NEWS OF THE WEIRD
News That Sounds Like a Joke
The Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy reported that as many as 16.4 million Americans believe that chocolate milk comes from brown cows. In fact, the center’s most frequently asked question on its website is, “Does chocolate milk come from brown cows?” (The answer is no.)
Almost half of respondents to the center’s survey weren’t sure where chocolate milk comes from at all.
The Entrepreneurial Spirit
Ventura County sheriff’s officers charged three produce workers with grand theft fruit after they were caught making unauthorized cash sales of avocados from a ripening facility.
Joseph Valenzuela, 38, Carlos Chavez, 28, and Rahim Leblanc, 30, liquidated up to $300,000 worth of off-the-books avocados. “It’s a big product here in California,” said Sgt. John Franchi. “Everybody loves avocados.”
Finer Points of the Law
In a fit of law abidance, a resident of Yorkshire, England, called that country’s emergency phone number to report that Queen Elizabeth II was not wearing her seatbelt as she departed the Palace of Westminster after delivering her traditional speech at the State Opening of Parliament.
Police warned that the 999 system is meant to be used only for emergencies.
Bright Ideas
Smoke bombs aren’t just for celebrating our nation’s birth! Mike Tingley of Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, burned his garage to the ground on July 3 when he used smoke bombs to try to rid the structure of a bees’ nest.
When firefighters from three townships arrived, fireworks stored in the garage were shooting into the sky. “We really weren’t going to celebrate the Fourth of July so much,” Tingley said. His home, which was not attached to the garage, was not damaged.
Oops!
Jerry Lynn of Ross, Pennsylvania, is continually haunted by the result of a minor mishap 13 years ago while drilling a hole in the wall of his living room.
During his project, an alarm clock fell through the hole and to the floor behind the wall. Since then, the alarm sounds dutifully at 7:10 p.m. (standard time) every day.
Fashion Emergency
To beat June’s record heat, male students at Isca Academy in Exeter, England, protested the school’s no-shorts rule by wearing the same uniform skirts the girls wear. One boy said the skirts were “quite refreshing.” Another enjoyed the “nice breeze.”