Rats.

Newsrooms are, in my experience, home to some of the strangest conversations on the planet. Case in point: this gem from the Associated Press which spurred a half-hour, on-and-0ff debate about what constitutes animal cruelty and where to draw that line.

Do we prosecute frat boys for eating dozens of live goldfish? What if I just like my steak very rare (yes, for the record I do want it to moo) and shouldn't we just prosecute this rat-munching lameo simply for being stupid enough to post a video of his 'achievement?'

Enjoy:
Utah rat eater has animal cruelty charge dismissed
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A Utah man who is no longer facing charges for eating a live baby rat says the act was grotesque, but shouldn’t be considered as animal cruelty.
Prosecutors charged Andy Ray Harris with animal cruelty in April, after authorities viewed a posted Facebook video of him eating what appeared to be the baby rat. The 31-year-old Tooele man says he ate the rat on a dare.
Prosecutors argued the baby rat deserved protections because it wasn’t wild and it was killed in a way that is not an accepted fashion.
Harris says it was not animal cruelty because the rat was going to be eaten by a snake. He also says rats don’t have legal protections because they are pests.

Proud day in NM politics

I usually don't dip my toes into the political realm of odd news. But the latest dust-up out of Sunland Park needs a little light shed.

Today, Sun-News reporter Reyes Mata III has an excellent set of reports on the apparent inability of the elected officials, including the mayor and council, to behave above a third-grade level during public meetings. It's simply not how we expect our leaders (public employees) to behave.

Here's a link to the whole, ugly mess that unfolded Monday night and into Tuesday, with a call for the state to take over the municipality and police stepping in to calm the situation.

http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-news/ci_18992730

Click the main story and look for 'related content' to see the rest of the mess.

Stay classy, NM politicos. Stay classy.

Who knew?

Who knew?

According to this British report, us Yanks were working on a plan to kick them out of Canada back in the 1930s. Apparently, they owed us some dough for the war and the folks at home were very grumpy. I'm glad we all got over that one!

Here's the dish from the Daily Mail.

"In 1930, a mere nine years before the outbreak of World War Two, America drew up proposals specifically aimed at eliminating all British land forces in Canada and the North Atlantic, thus destroying Britain's trading ability and bringing the country to its knees."

FDR put the smack-down on the plan as well as other domestic and foreign scenarios.

Read more:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2039453/How-America-planned-destroy-BRITAIN-1930-bombing-raids-chemical-weapons.html#ixzz1YadXFK6F"Code Plan Red
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2039453/How-America-planned-destroy-BRITAIN-1930-bombing-raids-chemical-weapons.html

Can I get extra Arby-sauce with my Monet?

Two Tennessee women are charged with stealing two pieces of 'artwork' from an Arby's restaurant. Johnson City Press reports "a picture of pears in a wooden frame and a piece of metal wall art installed during remodeling" of the sammich-shop were valued at $1,200.

You have got to be kidding me. No wonder my 'tater-cakes-with-horsey-sauce cost me $12.95 yesterday.

Read more: http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/News/article.php?id=94294#ixzz1Y1VQl0Nn

Fair fare

You know I've got a weakness for fair food -- anything deep fried, on a stick, eat-between-the-barn-and-midway dining at it's finest.

Here's the latest entries from my carny-cook friends in the Lone Star State. Belly up for fried bubblegum, fried salsa, and buffalo chicken flapjacks.

God bless Texas.

http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2011/sep/05/state-fair-texas-fried-foods-awards-2011-winners/

Dude abides.

I never knew tortoises wore spurs, but this is Las Cruces. Here's a happy ending to a missing critter story. Possibly the best slow-speed chase we've had a chance to report on lately. Enjoy, at your leisure.
http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_18834233

Due for services rendered

We get a fair amount of crazy reports here in humble Las Cruces. Here's a beaut.

A woman is refusing to pay the hospital for a police-ordered, um, body cavity search. She remains unnamed because she was never charged. Her lawyer wants the county to wipe out the bill.

http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-news/ci_18814590

At least the goat pooped before getting into the cop car

It's been a while since I've shared a chuckle. But, I just found this gem that brought a much-needed belly-laugh. It feels a little wrong to post it right after a tribute to Lucille Ball, but I think she'd get a kick out of it.

According to MSNBC, Portland police butted into a kidnapping and kept the crooks from getting someone's goat. The goat-grabbers got away, but the kid's all good.

Bonus quotes:
"We come out and there's one guy inside the fence handing over this little goat right here to two other men on the other side of the fence."

And:
"They're like 'oh, we're just gonna take it to a party - we'll bring it back by the morning' and we're just like, 'no you aren't.'"

Don't worry, the goat used the dime from her nanny to call the cops. She's no longer on the lam.

Believe it or don't. Read to the bottom line of the story for the punchline.

Here's the linky-thing: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44243081/ns/local_news-portland_or/

Enjoy.

You got some 'splainin' to do!

The late, great Lucille Ball would have turned 100 Saturday. I know this isn't odd news, but we at "Stranger Than Fiction" think it's a good time to pay tribute to one of the great talents of our time.

From the Vitameatavegimin foibles to the cow in the boiler and hawking beef out of a baby carriage, she defined physical comedy and wore it with grace - on and off the screen.

So, here is a collection of previously unpublished photos of Lucy, courtesy of life.com.

http://www.life.com/gallery/62521/lucille-ball-unpublished-photos

Thanks for the laughs, Red.

Chupacabras suck

Here's one from (and for) my South Texas friends - A sharpshooting teen spotted and dropped a critter he thinks is the infamous goat-sucker (Chupacabra to you cryptozoologists). I'll wait for NCIS's Abby Shuto to solve this case.

http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-news/ci_18517340

We're losing the bacon war

China is tapping their strategic pork reserve to prevent prices from going hog-wild. Forget Big Oil, we must stockpile bacon.

Read more about this national threat as reported by The Wall Street Journal - http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304203304576447014217449574.html

Well, we've confirmed the desert heat has hit at least a couple of folks in Southern New Mexico. Failed ninjas and nekkid burglars - what reporter could ask for more?

Last week, we were treated to the exploits of a ninja dork in South County. I know some folks are skinny. But, trying to hide behind a 2-inch sapling speaks poorly of your ninja skills.

http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_18467110?IADID=Search-www.lcsun-news.com-www.lcsun-news.com

Or, you could burgle an apartment at 9 a.m. -- in the nude. At least the victim (who got an eyeful -- and a great dinner story to tell later) offered a set of boxer shorts to the perp before trying to get him out of the house.

http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_18501382?source=most_viewed

shampoo siblings

The next time you want to fling shampoo at your brother, consider the fate of Jonathan Pippert, who is facing up to two years in jail due to prior convictions and Jared Pippert, who is facing up to 90 days.

And, if you are 27 and 32 years old, you should probably have moved out of Mom's house by now.

Read more from UPI.com http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2011/06/15/Shampoo-fight-lands-brothers-in-jail/UPI-21411308123000/#ixzz1SH2KQPAt

This food isn't fair

I love fair-food. Deep fried, on a stick, eaten off a greasy paper plate that just can't hold it's Crisco.

Now, I've been bested. This is one gut-bomb I wouldn't risk under the best of circumstances, much less before jumping on a rollercoaster.

Please note, this is not for the weak of stomach or faint of heart.

It's a maggot sammich.

The Sacramento Bee reports that's the latest midway munchy at this year's California State Fair.

I'll stick to roasted corn and a brat, thanks.

More here: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/07/08/3752359/big-deals-and-big-bugs-at-state.html

Hollyweird

Dear John Travolta and Tom Cruise,
You are hereby ordered to "unfriend" Placido Domingo Jr. because he's no longer part of the chosen ones.
That is all.
L. Ron Hubbard

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2013433/Placido-Domingo-Jr-targeted-Scientologists-abandons-cult-favour-ex-wife.html

Please ignore the bunny

We get our fair share of odd crimes in Las Cruces.

I'd usually bring you your "Stranger Than Fiction" update with stories from the world at large, or at least out-of-state.

Much like this tale of an Indiana man who, at the direction of a bunny rabbit and other nefarious characters, sprayed lighter fluid in a store after the pharmacy wouldn't fill his 'script without him paying for it.

Go figure.

Read this gem at http://www.14wfie.com/story/15033754/epd?clienttype=printable and enjoy.

Wait! There's more!

I mentioned we've got our special brand of odd in Las Cruces. Check out the latest in our infamous nipple-ripping case.

Yes, you read that right. Sorry about that.

A family feud went awry (yes, alcohol was involved) in December, 2010, when a mother-in-law and her son's wife engaged in a tussle which ended with a nipple falling to the floor.

Awkward.

The cringe-inducing story came to an end this week with a probationary sentence for mother-in-law.

"It's still family" said the judge.

Titilating story can be seen at http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_18411751?source=most_viewed

Puppy poop power

OK, I'm all for alternative energy sources. I'm also opposed to stepping on piles of dog poo when I go for my morning walks around the 'hood. This could be a solution that I could support on two levels. The Arizona Republic, via the Associated Press, says the doggy-doo could be magically mulched and the methane gas used as a power source.
So far, they only plan to power one street light.
Hey, it beats scraping off my shoes every morning.

Try explaining this at the body shop…

The Associated Press reports an investigation into a fatal hit-and-run in Mesa, Ariz. is missing a crucial piece of evidence.

The accident left one man in critical condition, another dead. When officers arrived to investigate, the man who was killed was missing a leg.

Police say the leg may have been imbedded in the vehicle or disposed of by the driver who killed the man and fled.

Deep-fried heaven

Those of you who know me know I have an unhealthy love of all things deep-fried. Especially if it can be put on a stick at a state fair. So, you won't be surprised that the latest sizzling treat I've found is deep-fried kool aid. Yes, kool aid.

This is not your dad's funnel cake, for sure.

I've written stories on every permutation of 'fried food on a stick' you can imagine - Oreos, Snickers, the regular run of meat products, even a cheesecake, skewered and dipped in sizzling fat. I offer no apologies, have
no regrets.

But this one may take the cake, so to speak.

The San Diego Tribune is touting this fat-fried sugar ball as one of the highlights at the San Diego County Fair, where one vendor sold 400 to 600 orders of deep-fried Kool-Aid per day the first weekend of the fair.
That's about double the rate of previous debut items.

"That's because it tastes so darn good," the vendor said of the gooy red snack, which looks like a technicolor doughnut hole.

Hey, Kool-Aid!! Who can argue with that?

Check out the full story here:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jun/14/fried-kool-aid-hit-fair-chicken-charlie-says/

Here's a 'balloon boy' story that will lift your spirits.
Bobby Bradley has become the youngest pilot to solo in a hot-air balloon. And, of course, he did it in New Mexico, home to the heart of ballooning worldwide.
ABC news and the Associated press report the 9-year-old lifted off as the sun rose over the Land of Enchantment for a 26 minute float and a ride of his young lifetime. Bouncing off in Tome, near Albuquerque, he had three other balloons flying tandem, just to keep an eye out. His (apparently confident, but ever-cautious) parents told the press Bobby had only 10 gallons of fuel aboard, limiting the distance of his travel.
Read the full story (with a great photo of a safely-landed, very happy young pilot) here: http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/balloon-boy-bobby-bradley-flies-heights-mexico/story?id=1376067

When fish fight back

The Associated Press is reporting a 25-year-old woman's leg was broken when a 6-foot-long sturgeon jumped into her airboat while on a Florid River.
The Sunday accident was the fifth report of a person injured by a jumping fish this year, according to Florida Fish and Wildlive Conservation Commission officials, the AP reported.
Makes me think twice about the fillet-o-fish sandwich I had for lunch. Or, maybe, tartar sauce should be standard gear for Florida boaters.

Other folks' leftovers: It's what's for dinner

I'd like to think we've all scarfed down a cold slice of pizza or that leftover tuna casserole out of the fridge. But one restaruant is cooking up a plan (the plan is all they are cooking, by the way) to buy your leftovers by the pound and resell them. The Kinston Free Press in Kinston, NC reports "Lefties" is opening a restaurant based on what can only be called the "You gonna eat that?" business model.

The mystery box in my fridge is scary enough. I'd prefer not to purchase your leftovers, thanks anyway.

BTW, "Lefties" apparently didn't play well in D.C. Must have been something about the name.

BONUS QUOTES: “Say you have hamburgers on Wednesday night, and there are three left over,” Ward said. “If you don’t want to eat hamburgers again that week, all you have to do is use our drive-thru window on your way to work. Someone from our staff will weigh your leftovers and pay you $1.50 per pound.”

AND: “The service is really fast because the food has already been cooked,” said Lefty’s customer Haney Ginsburg of Grifton. “I got some hamburger steak that had a few cigarette ashes on top, just like mama used to make.”

Here's a link, if you can stomach it.

http://www.kinston.com/news/restaurant-73990-warmed-column.html