Don't Panic! Lighten Up!S


Smiley

Wyoming Man Accused of Riding a Horse Drunk in Snowstorm

A man has been cited for public intoxication while riding a white horse during a snowstorm in the northern Wyoming town of Cody. Police said they cited 28-year-old Benjamin Daniels, of Cody, after they received a call at 4 p.m. Sunday from a motorist who was concerned that a man was creating a road hazard by riding his horse on a street in conditions with poor visibility.

Assistant Police Chief George Menig said officers noticed that Daniels was intoxicated after they stopped him to explain that drivers were having difficulty spotting his slow-moving white horse.

Smiley

Texas Road Signs Warn Of Zombie Attack

Zombie
© WFTV 9Commuters dealing with reports of a zombie attack.
Hackers change electronic signs in apparent prank.

Besides the usual rush hour traffic, commuters in Austin, Texas, Monday also had to deal with reports of an imminent zombie attack.

Two city construction road signs near the University of Texas were hacked to display the warnings, reported the Austin American-Statesman.

The electronic signs, which usually warn motorists of traffic detours, instead included warnings such as "Caution! Zombies Ahead!" and "Nazi Zombies! Run!!!"

Mr. Potato

Swedish Man Denied 'Hello' Name Change

A Stockholm, Sweden, man said authorities have barred him from changing his name to Halla, the Swedish equivalent of "Hello."

Jonas Peter Haraldsson said the Swedish National Tax Agency, or Skatteverket, ruled he could not change his middle name to the friendly greeting because it might "cause offense and is likely to lead to discomfort for the bearer," The Local reported Wednesday.

Haraldsson said he plans to appeal the decision.

Smiley

Goldilocks Intruder Lived in People's Homes

North Webster, Indiana - There wasn't any porridge to be too hot or too cold, and the homeowners weren't three bears, but a burglar emulating Goldilocks enjoyed other food and found the chairs and beds to be just right.

The intruder even drank beer left in some of the vacation homes targeted around Webster Lake and tried on clothing.

Smiley

Police: Man Stole Work Computer, Then Replacement

Long Branch, New Jersey - He didn't even pay for the warranty. Police in Long Branch said a man allegedly stole a $20,000 diagnostic computer from a garage where he used to work, then returned the broken unit several months later - only to steal its replacement.

The man was been charged Friday with two counts of theft.

Smiley

Sheriff: Michigan Man Stages Break-in, Then Calls 911

Authorities in Michigan say a 24-year-old man broke into a gas station and called 911 on himself, claiming he wanted to go to jail to be with his incarcerated brother.

St. Clair County Sheriff Tim Donnellon tells the Times Herald of Port Huron that deputies obliged, arresting the man early Tuesday.

Smiley

Beware the perils of poppy seed bagels

 Cream cheese bagel.
© Linda Nylind
Cream cheese bagel.
The degree of legal peril in eating a poppy seed bagel, long rumoured and feared by the public, became clear only when two doctors conducted an experiment.

Elizabeth J Narcessian and HoJung Yoon, both at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, published their finding in a 1997 study called "False-Positive Urine Drug Screen: Beware the Poppy Seed Bagel" It concerned a patient whose urine mysteriously tested positive for morphine.

"The patient denied any use of illicit substances and denied obtaining medication from any other sources. Her pharmacy confirmed that I [Narcessian] was the only doctor prescribing Schedule II medications [illegal/classified drugs]. The patient was then questioned about her diet. She reported that her diet consisted predominantly of oatmeal cereal and bagels.

Smiley

Sweden Bars ADHD License Plate

Swedish authorities have barred a woman's attempt to obtain a license plate bearing the letters ADHD, describing the combination as potentially offensive.

The 29-year-old Sodertalje woman was blocked from obtaining a plate reading ADHD after Swedish Transport Agency officials ruled the letters ADHD, an abbreviation for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, are inappropriate for a license plate and potentially offensive, The Local reported Tuesday.

Swedish Transport Agency representative Mikael Andersson said officials use three criteria when considering potential license plates: "Firstly, it can't be similar to regular registration numbers, secondly if it is a registered trademark then permission needs to be granted and proved, and thirdly it must not be offensive," he said.

Smiley

Australia: Police called in to 'arrest' Porky the pig

Porky the pig
© Jacklyn WagnerSenior Const Peter Richardson and Const Amanda Vidler in heavy rain coax the reluctant pig off the roundabout at the junction of Woodlark and Dawson streets.
She caused traffic chaos, provoked guffaws of laughter from passers-by and inspired more than a few Lismore residents to throw some bacon on their Australia Day barbies.

Dubbed 'Porky' by arresting officer Senior Constable Peter Richardson, the mystery sow was spotted just before 11am yesterday crossing the road on to the roundabout at the junction of Woodlark and Dawson streets in central Lismore.

Palette

Money no object for Putin the painter

When the auctioneer asked if there were any more bids, there must have been a bit more pressure than normal for buyers to keep going.

A picture sketched by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin fetched 37 million roubles (£820,000) at a charity auction.