Fun [ news of the weird ] BY CHUCK SHEPHERD In October, state alcohol agents, assisted by local police in full riot gear, pointing their weapons, raided a bar in Largo, Fla., to shut down the latest gathering of the venerable Nutz Poker League, even though its players do not wager. (They meet at bars and restaurants, where management gives winners token gifts in exchange for the increased business.) A prosecutor told the Tampa Bay Times that Florida law defines illegal “gambling” as any game that permits players to win something -- even if they don’t have to “ante up.” The raid (during which players were ordered to keep their hands where the officers could see them) came after a months-long undercover investigation.
Recurring Themes
— Among the most creative illegal behaviors are those of clever smugglers -- or immigrants trying to enter a country illegally. In September, two Moroccans tried to smuggle a Guinean man into Spain at the Melilla border in north Morocco by disguising him as a Renault car seat. One Moroccan drove, with the passenger perched on a seat in which the foam had been removed to make room for the Guinean. A police spokesman called the attempt “novel.” — India’s notorious bureaucracy records deaths particularly ineptly, to the advantage of men seeking an alternative to divorce. They find it easier merely to swear out a death certificate on one wife so they can marry another, but that means the first wife will face years, and maybe decades, of campaigning to convince officials that she is not dead. BBC News chronicled the plight of Ms. Asharfi Devi, now 64, in September as she was finally declared “alive” after being deserted by her husband at age 23 and ruled dead at age 40. After Devi finally earned a hearing and brought relatives and evidence to the village council, deliberations took eight more months. Notwithstanding the ruling, the husband stuck to his story.
— Puzzingly, adults continue to accidentally ingest improbable objects, often seemingly unaware of what they did. Lee Gardner, 40, of Barnsley, England, swallowed a plastic fork 10 years ago, but said he “forgot” about it until violent stomach pains forced him to the hospital in August. And British student Georgie Smith, 19, became the latest person to accidentally swallow a regular-sized toothbrush (though the first doctor she consulted told her he couldn’t spot any “toothbrush” on an X-ray). (With kids, the phenomenon is more understandable. Sinus-suffering Isaak Lasson, 6, of Salt Lake City was finally diagnosed in August to have accidentally stuck a Lego piece up his nose three years ago, and Hector Flores Jr., 7, of New York City, was found in October to have swallowed the whistle mechanism of a plastic duck, causing him to tweet when he laughed.) — Again this year, a serial drowning made the news (where one jumps in to rescue another, and a third is needed to rescue the first two, and a fourth, and none survives.) In Ulster, Northern Ireland, in September, rugby player Nevin Spence, along with his brother and father, died in a slurry tank on the family’s farm, and their sister, who also attempted a rescue, was hospitalized. Officials said they could not determine the order in which the men entered the pit until the sister was well enough to talk. — Darren Hieber, 33, became the most recent person to choose drastic means to reconcile with an ex. Twice Hieber, of Onawa, Iowa, arranged to have himself shot in order to win his ex-wife’s sympathy. The first hit man shot Hieber in the leg, but the wife still ignored him, and a second job was arranged in March, with two different shooters, but that failed, also. Adding to his frustration, Hieber was sentenced to 10 years in prison in August because it is illegal in Iowa to have yourself shot.
[ LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION ON PAGE 34 ]
[ LOVESCOPE ] BY EUGENIA LAST ARIES (March 21-April 19): Don’t jump to conclusions when it comes to love. Reserve judgment, do your research and wait for signs that will help you recognize whether you are considering someone who will have a positive or negative influence on your life. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Opposites do attract, and you are likely to find that you are faced with trying to decide whether you can spend the rest of your life with someone who has little in common with you. Focus on what does attract you and if it’s sufficient. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Avoid moving too quickly if someone
entices you. Truth and motives will be questionable. Don’t fall for smooth talk or a hard-luck story. Keep your wits about you, and do your research before you jump into an intimate situation that might lead to heartache. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Socialize and enjoy the company of people who share your interests and beliefs. Sticking to traditions that you are comfortable with will help ensure that you choose someone who will fit into your lifestyle easily. Love is highlighted, so don’t be shy -- make the first move. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Travel to a
destination that will be conducive to reconnecting with an old flame or will bring you the opportunity to meet someone exotic or unusual. Change is what you need in order to lift your spirits and forget darker days. It’s time to play. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Emotions will be close to the surface, and discovering someone who intrigues you and holds your interest for hours on end is in the stars. Travel to meet someone new and discuss your personal plans and life goals. Greater stability and security is within reach. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Don’t be disturbed by a change of plans.
Go with the flow, knowing that what doesn’t work out is a blessing in disguise. You need more time to consider an old relationship and if, in fact, you should turn back the clock and reunite with someone you still long for. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Your unique, mysterious demeanor will attract a lot of attention. Make sure that the person you are pursuing is free and clear of a past relationship before making a move. Getting hooked on someone who is involved with someone else will not end well. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): What you agree to and what
you want will differ. You have to be honest about your likes and dislikes if you want to end up with someone who thinks like you and enjoys the same things. Don’t let someone from your past confuse you. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Don’t make snap decisions when it comes to love. You have to do your due diligence even when you heart is telling you to move forward. Not everyone you meet will be straightforward regarding feelings and plans. Protect your heart and your possessions. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Stick close to home and spend
time with the person who makes you feel most comfortable. Venturing out and meeting new people isn’t likely to bring you in contact with anyone who can offer you what you need or want personally, romantically or emotionally. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Love and romance are highlighted. Don’t sit home waiting for someone to knock on your door. Get out and do the things you enjoy doing most, and you will connect with someone emotionally and physically and with regard to your plans and personal goals.
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