Unknown "Mr. Tingler" Uncertain - 15 years, 11 months, 3 days ago

Aw, nuts. Why won't my car start?

DEMOTTE, Ind. – Aw, nuts. That's likely what Hope Wideup thought when her car's turn signal and windshield wipers wouldn't work. It's also what she found later when she opened the hood. "There were thousands in there. They were everywhere," she said, speculating a chipmunk found its way into her car, which had been sitting idle for several weeks, and used the engine compartment as a storage depot for a trove of black walnuts.

Wideup thinks it all started last fall when a chipmunk snatched a garden glove from her yard. She later found the glove in the engine compartment when she was trying to repair the broken turn signal. Unable to fix the problem, however, Wideup let the car sit unused for a couple of weeks and then heard a loud revving sound from the engine when she tried to start the vehicle.

That's when she looked under the hood again and found the walnuts.

"Apparently this little guy stuffed a bunch of these nuts in the accelerator throttle," said Wideup, who had to spend $242 for towing and repairs.

The chipmunk hasn't returned, Wideup told the Post-Tribune for a story published Wednesday. But she's not taking any chances, alternating use of her two cars so neither one is sitting too long.

"It's funny, but it's not," she said.

___

Information from: Post-Tribune, http://www.post-trib.com
Unknown "Mr. Tingler" Uncertain - 16 years, 11 days ago

Malaysia burglar stuck for 3 days in haunted house
Sat Dec 13, 12:08 am ET

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – A news report says a burglar who broke into a house claims he was held captive by a "supernatural figure" for three days without food and water.

Police official Abdul Marlik Hakim Johar told The Star newspaper the house's owners found the 36-year-old man fatigued and dehydrated when they returned from vacation Thursday.

He says they called an ambulance to take him to a hospital.

The man told police that every time he tried to escape, a "supernatural figure" shoved him to the ground.

Abdul Marlik could not immediately be reached and other police officials declined to comment.
Unknown "Mr. Tingler" Uncertain - 16 years, 11 days ago

If ever life gets ya down, just leave you guns in the car and remember that there's a wonderful place of wonderment where you can go and live the American Dream.


Unknown "Mr. Tingler" Uncertain - 16 years, 1 month, 23 days ago

Soup kitchen opens for dogs

Fri Oct 31, 2:49 pm ET

BERLIN (Reuters) – A soup kitchen exclusively for dogs has opened its doors in Berlin providing pets of the homeless and unemployed with a free meal, the director of the establishment said on Friday.

Despite the looming financial crisis, director Claudia Hollm dismissed criticism that it may be more sensible to collect money for humans than for dogs.

"Nowadays people underestimate dogs. They are incredibly important for those who lack social contact with other humans," Hollm told Reuters.

"Making sure dogs don't go hungry is just as important as making sure that people don't starve," she added.

Hollm, and her company "Animal Board," gets sponsorship from companies, including animal food manufacturers.

One woman who uses the free service said she had two dogs, four cats, a rabbit and some guinea pigs.

"Without this animal bread line, I'd probably starve to death," the 20-year old told German daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung.

The opening of the soup kitchen follows last month's launch of a new bus service in Berlin for dogs, which shuttles their furry friends to a luxury dog day-care centre.

(Reporting by Josie Cox)
Unknown "Mr. Tingler" Uncertain - 16 years, 1 month, 23 days ago