Weird News: Hit the Gas
Oversharing
Norwegian biathlete Sturla Holm Laegreid, who won bronze in the 20km individual event, stunningly announced in his post-event interview on Feb. 10 that he had cheated on his girlfriend three months ago, Yahoo! News reported. Through tears, Laegreid, 28, said he met “the love of my life” six months ago, then “made the biggest mistake of my life.” He said his sport had “taken a back seat in recent days.” For her part, the girlfriend called his revelation “hard to forgive. Even after a declaration of love in front of the whole world.” Later, Laegreid told a group of reporters, “Maybe it was really selfish of me to give that interview. I’m not really here mentally.”
Hit the Gas
Researchers at the University of Maryland have developed new technology to ... yes, it’s true ... count the number of times people pass gas each day. The New York Post reported on Feb. 10 that previously, scientists believed people tooted on average 14 times a day, but UMD reported that the number is more like 32 times a day. The team created Smart Underwear, a wearable device that snaps into regular underwear and detects increased hydrogen levels. They say the previous lower estimates were based on self-reporting and people’s varying ideas of what counts as flatulence. UMD is looking for participants for its Human Flatus Atlas, which will measure the gas patterns of hundreds of people -- in case you’re interested.
Saving the Bird
Reuters reported on Feb. 24 that during the first half of a football match in Zeytinburnu, Turkey, a ball kicked high into the air struck a seagull that happened to be flying by, knocking it to the ground. Istanbul Yurdum Spor team captain Gani Catan rushed to the fallen bird and began CPR on its little chest -- which worked! The gull began to move, and Catan took it to the medical staff on the sideline for further care. While his team lost the match, Catan had no regrets. “Helping save a life is a good thing,” he said. “This was more important than the championship.”
The Technology Isn’t Ready
Kaiya Reel of East Hollywood, California, ordered food for delivery, KTLA-TV reported on Feb. 22, but the Coco robot device that brought her dinner ran into some problems (literally). Reel said she was inside her home when she heard a commotion outside; “I came out here and found the Coco in my garden. It had got my fence caught up in its wheel ... then just drove away with the fence attached to it,” Reel said. “I chased after it and looked like a total crazy person.” The company that runs the Coco robots is going to reimburse Reel for the damage to her garden; apparently, it’s not Coco’s first rodeo with deliveries going amok. One ran into an ambulance, and another knocked over a parked motorcycle.
Dirty Water
The Nantucket Current reported on Feb. 19 that the island’s occupants are having a MUCH BETTER time than you are, at least if wastewater data are your gauge. Eight months’ worth of readings show that levels of cocaine in Nantucket’s sewage are three times higher than the national average. Interestingly, levels of other drugs, such as meth and fentanyl, are lower than the national average. Nantucket Police Chief Jody Kasper said her department is focusing on illicit drugs in general, not just cocaine. “They have made a dent, but we certainly understand that the narcotics industry is the supply and demand industry, so that we need to stay on top of it,” she said.
Overkill
The Pocono (Pennsylvania) Mountain Regional Police are looking for Sean McDermott -- no, not the former Buffalo Bills coach, but a resident of a townhouse in Pocono Pines who is suspected of starting a fire that spread to other units. WPVI-TV reported that on Feb. 23, a witness said McDermott, 36, set multiple small fires in his own home to try to kill spiders. He allegedly had a small smoldering fire on his floor and placed a loveseat over it. The witness said he tried to put out the fires, but McDermott kept setting more. They left the scene, and when they returned it was fully engulfed. McDermott escaped in a U-Haul and is still at large.
Plate Panic
Long Island, New York, grandfather Seth Bykofsky went straight to the top after he was denied renewal on his car’s vanity plate, United Press International reported on Feb. 26. The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles said in a letter that his plate -- PB4WEGO -- was in violation of their regulations. Bykofsky did not agree. “In all my years as a parent and now grandparent, the worst I’ve gotten has been a gentle roll of the eyes from my kids and grandkids,” he said. Eventually, the dispute made it to Gov. Kathy Hochul, who spoke with Bykofsky on the phone. She called the plate’s message “an important lesson.” “We’ll get it back for you,” she told him.