lawmakers have the ability to legislate what you can put on your own property? Source

NE Town Bans Porch Couches: Should Lawmakers Relax?

Yes! There's no harm in the couches, it's just neighborly — and it unfairly hits students.

Well, it's their choice to make the law, but it does seem like a crazy waste of time.

No way. Small things make a big difference and couches outside bring everyone down.

Other. I'll pull up a seat in the comments.

Look Out, It's the Fuzz! Average Person Breaks Law Once a Day

CitizenSugar — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:30:34 -0700

Sneaking across the street against the light while listening to a purloined tune on your boosted iPod? OK, the last offense might be the most serious, but when it comes to legal vs. illegal, it's a black-and-white scenario. And according to a new survey, most people find themselves on the dark side of the law at least once a day. The most common offenses? Speeding, littering, and using a cell phone while driving in places where it's prohibited.

People flout the little laws so often, the spokesman for the survey is troubled: "It's worrying to think that so many people are breaking the law on a daily basis. And it's an even bigger concern that many aren't at all bothered about it." Almost half of the respondents copped to speeding — and let's hope they aren't included in the 40 percent who confess to talking and texting on a cell phone while driving. Then the confessions get interesting: 19 percent say they've taken drugs, 35 percent download music illegally, and 25 percent say they've had sex in a public place. One wonders if all of those crimes were committed simultaneously?

The researcher says this of the lawlessness, "Some of these crimes might seem petty but they were all made illegal for a reason." Is breaking a tiny law OK? Do you believe on 35 percent have illegally downloaded music? Have you broken a law today?

Source

Who's That Hot Lip-Smacker? It's McCain (& a Palin Sandwich!)

CitizenSugar — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 06:00:23 -0700

John McCain=Master Make Out Maverick. Oh, yes my friends, it's true. I'm not usually one to talk about "things we were just talking about at the office," but this debate actually comes up not infrequently (was John McCain hot as a lad or not) and this story could just settle the debate in the affirmative. While John McCain attended his 50th Naval Academy reunion Saturday, he and his mates reminisced about “vices sailors are infamous for” including one down-and-dirty dalliance with a Brazilian woman, who's now come forward with the juicy details of the hookup.

The woman in question, Maria Gracinda, bedded the young and carnally indulgent McCain and has this to say of the midshipman’s. . . technique: “He was tasty, loving, and romantic. He was such a good kisser that I had to purchase a book which taught me how to kiss to keep up with him.” Can't believe she's talking about the same McCain? Maybe this will help convince you. When asked about how he was at the horizontal salsa, Gracinda added: “... He was not only good at kissing, he was good at everything.”

McCain mentioned the whole affair in his book Faith of My Fathers though ever the gentleman, he declined to name the woman behind the short dalliance that “... our youthful impatience and short attention spans brought an end to our affair.” Many years later McCain still paints the affair as: “. . . in my memory, embellished with age of course, among the happier experiences of my life.” And Gracinda views the hookup fondly too, saying that if McCain wins she'll send him a special message, "from his great love in Brazil."

Thinking about the relative "tastiness" of McCain? Sarah Palin may have him beat with a special sandwich named in her honor. To see what's in it,

Barack Obama? That's My Name, Says Six Brazilian Politicians

CitizenSugar — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:30:03 -0700

Remember when using Barack Obama's middle name was a big deal? Yeah, vaguely right? Well it seems like his moniker has become less of a slight and more of selling point, at least for six politicians in Brazil, all of whom have changed their names to "Barack Obama." It's not just a tribute, but a sneaky election tactic.

Brazilians have embraced the candidate enthusiastically in a country with a large population of African descendants and a corresponding minority of space in government. It's thought that by adopting the name of the Democratic candidate, the politicians will have a better chance of being elected. A quirk of Brazilian election law allows candidates to run under the name of their choice, so Obama seems a likely pick.

To see the story of one such name-switcher,

Rah-Rah-Wrong? Mom Steals Kid's ID to Become Cheerleader

CitizenSugar — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 03:00:17 -0700

Maybe because they've been showing Bring it On all weekend, but I can't believe how this story takes "spirit fingers" and makes it pretty tragic. A 33-year-old mom in Wisconsin, Wendy Brown, is facing felony identity theft charges for taking her daughter's ID and enrolling in high school — just so she could be a cheerleader. Her daughter, incidentally, lives with her grandmother.

I suppose it's pretty impressive that she was able to pass for a high-schooler — she even attended cheer practices before school started and went to a pool party at the coach's house. It wasn't until the $130 check for her uniform bounced, and she only attended one day of classes that people began to suspect.

To see why she did it,

Lock Your Doors! Nebraska Town Plagued by Butt Bandit!

CitizenSugar — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 06:00:07 -0700

Sometimes crime is terrible, sometimes it comes with a big greasy imprint of a bottom. Yup. I mean, I'm sure it's terribly violating to the victims but I can barely type I'm giggling so hard. Here goes: the town of Valentine, NE, isn't feeling so romantic lately — their most prolific vandal has been leaving imprints of his nether regions on windows all over town. Using Vaseline to ensure the imprint shows up nice and clear, store owners and school janitors have been mopping up the mess for more than a year.

The police chief says, "This is the weirdest case I've ever seen." But not ha-ha weird. He says, "It's not funny. We're worried about the next step." Reportedly, no one has seen the vandal in the act, though they're quite acquainted with his calling card. One victim said of being the butt of the crime, "We were completely grossed out. One day I walked into the office and an employee said, 'Oh, my God, we've been struck!'"

I can't fathom why they haven't caught the guy. I mean, it might not be of the finger-variety, but they have his prints, right?

Source

Lighten Up: When the News Goes Bad

CitizenSugar — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:15:43 -0700

Nope, not bad news, just terribly, terribly wrong. Hey, it's live — anything could happen. Check out this round up of crazy news outtakes, that um, made it right on the air. Oh, watch when the guy loses his satellite interview and it gets replaced with some guy he's never seen before.

Get Flash to see this player.

CNN doesn't have nearly enough of these moments. Give me Tony Harris with some guy behind him making bunny ears and TJ Holmes for, um, entertainment value and I'd be a happy camper.

Gut Busting: Man Gulps 11.5 Pounds, Wins Ohio Chili Contest

CitizenSugar — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 12:07:07 -0700

Gut Busting: Man Gulps 11.5 Pounds, Wins Ohio Chili Contest The man nicknamed "Humble Bob" stuffed himself with 11.5 pounds of a local specialty called chili-spaghetti in only about 10 minutes to claim victory in a holiday eating contest. Bob Shoudt won $2,500 at the inaugural Skyline Chili Spaghetti eat-off Monday at Kings Island amusement park. "Humble Bob" dashed to an early lead, sucking down more than two pounds in less than a minute.

New England Town Moves Into Future Without a Crystal Ball

CitizenSugar — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 10:00:31 -0700

Close your eyes and visualize. Imagine a small town in New England where people fear being arrested for telling the future, clairvoyance or tarot card readings. A place where contacting spirits or communicating with those who have passed on are persecuted and even arrested. Is this the 1680s? Nope, it's the 20th century. The New England town of St. Johnsbury in VT has just repealed a law banning mystical practices put on the books in 1966. One tarot reader says, "When the ordinance was lifted, I actually felt a large weight lifting from my shoulders. It was very oppressive to have to refrain from something that was as natural to me as breathing."

Though town officials don't know where the law came from, fear of fraud has inspired a bunch of communities to ban fortunetelling. St. Johnsbury may have had a reversal in their law, but the crystal ball has trouble in other parts of the country. To find out where,

Thousands Roll Dice for World-Record Game of Monopoly

CitizenSugar — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 08:00:11 -0700

At least 2,500 people from around the world have passed "go" and set a new world record for the largest simultaneous game of Monopoly. The big event took place in London, but organizers say once online players (who rolled virtual dice on Monopoly's online site, cell phones and game consoles) are counted, the total number of players could rise to 5,000.

The hour-long game took place on Wednesday and was the first of its kind. Guinness required a minimum of 1,000 players in 23 locations to set the world record. (It only took an hour? Monopoly games take forever. . .)

The Monopoly board game was born 1934 at the height of the Great Depression, when Charles B. Darrow of Pennsylvania, showed the game to executives at Parker Brothers. They rejected the idea due to "52 design errors," so Charles handmade sets with a friend and was quickly able to prove demand for the game to the game company. According to Hasbro, in its 65-year history, an estimated 500 million people have played the game. Check out SavvySugar's Monopoly quiz for more trivia.

I always play with the car because it's the only piece that makes logical sense. I'm weird. Do you have a go-to piece? The iron, perhaps?

Source

Chew on This: Study Finds Herds Have a Built-in Compass

LibertySugar — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 06:00:44 -0700

Next time you can't find the North Star, you might consider looking for the nearest pack of cows. A recent study of Google Earth satellite images found that herds of cattle gravitate to face in the north-south direction of Earth's magnetic lines. The study also noted some types of deer have shown the same pattern, according to the BBC.

Many smaller species, such as birds and salmon, are known to use the earth's magnetic fields in seasonal migration; however, these recent findings show larger mammals have a similar internal sense of direction.

The researchers surveyed Google Earth images of 8,510 grazing and resting cattle in 308 pasture plains across the world. Apparently, it was often hard for them to distinguish heads from tails, but they were able to determine that animals tend to face either north or south.

If you're wondering what this means,

Los Angeles Man Saves All of His Trash For Eight Months

CitizenSugar — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 07:00:27 -0700

This is the trashiest story I've ever heard. Dave Chameides is on a mission — a mission to save all of his garbage as an experiment to see exactly how much refuse one person makes in a year. This sends shivers down my clean-freak spine: his basement is lined with soda bottles, pizza boxes, Styrofoam trays, used tea bags, and plastic wrap. After nearly eight months at this project, Chameides is beginning to get a clearer picture of his landfill footprint.

The inspiration for this personal garbage collection began while exploring the tremendous amount of trash that packs our landfills, which set him wondering how much he contributed to that total. Since he does not live alone and his wife and children are not participating in this project, Chameides does have some ground rules. For one, he only collects his own trash, and does not include potential health hazards such as toilet paper, fish wrappers, or other biodegradable contaminants. Thank goodness for that. Ack. To see what good came of this plan,

Man Wins Lottery — and His Church Shuns Huge Donation

CitizenSugar — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 14:30:31 -0700

The chances of winning the lottery rely on a lot of prayer and the immutable laws of statistics, but one such lucky soul bagged a jackpot, and couldn't even give the winnings away. A Florida Lottery jackpot winner took home more than 6 million in cash and was hoping to follow his religion’s tithe commandment — offering 10 percent of his winnings to his church. Unfortunately, his church wanted no part of this money and refused to say exactly why they turned down the $600,000 donation, though many churches don't approve of the lottery or gambling in general.

Other churches, who caught wind of the story were amazed. “I’m against the lottery, but if one of my members won. . . . I wish and hope he would give 10 percent to the church,” said Pastor Dr. Lorenzo Hall of the El-Beth Divine Holiness Church. “We are in the process now of building a youth center, and you would be surprised at the people that can be helped with $600,000.” Hall adds he wouldn't ask where a donation came from and would welcome the lucky-lotto-man's donation anytime.

When it comes to giving back, does it matter where the dough comes from?

Too Much of a Good Thing? This Cat Has 86 Wives

CitizenSugar — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 07:00:19 -0700

While we may have been shocked by the FLDS polygamy case in the US, this Nigerian man has that beat by a harem. Mohammed Bello Abubakar, 84, has 86 wives. Yes, that's right: 86 wives and at least 170 children. Far from recommending the practice to others, he says it takes a very special spirit to be wedded to scores of brides. He says, "A man with 10 wives would collapse and die, but my own power is given by Allah. That is why I have been able to control 86 of them." He has a reputation as a healer, which is why they're drawn to him. "I don't go looking for them, they come to me. I will consider the fact that God has asked me to do it and I will just marry them."

To find out how he cares for an Economy-Sized family, and how the women feel about it,

Tremayne Durham, 33, Admits To Murder In Exchange For Junk Food

CitizenSugar — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:07:05 -0700

Tremayne Durham, 33, Admits to Murder In Exchange For Junk Food A New York man who pleaded guilty to murder in Oregon in exchange for buckets of fried chicken will get calzones and pizza to go with his life sentence. Tremayne Durham, 33, of New York City, admitted last month that he fatally shot Adam Calbreath, 39, of Gresham, in June 2006. Durham wanted to sell ice cream and ordered an $18,000 truck from an Oregon company. He later changed his mind, but the company wouldn't provide a refund.

Breaking: Earth Is Flat. Now Impossible to Dig Hole to China

CitizenSugar — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 12:15:59 -0700

I don't know what this story means for the mnemonic, "My Very Educated Mother . . ." and the rest of the planets, but there's a vocal group of folks who think the Earth is flat — not to mention using the term "flat-earther" to describe someone who just doesn't get it, is quite frankly insulting.

If the earth isn't a globe, what then is it? One 25-year-old computer scientist originally from Canada, describes the earth as, "flat and horizontally infinite — it stretches horizontally forever." They've planned for all your (understandable) questions: one can't sail off of the edge because, "a cursory examination of a flat-earth map fairly well explains the reason — the North Pole is central, and Antarctica comprises the entire circumference of the earth. Circumnavigation is a case of traveling in a very broad circle across the surface of the earth."

OK, the concept of a flat earth might seem preposterous, but I kind of dig (not too far, one might end up in China) their reasoning. To see what it is,

Could This Be? Former VP Quayle Rumored to Be on DWTS!

CitizenSugar — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:00:15 -0700

Could it be?! Oh, that it be true! Dan Quayle, former veep under George Bush I, is rumored to be in talks to join the upcoming season of Dancing With the Stars. The show is lacing up its shoes to reappear on Sept. 22, and the cast list is not yet concrete.

The show has been angling for a political figure, and Quayle seems to be tops of the shortlist. With tidbits of fame that include his tussle with fictional character Murphy Brown, and the whole "potato/potatoe" incident, he might be a great asset to the show. I don't know about you but I'm making up a whole list of politicians I'd like to see cut a rug: Mike Huckabee, Nancy Pelosi, Henry Kissinger, Nicolas Sarkozy — I could play this game all day. If it's true, will you watch?

Source

Scrabble! "Scrabulous" Makers Sued & Championships Today

CitizenSugar — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 08:00:25 -0700

If three stories make a trend, I guess six makes an obsession: it's the all Scrabble news day, here's the big mixed bag (S-O-R-R-Y) of stories:

Do you play Scrabulous on Facebook? Well, the version that got everybody hooked is getting the creators sued. Hasbro owns the rights to the game and the Calcutta-based creators of Scrabulous are in court for copyright infringement. I hope they saved a U to go with their Q and get it settled quickly. Bonus draw: Scrabulous cheat words.

The National Scrabble Championship is being held today in Orlando, Florida. You can follow the scores all day. I'm rooting for Marlon Hill and Matt Graham. I'm not kidding. I have a little Scrabble-following problem. These guys are hot.

Want to be a celebrity in Senegal? To find out how,

What's in a Name? Eight People Named After US Presidents

CitizenSugar — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 03:00:15 -0700

If you thought the name of the president doesn’t have much effect in the day-to-day lives of citizens, just ask — not Barack Hussein Obama — but John Quincy Adams Nadenbousch his opinion on that matter. One of eight people known to have been named after presidents, he took his #6 namesake and became the commander for the Berkeley Border Guards at Harper’s Ferry before eventually serving under Stonewall Jackson.

Then there's Woodrow Wilson Woolwine Stode or “Woody” as he was called. No, he didn’t create the League of Nations, but he was a decathlete, a football star and a Golden Globe nominated actor who appeared in Once Upon A Time In The West, Spartacus, and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.

Not a Democrat? No problem. There was also Theodore Roosevelt Radcliffe, AKA “Double Duty.” Mr. Radcliffe was a professional baseball player who lived to be 103 years-old. He earned his name when he played both pitcher and catcher in a double header at Yankee Stadium in 1932. The rest include: Martin Van Buren Bates, Abraham Lincoln Erlanger (who directed theatre. . . creepy?) William McKinley Randle, Jr., Monty Franklin Pierce Stratton, and George Washington Trendle.

Speaking of odd presidential trivia, are you a lonely south-paw? In November Americans will select, for the fifth time in the last 35 years, a left-handed president. This isn’t an endorsement, it’s inevitable. To see the scoop,

18 Injured in Sweden Theme Park Accident

CitizenSugar — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:10:52 -0700

18 Injured in Sweden Theme Park Accident
A theme park ride collapsed Tuesday in a city in western Sweden, injuring at least 18 people, officials said. Two people were seriously hurt when the swinging Rainbow ride collapsed at the Liseberg theme park in Goteborg, SOS Alarm rescue service spokeswoman Monica Grandin said. Around 25 ambulances had been sent to the scene, she said. The ride was full when the accident occurred, Grandin said.

Family Trades in Mansion to Help the Hungry

CitizenSugar — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 13:25:37 -0700

Family Trades in Mansion to Help the Hungry
The Salwens lived happily in their gorgeous 1912 Georgian mansion for nine years, and after realizing how many people they could help by donating half their home's worth the family decided to downsize. They've already moved into their new home that is half the size of their old one even though their previous home is still for sale. Once it does sell, they will donate half the proceeds and help about 20,000 hungry Ghanaians.

Anger Management Gas Station

CitizenSugar — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:40:55 -0700

Anger Management Gas Station
When it comes to gas prices, Tanforan Shell gas station in San Bruno, CA, owner Bobak Bakhtiari feels your pain. So he installed a dunk tank to let his customers vent their frustration on a man dressed in Shell uniform! The owner of the station says, "Well it’s been going well with anybody just walking up to the station and doing it. They each get three tosses. If that doesn’t help, we also offer an express rant, where if they can creatively rant about gas prices they can receive a free express car wash."

Merriam-Webster Unveils New Dictionary Words

CitizenSugar — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 12:10:29 -0700

Merriam-Webster Unveils New Dictionary Words
Merriam-Webster Inc. has added more than 100 new words. Is it acceptable to serve edamame to a dinner guest who's a pescatarian? Should you pour prosecco or soju for the winner of the Texas Hold 'em game you're planning near the infinity pool? And what's that wing nut in the corner saying about dirty bombs and nasty Noroviruses? These and about 100 other words that have taken root in the American lexicon — and the dictionary.

9 out of 10 Agree: To Save Gas, No Left Turns Into Brothels

CitizenSugar — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 10:00:21 -0700

Well, it's more unanimous than Trident gum: Nine out of 10 people are expecting gas prices to gut them financially in the next six months according to an Associated Press-Yahoo News poll out yesterday.

The poll has tracked the same 2,000 people since last fall to follow how their opinions have changed throughout the campaign. The latest data shows the price of gasoline has equalled or triumphed every other issue and it has become more than a politcal topic, but a real-life problem. I'm sure you don't need me (or the AP) to tell you: gas sucks.

But! I can tell you wacky ways people are saving the gas! It involves avoiding left turns and hookers! I know! To see what I'm talking about,

North Carolina's Naughty License Plates Cause DMV Trouble

CitizenSugar — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 06:00:59 -0700

ROFL, OMG, etc. So North Carolina's DMV has to get cracking to cook up 10,000 replacement license plates after one 60-year-old grandmother got clued in by her text-savvy grandchild that her standard-issue plate, contained an acronym that expresses disbelief in an explicit fashion. As in, WTF.

The DMV (Look! Another acronym in the neighborhood of WTF!) says that although they try to keep up with all the latest acronyms, this one slipped by their censors. They've offered to replace the offending plates free of charge. Oh, but the best part of this story? That they'd been using one of the WTF plates on their website as an example. They're now "trying to remove the plate" from the site.

I'm no entrepreneur, but I imagine that they could resell the turned in plates for quite a profit to those who might want a little more color in their vehicle identification? It's like those super-expensive vanity plates, or the political ones, or the religious ones, but way, way better. Would you turn yours in, or flaunt it?

Sadie and Pyper Vance, Ages 9 And 7, Protest Gas Prices After Losing Cable TV

CitizenSugar — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 10:55:54 -0700

Sadie and Pyper Vance, Ages 9 And 7, Protest Gas Prices After Losing Cable TV: Cable TV was one of the family's budget-cutting casualties, leaving Sadie, 9, and her 7-year-old sister without their favorite cartoons and shows. "Gas prices are too high," Sadie said. "I just decided to come and protest so they'd go down." The girls marched through downtown Monday chanting and carrying signs. "All of my mom's money goes to the gas tank!" Pyper's sign read. Sadie carried a sign asking drivers to honk to lower gas prices — adding that her mom had to cut "cabel."

Talk About Emergency Support: Sports Bra Saves Hiker's Life

LibertySugar — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 09:00:35 -0700

Next time you're on the treadmill thanking your lucky stars for your bra providing less bounce for the ounce consider how you'd feel if that bit of cotton saved your life.

Last week an American hiker was rescued from a narrow ledge in the Bavarian Alps after she used her sports bra as a distress signal.

Colorado native Jessica Bruinsma, 24, was stranded in the Bavarian Alps for nearly three days, but managed to attract the attention of lumberjacks (no, she didn't flash them!) by attaching her sports bra to a cable that is ordinarily used to move timber down the mountain.

Apparently, Bruinsma fell almost 17 feet to a rocky overhang, where she spent the next 70 hours sustained by water that she found by breaking into a nearby supply box. A combination of a bruised leg, dislocated shoulder and the isolation of the cliff made it impossible for her to climb free, but Bruinsma was able to reach a cable from a broken timber transport system and fashioned her bra to it in an attempt to draw attention to her whereabouts. When a repairman restored the line on Thursday, the cable car started moving up the mountain and Bruinsma's bra reached the worker at the base. He knew about the missing hiker and called police.

Man In Wheelchair Charged With Drunk Driving On Highway

CitizenSugar — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 23:55:38 -0700

Man in Wheelchair Charged With Drunk Driving on Highway
Police in Australia have charged a man for drunk driving in a motorized wheelchair after he was found to be six times over the legal alcohol limit, local media reported on Monday. Police in the tropical northern Queensland city of Cairns said the man had a blood alcohol reading of 0.31, and was so drunk he was asleep at the controls.

MA Mayor Says No Proof Girls Had Pregnancy Pact

CitizenSugar — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:25:09 -0700

MA Mayor Says No Proof Girls Had Pregnancy Pact
The city's mayor said Monday there is no evidence a group of young girls made a pact to get pregnant and raise their babies together, seeking to dispel an explosive theory put forth by the high school principal. "Any planned blood-oath bond to become pregnant — there is absolutely no evidence of," Mayor Carolyn Kirk said Monday after a closed-door meeting with city, school, and health leaders.

It's True! Benjamin Franklin to Marry Betsy Ross on July 3

CitizenSugar — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 07:00:19 -0700

No, you're not misremembering US history, this is actually happening next month. Two actors well known for their portrayals of Benjamin Franklin and Betsy Ross are engaged and are planning a very public, very patriotic ceremony on the steps of Independence Hall on July 3. The entire wedding party will be in costume — I want an invitation to this one!

The couple met after she hired him for a friend's wedding toast. "Ben Franklin" had initially declined, saying he doesn't "do weddings," but she begged and he relented and they announced their engagement this Spring.

Considering the famous Franklin quote "Marriage is the most natural state of man, and . . . the state in which you will find solid happiness," the couple will be in for many happy years.

No official word, but the chances of Betsy Ross donning the award-winning wedding dress constructed completely out of toilet paper (being displayed now in Times Square) are slim. The nuptials may just be a red, white, and blue extravaganza for the history books.

Source

Tourists Line Up For Guided Hitler Walking Tours in Munich

CitizenSugar — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 12:15:11 -0700

If you're booking a vacation, here's an option you might consider: visitors to Munich are clamoring to head out on Adolf Hitler walking tours. Exploring the German city where the dictator began his Nazi Party 10 years before he was elected German chancellor. The tour wends through city sites with Adolf Hitler significance — which most contemporary locals are no longer even aware of, like the location where Hitler gave his first public speech (upstairs at the world-famous Hofbraeuhaus beer hall in 1918) and a nearby pub where he liked to drink and skip out on the bill. To see who's taking these tours,

Smarty Pants Prove Brainiacs in Spelling and Philosophy

CitizenSugar — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 00:00:59 -0700

Great minds think alike — wisdom isn't wasted on the young. This weekend an Oregon man won this year's Great American Think-Off, a national philosophy competition asking ordinary people to debate extraordinary questions. This year's question was, "Does immigration strengthen or threaten the United States?"

Craig Allen, of West Linn, OR, won a gold medal this weekend when a live audience in New York Mills decided he was most convincing when arguing that the system of immigration and immigration policy is broken and that it encourages an influx of illegal immigrants and poses a threat to the country.

During the debate, the four finalists touched on what it means to be an American and stressed that American identity is evolving. He wasn't the only adult winning laurels for being a smarty pants this weekend.

Larry Grossman won this year’s senior national spelling bee correctly spelling the word “debouch” and snatching victory. Grossman, a Northwood, ND resident is a teacher and has won the North Dakota state spelling bee six times already. “This is a great feeling. ‘Great’ doesn’t seem like a very adequate word but that’s all I can think of on short notice.”

The event, hosted by AARP, had about forty-seven competitors from twenty-four states in this year’s senior bee. Those competing were invited following wins in recent regional bees and were required to be fifty years of age or older. The winner received $500 and some big ol' bragging rites. Rights. Writes. Aw, ask Larry.

Source

Ask Yourself. . . "Do I Feel Lucky?" Friday the 13th Strikes News

CitizenSugar — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 08:51:37 -0700

In the midst of the only Friday the 13th slated for the year 2008, cross in front of those black cats and shatter those mirrors with abandon — Dutch statisticians have cleared the unlucky rep. They've found that Fridays that fall on the 13th are actually safer than their 51 non-spooky cousins. The study shows that fewer accidents and reports of fire and theft occur on the big day than any other — and they're not sure just why. One statistician said, "I find it hard to believe that it is because people are preventatively more careful or just stay home, but statistically speaking, driving is a little bit safer on Friday 13th." Phew!

Unfortunately the breaking of the curse hasn't extended to everyone — get a load of this luck:

Doorman winning the lottery? Lucky! Winning big and still not being able to afford a place in the building you work? Friday the 13th! To see the story,

Wyoming Republicans Attack, Say Democrats Are All Wet

CitizenSugar — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 11:00:35 -0700

Were you a Republican in Wyoming yesterday? If you were, had $5 in your pocket, and happened to be swinging by the Jackalope Days festival in Douglas, you'd have had a chance to tell a Democrat go soak his head — literally.

The local Democratic Party hosted a "Dunk a Democrat" booth to raise money for the party — $5 bucks buys 6 balls and a chance to slam a donkey into the drink. Though it might seem like an exercise in self-loathing, with a 4-to-1 ratio of Republicans to Democrats, it means the soggy Ds are laughing all the way to the bank.

The dunking booth is the Democratic party's biggest fundraiser of the year — they're hoping to double the $400 they pulled in last year. The head of the Wyoming Democratic Party had this to say about the brave souls facing the firing squad, "it's a commitment. It's a sacrifice. It's one of those things that needs to be done if we're serious about this election." If Dunking a Dem isn't your style, the Jackalope Days also feature pig wrestling, wiener dog races, and a monster-truck mud bog. I've already got my ticket for next year.

Is trying to drown a Dem for cash a slam-dunk idea — or troubling partisan warfare?

Source

Huckabee Helps Choking NC Candidate with Heimlich

CitizenSugar — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 10:55:51 -0700

Huckabee Helps Choking NC Candidate with Heimlich
Is this what they mean by "compassionate conservatism?" According to the AP: "Former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee put the squeeze on a politician at the North Carolina Republican Party convention. The former Arkansas governor performed the Heimlich maneuver on Robert Pittenger, Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, at a lunch Saturday. Pittenger said he was laughing when he choked on some food." Saving lives is, apparently, all in a day's work.

Wonder Woman Lynda Carter Finds Body In The Potomac

CitizenSugar — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 06:55:00 -0700

Wonder Woman Lynda Carter Finds Body In The Potomac
Lynda Carter tells The Washington Post she was alone in a boat when she saw the body Wednesday. She says she didn't have a cell phone with her, so she yelled to some fishermen and asked them to call police. Carter waited until rescuers arrived and directed them to the body. Carter says she "did what anybody would have done."

With Honors? Valedictorian and Principal Plagiarize Speeches

CitizenSugar — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 07:00:06 -0700

Plagiarism is spreading! Many feared dead wrong! Two schools in the Chicago area have both been confronted with glaring plagiarism sullying the cap-and-gown season. At, Naperville Central High School — a nationally recognized school for its high standards — had to reassign one of their most popular teachers when it was learned that he plagiarized portions of a commencement address from a previous teacher.

Then, as if learning by example, at the very same commencement the school’s valedictorian lifted a huge chunk of his speech from an article in the satirical newspaper the Onion. (At least it might have been funny.)

Meanwhile, across town in another highly-rated school district, Oak Park and River Forest High School had to apologize to Senator John McCain when their superintendent took an anecdote from John McCain’s Vietnam experience and attributed it to his own brother’s life. Uh, I think if you're going to swipe a story, maybe don't pick one that everybody knows.

Is the Internet and easy cut-and-paste info sending us all to a cheater's paradise? Who's story would you borrow from?

Source

Condoleezza Rice Commands Kiss Army, Rocks All Nite Long

CitizenSugar — Fri, 30 May 2008 08:00:40 -0700

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has a new job: Commander in Chief of Rock and Roll. Sort of. Rice was in Stockholm, Sweden yesterday for a conference on Iraq — and KISS just happened to be there to play a sold-out concert. Who knew Condi was a secret member of the KISS Army? Her favorite song might make her the perfect candidate for a 3 a.m. call — she loves "Rock and Roll All Nite."

Her day job comes with perks — Rice got her own late-night encounter with KISS frontman Gene Simmons and bandmates Paul Stanley, Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer in the executive lounge of the Sheraton Hotel. The rockers signed autographs and handed out backstage passes and T-shirts to her staff. Condi's reaction? "I was thrilled! It was really fun to meet Kiss and Gene Simmons." Rice is no stranger to music, she's a classically trained pianist, has claimed eclectic favorites ranging from Beethoven to Bruce Springsteen.

As big a thrill as her KISS run-in was, Rice conceded she has never seen the band in concert. She could fix that this summer when the band plays Lake Tahoe August 30. It might just be "Hotter than Hell."

Source

Somebody Got an Obama Tattoo on His/Her Leg!

CitizenSugar — Wed, 28 May 2008 12:10:25 -0700

Somebody Got an Obama Tattoo on His/Her Leg! Hey people, if you are in the Fort Wayne, IN, area, you might stop by Studio 13 Creative Skin Design and ask Ryan Hadley for one of these sweet Barack Obama tattoos. Yes we can wear Obama's mug for life! Is Hillary more of a bicep tat? McCain is shoulder all the way. What would it take for you to get one?

News Is Tough! Which Tag Would You Hate Under Your Name?

CitizenSugar — Fri, 23 May 2008 12:15:28 -0700

Even in our reality-TV-run-rampant world, those souls who make it to the tube are still relatively few — unless you count the granddaddy of all reality — the news. Anybody's fair game from a man-on-the-street interview to a human-interest story.Though sometimes how one's labeled for their 15 seconds of news fame is anything but dignified. Behold these glorious screenshots of ignoble notoriety. Which tag would you least like to see under your name on the news? If you like these funnies, check out the rest.Source

News Is Tough! Which Tag Would You Hate Under Your Name?

"Single"

"Absolutely Disgusting"

"Forced to Change Shirt"

"Lives Down the Block"

I've got one that's even better. I'll tell you in the comments.