Randol White lives adjacent to a parking lot full of driverless Waymo cars in San Francisco, KGO-TV reported on Aug. 13. And he's a big fan of the autonomous vehicles. But over the last few weeks, White has been assaulted by the sounds of car horns. "I was like, where is that coming from? And I looked down, and I was like, I think it's coming from the Waymo cars," he said. Sure enough, the "smart" cars have become confused and all started honking at each other, both during the day and at night. "I could not be more cranky today," said neighbor Russell Pofsky. "It affects the way you feel." Waymo said it has identified the glitch and is working on a fix. [KGO, 8/13/2024]

You Can't Make This Up

Richard E. Brown of Kershaw County, South Carolina, filed a lawsuit on Aug. 1 against Buc-ee's, the convenience store chain, WBTW-TV reported. Brown was walking on a sidewalk at a store in Florence County, South Carolina, in 2022 when he tripped over a rope that was holding down the large inflatable beaver mascot, which caused him several injuries, including to his right shoulder. The lawsuit claims that Buc-ee's was "aware of the dangerous condition of the rope that was holding the inflatable beaver in place." Brown is suing for negligence and seeking unspecified financial damages. Buc-ee's has not responded. [WBTW, 8/11/2024]

It's a Dirty Job

In Pittsburgh on Aug. 12, the Allegheny River was the site of a massive dredging and cleanup conducted by Three Rivers Waterkeeper, an environmental group. TribLIVE reported that in just four hours, the operation pulled about 50,000 pounds of vehicle parts from the river, along with an intact Volkswagen Beetle, bicycles, skateboards and a mattress. "If you were to dive down there right now, you'd see a solid tangle of vehicles," said Capt. Evan Clark. Many of the cars were thought to be from a long-closed downtown parking lot. "To see this cleanup work, it shows that people care about the rivers, and they're getting better," Clark said. [TribLIVE, 8/12/2024]

Unclear on the Concept

Even after Cody Mortensen, 28, of Lucerne Valley, California, was told that he would "probably die," he insisted on biking across Regent's Slide, a massive landslide near Big Sur. The Mercury News reported that on Aug. 9, Mortensen talked with a construction worker who said the road was not passable, but the biker "said he was going to try anyways." Sure enough, Mortensen fell more than 100 feet toward the ocean, abandoned his bicycle and climbed down toward the beach, where he was rescued by Bettencourt and Big Sur Fire. He had hit his head and seemed confused, witnesses said, and his arm was cut. Mortensen faces charges of wanton disregard to obey a person directing traffic and failing to obey traffic signs. [Mercury News, 8/13/2024]

Nope

Thrill-seekers will want to put Berlin, Germany, on their list of spots to visit, Yahoo! News reported on Aug. 10. Atop a 40-story hotel near the former East Berlin's famous TV tower is the highest swing in Europe, which allows riders to soar out over the city about 400 feet below. "It feels a bit like flying," said Victoria Voigt, 34. Riders pay about $22 for five minutes on the swing, which opened in June and has thrilled more than 100 riders per day. Pascal Vent, 36, tried the swing for his birthday: "I came here to feel a bit younger." [Yahoo! News, 8/10/2024]

Recent Alarming Headline

Residents of Feather Falls, California, are barking mad over an incident that took place on Aug. 8, KCRA-TV reported. The Butte County Sheriff's Office said Davina Corbin, 56, was found dead on the Black Hawk Trail after apparently being mauled by a pack of dogs. Max Hecker, who lives in the area, said the dogs are Great Danes that are known to terrorize people. "They'd be out here in the road, and you would have to wade through 'em," Hecker said. He said he and other neighbors had repeatedly contacted Butte County Animal Control, to no avail. "They didn't do anything about any of this," he said. "That lady should have never died." Officials rounded up the dogs, and a search warrant was issued at a property across from where Corbin was found. [KCRA, 8/12/2024]

Clothing Optional

Harley Walters of San Antonio, Texas, was working at home on Aug. 13 when he looked out a window and saw a naked man walking down the sidewalk with his dog by his side. KENS5-TV reported that Walters worried the man was suffering some kind of physical or mental health issue; a group of neighbors decided to confront the man. "The other gentleman that stopped him on the street ... said, 'Hey, are you aware that you don't have pants on?'" Walters said. "He said, 'Yeah,' like it was no big deal." Police who responded to the scene said the man was high on mushrooms; officers gave him a courtesy ride home and did not charge him. [KENS5, 8/13/2024]

Oops

Auckland City Mission in New Zealand is trying to recover more than its reputation after the charity accidentally distributed fake candy that was actually chunks of methamphetamine, The New York Times reported on Aug. 14. The candies looked like individually wrapped pineapple sweets and had been donated by a member of the public, said Helen Robinson, the group's chief executive. Each block of meth weighed about 3 grams, packing up to 300 doses of the drug -- enough to potentially be lethal. Three people were treated after tasting the candy, but it was so unpleasant they didn't eat the whole thing. Auckland police were hoping to recover all the candy and were looking into the origins of the donation. [NY Times, 8/14/2024]

What’s in a Name?

Elaine Salmon, a teacher at Peak to Peak Mountain Charter School in Pine Mountain Club, California, was readying her classroom for the new year on Aug. 4 when she left for a moment to make some copies. KERO-TV reported that when Salmon returned, she found an unexpected visitor in the room: a bear. Salmon called her husband, who got the bear's attention and held the classroom door open for it to rush back outside. The animal didn't do any real damage, but the school plans to change the door handles, since a bear was able to maneuver the latch. The bear is persistent: Salmon said it came back again. Maybe it was just looking for a fish? [KERO, 8/9/2024]

Questionable Judgment

(See what we did there?) On Aug. 13 in Detroit, 36th District Judge Kenneth King got a little carried away while “trying to serve as a deterrence” to a teenager in his courtroom, the Detroit Free Press reported. The 16-year-old girl was in court on a field trip when she fell asleep during King’s 45-minute address to the group between hearings. King threatened her with jail and contempt of court and forced her to wear a jail uniform and handcuffs before ultimately freeing her. “I wanted to instill in this kid that this is not a joke, this is a very serious situation,” King said. Marissa Ebersole Wood, the leader of the nonprofit group that organized the trip, said, “We have spoken to the student and her parents, and the young lady was traumatized by the judge’s unnecessary disciplinary treatment and scolding. ... The group of students should have been simply asked to leave the courtroom if he thought they were disrespectful.” King said he has reached out to the family with an offer to mentor the girl, but has not received a response. [Detroit Free Press, 8/15/2024]

Lalita Kayi, 50, was discovered on July 27 in a forest about 280 miles from Mumbai, India, the BBC reported, chained to a tree. Kayi initially told her rescuers that her husband had shackled her to the tree and "left her in the forest to die without food or water." But police and her doctor say the American woman tied herself to the tree. After treatment in a psychiatric hospital, Kayi admitted that she is not married and was distressed because her visa and money were running out. Her doctor, Sanghamitra Phule, said Kayi's condition is improving and she has been in touch with her family in the U.S. [BBC, 8/6/2024]

Do. Not. Insult. The. Chef.

Georgetown County (South Carolina) Sheriff's officers were called to a home on July 28 on reports of an assault in progress, Fox59-TV reported. Deputies were told that the fight started while siblings Anthony Harper and Hope Harper were cooking chicken. Hope Harper allegedly asked her brother "why he didn't season the chicken ... so it could crust up," the report said. When Hope called Anthony a "dumb dog," he pushed her into a table and punched her. Someone else in the home fired a 9mm handgun into the ceiling, hoping to stop the brawl, but no -- Hope retrieved a steak knife and started swinging it at her brother. Next, their grandmother swatted Hope with a broom until she backed off. But Anthony, his chef cred cruelly questioned, picked up a can of Raid bug spray and sprayed Hope on the neck and face until she grabbed the can and sprayed him back. Each of the siblings is pressing charges against the other; both were released on bond. [Fox59, 8/1/2024]

Feeling Eel

About 150 people in and around Tokyo were stricken ill, and one person died, in late July after eating grilled eel sold at a department store, the Associated Press reported. The eel was prepared by a local restaurant chain and sold in the grocery area of the Keikyu department store, officials said. Roasted eel is considered a tonic against the summer's extreme heat; more than 1,700 servings of the dish were sold at the shop. [AP, 7/30/2024]

Fine Points of the Law

Evans Lee Jr. of Atlanta passed away on Oct. 26, 2022, the Atlanta Black Star reported. Because he left no will, Georgia law called for the nearest living relative to ask the probate court to make them an administrator, which is just what Randy Watson, 48, did. The problem: Watson was not related to Lee. Georgia's probate court does not require proof of being a rightful heir to an estate, so Watson became the executor, filling in false details on Lee's death certificate and listing Watson as the decedent's son. In response, Lee's nephew, Trahan Brown, was granted a court-ordered paternity test that confirmed Watson was not related to the dead man. But before the court could reverse his executorship, Watson had cleared out most of Lee's belongings, sold his home, and collected his urn of ashes. "There was never an opportunity to go in the home, clean the home, none of that," said Brown's wife, Renee. Authorities have opened an investigation into Watson and the funeral home. [Atlanta Black Star, 8/6/2024]

Bright Idea

On July 31, police responded to a fire in the early morning hours at a U-Haul business in Roseburg, Oregon, KEZI-TV reported. One van was fully engulfed in flames, and the fire was spreading to a second vehicle. Security footage from the area identified Jennifer Denise Holmes, 47, whose van with Nana's Sweet Treats on the side could be seen in the area. When officers spoke with Holmes, she admitted to siphoning gas from the U-Haul and then lighting a cigarette. She was charged on Aug. 3 with first-degree criminal mischief and reckless burning. [KEZI, 8/6/2024]

Haute Dog

CBS News reported on Aug. 7 that fashion house Dolce & Gabbana is going to the dogs. The designer has launched a perfume for dogs called Fefe in honor of Domenico Dolce's poodle. A 3.4-ounce bottle will set you back $108, and the company claims veterinarians approve of the alcohol-free scent. But apparently not ALL veterinarians. Federico Coccia, a vet in Rome, isn't a fan: "Dogs recognize themselves by smells, they recognize a person by smell. ... This world of smells should not be changed," he said. He also noted that some diseases are made apparent by their odors, and the perfume could mask those. Dog owner Francesca Castelli agrees: "It seems to be a very exaggerated process of humanization," she said. [CBS News, 8/7/2024]

Field Report

Visitors to downtown Orlando, Florida, might be used to seeing pigeons on the rooftops -- but not THESE pigeons. ClickOrlando reported on Aug. 6 that giant, brightly colored, inflatable pigeons are about to be installed on several of the city's rooftops. Creative City Projects, an arts group, is bringing the birds in to draw more visitors downtown. At 21 feet long and 16 feet high, the neon pigeons are expected to "foster a greater appreciation for the interconnectedness of all living beings in an urban environment," said Ashley Papagni, a city spokesperson. [ClickOrlando, 8/6/2024]

It's a Mystery

Officials in Sioux City, Iowa, are stumped by the appearance of several blue crabs around the city, Oddee reported on Aug. 5. The first incident happened at the Sioux City Public Library on July 30, when a crabby visitor was found in the computer lab (which is on the second floor). Circulation services manager Jenn Delperdang said the crab "must have been hungry for knowledge. We really have no idea the journey that this crab had to get to the library." The staff called Sioux City Animal Adoption and Rescue Center to retrieve "Chester," but he passed on two days later. Another crustacean pinched customers of a vending machine in a neighboring downtown building as they tried to retrieve their soda. [Oddee, 8/5/2024]

Latest Religious Message

Katie Moran, president of the World Apostolate of Fatima USA, was taking pictures of the International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima in Canton, Ohio, on Aug. 2, when she witnessed a miracle, she said. WJW-TV reported that Moran took two subsequent photos, then saw that in the first one, Mary's eyes were open, and in the second, they were closed. The statue travels the world spreading the message of Our Lady of Fatima. "According to theologians, mystically her presence is there with the statue," said Moran. Larry Maginot, the statue's custodian, elaborated: "We know that she's wept 15 times." Moran believes Mary is sending a message to the world, but didn't specify what the message might be. [WJW, 8/6/2024]

It's Good To Have a Hobby

Handyman and electrician Steve Wainwright, 61, of Cambridgeshire, England, needed a project in his retirement, Metro News reported. "I felt a bit lost," he said. "I looked at my tape measure and I thought, 'I wonder if I can build this 10 times its size?'" And he could -- even with a giant retractable measuring tape. Wainwright's wife suggested a 10x lipstick, so he obliged, then went on to build pencils, keys, clothespins and a three-prong plug. He notices a difference in reactions between men and women; men love his creations, and women say, "What on earth are you going to do with that? Where are you going to put that?" he said. [Metro News, 8/1/2024]

Mary Jacobs, 77, of Newmarket, England, tried to sell her prized collection of bedpans at auction in July, the Suffolk News reported on July 29, but there were no takers. Jacobs said she started collecting bedpans in 1984: "I just wanted to collect something different," she said. "It snowballed from there." Now, with 160 unique items, she's run out of room to store them. The rarest ones are those with odd shapes, she noted. She's hoping to find a new home for them: "They're clean, washed and in fantastic condition." [Suffolk News, 7/29/2024]

But Why?

St. Petersburg, Florida, resident Jaclyn Goszczynski, 40, was arrested on July 26 and charged with felony child abuse, The Smoking Gun reported. Goszczynski, police said, had been hanging picture frames with her three children when she asked her 12-year-old daughter whether she'd ever been "screwed in the a

Saw That Coming

Homeowners' associations seem to aspire to be the group versions of "Karens." To wit: The Wildernest Home Owners Association in Summit County, Colorado, called the sheriff's office in late July to tattle on a kids' lemonade stand that they said was blocking the road. When officers arrived, KKTV reported, they found the kids were not blocking the road, "but did ask them to move back from the road a few feet for their safety," police said. "The original reporting parties came out and began yelling at the children, claiming they were on private property ... (but officers) determined the property was shared HOA property and because the children's parents are part of the HOA, they had a right to be there," the report went on. Kids 1, HOA 0. [KKTV, 7/28/2024]

Animal Antics

When Alicia Mastroianni left for work in Brighton, Massachusetts, on July 15, she found her car covered in scratches and a note, she told WBZ-TV. The note was from a neighbor, who wrote, "I just watched and recorded a massive turkey attack your car for over 15 minutes. Sorry you were the target of this turkey rage." "All sides of my car were messed up," Mastroianni said. The Massachusetts Environmental Police said turkey attacks aren't rare anymore in the area. One reason for the assaults is that the birds see their own reflection in the car's surface and attack. They recommend covering your car or yelling to scare turkeys away. [WBZ, 7/25/2024]

What's in a Name?

On July 22, when officers noticed a white van on the I-5 near Weed, California, that kept swerving out of its lane, they engaged their lights and sirens -- and it still took almost 3 miles for the van to pull over, KOBI-TV reported. Inside the van, they found 1,021 rooted marijuana plants, which, according to driver Yung Fai Sze, 53, were on their way to Oregon. However, Sze did not have the proper documentation from the California Department of Cannabis Control, so he was arrested and charged with illegal transportation and possession of marijuana. [KOBI, 7/26/2024]

Awesome!

In Leicestershire, England, a quaint problem is getting a practical solution, the BBC reported on July 25. The North West Leicestershire District Council received a grant of about $9,300 from Keep Britain Tidy's Chewing Gum Task Force to clean up the discarded wads of gum littering the sidewalks. "Many of the streets, pavements and shopping areas in our towns are affected by discarded chewing gum," said Michael Wyatt of the council, which will also install signs asking people to dispose of their gum properly. The grant is provided by gum manufacturers. [BBC, 7/25/2024]

It's Always Something

In 2016, the Scottish government declared it would increase the number of medical school placements because of a shortage of doctors, the BBC reported. Eight years later, professor Gordon Findlater, HM Inspector of Anatomy for Scotland, has declared an unexpected and potentially dire result of the change: a shortage of cadavers for medical students to train on. "This is already having an impact on the surgical colleges (which) are now having to cancel training classes," Findlater said. [BBC, 7/30/2024]

The Continuing Crisis

River Church Kansas City in Lenexa, Kansas, celebrated Father's Day with a raffle, KSHB-TV reported on July 29. Just what did the lucky winner receive? An AR-15 rifle, of course. The contest was so popular that for the Fourth of July, River Church gave away three more firearms. Why? Well, "A gun is a blessing because here in America, we have what's called the Second Amendment, and we're free Americans," explained pastor Christopher Zehner. "Christ gives us freedom, and so, as Christ has given us freedom on the inside, Americans are free as well, so it correlates," he went on. "Our attendance doubled after this whole thing happened," he said. "We will probably do it again. I would say maybe Christmastime, to be a blessing again." The four winners declined to comment. [KSHB, 7/29/2924]

Bright Idea

Jason Arsenault, 41, pleaded guilty in Portland, Maine, on July 29 to an unconventional bank robbery attempt, HNGN reported. Back in January, Arsenault, wearing a black hat, a mask and sunglasses on his face, pulled into the drive-thru lane of a Key Bank location and sent a note to the teller through the pneumatic tube: "CAR BOMB No Cops Alarms or WE ALL DIE $50,000 in 20s." The teller sent the money back through the tube, and Arsenault drove away. Surveillance video allowed law enforcement to track Arsenault's movements until they could spot him without his disguise; six days later, he was arrested. He directed police to a backpack with the money, hidden in the woods. He faces up to 20 years in prison. [HNGN, 7/29/2924]

Ewwwwww!

Have it your way! Tiffany Floyd of Gettzville, New York, stopped at her local Burger King on July 27 to get her 4-year-old daughter a hamburger, People reported. When the girl started eating her burger, she said, "Mom, I don't want ketchup." Floyd took the bag back, thinking the order had been made wrong, "And I look in her bag and there is blood all over. You could tell it was human blood." She called the restaurant and asked to speak with a manager, who admitted, "Yes, I had a worker here cut their hand right before your food was made and bagged. The worker knew he cut himself but did not think he was bleeding that bad." The manager offered Floyd a refund, but instead she hung up and called the local health department. Burger King closed the restaurant for retraining and deep cleaning, but Floyd said their trauma continues: "She now needs to get bloodwork done every month" to look for HIV and hepatitis, among other infections, and her daughter is afraid to eat. "She thinks there's blood in it." [People, 7/31/2024]

Mistaken Identity

Gallaghers, a New York City restaurant with a nearly century-long presence on 52nd Street, is decorated inside with photos of celebrities who have frequented the landmark over the many years, the New York Post reported on July 27. One of the signed photos is of Perry Como, a wildly popular singer and television personality during the mid-20th century. But Gallaghers was forced to add a couple of small disclaimers to the frame of Como's photo because of his vague resemblance to disgraced pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, who died in 2019. "THIS IS NOT JEFFREY EPSTEIN," the first plaque reads. "THIS IS PERRY COMO." Gallaghers owner Dean Poll said "hundreds" of customers asked about the photo. "It was constant. Not one a day, but all during the day." He said Epstein was not a customer. [NY Post, 7/27/2024]