11.3.05

Sympatico / MSN News : Unusual News : Internet casino buys Virgin Mary pretzel for $10,600 US

Sympatico / MSN News : Unusual News : Internet casino buys Virgin Mary pretzel for $10,600 US: "GoldenPalace.com has been an active eBay bidder.

Last month the casino paid $4,500 to an obese South Carolina man to tattoo advertising on his stomach. The casino also bid $35,099 to put its name on the FleetCenter in Boston for one day.

In December the casino paid $65,000 for a metal walking cane known as the 'ghost cane.'

In November the casino shelled out $28,000 to a Florida woman for the grilled-cheese sandwich thought to be embedded with the image of the Virgin Mary.

The casino put the cane and sandwich on a world tour and Machelle Naylor said she expects the same thing to happen with the pretzel.

The Naylors have decided to divide most of the $10,600 between their two churches, United Methodist of Alliance and United Methodist of St. Paul."

BBC NEWS | Health | How tunes get stuck in your head

BBC NEWS | Health | How tunes get stuck in your head: "Scientists may have found what makes a tune catchy, after locating the brain area where a song's 'hook' gets caught."

10.3.05

CNN.com - Dime minted in 1894 auctioned for $1.3 million - Mar 8, 2005

CNN.com - Dime minted in 1894 auctioned for $1.3 million - Mar 8, 2005: "BALTIMORE, Maryland (AP) -- A dime struck in 1894 at the San Francisco mint was auctioned Monday for $1,322,500, the most ever paid for a United States dime, experts said."

Ynetnews - News - Army frowns on Dungeons and Dragons

Ynetnews - News - Army frowns on Dungeons and DragonsDoes the Israel Defense Forces believe incoming recruits and soldiers who play Dungeons and Dragons are unfit for elite units? Ynet has learned that 18-year-olds who tell recruiters they play the popular fantasy game are automatically given low security clearance.


“They're detached from reality and suscepitble to influence,” the army says.

Local10.com - News - Police Investigate Use Of Taser In Hospital

Local10.com - News - Police Investigate Use Of Taser In Hospital: "ORLANDO, Fla. -- A police officer twice used a Taser stun device on a drug suspect who was restrained to a hospital bed because the man refused to give a urine sample to medical staff, authorities said."

Special report

Special report

9.3.05

US troops get training to avoid friendly-fire attacks on British - World - Times Online

US troops get training to avoid friendly-fire attacks on British - World - Times OnlineAMERICAN soldiers in Iraq are being given “anti-fratricide” training to reduce the number of friendly fire attacks against British and other coalition troops, The Times has learnt.

Thirty-two “blue-on-blue” attacks on British and other coalition vehicles have been logged in the past twelve months in southern Iraq, Britain’s area of responsibility.

13WHAM-TV ROCHESTER || NEWS

13WHAM-TV ROCHESTER || NEWS: "A former U.S. Marine who participated in capturing ousted Iraqi President Saddam Hussein said the public version of his capture was fabricated.

Ex-Sgt. Nadim Abou Rabeh, of Lebanese descent, was quoted in the Saudi daily al-Medina Wednesday as saying Saddam was actually captured Friday, Dec. 12, 2003, and not the day after, as announced by the U.S. Army."

Sympatico / MSN Health & Fitness : News : Laughter is Healthy: Blood flow increases when folks watch funny movies

Sympatico / MSN Health & Fitness : News : Laughter is Healthy: Blood flow increases when folks watch funny movies: "'I think it would be reasonable for everybody to loosen up, and spend about 15 to 20 minutes a day laughing,' said lead researcher Dr. Michael Miller, director of preventive cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center."

8.3.05

Ex-Korn Guitarist Baptized in Jordan River

RedNova News - Oddities - Ex-Korn Guitarist Baptized in Jordan River: "KIBBUTZ KINNERET, Israel -- Former Korn guitarist Brian 'Head' Welch was baptized Saturday in the Jordan River, just weeks after quitting his band, drug habits and rock-and-roll lifestyle for religion.

Welch, a founding member of the multi-platinum band, and about 20 other white-robed Christian pilgrims from a Bakersfield, Calif., church were immersed by their pastor, Ron Vietti.

Welch said the ritual baptism had washed away his anger. 'You know when you get angry and it builds up? I felt like hurting someone before, now I feel like hugging people,' he said."

WFTV.com - News - Stun Gun Used On Handcuffed, 65-Pound, 13-Year-Old Girl

WFTV.com - News - Stun Gun Used On Handcuffed, 65-Pound, 13-Year-Old Girl: "JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- State Attorney Harry Shorstein said Wednesday that excessive force may have been used by police officers who used a stun gun on a 13-year-old girl who was being uncooperative after they took her into custody for fighting with her mother.

The 65-pound girl was handcuffed in the back of a patrol car Feb. 7 when she was shocked twice with a 50,000-volt Taser, according to a Sheriff's Office report. Police departments in Florida and nationwide have been criticized for their use of Taser guns, which some say have caused deaths."