Weird But True

[DeputyChiefGonzo]

SALEM — It's an image straight out of a Norman Rockwell illustration: two boys behind a lemonade stand on a warm summer afternoon, trying to earn a little pocket money.

Except in the Norman Rockwell version, there is no angry competitor calling the cops to shut them down.

On Saturday afternoon, Dominic Serino, 9, and Ryan Decker, 11, were running their stand near the bandstand on Salem Common, hoping thirsty customers would plunk down 50 cents for a cup of their lemonade.

Halfway across the Common, near Hawthorne Boulevard, was Kevin Kefalas' sausage stand.

When Kefalas, 49, learned that the boys were selling lemonade — and, he says, cutting into his business — he called Salem police.

"He said we were taking business away from him," Dominic said.

A half-hour later, the boys and Dominic's dad, Steve, were lugging their stand and their unsold lemonade back home — shut down for lack of a vendor's permit.

"The police came," Dominic said. "They didn't want to kick us out, but I guess they had to."

"I was absolutely flabbergasted when he came home and said the police were called," said Angela Decker, Ryan's mom. "I was just beside myself."

But Salem police say they had no choice.

Police Lt. Scott Englehardt said that while "it is ridiculous that little kids can't sell lemonade," they have to enforce the rules, particularly when Kefalas — who has apparently made a number of complaints to city officials and even filed lawsuits over the years — was so adamant.

The chairman of the city's Licensing Commission backed up the police: "That's what the law reads," said chairman Harold Blake. He was quick to add, however, that, "I don't think we'd lean on a couple of 10-year-olds."

Dominic said he doesn't understand why the two businesses can't coexist.

But Kefalas said that he also sells lemonade on his cart.

Kefalas, unapologetic, said he called the police "because it's the principle." He went on to suggest that if the boys want a spot on the Common, their parents pony up $2,200 for a permit, just as he did.

"I'm not the bad guy here," Kefalas said.

"I don't care if kids want to make a little money, but why can't they go to Pickering Wharf? Why do they have to do it 40 feet behind me?"

"I can see his point, but I still think it's a little ludicrous that he'd get that upset," Angela Decker said.

The boys started selling lemonade on the Common last summer and had a great time, she said. "Last year, they made a killing."

Of course, a "killing," to a 9-year-old businessman, is $130.

The boys spent their profits on trips to Salem Willows and the movies. Dominic, who loves to read, bought some books. Oh, and they bought some of Kefalas' sausages.

Asked how they'll get money to do those things this summer, Ryan said, "I don't know," admitting he'll probably have to ask his mom.

"I'd rather be out there making the money myself," he said.

Dominic said they've earned about $25 so far this year.

But he's not sure they can stay in business if they have to relocate. They have to make enough money to cover their "overhead" — cups and lemonade mix.

They tried setting up in front of Dominic's house, just down the street.

"We got a few customers, but not nearly as much," said a disappointed Dominic.

And they can't possibly afford a permit.

Blake suggested that if the kids want to sell lemonade on the Common, they could come before the commission for a permit.

"We'd probably waive the fee," he said.

[adamkhalil]

that sausage guy is an @$$. they only made 130 all last summer accorrding to the article, what a jerk.

[adamkhalil]

POSTED: 11:18 am EDT August 3, 2005

NORTH LIBERTY, Iowa -- The naked swordsman is pleading guilty.

Curtis Rarick, of North Liberty, Iowa, was accused of chasing his neighbors with a sword. His neighbors told police a nude Rarick was standing in his front yard and they complained.

According to the neighbors, Rarick got upset and ran into his house, came back out and threatened them with a sword. He's now pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon.

Rarick will be sentenced next month and faces up to two years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

[E40FDNYL35]

August 3, 2005 -- A North Dakota man who tried to get even by paying a traffic ticket with $120 in pennies got upstaged by a judge who made him stay until they were counted. Robert John Zukowski brought a garbage can full of about 12,000 pennies to Clay County District Court to pay his fine for speeding. Court Administrator Jan Crossette lugged the bucket of change to a bank, which used a machine to count the money and gave her $120 in bills — all while Zukowski was forced to wait.

[E40FDNYL35]

August 4, 2005 -- A Bronx man got a slithering surprise yesterday when he opened his closet and came face-to-face with a boa constrictor, officials said."When I opened the closet, the snake was just there, staring right at me," said Michael Hardy, 28. The 3-foot serpent had belonged to Hardy's brother-in-law, but the family assumed it was gone for good after it disappeared six months ago.Hardy had all but forgotten about the creature - named Break Out for its ability to escape its cage - after his brother-in-law went to jail for assault two months back.
Although six months seems a long time between meals, snake expert Jim Walsh at the International Fauna Society says it's really not.

another snake story...

A Missouri woman was relaxing in the kitchen of her new home when a 4 1/2-foot boa constrictor slithered out from under the dishwasher. "I thought it was a toy, and I was going to pick it up," said Stefanie Leafty of Sedalia. Then it moved, and "I've never screamed so high in my life." The snake belonged to the previous resident, who'd forgotten about it after it escaped from its cage.

[adamkhalil]

Originally posted by E40FDNYL35
Although six months seems a long time between meals, snake expert Jim Walsh at the International Fauna Society says it's really not.
[/B]

I bet a snake could live a year off one of those NYC cockroaches. Those are some big suckers. If it got a rat it could chill in that closet for a good decade i'd bet.

[adamkhalil]

BTW -- As a follow-up to Gonz's lemonade story: I read today that the kids got a free license, but are now subcontractors of the, get this, Classy Chasis (the sausage stand that called the cops on the kids in a "not so classy" way).

[E40FDNYL35]

August 5, 2005 -- Authorities are probing whether an Illinois strip club made its outing at a posh golf course a little extra special this year by treating players to lap dances and exotic dances. Residents who live around the Country Lakes Golf Club in Naperville said they were stunned to see buxom, scantily clad girls from Blackjack's Gentleman's Club parading around the course. "It's certainly not something you'd want any of the kids who live around here to see," said Geoff Pacana, who lives near the 16th hole.

Well Geoff, it depends how old the kids are.

[MalahatTwo7]

Government to build Australia's highest toilet, on country's highest mountain

Canadian Press Thursday, August 04, 2005

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) - Those attempting to scale Australia's highest mountain will soon be able to stop at the country's highest toilet.

Dubbed the "Loo with a View," the all-weather toilet block is to be built into the wind-swept side of Mount Kosciuszko. It's about 120 metres below the mountain's snowcapped peak in a New South Wales state national park. The toilet is described as "a bunker," built to withstand 150-kilometre-an-hour winds. It's carved six metres into the mountain and will have three urinals and three unisex stalls - one with wheelchair access.

The septic tank will have enough capacity to ensure that the toilet can last more than six months without service.

"The engineering challenges are in trying to build something in such a remote location and at that elevation," National Parks and Wildlife Service alpine area manager Andrew Harrigan said.

The toilet is part of a recently released human waste strategy for the park, entitled "Taking Care of Business," which aims to prevent walkers and campers from digging latrines in the earth or snow.

"What we'd like to do is get rid of people doing number twos in the area and we're looking at introducing a carryout policy and providing biodegradable bags," Harrigan said.

Standing a relatively modest 2,228 metres above sea level, Kosciuszko's peak attracts about 60,000 climbers a year, mostly during summer when little snow remains.

The toilet is to be built in the 2006-07 southern summer, he said.

© The Canadian Press 2005

[Berks2Montco84]

What I'd like to know is....why is there going to be a wheelchair stall? Sometimes I think being PC goes a little too far....

[PattyV]

What I'd like to know is....why is there going to be a wheelchair stall? Sometimes I think being PC goes a little too far....

Cause the wheelchair stall is the great emergenecy toilet that you always turn to when all the others are being used already and you really got to go. Most people wont use the wheelchair stalls without quite knowing why, but if all the others are full...

[E40FDNYL35]

August 6, 2005 -- Using a video cellphone, a man in Hull, England, sent his girlfriend live images of himself jumping to his death, a coroner's inquest was told Sherrie Smith testified that she received the chilling call from fiancé Lee Morgan shortly after he stormed out of a party following an argument. A bridge worker testified he saw Morgan jump with phone in hand.

[RspctFrmCalgary]

August 6, 2005 -- Using a video cellphone, a man in Hull, England, sent his girlfriend live images of himself jumping to his death, a coroner's inquest was told Sherrie Smith testified that she received the chilling call from fiancé Lee Morgan shortly after he stormed out of a party following an argument. A bridge worker testified he saw Morgan jump with phone in hand.

Nice

[Berks2Montco84]

Cause the wheelchair stall is the great emergenecy toilet that you always turn to when all the others are being used already and you really got to go. Most people wont use the wheelchair stalls without quite knowing why, but if all the others are full...

Actually, I like to use that one, it's bigger.....

[E40FDNYL35]

August 7, 2005 -- A nude swimmer in San Francisco Bay is giving seal-watchers and bayside diners more than they bargained for. Police have been fielding complaints about a skinny-dipper who surprises waterside diners by doing "fly-bys," said City Manager Dana Whitson. "Usually people look for seals." So far cops in otherwise-picturesque Sausalito across the bay have failed to nab the buff paddler — but the law may be on his side. "Right now no laws have been broken," said Detective William Fraass.

[E40FDNYL35]

August 8, 2005 -- A California strip-club owner put himself in the middle of a heated dispute after hanging up an ad near Los Angeles International Airport that read, "Vaginas R' Us." "In a sort of a naive way, I felt that there was nothing terrible about it, since 'The Vagina Monologues' was on Broadway forever," said Howard White, who's getting some extra publicity for his Century Lounge club. Officials say White's words aren't breaking the law, but opponents are looking to see if it violates the trademark of retailer Toys 'R' Us.

[adamkhalil]

As larry the cable guy puts it, "the cripple poopin stall, is the cadillac of the poopin stalls"

[MalahatTwo7]

August 7, 2005 -- A nude swimmer in San Francisco Bay is giving seal-watchers and bayside diners more than they bargained for. Police have been fielding complaints about a skinny-dipper who surprises waterside diners by doing "fly-bys," said City Manager Dana Whitson. "Usually people look for seals." So far cops in otherwise-picturesque Sausalito across the bay have failed to nab the buff paddler — but the law may be on his side. "Right now no laws have been broken," said Detective William Fraass.

Hey Cheffie, has he been anywhere near the south end yet?

[E40FDNYL35]

August 9, 2005 --Men accused by women of never listening now have an excuse — women's voices are more difficult for men to listen to than are other guys', a new study claims. "The female voice is actually more complex than the male voice, due to differences in the size and shape of the vocal cords and larynx," said Michael Hunter, a researcher at Sheffield University in England.

See, girls, it was your fault after all!

[RspctFrmCalgary]

August 9, 2005 --Men accused by women of never listening now have an excuse — women's voices are more difficult for men to listen to than are other guys', a new study claims. "The female voice is actually more complex than the male voice, due to differences in the size and shape of the vocal cords and larynx," said Michael Hunter, a researcher at Sheffield University in England.

See, girls, it was your fault after all!

ROTFLMFAO!!!!