SNIPPETS

AUGUST 8,  2010

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A Japanese competitive eater won't have to try jail food after all, a judge ruled on Thursday, dismissing charges against the skinny speed-feeder for crashing a hot dog eating contest.

It's pretty obvious that another Pearl Harbor has been prevented.

AUGUST 7,  2010

HAWERA, New Zealand, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- A Turkish man living in New Zealand said allegations he beat his wife were the result of police misunderstanding a traditional dance...
...he said the reported hitting, kicking and strangling a witness reported him perpetrating on his wife, Elmas, were simulated moves that comprise part of the dance.

Some cultures have a strange definition of fun.  But, in this age of political correctness, I'll bet the police buy it.

AUGUST 6,  2010

MIAMI, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Officials in a Florida school district said a principal who sent a profane e-mail to a parent has been transferred to a different school.  Eva Ravelo, 45, the former principal of Coconut Grove Elementary in Miami, was officially transferred Wednesday to Coral Terrace Elementary, the Miami Herald reported Wednesday.

Apparently, the other school was looking for a principal who's good at profanity.  It's so hard to get qualified people these days.

AUGUST 5,  2010

(Reuters) - A Malaysian state is to allow Muslim girls under the age of consent of 16 years to wed in a bid to stem unwed pregnancies, angering the country's women's activists and politicians.  The Islamic council in the southern Malaysian state of Malacca on Tuesday announced that it would to allow marriage for Muslims below the current minimum age of 16 years for females and 18 for males.

We're sure Western "feminist" groups will swing into action to show their usual concern for Muslim women.  Don't hold your breath.

AUGUST 4,  2010

NEW YORK, Aug. 3 (UPI) -- New York education officials said a teacher who allegedly faked a fall down the stairs to avoid a performance review is no longer eligible to teach in the city.

AUGUST 3,  2010

NORWOOD, Ohio, Aug. 2 (UPI) -- Police in Ohio said they arrested a woman accused of drunkenly dialing 911 and telling dispatchers she was looking for a date.  Norwood police said Bernadette Music, 43, called 911 four or five times July 26 to ask dispatchers to go out with her, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported Monday.

And they arrested her for this?  I get the feeling this is a low-crime area.