Apparently spiritual Zen wasn't enough for Buddhist monks at two small temples in northern Thailand, The Washington Post reported. As part of an investigation into drug abuse in the Phetchabun province, officials visited the monasteries on Nov. 25 and discovered that all of the monks -- even the abbot -- tested positive for methamphetamine. "I was frightened because I never thought the monks would be addicted to drugs," said Sungyut Namburi, the village headman. But the monks' behavior gave them away. "When I inspected the abbot's shelter, I was stunned because it was a mess," Sungyut said. The monks were forced to leave the monkhood and enter rehab. For now, "the temple is empty," Sungyut said. [Washington Post, 12/1/2022]

Not Fit for Office

Bud May, 37, of Kyle, South Dakota, lost his bid for a state House of Representatives seat in 2022 -- and it may have been a good thing. On Nov. 13, May was arrested and charged with second-degree rape after an alleged assault on a woman in a bar bathroom stall, the Argus Leader reported. When he was asked in court whether the interaction was consensual, he replied, "I'm 6-foot-8, it's all consensual." Police reported that when they found the victim, she was cowering behind the bar and had dirt and blood on her, which she said was May's because he was in an earlier altercation. May appeared in court on Nov. 14 for a separate incident, and he has three outstanding warrants from the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety from September and October. [Argus Leader, 11/16/2022]

Least Competent Criminal

When alleged thief Jonathan James Frazier, 35, snatched a surveillance camera from the backyard of a home in Tullahoma, Tennessee, the camera's owner received a motion alert and watched on his cellphone as Frazier stashed it in his backpack, then pulled it out and sold it "to a male subject that police were able to identify," the Tullahoma News reported. The live feed continued at the purchaser's home, where officers caught up with the loot; the purchaser told them where they could find Frazier, and Frazier confessed to the larceny. [Tullahoma News, 11/28/2022]

In (Not So) Hot Water

-- About 200 ice-fishing enthusiasts had to be evacuated from Upper Red Lake, Minnesota, on Nov. 28 after a large chunk of ice broke free from the main shoreline, stranding them about 30 yards away, WDIO-TV reported. The Beltrami County Sheriff's office received a 911 call around 11:30 a.m.; employing a drone to assess the situation, officers used a temporary bridge to reach the fishers, along with airboats and water rescue boats. All anglers were returned to safety. [WDIO, 11/28/2022]

-- On Nov. 28, as the oil and chemical tanker Alithini II pulled into Las Palmas in the Canary Islands, it also carried three stowaways -- riding the ship's rudder at the stern, just feet above the water line. The Guardian reported that the three men had survived an 11-day journey from Nigeria -- more than 2,700 nautical miles -- and were suffering from hypothermia and dehydration. The Spanish coast guard rescued them. [Guardian, 11/28/2022]

It's a Mystery

Volusia County (Florida) officials are baffled by an object that has been unearthed at Dayton Beach Sands, clickorlando.com reported. In the aftermath of hurricanes Ian and Nicole, the 80- to 100-foot-long structure appeared, partially buried in the sand, said Volusia Beach Safety Deputy Chief Tammy Malphurs. "We're not sure what it is," she said, adding that she'd been on the beach for 25 years and had never seen it before. The storms caused unprecedented beach erosion. An archaeological team from the state is expected to visit soon to study the object. [clickorlando.com, 11/29/2022]

Picky, Picky

The Cowboy State Daily reported on Nov. 27 that Vern and Shireen Liebl are hoping to make a move to Wyoming, with one very particular criterion dictating which city they choose: the public library. The Liebls have been traversing Wyoming, visiting libraries, for the last 3 1/2 months, hoping to see each one the state has to offer. There have been a few standouts along the way, they report: In Glenrock, Vern said, "They have these skylights up there, and it's like blonde wood, and it just feels so light and airy." He also loved the name of the library in Ranchester: the Tongue River Library. His infatuation with libraries also extends to bookstores: "I think that one of the finest smells in the world is to go into an old bookstore ... and just inhale the essence of the paper," Vern said. [Cowboy State Daily, 11/27/2022]

Our Litigious Society

Amanda Ramirez of Hialeah, Florida, filed a class-action lawsuit against Kraft Heinz Foods Co. on Nov. 18, seeking $5 million. Her complaint? Velveeta's microwavable Shells & Cheese instructions indicate the dish is ready in 3 1/2 minutes, but Ramirez says that is "false and misleading because the product takes longer than the 3 1/2 minutes to prepare for consumption." The suit goes on to say that the 3 1/2 minutes are merely the time needed for microwaving the product, which is just one of several steps. Kraft Heinz told Fox Business that the suit is "frivolous" and that they will "strongly defend against the allegations in the complaint." [Fox Business, 11/27/2022]

Awwwww

-- Geoff Banks, 100, of Devon, England, and Celesta Byrne, 100, of Texas, have a unique bond: They've been pen pals since 1938, the BBC reported. Their friendship blossomed when they were in their 20s and an educational project put them in touch with each other. Since then, they've kept up with technology, switching to emails and video calls, and the two met in person in 2002. Banks calls Byrne "a very interesting person. We exchange stories and she's very good to talk to." Byrne shuts down any suggestion of romance over the years: "There wasn't 'glibbally globbally' stuff, it was just normal neighbor people." [BBC, 11/30/2022]

-- Brenda and Dennis Delgado first met by chance in August 2021, in the condiments aisle at Fry's, a grocery in Casa Grande, Arizona. Dennis told Brenda a joke, she laughed, and they talked for 30 minutes before exchanging their contact info, News12-TV reported. Both were widowed, and as they spent more time together, they grew close. So when they decided to tie the knot, they returned to the scene of the spark: the mayonnaise aisle. On Nov. 19, they exchanged vows on Aisle 8 as the "Wedding March" played over the store's loudspeakers. "It was wonderful," Dennis said. Floral arrangements provided by the store included Miracle Whip and mayo. "If you're looking for love, go to Fry's," Brenda said. "Keep looking." [News12, 11/25/2022]

It's Nice To Have a Hobby

High Point, North Carolina, resident Vic Clinco is believed to have the largest collection in the world of hot sauce, WFMY-TV reported on Nov. 29. He started 26 years ago with three bottles; today he displays almost 11,000 bottles in his basement shrine. "It has turned into an obsession," Clinco admits. He's become such a celebrity in the hot sauce "culture" that manufacturers send him samples of their new varieties. "I want it to be shared with anyone that has the love of the heat as I do," he said. He hopes to hold tastings to introduce others to the love of the spicy condiments. [WFMY, 11/29/2022]

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Archaeologists in Turkey believe they have found the tomb of the real St. Nicholas, People reported on Oct. 19. The grave was discovered beneath the floor of a 7th- or 8th-century church in the country's Antalya province. St. Nicholas of Myra, the inspiration for our modern-day Santa Claus, allegedly served as bishop there. Scientists say the site will be protected and prepared for display. [People, 10/19/2022]

It's a Mystery

On a sheep farm in the Inner Mongolia region of China, a strange phenomenon has been caught on surveillance video, Oddity Central reported. Starting on Nov. 4 and lasting more than two weeks, dozens of sheep were seen walking clockwise in a large circle. Other animals could be seen staring at the circle from outside it, or standing motionless in the middle of it. Only sheep from one pen (out of 34) were acting strangely, according to Ms. Miao, the owner. Some viewers of the video theorized that the sheep are suffering from listeriosis, or "circles disease," but that condition usually causes a rapid death. [Oddity Central, 11/18/2022]

Fish Story

Bluewater Lakes in Champagne, France, is the home of the Carrot, a hybrid leather carp and koi fish that was released into the fishing lake 20 years ago and has been eluding fishers ever since, the Daily Mail reported. That is, until Nov. 3, when Andy Hackett, from Worcestershire, England, landed the 67-pound beauty. Hackett spent about 25 minutes hauling in the Carrot. "I always knew the Carrot was in there but never thought I would catch it," Hackett said. He released the famous fish back into the lake and celebrated with a cup of tea. [Daily Mail, 11/21/2022]

The Rules

In Tennessee, it is legal to collect roadkill for consumption, WJHL-TV reported on Nov. 20. In fact, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency encourages people to take home animals found on the road, with some strict rules in place. For example, deer and turkey must be reported to TWRA or local police within 48 hours of collection. But "bears, on the other hand, require that a TWRA agent come out and issue you a receipt for a black bear," said spokesperson Matthew Cameron. That's because the bear population is monitored, and the TWRA takes a tooth from the animal for the purpose of dating it. In addition, tracking bear kills helps the agency prevent the sale of bear parts on the black market. "It's highly illegal to sell any kind of bear parts in the state of Tennessee," Cameron said, "but it does happen." Small animals such as rabbits, raccoons, squirrels and skunks can be collected without notifying anyone. [WJHL, 11/20/2022]

Wiener War

A turf war of sorts broke out late on Nov. 19 in downtown San Diego, CBS8-TV reported: Interloper hot dog vendors from Los Angeles had set up outside Petco Park stadium, where Duke Dumont was playing, and the San Diego vendors weren't having it. A brawl involving 10 to 15 people ensued, with one 35-year-old man being stabbed in the back during the fray. Police arrested Yoni Yates, 21, in the assault, which resulted in non-life-threatening injuries. No buns were injured in the incident. [CBS8, 11/20/2022]

Stowaway

TSA agents at John F. Kennedy International Airport saved the day on Nov. 16 when they spotted an unusual item in a passenger's checked baggage: a live cat. NBC2 News reported that the feline could be seen in an X-ray of the bag and was rescued before the suitcase went into the cargo hold. "The cat did not belong to the individual with the suitcase," TSA spokesperson Lisa Farbstein said. "It belonged to someone else in the household." [NBC2 News, 11/22/2022]

The Demands of the Job

In Paris, a court has ruled in favor of "Mr. T," a former employee of Cubik Partners who was fired in 2015 for being "insufficient professionally" because he wouldn't take part in "team-building" activities, i.e., going to the pub after work hours and on weekends. In his suit, Mr. T said the company encouraged a culture "involving promiscuity, bullying and incitement to various excesses." The Court of Cessation declared that Mr. T "could not be blamed for his lack of integration in the fun environment," The U.S. Sun reported. Cubik was forced to pay him about $3,100 in compensation. [The U.S. Sun, 11/25/2022]

Extreme Measures

Jermaine Bell, 38, spent more than three years in jail fighting charges against him for an armed robbery in 2018, Local10-TV reported. When he heard the guilty verdict in a Miami-Dade County, Florida, courtroom on Nov. 21, Bell guzzled a cup of bleach, becoming so sick that he had to be removed from the courtroom on a stretcher. He survived the self-imposed attack, but officials are unclear where he obtained the bleach. Rev. Jerome Starling, a distant cousin of Bell's, saw him "drinking something that's not right, and that his attorneys are letting him drink it, the corrections are letting him drink it. And all of a sudden, I see him collapse. And I'm like, 'What just happened?'" Starling recounted. Bell's family members are pursuing the matter. [Local10, 11/21/2022]

Oops

Japanese food shops rely on remarkably realistic plastic samples to showcase their offerings, but one Osaka shop mistakenly sold five plastic pastries to customers on Oct. 22, Gulf News reported. At Andrew's Egg Tart, a worker immediately noticed the mistake, and the plastic treats were exchanged for the real thing. From now on, the shop will use stickers to distinguish real egg tarts from their doppelgangers. [Gulf News, 10/26/2022]

Likely Story

Police in Mathura, India, reported to the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act court that more than 500kg of marijuana, confiscated and stored in two police stations, had been "eaten" by rats, Gulf News reported. Officers told the judge that mice and rats, although small, do not fear police. A district judge ordered police to eradicate the "mice menace" and provide proof that the critters actually consumed the weed by Nov. 26. [Gulf News, 11/24/2022]

That's One Way To Do It

With home prices in New Zealand taking their biggest drop in 30 years, one homeowner who's looking to sell is trying to sweeten the offer. The owner of 22 Dungloe Avenue in Flat Bush is offering a free Tesla with the purchase of their $1.8 million home, Sky News reported. The new owner will be asked to choose the color of the electric car, which will be ordered new and delivered to the home from the manufacturer. And with six parking spots, they can park it sideways if they want. [Sky News, 11/17/2022]

Family Values

On Oct. 26, 12-year-old Ayden was picked up unexpectedly by his dad from a birthday party in Los Angeles and was told they were going to a park. Instead, KABC-TV reported, the man started driving to Las Vegas, and Ayden became concerned because he believed his dad was driving drunk. (The fact that Dad was wearing a Las Vegas Raiders helmet might have been a clue.) Ayden called 911 and explained his situation; he told the dispatcher the car has "Raider plates on the front and in the back." Officers finally caught up with the car, and Ayden's dad faces charges of DUI and child abuse. [KABC, 11/23/2022]

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Talk about taking your gaming seriously. Palmer Luckey, a defense contractor and, according to Vice, the father of modern virtual reality, has invented a VR headset that literally presents a life-or-death outcome. Inspired by the NerveGear VR headsets in the anime "Sword Art Online," Luckey's headset features three explosive charge modules that detonate and instantly destroy the user's head if the user dies during gameplay. "Pumped-up graphics might make a game look more real, but only the threat of serious consequences can make a game feel real to you and every other person in the game," Luckey said. He admits, though, that he needs to keep tinkering: "There are a huge variety of failures that could occur and kill the user at the wrong time. This is why I have not worked up the (nerve) to actually use it myself. At this point, it is just ... a thought-provoking reminder of unexplored avenues in game design." [Vice, 11/7/2022]

Money To Burn

A pair of "well used" Birkenstock sandals once worn by Steve Jobs has sold at auction for almost $220,000, the Associated Press reported. The brown suede sandals, which date to the mid-1970s, retain "the imprint of Steve Jobs' feet," the auction said in describing the listing. The buyer was not named. Jobs' home in Los Altos, California, where he and Steve Wozniak co-founded Apple, is now a historic landmark. [AP, 11/14/2022]

Ironies

-- The Buckingham and Villages Community Board in England admitted that the irony was running thick when, on Nov. 15, it had to cancel a program about protecting your home from flood damage due to heavy rains in the area. The board hoped to provide residents with demonstrations of flood resilience equipment and what to do in case of a deluge, according to the BBC. "However, it was due to take place outside in pouring rain and high winds, so there was concern ... that people would not turn out for this important event," the BVCB said. "A new date will be arranged as soon as possible." [BBC, 11/15/2022]

-- In Norway, energy firm Equinor produced its first energy from floating wind turbines on Nov. 13, CNBC reported. The installation, called Hywind Tampen, lies about 87 miles off the coast of Norway, with 11 total turbines, four of which will come online in 2023. Ironically, the turbines will be used to produce energy for Equinor's oil and gas fields in the North Sea. "This is a unique project, the first wind farm in the world powering producing oil and gas installations," said Geir Tungesvik, the company's executive vice president for projects, drilling and procurement. [CNBC, 11/14/2022]

The Continuing Crisis

Marine biologists in the Cayman Islands are desperately searching for a nurse shark that is sporting a mesh bag around its middle, the Daily Star reported. The "skirt" is blocking the shark's gills, effectively choking it. The Department of Environment said they are "doing our best to locate and assist him but so far, we've been unsuccessful." A scuba diver initially spotted the animal, but he didn't have the tools he needed to cut the bag away. [Daily Star, 11/14/2022]

Least Competent Criminal

Police in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, were able to easily identify a carjacker who followed a woman off a bus at a park-and-ride on Nov. 1, WTAE reported. When they located her stolen car a couple of hours later, the people inside hopped out and ran away -- but one of the thieves left their identity behind via the Bluetooth iPhone connection in the car. "Darrells iPhone" turned up on the car's list of devices, and a security guard at Westinghouse High School identified Darrell Cammon Jr., 19, from a surveillance video on the bus. Cammon and another suspect are still at large. [WTAE, 11/16/2022]

Shade

Byron and Christie Jefferies started dating in 2007 while attending Clemson University, WYFF reported. Through the ensuing 15 years, they stayed together as they lost parents, attended grad school and moved for jobs. So when they married on Oct. 15 in South Carolina, Christie couldn't help but throw a little shade: As she opened a piece of paper with her vows on it, she blew off a layer of dust. Christie calls her marriage to Byron a "home run." [WYFF, 11/11/2022]

Night of the Living Poodle

On Oct. 29, as Kathrin Burleson and a friend walked Burleson's 13-year-old corgi, Emma, at Trinidad State Beach in California, a pack of 10 standard poodles burst from a nearby car and raced toward them, the Mad River Union reported. Burleson leaned down to pick up Emma, but she wriggled out of Burleson's arms just as the pack attacked. "I thought Emma and I were going to be killed," Burleson said. To make things even weirder, during the incident, Burleson felt her finger being bitten, but when she looked up, it was the poodles' owner, Frank Mallatt, who had her finger in his mouth. Mallatt later told her he thought he was biting one of his dogs. Emma was severely injured and underwent emergency surgery, from which she is still healing. Mallatt reportedly owns a service dog company that, according to the website, places dogs "with children at little to no cost through the help of donations and volunteers." [Mad River Union, 11/10/2022]

It's Come to This

Brandy Bottone of Plano, Texas, who argued successfully in June that her unborn fetus qualified her to drive in the HOV lane, is now the namesake of House Bill 521 in Texas' 2023 legislative session, MSN reported. The Brandy Bill, introduced by state Rep. Briscoe Cain, states that a pregnant driver "is entitled to use any HOV lane in the state." Texas penal code stipulates that an unborn child is considered a person "at every stage of gestation from fertilization until birth." If the Brandy Bill is signed into law, it will take effect in September. [MSN, 11/17/2022]

End of an Era

Coventry Club, a 46-acre campground in Milton, Vermont, that's been a haven for nudists for almost 60 years, is closing at the end of the season, WCAX-TV reported. "Our second day here, we fell in love with the place and the people," said camper Gentle Bear. The owners are going to retire, and the land was sold to a family. Vermont's unusual laws about nudity allow flashing the birthday suit in public -- but you can't take off your clothes in public. "This is the only place like this in the Northeast and maybe in the U.S.," said Mark Ozenich, who first visited the park 20 years ago. Good times. [WCAX, 11/16/2022]

Bright Idea

Residents of the Capitol Hill area of Seattle took matters into their own hands after not getting any satisfaction from the city, KOMO-TV reported. Someone painted a crosswalk at the intersection of E. Olive Way and Harvard Avenue E., but on Nov. 16, the Seattle Department of Transportation removed the unauthorized stripes, saying, "Improperly painted crosswalks give a false sense of safety which puts pedestrians in danger. There are better ways for people to work with us." David Seater, co-leader of Central Seattle Greenways, called it "frustrating" that the city can move so quickly to remove the rogue crosswalk but "it can take years if not decades or never, frankly, to get crosswalks and other safety improvements installed." SDOT said it would evaluate the intersection to see how the unauthorized crossing might be replaced. [KOMO, 11/16/2022]

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