Bianca Chambers wasn't going to leave the sleuthing to the Detroit police after her Mercedes Benz was stolen. Using social media tips, she tracked her car all over the city, but each time she'd call 911, police would be too late to nab the thief. On July 13, though, she got lucky: The man who was driving her car parked and went to get his dreads twisted, and Chambers pounced. She walked into a barbershop, Fox2 Detroit reported, and confronted him. When he denied stealing her car, Chambers took him down by his dreadlocks. Customers subdued the unnamed man while Chambers slashed her own tires: "I thought he was gonna take off and I didn't know how long it was going to take for the police to pull up," she said. "You're just the dumbest criminal, that's all. You're joyriding in my car like nobody was going to see," she told the perp. Police said the man has a history of car theft. [Fox2 Detroit, 7/15/2022]

The Litigious Society

Kent Slaughter of Springfield, Missouri, filed a class-action lawsuit against Bass Pro this month, alleging that the outdoor equipment superstore is not honoring its lifetime guarantee on the Redhead All-Purpose Wool socks, the Springfield News-Leader reported. Slaughter says the warranty influenced his decision to buy the socks, and until 2021 he was able to return them when they wore out for another pair with the same promise. However, last year, the store changed the merchandise; the new socks feature a distinctive stripe design and offer only a 60-day warranty. Slaughter's suit notes that the store's "The last sock you'll ever need to buy" claim is no longer true. Bass Pro didn't comment. [Springfield News-Leader, 7/15/2022]

Who Knew?

-- People in Gorakhpur, India, are struggling with record heat and lack of rainfall, as are many parts of the world. But according to the Daily Star, they had a different solution -- and it worked! "It's a time-tested belief that frog weddings are held to bring in rain," said organizer Radhakant Verma. His group found two frogs on July 19 and held a wedding ceremony for them, with hundreds of people watching and a celebratory meal afterward. Sure enough, on July 20, the India Meteorological Department called for heavy rainfall in the area. [Daily Star, 7/20/2022]

-- More heat wave fun: University of British Columbia researcher Alison McAfee told Metro News that when outdoor temperatures exceed about 107 degrees Fahrenheit, drone (or male) bees begin to convulse, forcing their sex organs to explode from their bodies, an event that causes them to die from shock. "It's pretty extreme," McAfee said. "That's a temperature they shouldn't normally experience, but we were seeing drones getting stressed to the point of death." She believes drones are one of the most effective indicators of climate change. [Metro News, 7/14/2022]

Unclear on the Concept

Japan is famously known for its culture of overworking. Rather than try to change that culture, two Japanese companies have developed an upright nap pod, where workers can sneak in a quick, private power nap without having to nod off in the restroom or at their desks. The boxes have been compared to upright tanning beds, Oddity Central reported. They offer support for the head, knees and back, even as workers stay in the standing position. "It's better to sleep in a comfortable location," noted Saeko Kawashima of Itoki, the furniture company that collaborated on the product. [Oddity Central, 7/10/2022]

Ewwww

In southwestern Idaho, an annual phenomenon is creating slick spots on the highways, CBS2-TV reported. The Idaho Transportation Department headed out on July 21 with heavy equipment to scrape Mormon crickets off Highway 51. When the crickets are crushed by cars, the resulting goo can become hazardous for motorists. The department posted a video on its Facebook page, but warned viewers: "If you get queasy easily, don't watch this with the volume on." Crunch! [CBS2, 7/21/2022]

News You Can Use

It's hot everywhere, but Texas is showing off with consecutive days above 100, or even 110. Some wild animals have a unique way of dealing with the heat, and it even has a fun name: splooting. WFAA-TV in Dallas reported on July 21 that squirrels are taking to the street, literally: lying facedown with all their limbs spread out. The rodents don't sweat or pant, so splooting in the shade helps them cool down. One little guy was even spotted splooting on a sidewalk vent. [WFAA, 7/21/2022]

The Entrepreneurial Spirit

Jim Battan, 57, of West Linn, Oregon, figured out a way to pay off his $110,000 backyard luxury pool: Since September 2020, Battan has hosted about 9,000 swimmers through an app called Swimply, NBC New York reported, making $177,000. Battan admits there's more to the job than providing towels. He and his wife spend 12 to 14 hours a week managing bookings and doing maintenance. "I love the income, but I generally caution people from it," Battan said. "It takes a lot of time to learn about pool chemistry and maintenance. I look at my pool chemicals probably five to 10 times a day." But at $70 per hour for five people, it's worth it to him. And his customers like it, too -- he has a high return rate. [NBC New York, 7/21/2022]

Here Come Da Judge

KDKA-TV reported on July 19 that attorney Lauren Varnado, who was defending a Pittsburgh corporation in a courtroom in New Martinsville, West Virginia, accused Judge David W. Hummel Jr. of pulling a Colt .45 pistol out of his robes during the proceedings in March. Varnado alleged that Hummel pointed it "in a waving motion, like he was scanning, first at the defense counsel, and then (placed) it on the bench and slowly (turned) it to make sure the barrel of it is pointed at me." Because of the trial's contentious nature, Varnado had a security detail, but Hummel wouldn't allow them into the courtroom, saying, "I have bigger guns than they have." Varnado said she is working with the FBI and the West Virginia Judicial Investigation Commission. "He cannot stay on the bench," she said. [KDKA, 7/19/2022]

Awesome!

Ultra-marathoner Dave Proctor, 41, set a cross-Canada speed record on July 21 when he arrived in Victoria, British Columbia, the CBC reported. Proctor, of Okotoks, Alberta, set out from St. John's, Newfoundland, 67 1/2 days earlier, running an average of 66 miles per day. "I feel like I'm on top of the world," Proctor said upon his arrival. "I've just seen the most beautiful country in the world." Proctor ran through 12 pairs of shoes and consumed 9,000 calories per day. "Cinnamon buns and scones, I'm still not sick of it," he said. Achieving his "lifelong dream" came on his second attempt; in 2018, he succumbed to a back injury after 32 days of hitting the pavement. [CBC, 7/22/2022]

The trail to the top of Pike's Peak in Colorado is some 13 miles long, and the peak itself tops out at more than 14,000 feet -- making it a challenging hike for anyone. But for Bob Salem, 53, the journey is nuttily complicated: He's pushing a peanut up the mountain using his "nose": customized headgear made of a CPAP mask with a black plastic serving spoon attached to it, NPR reported. "Basically, I'm just going to ... low crawl my way up there," he said. "I mean, there's not really much to it but just to keep flicking." It's all part of the Manitou Springs 150-Year Celebration, and Salem is raising money for a local charity that works to house people experiencing homelessness. Oddly, he's not the first to achieve the feat, but he'll be the first in the 21st century. Salem is wearing kneepads and elbow pads, and a spotter carries his backpack with a snowsuit inside for the higher elevations. He's expected to reach the summit the weekend of July 16-17. [NPR, 7/12/2022]

Recurring Theme

Well, it's happened again: An American tourist at Mount Vesuvius near Naples, Italy, dropped his cellphone into the volcano's crater on July 9, the Associated Press reported, and then slid into the crater trying to retrieve it. Four volcano guides lowered a rope 50 feet into the crater, where Philip Carroll, 23, of Baltimore, was in "serious difficulty," and pulled him out. After officials administered first aid, Carroll and two family members were cited by police for going off the authorized trail to snap a selfie. He suffered only abrasions -- and the humiliation of a trip to the police station. No word how the phone fared. [Associated Press, 7/13/2022]

Awesome!

On July 10, as Rich Gilson used a mini-excavator to remove part of the foundation under the porch of his 1920s-era New Jersey home, he came across an unusual windfall: Among the weeds and dirt were two bundles of paper, secured with rubber bands, United Press International reported. "I got to look at the edge and it had a green tint to it, and I said, 'This is money,'" Gilson said. The cash, printed in 1934, amounted to $1,000 in $10 and $20 bills. Gilson said the area where he found the money was previously accessible only through a crawlspace: "Somebody had to crawl under there and dig a hole. My sense is that something fishy happened," he added. He plans to keep the money. [UPI, 7/11/2022]

Picky, Picky

Penguins at the Hakone-en Aquarium near Tokyo are turning their beaks up at a new variety of fish after officials switched because of an increase in price, United Press International reported. The cost of their standard fare, aji, increased more than 30% over last year, so the aquarium tried a cheaper variety of mackerel. But the penguins aren't biting: "Even if they'll take it in their beaks, they'll just spit it out," head zookeeper Hiroki Shimamoto said. If the keepers mix in a bit of aji, they'll eat it, but without enthusiasm. The zoo's otters have the same impression of the new menu item. Shimamoto said they could raise admission prices, but "we would like to do our best to keep our facility a comfortable place for our guests to visit." [UPI, 7/8/2022]

More Like 'Stupider Things'

Thanks to the quick reaction of a semitruck operator, a teenage driver sustained only minor injuries after she allowed her car to drift into the oncoming lane of a suburban Minneapolis street and crash into the trailer, The Smoking Gun reported. During questioning after the mid-July incident, the girl denied being on her phone at the time of the crash, but Anoka County Sheriff's deputies noticed that her car's Bluetooth system was "still streaming the audio to 'Stranger Things' on Netflix." She then admitted to watching the popular series while driving. [The Smoking Gun, 7/12/2022]

Compelling Explanation

Laurie Rosser, 42, of Gorseinon, Wales, was stopped while driving on the M4 on June 26 because his van was missing two tires, the BBC reported. Police estimated he had driven more than 10 miles without the tires. Rosser was Breathalyzed at the scene, where he tested at more than twice the legal limit. But he had a different explanation for his oversight: His solicitor said he had tested positive for COVID and "his mind was cloudy. That influenced his decision to drive with two defective tires on the vehicle," Rhys Davies said. Rosser was banned from driving for 17 months and fined. [BBC, 7/13/2022]

That Sucks

Former vicar John Jeffs, 74, was found guilty on July 13 in Northampton Magistrates' Court in England in an incident that happened in September 2020, Metro News reported. A churchgoer at the Baptist Centre in Middleton Cheney came upon Jeffs as he stood between two chairs, wearing only ladies' stockings and being intimate with a Henry Hoover vacuum hose. Although Jeffs saw the onlooker, he reportedly continued thrusting toward the Henry, which is known for its powerful suction. Jeffs was fined about $1,000 and added to the sex offender registry; he also was ordered to pay about $240 to the person who witnessed the act. [Metro News, 7/14/2022]

Crime Report

In Ann Arbor, Michigan, a serial pharmacy robber identified as Kristopher Kukola, 37, allegedly hit five CVS stores between May and July, demanding narcotics and displaying a gun, MLive.com reported. In the latest incident, on July 7, a fast-thinking pharmacist dropped a decoy pill bottle containing a GPS tracker into the bag. Police found Kukola escaping in a Jeep and followed the car to an apartment complex, where the thief jumped out and tried to flee on foot. When officers caught up to him, Kukola told them, "The guy you are looking for ran that way." Investigators found a BB gun, the drugs and the decoy bottle in his Jeep; he was indicted on federal charges. [MLive, 7/14/2022]

Bright Idea

Maybe doughnuts don't sell so well in Arizona's extreme July heat. In any case, one grocery store chain figured out another use for the sugary treats, United Press International reported. Bashas, a grocery chain based in Chandler, Arizona, assembled 14,400 decorated confections into a mosaic of the company's logo to celebrate its 90th anniversary. As a bonus, the chain won the Guinness World Record for largest doughnut mosaic (902 square feet). After the ruling, Bashas boxed up the treats for distribution to local nonprofits. [UPI, 7/14/2022]

CSI, Skeeter-Style

The Global Times reported that in China's Fujian Province, investigators on a burglary case got a hot tip from a pesky source: a smashed mosquito. As police checked out the scene, they believed the suspect may have stayed overnight in the apartment; among other things, they found a piece of mosquito coil, used to deter the insects. One skeeter met its bloody demise on a wall, and investigators took DNA samples from the smear there. Analysis showed the blood belonged to a man named Chai, who had a criminal record and was arrested 19 days later for that burglary and three others. [Global Times, 7/11/2022]

Weird Science

In the United Kingdom, environmentalists are fighting a twitchy problem: gray squirrels. The little rodents are taking over, the BBC reported, damaging woodland ecosystems and native red squirrel populations. And a cull isn't practical -- they reproduce too quickly. Now, however, scientists have created a squirrel contraceptive. Dr. Giovanna Massei of the U.K.'s Animal and Plant Health Agency said her team has developed a vaccine that prompts the immune system to restrict the production of sex hormones. Squirrels will be lured into a special trap, where they'll feast on Nutella paste laced with the contraceptive. The project should be ready to deploy in the wild within two years. [BBC, 7/11/2022]

Big Ben, the London Eye, Buckingham Palace ... now tourists can add Wet Wipe Island to their lists of must-see attractions in England's capital. The Times of London reported on June 24 that an island the size of two tennis courts and composed entirely of used wet wipes has appeared in the Thames River that meanders through the city. Government ministers have asked people to stop using the wipes and are considering a ban on those that contain plastic. Fleur Anderson, a Labour Party MP, said she has visited the site: "I've ... stood on it -- it's near Hammersmith Bridge in the Thames and it's a meter deep or more in places. It's actually changed the course of the Thames." Environmental minister Rebecca Pow asked citizens not to flush the wipes and said a proposal for dealing with the problem would be forthcoming "very shortly." [Times of London, 6/24/2022]

Least Competent Criminals

-- In Salt Lake City in mid-June, a couple of geniuses rolled up next to a company box truck in a parking lot in their own pickup truck. While one waited, KSL-TV reported, the other got under the company truck and drilled a hole into the gas tank, presumably hoping to steal fuel. But the perp's shirt caught on fire while he was under the truck, causing him to roll around the parking lot while trying to remove his shirt. He then jumped into the pickup and the pair of would-be thieves drove away; the company truck still had flames and smoke billowing from underneath, as seen on a surveillance video. No arrests have yet been made. [KSL, 6/14/2022]

-- Also in June, Austin Beauchamp, who was working as a summer instructor for a youth social services program in Grove City, Ohio, applied for a police communications technician job there, WKBN-TV reported. As part of the interview process, a detective ran a background check on Beauchamp and found he was wanted in North Carolina on a statutory rape charge. Grove City police arrested him on June 22 and expected him to be extradited to Guilford County, North Carolina, for trial. [WKBN, 7/1/2022]

It's Good To Have a Hobby

Neruno Daisuki, a Japanese illustrator and manga artist, stumbled into a new hobby as he tried to pass the time during the COVID lockdowns of the past year, Oddity Central reported. He started collecting the various little items that become stuck in the tread of one's shoes -- pebbles, glass fragments, etc. -- and laying them out neatly on boards with grids. "When I was removing the pebbles caught in the groove on the back of my newly bought sneakers," he said, "I felt that it was a waste to just throw them away, and I thought, 'It would be interesting to collect them.'" He ended up with 179 pebbles, 32 glass fragments and one nut. Now he's considering further categorizing his collection between his left and right shoes. [Oddity Central, 7/5/2022]

Good Sport

Katie Hannaford, 36, of Essex, England, just wanted to please her daughter by taking part in a parents' race on sports day at the girl's school. But when she tripped over her own feet and fell to her knees, Hannaford inadvertently flashed her bare rear end to the crowd of students, parents and teachers, the Mirror reported on July 7. At first, she said, she was humiliated, but Trophies Plus Medals presented her with a Bottoms Up award trophy and medal; Elle Courtenel, social media manager for the company, said they "felt she deserved her own award despite not making it to the finish line." And Hannaford has come around to see the humor of it: "It's definitely the funniest thing I've ever done in my life!" [Mirror, 7/7/2022]

Latest Religious Message?

A family in Uttar Pradesh, India, believe they have been blessed by the gods after the mother, Kareena, gave birth to a baby with four arms and four legs, the New York Post reported. The otherwise healthy boy arrived on July 2 and weighed 6.5 pounds, doctors reported. Some believe he may be the reincarnation of the four-armed Hindu goddess Lakshmi, who rules wealth, fortune, power, beauty, fertility and prosperity. The extremely rare condition is called polymelia and results in extra, unusable arms, legs, hands or feet. [NY Post, 7/5/2022]

Weird Weather

On July 5, residents of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, got a weather show that "felt like being in a teaser for 'Stranger Things' Season 5," one Twitter user posted. Because of a phenomenon known as a derecho, the sky turned bright neon green as thunderstorms moved through the area, People.com reported. "The green in this thing is insane!" tweeted storm chaser Tanner Charles. The green occurs when blue light from the rain clouds combines with red and yellow light from a sunset, the National Weather Service explained. [People.com, 7/6/2022]

Awwwww

What's a 6-year-old to do when her tooth falls out during an airline flight and gets lost on the plane? After Lena and her family returned to the Greenville-Spartanburg (South Carolina) airport from a trip to Norway on June 17, she realized her tooth was nowhere to be found, WHNS-TV reported. The flight crew noticed that Lena was upset as her family tried to go back onto the plane to look for it; instead, United Airlines Capt. Josh Duchow went the extra mile, writing a note to the Tooth Fairy to make sure Lena got credit for her missing tooth. [WHNS, 6/27/2022]

Bright Idea

On June 26, when traffic came to a complete standstill on I-85 in Atlanta, many people left their cars to walk around, play Frisbee or -- in Hailey Ann Smith's case -- strum the harp. "I was in my concert gown and I had the harp in the car from a wedding ... so I parked myself in the very middle of the interstate and played a few songs for everybody!" she wrote on Facebook, according to The News & Observer. "It's not every day you get to play your baby grand harp on the middle of I-85." "Wow, what a great way to share beautiful music!" one Facebook user responded. [News & Observer, 6/29/2022]

Government in Action

Victor Roy, Oceanside, California's elected city treasurer, is in hot water after an email from Treasury Manager Steve Hodges to Roy surfaced, Voice of San Diego reported. The June 6 email includes several allegations against Roy, but the most titillating details, in an anonymous complaint filed in June 2021, allege that Roy looked at pornography on the Mission Branch Library computers. The complaint stated that Roy was "looking at magazines that when he clicked on the cover, the images inside the magazine were full nudity." Roy was told by library staff that he couldn't view nudity on public computers, and he replied that "he knew, that is why he came when it was slow and that he was being cognizant of his surroundings," the complaint continued. Assistant City Manager Michael Gossman, who confirmed that the leaked email was authentic, said Roy had not repeated the inappropriate behavior at the library. [Voice of San Diego, 7/7/2022]

Freak of Nature

A wild rabbit that looks like something out of a "Star Wars" bar scene is alarming residents of a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, neighborhood, KELO-TV reported. The rabbit's head and face are covered with growths that look like tentacles, which bob around as the animal moves. Dennis Schorr saw the bunny on July 7: "I walk my dogs every day and I see lots of rabbits -- but today was very unusual," he said. Game Fish and Parks biologist Josh Delger said the growths are caused by a form of papillomavirus found only in cottontail rabbits. He said cases this severe are seen every few years, and the virus can spread from wild rabbits to pet rabbits, but it's unlikely it would spread to dogs. [KELO, 7/7/2022]