What weird news stories make you either laugh out loud, or just say "huh?'

[Merlin the Elder]

You barely beat me to posting that link, Gina!  That's a riot!  The drunk call is just as funny.

[LadyStitch]

If all the guy wanted was a shower that is the least of any crimes he could have done.  Nothing was taken except for maybe some water for the shower.

[Welsh Wench]

It's old news but always makes me laugh.
For a funeral.

Willie the Wimp.
Need I say more?

http://gregengland.com/2006/01/18/willie-the-wimp/

And immortalized by Stevie Ray Vaughan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLZI2z19vbQ

[iain robb]

And immortalized by Stevie Ray Vaughan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLZI2z19vbQ

Dunno about "immortalized." Still seems plenty dead to me. 

[Welsh Wench]

I'll take Twists on Words for 200.00, Iain.

The answer is--
1. to give everlasting fame to, as by treating in a literary work Macbeth was immortalized by Shakespeare

The question is--
'What is immortalization?

So do I get my case of Turtle wax? 

[mehan]

My little burg has an overinflated opinion of itself - evidenced this event:

On Monday afternoon, a shopper at our local mall reported seeing a man with a gun - the entire police force converged on the mall and hastened its evacuation.  They searched all night for the man with the gun - they reported that "20 on duty officers" will be present upon the mall's opening the next morning.  They published the security photo of the "man with the gun" on Monday evening news and again most of Tuesday.  

On Tuesday evening after seeing the security photo the "man with the gun" reported to the police and informed them that what they were looking at was his umbrella..... What I really love, is that "ITS AN UMBRELLA" was Wednesday mornings front page headline.  (Perhaps it should have been followed with "yes, Virginia, we are that stupid")

Oh, and forgot to mention -he was one of the people that was evacuated!

[Merlin the Elder]

Yeah... it's like the time they evacuated the student center because someone had spilled some Sweet and Low... in a small college town in central Arkansas...an obvious primary terrorist target! 

Personally, I refuse to give in to the fear mongers any more. It was enough that I had to wear dog-tags in elementary school so that they could identify my body after a nuclear attack. I'd rather live with the danger than the fear. Despite the nutcases mouthing off out there, everyone is not out to get you.

[dbaldock]

... Despite the nutcases mouthing off out there, everyone is not out to get you.

Better watch your back, some of us may be out to get you...   

[Merlin the Elder]

Thanks, David. I knew I could count on you! 

[Rowan MacD]

Squirrel attacking residents of Vt. neighborhood

– Wed Mar 16, 10:58 am ET

BENNINGTON, Vt. – A Vermont neighborhood is being stalked by a renegade gray squirrel.

Several people in Bennington say they've been attacked by a squirrel over the last few weeks.

Kevin McDonald tells the Bennington Banner he was shoveling snow when the squirrel jumped onto him. He says he threw the animal off, but it twice jumped back onto him. A game warden says there have been other reports, too.

One woman is being treated for exposure to rabies, but Vermont Public Health Veterinarian Robert Johnson says there's never been a case of a squirrel passing rabies to a human.

Johnson says it's possible the squirrel was raised as a pet and lost its fear of humans. He says the squirrel might "go ballistic" when it encounters people it doesn't recognize.



*Aren't gray squirrels were native to the UK?*

[The Rabbi]

At least the headline did not read "Squirrel Attacks Nutcase".

[Lady Rebecca]

I was in Epcot last week, and there was a lady in a scooter sitting there eating some nuts she had just bought, and a squirrel climbed up the side of her scooter, and almost made it to the nut bag. But unfortunately, someone pointed out to her that there was a squirrel on her scooter, and she screamed and sent him flying. Poor little guy.

And a few years ago, when I was walking in Central park, I stopped to chat to a squirrel on the ground. He came within a foot of my shoe, then decided to crawl up a lady's leg, who was also watching him.

Also, one time when I was walking across campus (in OKC), my friend and I were walking, and I stopped to chat to a squirrel in a tree, and another squirrel started pelting acorns at my friend's head.

I love squirrels!

[Merlin the Elder]

Rani thinks I pretty much of a squirrel...but, sorry! I'm taken. 

[Elennare]

The squirrels (and crows) at the zoo my husband works at will steal snacks out of strollers.  And no, your cooler is not squirrel-proof.  They've actually had people complain about the "vagrants" coming to the zoo and rifling through the strollers for food. 

[dbaldock]

I was in Epcot last week, and there was a lady in a scooter sitting there eating some nuts she had just bought, and a squirrel climbed up the side of her scooter, and almost made it to the nut bag. But unfortunately, someone pointed out to her that there was a squirrel on her scooter, and she screamed and sent him flying. Poor little guy.

And a few years ago, when I was walking in Central park, I stopped to chat to a squirrel on the ground. He came within a foot of my shoe, then decided to crawl up a lady's leg, who was also watching him.

Also, one time when I was walking across campus (in OKC), my friend and I were walking, and I stopped to chat to a squirrel in a tree, and another squirrel started pelting acorns at my friend's head.

I love squirrels!

Here's a link to a Squirrel story from a few years ago at TRF, related by eloquentXI.

Take Care,
David Baldock