SNIPPETS

APRIL 21,  2010

From London's Telegraph:  Paul Hutton, 40, was pulled over by police as he drove an electric Barbie car, which moves slower than a mobility scooter, near his home in Essex.  Mr Hutton...admitted being a 'complete twit'.  Speaking after the hearing at Colchester magistrates court, he said:   "Originally it was a pink Barbie car but I put bigger wheels on it but it's not fast."

At least he was man enough to upgrade the Barbie car.  Maybe there won't always be an England.

APRIL 20,  2010

BOWMANVILLE, Ontario, April 19 (UPI) -- A town east of Toronto refused to allow a 3-year-old Labrador retriever to register as a mayoral candidate Monday for municipal elections this fall.  Marven Whidden took Genny on a leash into the Bowmanville town hall to register her as a candidate but was flatly turned down by clerk Patti Barrie, the Toronto Star reported.

I don't blame them.  Our own experience with dogs in high office hasn't worked out.

APRIL 19,  2010

BULLETIN:  CAUSE OF EARTHQUAKES FOUND:

From AFP:  A SENIOR Iranian cleric has claimed that dolled-up women incite extramarital sex, causing more earthquakes in Iran, a country that straddles several fault lines, newspapers reported today.  "Many women who dress inappropriately ... cause youths to go astray, taint their chastity and incite extramarital sex in society, which increases earthquakes," Ayatollah Kazem Sedighi told worshippers at overnight prayers in Tehran.

I'm relieved.  I'd always thought it was global warming.

APRIL 18,  2010

(Reuters) - Cocoa-rich dark chocolate could be prescribed for people with liver cirrhosis in future, following the latest research to show potential health benefits of chocolate.  Spanish researchers said Thursday that eating dark chocolate capped the usual after-meal rise in abdominal blood pressure, which can reach dangerous levels in cirrhotic patients and, in severe cases, lead to blood vessel rupture.

We chocolate freaks are rejoicing.  What a happy Sunday.

APRIL 17,  2010

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., April 16 (UPI) -- Online filing, touted as a fast and easy way to submit returns, turned into a virtual barrier for Illinois residents trying to file their state returns.  Never fear, though, Illinois Department of Revenue spokeswoman Sue Hofer said the state agency would show leniency about applying late fees to those who were online on time Thursday, but couldn't file their returns until after the midnight deadline, the Chicago Tribune reported Friday.

Silly people.  All they had to do is find a local Illinois official and slip the check into his pocket.  It's a custom, you know.