July 31, 2005

A Grandview, Missouri woman might now be a firm believer in wearing a seat belt. Robbin Doolin was driving down US Highway 71 when she opened her door and leaned out to spit. Robbin then tumbled out of the car and rolled across the pavement. Then Doolin actually got up and proceeded to run after her car, which she was not able to catch up with. The woman was later treated at the hospital with arm, leg and head injuries. (Kansas City Star: Link RIP)

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In another unusual accident, a Darwin, Australia man fell twice from the same building in the wee hours of the morning. After locking himself out of his apartment he climbed up the outside of the building, then fell on the top of a parked car, smashing the windshield. Undeterred, he tried again and this time fell from around the third floor and landed on his head. The man is now recovering in the Royal Darwin Hospital. (The Australian)

July 30, 2005

Remember bra-burning back in the good old days? Well there's talk of a bra-burning party in the South Island Wanaka district of New Zealand. Four years ago a local farmer, John Lee, started a fence of bras which has developed into quite a tourist attraction. The fence is decorated with hundreds of bras, and passers-by add to the collection frequently. Road improvements have even been made to accommodate tourists stopping to take photographs. The Wanaka Community Board has stated that some overseas visitors and a few locals find the curiosity offensive and is attempting to persuade him to take it down. Mr. Lee is standing firm and will have none of that. (The Australian)

July 29, 2005

Ever wonder why weather forecasts are rarely accurate? Well, at least in Victoria, Australia, the reason might be that forecasters are sleeping on the job. In a July 22 memo, the weather bureau staff was admonished to be alert and awake while on duty. Napping during breaks with pillow is allowed, however. (Herald Sun - AU)

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A locomotive engineer in the Yen Bai province, Vietnam, has been fired for sleeping on the job. After consuming alcohol on a break Vu Kim Tien fell "asleep at the wheel" and took off from a train station without clearance. Authorities were able to wake him some miles down the track by making loud noises as he passed by. The runaway train was stopped safely with no injuries. (Netscape News - AP: Link RIP)

July 28, 2005

In Rio de Janeiro a woman has been shot in her casket. She had died the day before of a heart attack. During a wake in the cemetery chapel a shootout erupted nearby between a drug gang and police. A stray bullet penetrated the chapel, casket and lodged in the deceased woman's pelvis. The woman was then buried, bullet and all, presumably in haste before another gunfight could occur. (The Australian)

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A purse snatcher picked the wrong target Tuesday in Brussels, Belgium. His intended victim turned out to be an off-duty policewoman who was accompanied by an off-duty policeman returning home from work. After being subdued it was discovered that the attacker was an escaped inmate. Imagine he'll get quite a ribbing when he returns to prison. (Reuters: Link RIP)

July 27, 2005

A couple having a little late night fun in a dinghy out at sea near Torbay, England, were "rescued" after a passer-by mistook their cries of passion as cries for help. Police allowed them to go on their way after putting their clothes back on. Guess they learned that sound travels long distances over water the hard way. (Reuters: Link RIP)

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A fowl mouthed Macaw has been banned from public areas of a bird sanctuary in Nuneaton, England. Evidently the bird, named Barney, specializes in the F-word and would use it on visitors, including dignitaries and policemen. Barney was apparently taken in by the sanctuary after being abandoned by his truck driver owner some years ago. Perhaps someone with a testy mother-in-law could adopt him. (Herald Sun - AU)

July 10, 2005

A 15 year old London girl has reached new heights in sleepwalking. A passerby spotted her in the early morning curled up atop a 40 meter (131 foot) tall construction crane (imagine waking there with a severe hangover!). A firefighter was able to reach her before she awakened and rescued her. Her parents told police that she sleepwalked quite often. Bet they lock her in her room at night after this. (The Australian)

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Talking wine bottles? They're on the way. In Italy, Tuscan company Modulgraf plans to premiere the product in November. The label chip would tell you everything about the wine and even the correct food to eat with it. A cigarette pack size reciever is required to listen to the "label". Hopefully Big Nanny won't pick up on this idea for government warnings. (NEWS.com.au: Reuters)

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There's a instruction guide for everything these days, even outdoor sex. Check it out at Netscape.

July 6, 2005

Fisherman should salivate at this one. A record 646 pound catfish was caught in the Mekong River May 1 in the remote northern district of Chiang Khong, Thailand (fish stories evidently travel slowly from SE Asia). It is the largest catch in the country since records started being kept in 1981. No mention was made as to what type of fishing equipment ,or crane, was used to land the monster. (Netscape News - AP: Link RIP)

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Meanwhile in Spain, men will have less time for fishing after new gender laws take effect. Under proposed changes in the Spanish marriage contract men would have to equally share household chores, child rearing and care of the elderly with their wives. Technology is even lending a hand to enforce the changes by way of a new clothes washing machine on the market, called Your Turn, which prevents the same person from using the machine twice in a row by the use of fingerpint scanning. (The Australian)