The thread for Strange News Stories

[gstelmack]

Man shows off safety features of new gun, shoots self in head:

Sanford man shoots himself while showing safety | abc11.com

[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by gstelmack

Man shows off safety features of new gun, shoots self in head:

Sanford man shoots himself while showing safety | abc11.com

Wow, just wow. Natural Selection at work.

[terpkristin]

I posted the Google Reader RSS headline for this in the Random Thoughts thread. I'm guessing it's a slow news day?

BBC Nature - Water insect makes record noise with penis

/tk

[DataKing]

Anything having to do with a penis is newsworthy...

[BrianD]

Fond du Lac firefighters free man's hand from car gas tank while trying to retrieve a Snickers candy bar | Appleton Post Crescent | postcrescent.com

[Rizon]

Sheen: I did 'roids for 'Major League'

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by BrianD

Fond du Lac firefighters free man's hand from car gas tank while trying to retrieve a Snickers candy bar | Appleton Post Crescent | postcrescent.com

Snickers should hire that guy like Subway hired Jared. Nothing says "our product is fucking delicious" like a guy willing to stick his hand in a gas tank for one.

[JPhillips]

Helmet protestor dies from head injury.

A 55-year-old biker protesting New York State’s law requiring helmet use died at a hospital Saturday after striking his head in an accident.

The Associated Press reports that Phillip A. Contos of Parish, N.Y., was riding with others through the town of Onondaga on Saturday afternoon without head protection, to protest the state’s requirement that bikers wear helmets.

State Troopers told the Syracuse Post-Standard that Contos was driving a 1983 Harley Davidson when his bike fishtailed and he flipped over the handlebars, striking his head on the pavement. He was later pronounced dead at Upstate University Hospital. Police say that had he been wearing a helmet, Contos would probably have survived the accident.

The ride was organized in part by ABATE (American Bikers Aimed for Education), according to a local ABC affiliate reporting on the accident. A spokesperson for the group said they didn't know if Contos was a member.

Many motorcycling enthusiasts have fought against helmet laws, saying they infringe on personal rights and that studies on helmet laws impacting safety have been skewed. Michigan is currently considering a repeal of its helmet law, which has passed the senate but still needs to move through the legislature and be signed by Governor Rick Snyder.

[Ksyrup]

Worst Driver in the Netherlands contestant runs over show's host + reality blurred

[Suburban Rhythm]

Cops: Woman complains of lack of love song, is hit

[cartman]

Robber who broke into hair salon beaten up by black-belt owner and kept as sex slave for three days... fed only Viagra | Mail Online

[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by cartman

Robber who broke into hair salon beaten up by black-belt owner and kept as sex slave for three days... fed only Viagra | Mail Online

you can't make this stuff up. who are these people?

[Ksyrup]

No one posted about the sequel to Lorena Bobbitt, Bobbitt II: At Your Disposal?

[cuervo72]

Originally Posted by cartman

Robber who broke into hair salon beaten up by black-belt owner and kept as sex slave for three days... fed only Viagra | Mail Online

Isn't this story recycled? I could swear I heard this one years ago.

[Ksyrup]

Maybe it's being used as a viagra commercial now.

[Warhammer]

I'm surprised there haven't been more break in attempts.

[Rizon]

Originally Posted by cuervo72

Isn't this story recycled? I could swear I heard this one years ago.

Yeah, I think there was one of those B-list actors that said this happened to him a few years ago. Jeremy something. I forget.

[cuervo72]

Hair Stylist Keeps Armed Robber as Sex Slave | Crime Watch | Columns | The Moscow Times

2009.

[DanGarion]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

No one posted about the sequel to Lorena Bobbitt, Bobbitt II: At Your Disposal?

From my wife's home town! Woohoo!

[Suicane75]

In Soviet Russia, victim rape you!!

[cartman]

Owner of killer bear chokes to death on sex toy - US news - Weird news - msnbc.com

[Rizon]

Yahtzee Game Provoked Brothers Jason And Andrew Cobb To Kill Mother: Cops

[Ksyrup]

YAHTZEE MOTHERFUCKER - DO YOU PLAY IT?

[Suburban Rhythm]

Clerk handcuffed in Murrysville adult video store robbery

Police are investigating after two people held up a clerk at a Murrysville adult video store early today, swiping cash and merchandise after restraining him with novelty handcuffs sold in the store.

[tyketime]

Fake Apple Store!

Walk by the Apple shop in Beijing’s Sanlitun neighborhood any day and you begin to have an inkling of how popular this brand has become in China in just a couple of years.

Roughly 40,000 visitors a day enter Apple’s shops in Beijing and Shanghai — four times as many as in any of the Apple shops in the United States.

But such popularity can attract imitation that Apple might not view as the sincerest form of flattery.

An American living in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province in China’s remote southwest corner, came across a fake Apple shop.

That’s right.

An entire fake Apple shop.

“They looked like Apple products. It looked like an Apple store. It had the classic Apple store winding staircase and weird upstairs sitting area. The employees were even wearing those blue t-shirts with the chunky Apple name tags around their necks,” writes the blogger.

But upon closer inspection, our intrepid fellow American realized, “A beautiful ripoff — a brilliant one — the best ripoff store we had ever seen (and we see them every day). But some things were just not right: the stairs were poorly made. The walls hadn’t been painted properly. Apple never writes “Apple Store” on its signs — it just puts up the glowing, iconic fruit.”

Now it wasn’t clear to the blogger whether the products were fake, too.

But here’s the real kicker: Some of the staff appeared to believe they were really working for Apple.

We checked with Apple, which confirmed it does not have a self-standing retail outlet in Kunming, but it does have a reseller. However, that reseller is nowhere near the "fake" shop mentioned in the blog.

[JediKooter]

I can see one or two, but, 19!?!?!

Man Dies After Suffering 19 Black Widow Spider Bites - KHQ Right Now - News and Weather for Spokane and North Idaho |

[cartman]

http://www.krem.com/news/crime/Suspe...126016704.html

[Ksyrup]

According to authorities, the neighbor grabbed two ornamental swords and ran to help. He was immediately struck in the head with a bat when he entered the home.

Ha!

[Suburban Rhythm]

The "story" itself isn't weird...but the video of the interview...

Police: 15-Year-Old Driver Crashes SUV Into Duplex - Pittsburgh News Story - WTAE Pittsburgh

"I opened up the door, and I saw the truck in the side of my house. I came outside and said, 'I'm calling 911.' They said, 'Don't call 911.' I rebuked that devil and I went around the back of the car and looked at the driver's license and I went in the house and I called 911," said Evans.

[JediKooter]

Blonde/driving/expensive car = bad combination

Million-Dollar Fender Bender - Yahoo! Autos

[tyketime]

Very interesting take on being a sex offender:

He’s labeled a sex offender — for sleeping with his own wife

To me, one of the more interesting comments is "“I would say this is a mom who’s trying to use the legal system to parent instead of having a conversation,’’ Sax said." But at the same time, you don't necessarily want some 30-something having sex with an underage girl who falls in love with him and they get married (not that there's anything wrong with that...). I think it really does point to the fallacy of a one-size fit all mentality.

[StLee]

Ridiculous. This is a prime example of how many laws are idiotic.

[Ksyrup]

Donut hole with extra glaze?


ROCKAWAY, N.J. — A 29-year-old woman working the night shift at Dunkin Donuts faces prostitution charges for allegedly taking breaks from selling donuts and coffee to provide sexual services in exchange for money.

Melissa Redmond, 29, of Mine Hill, was arrested after a six week investigation known as "extra sugar" that began when police got a tip that people could go to the Dunkin Donuts on Route 46 and arrange a liason with Redmond.

"I had gotten an anonymous tip," Detective Sgt. Kyle Schwarzmann, who led the investigation. "She was a night time employee (working 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.), supposedly a very good one."

Schwarzmann began gathering information and doing surveillance at the scene. He noticed on multiple evenings that she would go out to cars to see customers and would spend 10 or 15 minutes there, he said.

"Sometimes I'd even see money changing hands," Schwarzmann said, adding that sometimes the cars would stay in the parking lot and other times they would drive to another nearby location.

An undercover operation was developed wth the assistance of Officer Robert Koehler and Officer Scott Haigh acting as the undercover "John."

"He went in plain clothes through the drive-thru window," Schwarzmann said. "He spoke to her and she said if he wanted a good time to call her and she gave him her phone number."

Haigh parked in the parking lot and Redmond allegedly came out, approached him and gave him a specifc price list for her services.

Haigh returned on another occasion and inquired about her services, was offered a new, and lower, price so he said he needed to go to a bank machine but would return with the money.

When Haigh returned, they drove to the back of the building and the arrest was made. Redmond was then processed, served her complaint and released.

Dunkin Donuts employees declined to comment Monday morning.

[JediKooter]

Swedish man caught trying to split atoms at home - Yahoo! News

[flounder]

Idaho police tell man he can't wear his bunny suit in public because it scares children

Put up your ears and step out of the suit.

Idaho police have told a 34-year-old man to stop wearing a bunny suit in public because it has frightened the neighbors' kids.

One woman called cops after she said she spotted William Falkingham dressed in the plush costume, peeking at her son from behind a tree and pointing his finger like a gun.

When cops questioned other neighbors in Idaho Falls, they found several "who expressed that they were greatly disturbed by Falkingham and his bunny suit," a police report stated.

Some neighbors said Falkingham sometimes wears a tutu with the suit.

Falkingham told cops that "he enjoys wearing the suit," but he understood his neighbors' concerns.

At least one neighbor, Deborah Colson, has hopped to Falkingham's defense.

"He's got the bunny outfit, a cowboy suit and a ballerina dress but you don't see him except where he's tripping through his backyard," she said.

"He's never done anything wrong but wear his little suits in the background," she said. "He's got a strange lifestyle at home but we all do weird things at home. It makes me so sad: people don't even do anything and they get laughed at."

[cartman]

W.T.F.

http://www.khou.com/home/Traffic-Ale...127339658.html

[tarcone]

Captain Save-a-ho ARRESTED!!!!

A self-professed protector of women was arrested for public intoxication Monday afternoon.

Iowa City Police Officers were dispatched to the Pedestrian Mall at 2:43 p.m. for multiple complaints of a man harassing people. Police said they found 34-year-old Jerald T. Navarre shouting and smelling of alcohol.

Police said Navarre showed signs of intoxication, admitted to drinking and told officers he was “a little drunk.” He refused pre- and post-arrest breath tests.

The man allegedly told officers he is “needed” on the Pedestrian Mall to “protect women.” He goes by “Captain Save-A-Ho,” police said.

Navarre has a lengthy criminal record with various arrests for intoxication, burglary and escape from custody, according to online court records.

Navarre has been charged with public intoxication.

Iowa City Press Citizen

[gstelmack]

Originally Posted by cartman

W.T.F.

http://www.khou.com/home/Traffic-Ale...127339658.html

Was wondering myself, but read the article, they said the hydraulic lift used to dump the load got engaged and was raising it up while the guy was driving, and he didn't notice until it hit the sign.

[cartman]

Originally Posted by gstelmack

Was wondering myself, but read the article, they said the hydraulic lift used to dump the load got engaged and was raising it up while the guy was driving, and he didn't notice until it hit the sign.

Yeah, that was an update they made to the article. I thought that piece hanging down was just something that got knocked loose, not the actual hydraulic support arm.

[cartman]

I thought this was from The Onion, but no, it is real.

Meet the exorcist schoolgirls who spend their time casting out demons worldwide | Mail Online

[Suburban Rhythm]

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pitt.../s_751816.html

WPXI: Man with pants pulled down found shot in head

[cartman]

Fireworks got confused with birthday candles.

Md officials think fireworks mixed with birthday cake candles; small blast hurts girl, parents - The Washington Post

[Ksyrup]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Canisters of bull semen caused quite a scare on the on-ramp to Interstate 65 South Tuesday morning.

The canisters fell off a Greyhound bus just after 5 a.m. as the bus traveled around the curve of the ramp just south of downtown Nashville.

Fire and emergency crews were called to the scene amid reports of a foul odor.

When they discovered four unmarked canisters with steam and an unpleasant odor coming from them, they shut down the on-ramp and called HAZMAT crews.

Officials traced the containers to Greyhound after finding bus tickets on the ground. The bus did not know it lost its load and had continued on.

Authorities called Greyhound, who, after speaking with the driver the bus, determined the canisters to be filled with straws of frozen sperm packed in liquid nitrogen.

The load originated in Columbus, Ohio and was en route to a breeding facility in Laredo, Texas.

Canisters like they ones strewn across the interstate typically carry between 300 and 400 straws, each containing one-milliliter of sperm.

Depending on the bull the sperm came from, straws are worth between $18 and $50 each, according to experts. It's possible the load that fell off the bus Tuesday morning was worth as much as $80,000.

Once the leaking canisters were deemed not harmful, they were moved to a grassy area next to the interstate.

[JediKooter]

Oh come on!

[Ksyrup]

Bull semen scare forces closure of interstate highway ramp

[sterlingice]

We need lungs to weigh in on this story

SI

[DanGarion]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

[i]

Depending on the bull the sperm came from, straws are worth between $18 and $50 each, according to experts. It's possible the load that shot off the bus Tuesday morning was worth as much as $80,000.

Fixed that for you.

[tyketime]

I hit something... I heard loud screams... but I thought it was my imagination:

Off-duty officer comes forward in hit-and-run

Authorities say an off-duty police officer from South Jersey has come forward to say she might have been the driver who struck a man and left him lying critically injured in Winslow Township.

Authorities are not releasing the officer's name. But a law enforcement official said the officer is employed by Washington Township.

Her name is being withheld because she has not been charged.

The incident occurred early Friday in Winslow Township when when authorities said Vance Banks was walking along Sicklerville Road in Winslow Township around 1 a.m.

He was struck by what authorities believe was a red Honda Accord that drove off. Banks was critically injured.

The officer came forward Friday afternoon to say she might have been involved in an accident with a pedestrian.

[Ksyrup]

August 24, 2011

Child Rape for Welfare Benefits in Florida

By Paul Thompson, Daily Mail

A woman encouraged her husband to have sex with a 12-year-old girl so that she would get pregnant and they could claim extra cash benefits.

Alicia Bouchard even sat and watched while her 26-year-old husband had sex with the underage girl at their Florida home.

According to an arrest warrant, the 41-year-old wanted the girl to fall pregnant so that she and her husband would have extra income from state benefits.

[Scoobz0202]

Put them with general population in prison, please.