Odd news - July '09

[VulcanRider]

"Heyyyy, Like 'Arf-Arf,' Man": Nestor Waddell had to rush his 11-year-old Labrador mix, Jack, to the vet in May when he started acting strange during a walk, which had taken him into some bushes. The vet concluded that Jack had discovered and devoured some dry, harvested marijuana. According to Waddell, "(Jack's) eyes were kind of glossed over. ... When he was trying to walk, he was looking at his paw, and then looking at the ground and then trying to get his paw to reach the ground, but was unsuccessful." [KING-TV (Seattle), 6-10-09]

I'll bet the dog found the guy's stash at home instead of out "under some bushes", and the owner didn't want the cops looking into his closets.

[VulcanRider]

At barely the height of a tea cup, Maltese pup Scooter could well be the smallest dog in world.

The tiny ball of white fluff is just 8cm tall and measures just over 20cm from his nose to his tail.

While Scooter is still young, he appears to have stopped growing.

The Guinness Book of World Records title holder - a long-haired chihuahua in America named Boo Boo - is bigger at just over 10cm tall.

Scooter's size is also evident in his weight, or lack of it. He weighs less than a block of butter at 400 grams - and that is while he is wearing clothes.

More at the link...

[VulcanRider]

The 30th annual mooning of Amtrak was held in Laguna Niguel in Orange County California Saturday July 11th. For 30 years "Mooners" have congregated in front of the chain link fence adjacent to the train tracks, giving passengers a "California Hello". The people of Orange county as well as Amtrak are aware of this summer tradition. This all day event is held across the street from the landmark "Mugs Away Saloon" which has two live bands playing throughout the day. The Sheriff's department was on scene as the crowds were a bit rowdy last year. Most Mooners said this was the smallest turn out yet. All in all one must have a good sense of humor to attend the "Summer Mooning Madness".

Watch the video...

[Bungleau]

NH man charged 23 quadrillion dollars for smokes

MANCHESTER, N.H. – A New Hampshire man says he swiped his debit card at a gas station to buy a pack of cigarettes and was charged over 23 quadrillion dollars.

Josh Muszynski (Moo-SIN'-ski) checked his account online a few hours later and saw the 17-digit number — a stunning $23,148,855,308,184,500 (twenty-three quadrillion, one hundred forty-eight trillion, eight hundred fifty-five billion, three hundred eight million, one hundred eighty-four thousand, five hundred dollars).

Muszynski says he spent two hours on the phone with Bank of America trying to sort out the string of numbers and the $15 overdraft fee.

The bank corrected the error the next day.

Bank of America tells WMUR-TV only the card issuer, Visa, could answer questions. Visa, in turn, referred questions to the bank.
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Information from: WMUR-TV, http://wmur.com
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Try explaining *THAT* one to the beloved... 'course, it might be *just* the incentive to get you to quit smoking

[Variol (Farseer) Elmwood]

Originally Posted by Bungleau NH man charged 23 quadrillion dollars for smokes MANCHESTER, N.H. – A New Hampshire man says he swiped his debit card at a gas station to buy a pack of cigarettes and was charged over 23 quadrillion dollars. Josh Muszynski (Moo-SIN'-ski) checked his account online a few hours later and saw the 17-digit number — a stunning $23,148,855,308,184,500 (twenty-three quadrillion, one hundred forty-eight trillion, eight hundred fifty-five billion, three hundred eight million, one hundred eighty-four thousand, five hundred dollars). Muszynski says he spent two hours on the phone with Bank of America trying to sort out the string of numbers and the $15 overdraft fee. The bank corrected the error the next day. Bank of America tells WMUR-TV only the card issuer, Visa, could answer questions. Visa, in turn, referred questions to the bank. ___ Information from: WMUR-TV, http://wmur.com =============================== Try explaining *THAT* one to the beloved... 'course, it might be *just* the incentive to get you to quit smoking

I wonder if that amount was actually his bank card number? It's about the right number of digits.

[VulcanRider]

Unless fixing it stresses you out so much you smoke even more. With both BoA and Visa claiming "They did it -- not us!" he probably smoked a carton that day.

[Chewbacca]

I'd love to go pay that bill in all pennies!!! A Whole convoy of dump trucks eh?

[Bungleau]

Originally Posted by Variol (Farseer) Elmwood I wonder if that amount was actually his bank card number? It's about the right number of digits.

Could be interesting to check. The number has 17 digits. Visa, MC, and Discover are 16, and AmEx is 15. Diner's Club is 16 in the US and Canada, 14 outside it (apparently). There are a couple of other exceptions, but only three that might have a chance at 17... China Union Pay, Laser, and Maestro.

Of course, it could also include the 3 or 4 digit validation code...

[Kezardin]

Even if it was charged in Zimbabwean dollars (where US$1 = approx ZIM$37,456,777.) it still comes out at US$618,015,140.71

Wonder if there is even 23 quadrillion dollars in the worlds' economy ?

[Bungleau]

Wisconsin court praises drunken concert goer

By SCOTT BAUER, Associated Press Writer

MADISON, Wis. – An Illinois teen knew he was too drunk to drive home after a Dave Matthews Band concert south of Milwaukee. So he fell asleep in his car, only to be awoken by a state trooper. Travis Peterson, 19, of Dixon, Ill., said even though he told the officer he was drunk and sleeping it off, the trooper ordered him to leave because the lot was being cleared.

Once out of the parking lot, Peterson was arrested for drunken driving. He was subsequently found guilty and ordered to spend 60 days in jail.

A Wisconsin appeals court on Wednesday commended Peterson for doing the right thing by trying to sleep it off, and said the trial court was wrong not to let him argue that police had entrapped him.

The state had argued successfully at trial that people who choose to drink too much can't argue they've been entrapped when stopped for drunken driving. The 2nd District Court of Appeals disagreed.

"Drinking alcohol to excess, while inadvisable and unhealthy, is not unlawful by itself," the appeals court said.

It did not address the fact that Peterson was underage. Peterson's attorney, Andrew Mishlove, said that was irrelevant given the other issues at stake.
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Between a rock and a hard place... I just hope he didn't have to serve any time on that. Wonder what the best alternative would have been? Call mom or dad? or a sober pair of friends?