SIDELINES...

JACKPOT

A one-armed bandit player in a Bochum arcade was questioned by police, who discovered there was a warrant out for his arrest. The 37-year-old German had previously been ordered to pay a €710 fine or face 71 days’ imprisonment. As the officers went to cuff him, the machine he’d been playing suddenly paid out a €1,000 cash jackpot, allowing him to pay off the fine in full. (Sydney) D.Telegraph; (Portsmouth) News, 27 Sept 2014.

NO CRIB FOR A BED

A homeless man sleeping on an Ohio park bench and reported to police was actually a sculpture of Jesus intended to raise awareness of homelessness. Within 20 minutes of the statue’s installation by St Barnabas Episcopal Church in Bay Village, Cleveland, a police officer showed up after a tip-off from a concerned citizen. Miami Herald, 16 Oct 2020.

LOFT LIVING

Police arrested a man after he was found living in the ceiling of a grocery store. Matthew Hammar, 35, had fallen through the roof tiles and remained in the crawlspace for at least two days, sustaining himself by stealing food when the shop, in Fernley, Nevada, was closed for the night. kolotv.com, 17 Oct 2020.

LICHEN VIAGRA PERIL

New Zealanders have been warned not to eat a “sexy pavement lichen”, a green fungus growing on footpaths, treetrunks and rocks, which has been promoted online as a natural alternative to Viagra. Although Xanthroparmelia scabrosa may have stimulatory properties, scientists warn it may also contain pollutants like fæces, car exhaust fumes, lead, mercury and arsenic.< i>, 16 Aug 2019.

THE ASCENT OF MAN

Essex firefighters rescued three men who were stuck in a tumble dryer. They were called to a derelict laundry in Bower Hill, Epping, after the men, in their late teens, had crawled into an industrial-sized dryer. Two were in the drum when the third’s “ankles became trapped in the door” as he crawled in. BBC News, 31 Oct 2020.