By Sarah Masker
Elm Staff Writer
1.) Remember when Mom would put you in timeout for punishment, or forbid you from enjoying the occasional cookies and milk after school? One mom has taken it to the extreme, selling her boys’ toys on eBay after getting fed up with their spinning tops. The opening bid for their eight Beyblade tops was $69, but bidders soon ganged up on the mom, who had posted a picture of her sons (in tears), and the auction closed at $999,999. The mother was extremely frustrated by the problems the conspiring bidders caused her, and after complaining to eBay, she even earned her own entry in Encyclopedia Dramatica, making her “the worst mom ever.” Msnbc.com
2.) Germans take their noise levels very seriously. So seriously that they’re passing a law allowing kids to be kids. This move comes after many recent lawsuits about children and noise, including a plea to ban kindergartens from residential areas because the kids are just too loud. Other rules regarding noise in Germany include silence at construction sites at midday and no lawn mowing on Sundays. Aolnews.com
3.) If any state were to allow guns on college campuses, it would be Texas. More than half of the members of the Texas House have signed to allow students and professors the right to carry a concealed handgun. With 38 public universities and more than 500,000 students, Texas will become the second state, following Utah, to pass such a law. Colorado grants colleges the option to choose for themselves, and several already allow handguns. In a country where gun violence is prevalent, especially when students are involved, this new “self-defense” law is just the thing to spark more controversy. Cbsnews.com
4.) Skiing uphill…sounds exciting. In Jackson, Wyoming, 78-year-old Roland Fleck, a retired doctor, was arrested after ignoring ski patrollers’ orders to stop his journey up the mountain. Officials say avalanche danger and the presence of grooming machines created unsafe conditions. Fleck, fortunately, will not be prosecuted, since his removal resolved the mountain resort’s complaint. His son, attorney Dan Fleck, says his father did nothing wrong and the mountain’s policy should be changed. Msnbc.com
5.) Love, generosity, and echoes of “Gone with the Wind” surround an anonymous couple that donated their engagement ring during the Salvation Army’s annual kettle drive. The ring, which has a .72-carat stone cut in a marquise brilliant shape, is not the first wedding ring to be received by the Salvation Army. The ring, which will sell to the highest bidder, will help food banks and other programs with the profit it earns. An attached note read, “My husband and I are still deeply in love. We think you could make better use of this ring than we can.” Msnbc.com
6.) Imagine a store deprived you of 80 cents off a coupon. No big deal, right? Tova Gerson, 32, of New Jersey is finally realizing that she can live without both the 80 cents and the $5 million law suit she filed against Century 21. The Gerson family has a history of taking on big retailers in court. Tova’s father, lawyer Harry Katz, has sued Dick’s Sporting Goods and The Children’s Place, among others. Is it really worth it? Tova’s change of mind says it all. Aolnews.com
7.) Child cruelty has been taken to a whole new level when an Egyptian dad named his daughter “Facebook.” Since the revolution in Egypt began, 32,000 groups and 14,000 pages were created on the social networking site, and the father felt it was appropriate to express his gratitude, starting with his daughter’s name. Whether he’s ready to deal with the teasing she gets in elementary school is still to be determined. Abcnews.com
8.) Humans aren’t the only ones who go vegetarian to watch their weight. Mokolo and Bebac, adult gorillas at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, are on a new diet to get in better shape. The starchy, processed food pellets from before have been replaced by fresh veggies, including green beans, dandelion greens, and endive. The ten pounds of veggies they eat per day aren’t just about how the gorillas look for visitors – both gorillas suffer from heart disease. It’s a year into the diet and both gorillas have shed about 65 pounds, despite eating nearly twice as many calories per day. Hey America, enjoyed a salad lately? Aolnews.com
9.) In an English cave, scientists discovered ancient human bones that not only show signs of cannibalism, but also what seems to have been the material necessary for “skull cups.” Thousands of years ago, these cups, made from human skulls, may have been used to drink blood or other beverages during rituals. At roughly 14,700 years old, these English cups are the oldest known examples of the ancient skull cups, which have been found at other archaeological sites as well. Aolnews.com
10.) The CDC reports that despite a slow start last fall, the flu is now circulating in all 50 states, as well as being widespread in 37. Activity really picked up in December, and in the last month, pediatric deaths from flu have tripled. The good news is that the vaccine protects against the strains that are currently circulating. CDC spokesman Tom Skinner says that there is “nothing extraordinary going on when it comes to our flu season,” which is expected to continue through March. Vaccines are still available. Usatoday.com
LXXXI Issue 16