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A week in which a fugitive’s luck ran out, a lobster prognosticated and a politician gave the straight soap
FOREWARNED Potential bartenders at a wine bar in Surrey, England. The owner of the Five and Lime bar, Darren Ayres, said he has been “quite taken aback by the interest” the ad has received, the Daily Telegraph reported. It promises perks like “mediocre pay,” “horrendous hours” and “lousy work conditions.” “Hopefully my new staff will not keep me to the job description,” Ayres said.
ADMITTED The second-naughtiest thing that a German politician has ever done. When Martin Schulz, Angela Merkel’s main challenger, was asked to describe the naughtiest thing, he offered only No. 2, the Daily Telegraph reported. “On a boozy night out, I poured an entire packet of washing powder into an outdoor swimming pool.” He was slippery enough to evade the cops.
REGIFTING Well, no one’s admitting this, but 83 items given by Saudi Arabia to the White House, presents during President Donald Trump’s visit in May, are surely candidates. These include cheetah- and tiger-furlined robes, sandals and artwork of Trump himself. The Daily Beast obtained the list.
ESCAPED A Bengal tiger, from a truck near Atlanta. Suzy, a 6-year-old Bengal who had once performed in the circus, got loose on the way from Florida to Tennessee and wandered along an interstate. The highway was jammed with traffic as people fled hurricane Irma, The Associated Press reported. The cat ended up in a subdivision where it attacked a dog before being shot dead.
FORETOLD Six more weeks of summer, by a trusty crustacean. Passy Pete the Lobster made the fearless prediction this week in what has become a tradition for the past three years. Pete, fished out of the Passagassawakeag River, is credited with being right the last two years. And how many groundhogs can say that?
DENIED Drug smuggling, by a son of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. Paolo Duterte told a senate inquiry there was no truth to claims he helped ship drugs from China to the Philippines, the BBC reported. Rodrigo Duterte has led a notoriously violent drug crackdown. Paolo and the president’s son-in-law are alleged to have helped facilitate a shipment of crystal meth into the country.
SELLING Eight new “Star Courtside” seats at L.A. Clippers NBA games. Each one, positioned between the team benches, can be had for a mere $175,000 (U.S.) for the season (about $4,000 per game). ESPN reported the price will include “allinclusive clubs, in-seat waiter service and valet parking with access to a VIP entrance.” The scorers’ table was broken up to create the added space.
CAPTURED A fugitive wanted for 43 years for a highway death. U.S. Marshals captured Alan Brown, 67, in Bladensburg, Md., News 5 Cleveland reported. He’s alleged to have driven more than 145 km/h the wrong way on Interstate 71 in Ohio in 1974, when he side-swiped a car and struck a vehicle, killing the passenger. He escaped custody, constantly moved and used fake names.