Welcome to Friday! The end of another work week has arrived and that means we’re getting ready for the arrival of another weekend. In the meantime, as you look for conversation starters around the daily water cooler, here’s some Water Cooler News!

In this edition you will find the usual collection of historical fun facts and birthdays for this date. You will also find some off-beat news stories!

• Drive-By Shooter Forgets To Roll Down Window
• McDonald’s Customer Dials 911 Over Order Mix-Up
• Boys Forget Their Homework…At Scene Of The Crime

Morning Mindbender Question
51% of women, but only 39% of men say they have almost done this at work. What is it?

Answer at end of post.

Off-Beat News

“Drive-By Shooter Forgets To Roll Down Window”
A Wisconsin man charged in connection with a drive-by shooting should also be charged with first-degree stupidity. Police say he forgot to roll down his car window before firing his gun. Published reports say 20-year-old Andrew Burwitz of Appleton allegedly fired at the home of his ex-girlfriend’s family. No one was hurt in the incident, but the residents were awakened by the sound of breaking glass. When police found broken auto glass in the street, they contacted repair shops in the area and learned Burwitz had gotten a broken car window replaced after filing an insurance claim.

“McDonald’s Customer Dials 911 Over Order Mix-Up”
An Oregon man has been fined 300 dollars for dialing 911 to complain about an order while at a McDonald’s drive-thru window. According to court documents, 20-year-old Raibin Osman called for police assistance because a McDonald’s in the town of Aloha left orange juice out of his breakfast order. Police arrived when an employee dialed 911 to complain that Osman was blocking the drive-thru lane. Osman was taken to jail when he insisted he had to legal right to dial 911 about his fast food order.

“Boys Forget Their Homework…At Scene Of The Crime”
The parents of two teenage boys in Woonsocket, Rhode Island know their kids are doing their homework because police say the pair left an assignment behind at a home they burglarized. Police say they found the homework next to a basement window that had been used by burglars to enter the house to steal video game systems. The homework didn’t belong to anyone who lived at the house and the name on it was familiar to law enforcement officials.

Historical Notes

Today is…
Good Morning American Premiered on TV – 1975
Meet The Press Premiered on TV – 1947
Saxophone Day – Adolphe Sax–1814-1894/Belgian musician who invented the saxophone

Notable Birthdays…
Stonewall Jackson 77/Grand Ole Opry star, “Waterloo”
Sally Field, 63, actress
Glenn Frey, 61, musician / singer
Maria Shriver, 54
Lori Singer, 52, actress (Footloose)
Peter DeLuise 43/actor, TV’s 21 Jump Street, son of Dom

Born on this date…also known as the late…
Adolphe Sax–1814-1894/Belgian musician who invented the saxophone

Music History
1986 – Boston had the number one single with “Amanda.” It was taken from the band’s album, Third Stage, which took eight years to make.

1984 – After pleading no contest to a reduced charge of voluntary manslaughter, Marvin Gaye Sr. received five years probation for shooting his son, singer Marvin Gaye. The sole witness to the shooting was the singer’s mother, Alberta, who later filed for divorce from his father.

1976 – The Steve Miller Band had the number one single with “Rock ‘n’ Me.”

1971 – Cher had the number one single with “Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves.” It was her first solo U.S. number one.

1968 – The Monkees feature film, Head, premiered.

1965 – The Rolling Stones knocked The Beatles from the number one slot on the singles chart when “Get Off My Cloud” beat out “Yesterday.”

General History
1860 – Abraham Lincoln was elected the sixteenth president of the United States.

2001 – Billionaire Republican media tycoon Michael Bloomberg was elected mayor of New York City.

Daily Mindbender Answer
51% of women, but only 39% of men say they have almost “punched a co-worker” at work.

Yours in Water Cooler News fun!
Dr. Rus

Welcome to Thursday and welcome to another edition of the Water Cooler News!

In this edition of the Water Cooler News you will find the usual collection of historical fun factiods along with some birthdays for todays date. You will also find some off-beat news…

• Woman Tosses Ranch Dressing During Road Rage Encounter
• Blockbuster Employee Stabs Himself To Avoid Work
• Teletubbie Robs Woman At Gunpoint

Daily Mindbender Question
72% of women surveyed said that this would be their ultimate fantasy. What is it? (hint: TV)

Answer at end of post!

Off-Beat News

“Woman Tosses Ranch Dressing During Road Rage Encounter”
An Idaho woman pled guilty to a road rage incident in which she rammed her pickup into another car and tossed ranch dressing at the driver. Authorities say 18-year-old Tiffany Wallace was arrested June 1st after police say she used her truck to ram a car at least four times. The other driver told investigators the road rage incident started when he was cut off by Wallace.  The driver said Wallace also screamed at him, threw coins and tossed containers of ranch dressing at his car.

“Blockbuster Employee Stabs Himself To Avoid Work”
Lots of people have made up excuses to avoid going to work, but police in the Denver suburb of Edgewater say a 29-year man stabbed himself and then made up a story about being attacked so he could avoid doing his shift at Blockbuster. Police say Aaron Siebers reported being attacked by three men dressed in black. Five police agencies along with K-9 units arrived on the scene, but Siebers later admitted he made the story up so he could skip work. Siebers said he alone was responsible for the knife wound to his leg and other superficial cuts on his body.

“Teletubbie Robs Woman At Gunpoint”
London police say a man dressed as a Teletubbie robbed a woman at gunpoint.  Authorities say the woman handed over cash and wasn’t hurt in the incident.  Police thought they caught the suspect a short time later when they stopped and questioned a man who was dressed as a Teletubbie, but it turned out to be a case of mistaken Teletubbie — he had just chosen the costume for Halloween.

On This Date

Today is…
First Shattered Backboard Anniversary – 1946 – Chuck Connors of the Boston Celtics became the first NBA player to shatter a backboard, doing so during the pregame warm-up in Boston Garden.  Connors
also played major league baseball with the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs and gained fame as star of the television series “The Rifleman”.
National Men Make Dinner Day – One day set aside for “Non-Cooking Men Only” in the kitchen.  Give wives a break, and let the men whip up some culinary delight with no help from family members. In the true spirit of of Men Make Dinner, barbecues are not allowed.  Web:  www.menmakedinnerday.com

Notable Birthdays…
Art Garfunkel, 68, singer
Sam Shepard, 66, dramatist, actor
Peter Noone 62/singer, Herman’s Hermits
Bryan Adams, 50, singer
Tatum O’Neal, 46, actress
Kevin Jonas, 22, guitarist (The Jonas Brothers)

Born on this date…also known as the late…
Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler -1941-1989 singer “Ballad of the Green Berets”
Gram Parsons–1946-1973/singer-songwriter, The Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers
Ike Turner–1931-2007/singer-songwriter, ex-con, Tina’s ex
Roy Rogers–1911-1998/actor-singer-cowboy, TV star. His horse was named Trigger.
Natalie Schafer–1912-1991/actress. Mrs. Howell on TV’s Gilligan’s Island.

Music History
1995 – The Wizard Of Oz in Concert featured an all-star cast: Jackson Browne was the Scarecrow, Roger Daltrey was the Tin Man, Nathan Lane played the Cowardly Lion and Jewel was Dorothy. The concert, held at New York City’s Lincoln Center, was a benefit for the Children’s Defense Fund.

1988 – “The Locomotion” became the first song in chart history to hit the top five in three different versions when Kylie Minogue’s version made it to number four. The song had been a number one for Little Eva and Grand Funk.

1988 – The Beach Boys had the number one single with “Kokomo.” It was written by John Phillips of the Mamas & Papas and was included on the soundtrack to the Tom Cruise film, Cocktail.

1967 – Robin Gibb of The Bee Gees was on a train that crashed in South East London. Forty-nine passengers were killed, 78 were injured. Gibb was treated for shock.

1966 – The Monkees had the number one single with “Last Train To Clarksville.”

1965 – The Who released the “My Generation” single in the UK.

1960 – Singer Johnny Horton died in an auto accident after a gig at the Skyline Club in Austin, Texas.

General History
1605 – The “Gunpowder Plot” attempted by Guy Fawkes failed when he was captured before he could blow up the English Parliament. Guy Fawkes Day is celebrated every November 5th in Britain to celebrate his failure to blow up all the members of Parliament and King James I.

1639 – The first post office opened in Massachusetts Colony.

1895 – George B. Selden, of Rochester, New York, received the first U.S. patent for an automobile.  He sold the rights four years later for $200,000.

1994 – Forty-five-year-old George Foreman became boxing’s oldest heavyweight champion when he knocked out Michael Moorer in the 10th round of their WBA fight in Las Vegas.

Daily Mindbender Answer
72% of women surveyed said “starring in a soap opera” would be their ultimate fantasy.

Yours in Water Cooler News!
Dr. Rus

Welcome to the mid-point of another week! It’s Wednesday which means it’s all downhill from here as we make our way toward another weekend.

In this edition of the Water Cooler News there’s the usual historical tidbits and birthdays for todays date. You will also find a collection of some off-beat news…

• Pizza Thief Cuts Out The Middle Man
• Mother & Daughter Hold Signs Proclaiming They’re Thieves
• Bank Robber Strikes Same Branch Four Times

Daily Mindbender Question
The average person owns 9 of these. What is it?

Answer at end of post!

Off-Beat News

“Pizza Thief Cuts Out The Middle Man”
Police in Sheboygan, Wisconsin are looking for the thief who decided to skip his grocer’s freezer and go straight to a frozen food company to steal 70 cases of bratwurst pizza. Investigators say the thief broke into Luigie’s Frozen Pizza company sometime over the weekend and stole 34 hundred dollars worth of brat pizza.  Authorities say the thief also took 20 bags of pizza spice.

“Mother & Daughter Hold Signs Proclaiming They’re Thieves”
A 56-year-old woman and her adult daughter stood outside a Pennsylvania courthouse for several hours yesterday holding signs that read, quote, “I stole from a nine-year-old girl on her birthday!  Don’t steal or this could happen to you.” According to court documents Evelyn Border and her 35-year-old daughter, Tina Griekspoor, agreed to stand outside and hold the signs in exchange for a prosecutor’s promise to seek probation for the pair instead of jail time when they plead guilty to theft.

“Bank Robber Strikes Same Branch Four Times”
Authorities in Tamarac, Florida are looking for a robber who struck the same bank so many times that during his last heist, one teller exclaimed, “He’s here again.” Authorities say the suspect has targeted the same Tamarac Bank Atlantic branch four times in the past year. He’s described as a heavyset man with dreadlocks.  Investigators say the suspect orders tellers to fill a plastic bag with cash and then casually walks out.

Historical Tidbits

Today is…
Mischief Night – Observed in England, Australia, and New Zealand.  The eve of Guy Fawkes Day is an occasion for bonfires and firecrackers to commemorate failure of the plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament Nov. 5, 1605.
National Chicken Lady Day – Miami Shores, FL. – The Chicken Lady has helped thousands to learn the art of public speaking. Each year as a thank-you, people come out and have a celebration to show
their appreciation for what she has done to help them.
Use Your Common Sense Day
Will Rogers Day

Notable Birthdays…
Doris Roberts, 79, actress (Everybody Loves Raymond)
Loretta Swit, 72, actress (M*A*S*H)
Laura Bush, 63, first lady
Markie Post, 59, actress (Night Court)
Ralph Macchio, 48, actor (The Karate Kid)
Matthew McConaughey, 40, actor

Born on this date…also known as the late…
Art Carney–1918-2003/actor, Ed Norton on TV’s The Honeymooners
Walter Cronkite–1916-2009/CBS News anchorman

Music History
1996 – Michael Jackson announced he and his friend DEBBIE ROWE were having a baby. The singer denied the couple used artificial insemination and that Rowe was paid to carry the baby.

1992 – Elton John and his songwriting partner Bernie Taupin signed a $39 million publishing contract with Warner-Chappell music.

1963 – The Beatles appeared at the Royal Variety Show at the Prince of Wales Theatre before a glittering audience that included the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret. John Lennon invited, “Will people in the cheaper seats clap your hands?  All the rest of you, please rattle your jewelry.”

1961 – Bob Dylan made his concert hall debut in New York City. The show was seen by 50 people who paid $2 each.

General History
1842 – Abraham Lincoln married young Mary Todd. He looked, at least according to one observer, “pale and trembling as being driven to slaughter.”

1873 – That slicing machine you see in delis and butcher shops for cutting meats was invented by Anthony Iske of Pennsylvania.

1922 – The entrance to King Tut’s tomb was discovered.

1984 – McDonalds celebrated its McBillionth hamburger purchased.

Daily Mindbender Answer
The average person owns 9 “pairs of jeans”. (Why are they pairs, if there’s only one of them?)

Yours in Water Cooler News!
Dr. Rus

After being away last week, it’s time to get back into the daily groove here in the Water Cooler Newsroom! It’s always great to take vacation, but there’s also something about just getting back home and back into a routine that’s nice too.

In this edition of the Water Cooler News you will find some historical fun facts, birthdays for todays date, and a collection of some off-beat news…

• Human Breathalyzer Machine Busted For DUI
• Husband Is Allergic to Wife
• The Sweet Smell Of A Silly Lawsuit

Daily Mindbender Question
Half of American women say they got this as a young girl and still have it today. What is it?

Answer at end of post!

Off-Beat News

“Human Breathalyzer Machine Busted For DUI”
An 18-year-old college student in Oxford, Ohio was arrested for DUI Sunday after he was stopped for driving the wrong way on a one way street while dressed for Halloween as a giant breathalyzer machine. The Oxford Police Department said an actual breathalyzer machine recorded James Miller’s blood alcohol content at nearly twice the legal limit.  Miller’s costume retails for about 30 dollars and features three sobriety levels: “Boring,” “Life of the Party” and “Sotally Tober.”

“Husband Is Allergic to Wife”
A British man has a good excuse for staying clear of his wife — he’s allergic to her. 45 year old Darren Young of South Yorkshire says he breaks out in a rash whenever he goes near his wife. Doctors discovered Young is allergic to a chemical compound found in creams and body lotions. Young says his heart rate soars and his body swells when he comes in contact with the chemical, and it’s not just his wife. He discovered the allergy while using a steroid containing the compound to treat a foot problem.

“The Sweet Smell Of A Silly Lawsuit”
The only date Vaibhav Bev can get is in court. The man is suing the cosmetics company Unilever, claiming one of its brands of deodorant did not help him get a girlfriend. Bev is seeking more than 100 thousand dollars for, quote, “depression and psychological damage” because he used the company’s Lynx brand deodorant, but still couldn’t lure in any ladies, despite the fact the ad campaign features men fending off scantily-clad women turned on by the scent. Bev is quoted as saying, “I used it for seven years but no girl came to me.”

Historical Notes

Today Is…
Cliche’ Day – Use cliche’s as much as possible today.  Hey, why not? Give it a shot!  Win some, lose some.  You’ll never know ’til you try
SOS Adopted Anniversary – 1906 – The second International Radio Telegraphic Conference at Berlin, Germany, proposed a new wireless distress signal:  SOS.  After its use during the sinking of the Titanic in 1912, SOS became the standard distress signal at sea.

Notable Birthdays…
Ken Berry, 76, actor (Mayberry R.F.D., Mama’s Family)
Michael Dukakis 76/ex-Massachusetts governor, Democratic presidential nominee
Shadoe Stevens, 63, radio personality
Lulu, 61, singer
Roseanne Barr, 57, comedienne
Kate Capshaw, 56, actress, Mrs. Spielberg (Indiana Jones & The Temple Of Doom)
Adam Ant, 55, singer

Born on this date…also known as the late…
Charles Bronson–1921-2003/actor, Death Wish movies

Music History
1997 – John Denver’s last recording, The Unplugged Collection, was released in the U.K.

1972 – Carly Simon and James Taylor wed in New York.

1964 – Roger Miller recorded his classic “King of the Road” in Nashville.

General History
1507 – Leonardo Da Vinci was commissioned by the husband of Lisa Gherardini to paint her. The work is known as the Mona Lisa.

1796 – John Adams was elected the second U.S. president.

1975 – Good Morning America premiered on ABC.

1998 – Minnesota elected former pro wrestler Jesse “The Body” Ventura governor.

Daily Mindbender Answer
Half of American women say they got this as a young girl and still have a “nick name” today.

Yours in Water Cooler News fun!
Dr. Rus

Welcome to Friday!

There’s nothing like a Friday to put a smile on your face. It marks the end of another work week and that means the weekend is here! Or course, even though it’s Friday, we still all need some fun things to talk about as we gather around the work water cooler.

In this edition of the Water Cooler News there’s the usual collection of historical tidbits and birthdays for todays date. From the off-beat news department…

• Felon Demands Jail Time To Escape Wife
• Man Robbed of Chicken Dinner
• Couch Potato Accused of Driving La-Z-Boy Recliner While Drunk

Daily Mindbender Question
8 out of 10 millionaires have one of these. What is it?

Answer at end of post!

Off-Beat News

“Felon Demands Jail Time To Escape Wife”
Convicted felons undoubtedly always prefer house arrest over a prison cell, but that’s not the case for a 30-year-old man in Sicily. Authorities say Santo Gambino was sentenced to house arrest following a conviction for illegal dumping, but he went to a police station this week to ask to be put in jail to escape the arguments he was having at home with his wife. Police cited Gambino for leaving his house without permission and then sent him back home to patch things up with his wife.

“Man Robbed of Chicken Dinner”
Cops in Cleveland say a 64-year-old man was waiting at a bus stop recently when four individuals approached him and stole his chicken dinner. Investigators say the man had just purchased the meal and was taking it home to eat when the thieves grabbed it. They also stole 17 dollars from the victim.

“Couch Potato Accused of Driving La-Z-Boy Recliner While Drunk”
A 62-year-old Minnesota man pled guilty to driving his motorized La-Z-Boy recliner while drunk. Police say Dennis LeRoy Anderson’s blood alcohol level was more than three times the legal limit when he crashed his motorized recliner into a parked car. The recliner is powered by a lawnmower engine and features a stereo and cup holders.

Historical Notes

Today is…
National Mole Day – http://www.moleday.org
Swallows Depart From San Juan Capistrano

Notable birthdays…
Pele’, 69, former soccer player
Barbara Ann Hawkins 66/singer, Dixie Cups, “Chapel Of Love”
Ang Lee, 55, director
Dwight Yoakum, 53, country singer
“Weird Al” Yankovic, 50, singer

Born on this date…also known as the late…
Greg Ridley–1947-2003/bass, Spooky Tooth, Humble Pie
Johnny Carson–1925-2005/ex-Tonight Show host

Music History
1973 – The number one song was “Midnight Train To Georgia” by Gladys Knight & The Pips.

1966 – The Jimi Hendrix Experience recorded their first single, “Hey Joe,” at De Lane Lea Studios in London.

1965 – The Byrds released “Turn! Turn! Turn!”

1962 – Steveland Morris Judkins, later known as Little Stevie Wonder, at the age of 12 recorded his first single. The song was “Thank You For Loving Me All the Way.”

1961 – Dion had the number one song with “Runaround Sue.”

General History
1915 – Twenty-five-thousand women marched in New York City, demanding the right to vote.

1973 – President Nixon agreed to turn over White House tape recordings requested by the Watergate special prosecutor over to Judge John J. Sirica.

1993 – Joe Carter of the Toronto Blue Jays became only the second player to end the World Series with a home run when his round tripper gave his team a series victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.

1996 – The civil trial of O.J. Simpson opened in Santa Monica, California. Simpson was later found liable in the deaths of his ex-wife, Nicole, and her friend, Ronald Goldman.

Daily Mindbender Answer
8 out of 10 millionaires have a “used car”.

Yours in Water Cooler News Fun!
Dr. Rus

Another week is quickly winding down as we find ourselves making our way through a Thursday! As you gather around the daily water cooler looking for fun factoids or odd news to chat about, you will find them here!

In this edition of the Water Cooler News you will find a list of birthdays for today as well as some historical notes. From the off-beat news department…

• Woman Sees Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer In Pork Chop
• Mom May Do Time For Spending Time with Son Selling Drugs
• Police: Man Dialed 911 More Than 12 Thousand Times

Daily Mindbender Question
46% of people change the channel on their TV when they see this. What is it?

Answer at end of post!

Off-Beat News

“Woman Sees Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer In Pork Chop”
It’s not another image of Mother Teresa in a sweet roll or the Virgin Mary in a grilled cheese sandwich, but a woman in North Carolina believes she sees Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer in a pork chop. Sue Church took her Rudolph pork chop to a TV station, but some people there thought it actually looked more like Max, the dog who wears antlers in “How The Grinch Stole Christmas”.

“Mom May Do Time For Spending Time with Son Selling Drugs”
Spending quality time with your child is important, but one mom in Massachusetts is in trouble for taking her son on trips to buy and sell heroin. According to court documents Nancy Fulford pled not guilty to possessing and distributing heroin. Her 23-year-old son Timothy was charged with knowing where his mom stashed the drug.

“Police: Man Dialed 911 More Than 12 Thousand Times”
Police in Japan say they arrested a 61-year-old man for dialing 9-1-1 more than 12 thousand times in the past three years.  Authorities say the man allegedly dialed the emergency number 12,300 times and shouted at police operators. In addition to the 9-1-1 calls to police, the man is also accused of calling his area fire department close to 14 hundred times. Authorities say they visited his home on four occasions prior to his arrest to ask him to stop, but he refused.

Historical Notes

Today is…
International Stuttering Awareness Day
World’s End Day Anniversary – 1844 – Anniversary of the day set as the one on which the world would end by followers of William Miller, religious leader and creator of a movement known as Millerism.

Notable Birthdays…
Christopher Lloyd, 71, actor (Taxi, Back To The Future)
Annette Funicello, 67, singer / actress
Jeff Goldblum, 57, actor
Brian Boitano, 46, Olympic gold medal figure skater
Christian singer TobyMac (dc Talk) is 45
Michael Fishman (”Roseanne”) is 28
Drummer Zac Hanson of Hanson is 24

Born on this date…also known as the late…
Bobby Fuller–1942-1966/singer, “I Fought the Law”

Movie History
1966 – Georgy Girl, the movie starring Lynn Redgrave, was the first movie to receive a Mature Audience Only rating.

1976 – The movie “Car Wash” opened in theaters.

Music History
1976 – Keith Moon played his last show with THE WHO.

1967 – The musical Hair opened on Broadway.

1966 – The Beach Boys’ classic single “Good Vibrations” was released.  It took six months to record and cost $4,000. Others put the cost at $10,000. The song was recorded over the course of 17 sessions in four different studios.

1964 – The Who failed an audition with EMI. They were known as High Numbers at the time.

1961 – Chubby Checker sang “The Twist” on TV’s Ed Sullivan Show.

General History
1746 – Princeton University received its charter.

1938 – Chester Carlson invented the Xerox photocopier. His invention was turned down by IBM, RCA, Kodak and other major companies. Carlson eventually made a fortune estimated at $100 million.

1939 – NBC televised the first professional football game, from Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. The game was broadcast to a limited area and only 500 TV sets got the transmission.

1968 – Apollo Seven returned safely, splashing down in the Atlantic Ocean.

1978 – Pope John Paul II was installed as Pontiff.  He was the first non-Italian Pope in 456 years.

1998 – The government announced one of the biggest toy recalls ever, advising parents to remove the batteries from their kids’ Power Wheels cars and trucks, made by Fisher-Price, because of faulty wiring that could cause them to burst into flame.

2001 – The New York Yankees won their 38th American League pennant.

Daily Mindbender Answer
46% of people change the channel on their TV when they see a “Reality TV Show”.

Yours in Water Cooler News fun!
Dr. Rus

We’ve arrived at the middle of another week already!

This week is flying by as we find ourselves at the mid-point already. As usual, you can be prepared for small talk around the water cooler with your friends and colleagues. In this edition of the Water Cooler News there’s some great music and general historical facts. You will also find a rather lengthy list of birthdays for today’s date too.

Then there’s the collection of some off-beat news!

• Australian Chooses Tree Over Croc-Infested River
• Bride Slugs Police Officer, Spends Wedding Night Behind Bars
• Woman Sets Home On Fire Trying to Get Rid of Raccoon

Daily Mindbender Question
18% of people will do this activity this fall. What is it?

Answer at end of post!

Off-Beat News

“Australian Chooses Tree Over Croc-Infested River”
An Australian man spent 12 hours in a tree after his boat ran aground in a crocodile-infested river. Stan Martell says he fell asleep while on his boat and awoke to find the boat jammed under a tree and filled with water.  He quickly scurried up the tree when he spotted two crocodiles and spent 12 hours clinging to a branch. He was rescued the next day after he activated his satellite phone and an emergency beacon.

“Bride Slugs Police Officer, Spends Wedding Night Behind Bars”
A bride in Barcelona, Spain spent her wedding night in jail after she allegedly assaulted a police officer who was trying to break up a brawl between her relatives and the groom’s family. Authorities say the fight broke out just as the newlyweds and their guests were about to leave the reception. When officers arrived on the scene to break up the fight, the bride grabbed one officer by the neck and slapped him. She was reunited with her husband after spending the night behind bars.

“Woman Sets Home On Fire Trying to Get Rid of Raccoon”
An Indiana woman accidentally set fire to her mobile home while trying to scare off a raccoon with fireworks! Fire officials in the town of Portage say the 52 year old woman told them she lit and tossed 8 to 10 smoke bomb fireworks under her mobile home to chase away a raccoon. She called 9-1-1 after she saw smoke and flames. Firefighters arrived on the scene and extinguished a small blaze.  Damage to the mobile home is estimated at 500 dollars.

Historical Notes

Today is…
National Support Your Local Chamber of Commerce Day

Notable birthdays…
Joyce Randolph 84/actress, Trixie Norton, TV’s The Honeymooners
Manfred Mann 69/keyboards, “Do Wah Diddy Diddy”
Judy Sheindlin 67/TV’s Judge Judy
Elvin Bishop, 67, musician
Lee Loughnane 63/trumpet, Chicago
Charlotte Caffey of The Go-Go’s is 56
Carrie Fisher 53/actress-author, Princess Leia in Star Wars
Jeremy Miller 33/actor, Ben Seaver on TV’s Growing Pains

Born on this date…also known as the late…
Alfred Nobel–1883-1896/developed dynamite and now has a prize named after him.
Dizzy Gillespie–1917-1993/trumpet master, helped invent bebop.

Music History
1999 – Beatles producer Sir George Martin announced he would serve as chairman of the advisory board for Internet startup, Garageband.com.

1998 – Elton John’s Candle in the Wind 1998 became the best-selling single of all time, just 37 days after its release. The Princess Diana tribute song beat out Bing Crosby’s White Christmas.

1998 – Paul Stanley and Bruce Kulick of KISS were sued for copyright infringement over the song Dreamin’. The suit claims the song sounds too much like Alice Cooper’s 1971 hit, Eighteen.

1992 – Elton John filed a 35-million-dollar lawsuit accusing a reporter from the TV show Hard Copy of falsely stating that he had moved to Atlanta to be near an AIDS treatment center.

1975 – Elton John received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

1972 – 17 years after writing, recording, and releasing his first rock & roll classic Maybellene, Chuck Berry got his first, and only, American #1 pop chart entry with My Ding-A-Ling.

1966 – The Who appeared on Britain’s Ready Steady Go!

1961 – Bob Dylan recorded his first album, Bob Dylan, for Columbia Records.

1958 – Buddy Holly had his last studio recording session. Holly and the Crickets recorded True Love Ways, Moondreams, It Doesn’t Matter Anymore, and Raining in my Heart.

1957 – Elvis Presley’s film Jailhouse Rock premiered.

General History
1879–Thomas Edison invented a workable electric light at his lab in Menlo Park, New Jersey.

1975–The Cincinnati Reds used eight pitchers in the sixth game of the World Series, but Carlton Fisk broke up the thrilling contest with a homer in the 12-inning to give the Boston Red Sox a 7-6 victory.

1998 – The New York Yankees set a major league baseball record of 125 victories for the regular and postseason combined.

Daily Mindbender Answer
18% of people will “visit a haunted house” this fall.

Yours in Water Cooler News Fun!
Dr. Rus

It’s time for another edition of the Water Cooler News! In this edition you will find the usual historical tidbits and birthdays for this date. You will also find a collection of off-beat news!

• Customer Accused of Taking Car On a One Thousand Mile Test Drive
• Motorist Racks Up 15 Violations in 11 Minutes
• Driver Ticketed For Using Two Phones And Steering With One Finger

Daily Mindbender Question
10 years ago people did this all the time, now we hardly ever do it. What is it?

Answer at end of post!

Off-Beat News

“Customer Accused of Taking Car On a One Thousand Mile Test Drive”
A Massachusetts man is in police custody in Wisconsin after he allegedly kidnapped a Honda car salesman during a test drive and drove the vehicle more than one thousand miles. Police arrested the 32-year-old suspect after he was caught speeding and found to be operating a motor vehicle without owner consent. Authorities say the episode started when the suspect and the car salesman went for a test drive and he refused to return to the car dealership.  The salesman managed to jump out of the car when it slowed down at a tollbooth near the Massachusetts state line.

“Motorist Racks Up 15 Violations in 11 Minutes”
An Italian motorist driving through Switzerland apparently doesn’t mind getting tickets as police say he received 15 of them in just 11 minutes. Authorities say the man’s first violation was driving his jeep past an unmarked patrol car at 100 miles per hour. He then proceeded to speed through a construction zone, a stop sign and commit numerous other violations. When the driver was finally caught 11 minutes later, he’d racked up a total of 15 traffic violations.  Police confiscated his license and a judge ordered him tested for medications and illegal drugs.

“Driver Ticketed For Using Two Phones And Steering With One Finger”
If using a cell phone while behind the wheel is dangerous, how risky is it when a motorist is caught using two phones while driving? Police in Australia pulled a driver over for using two cell phones and were shocked when he told them it was okay because he had one finger on the wheel at all times. The motorist told the officer he was driving with one finger because he needed to transfer info from one phone to the other. The man was driving through a tunnel at the time of the incident.

Historical Notes

Today is…
Miss American Rose Day
The Six Million Dollar Man TV Show Premiered – 1973

Notable Birthdays…
William Christopher (”MASH”) is 77
Tom Petty, 59, musician / singer

Born on this date…also known as the late…
Bela Lugosi–1882-1956/horror movie legend
Earl Hindman–1942-2003/actor, Wilson on TV’s Home Improvement
Jerry Orbach–1935-2004/actor, TV’s Law and Order

Music History
1999 – John Mellencamp played a surprise gig at the 350-person capacity Mercury Lounge in New York.

1978 – The Police gave their first U.S. performance, at CBGB’s in New York City.

1977 – Three days after the release of Lynard Skynyrd’s Street Survivors album — whose cover depicts the band standing amid flames — vocalist Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines and backup singer Cassie Gaines were killed when their rented single engine plane crashed in the swamps of Gillsburg, Mississippi, en route to Baton Rouge.

1976 – The Led Zeppelin film The Song Remains the Same, a mixture of concert footage and fantasy sequences, premiered in London.

1973 – The Rolling Stones had their first number one ballad, Angie – a song that sparked rumors that it had been written by Jagger for David Bowie’s then wife, Angela.

1961 – Bob Dylan’s self-titled debut album was released.

1960 – Elvis Presley’s movie GI Blues premiered.

General History
1803 – The Senate approved the Louisiana Purchase.

1818 – The U.S. and Great Britain established the boundary between the U.S. and Canada to be the 49th parallel.

1914 – For the first time, the U.S. required photographs be included with all new U.S. passports.

1928 – The Republican Party promised voters “a chicken in every pot and a car in every garage” during their election year campaign.

1967 – Bigfoot was allegedly filmed in California, just north of the little city of Eureka. According to Bob Gimlin and Roger Patterson, who took the pictures, the creature was seven feet tall, weighed over 350 pounds and was covered with shiny, black hair.

1978 – History’s tallest wedding cake was baked in Canada.  It was 23 feet, seven inches high.

2003 – A 40-year-old man went over Niagara Falls without safety devices and survived. He was charged with illegally performing a stunt.

Daily Mindbender Answer
10 years ago people “developed film” all the time. Now we hardly ever do it.

Yours in Water Cooler News Fun!
Dr. Rus

Welcome to Monday!

It’s the start of a brand new week! Of course with the beginning of a new week, comes the daily ritual of looking for small talk when you gather with friends around the proverbial water cooler at work. With that in mind, it’s time for another edition of the Water Cooler News!

In this edition you will find the usual collection of birthdays for todays date along with some great historical tidbits to keep your facts straight. In the off-beat news department you will find…

• Customer Attacked With Chili Sauce
• Father Shoots Son For Playing Drums
• Bear Enjoys A Tall, Cold One

Daily Mindbender Question
More than 40% of Americans said they would want one of these on their own car if it was offered as an option. What is it?

Answer at end of post!

Off-Beat News

“Customer Attacked With Chili Sauce”
Police in the German city of Bremen are investigating whether a chili sauce was so spicy it caused an injury when a street food vendor poured it on a customer during a fight. Authorities say the vendor refused to give the man a napkin, so the customer wiped his hands on the vendor’s stand. The vendor responded by grabbing a ladle of chili sauce and tossed it in the customer’s face, causing burning to his eyes. A police spokesman says – quote – “Legally, the question of whether the spiciness of the kebab sauce constituted ‘normal’ or grievous bodily harm must be addressed.”

“Father Shoots Son For Playing Drums”
A man in his 50’s in San Antonio was allegedly shot in the head by his 83 year old father after he refused to stop playing the drums in the home where they both live. Authorities have charged the elderly father with aggravated assault. The son, who suffered non-life-threatening injuries, managed to walk down the street after being shot to call for help.

“Bear Enjoys A Tall, Cold One”
Just call him Yogi Beer. A 125-pound bear walked into a grocery store in Hayward, Wisconsin last Thursday night and made a beeline for the beer cooler. The bear climbed 12 feet to the top of the cooler and sat there for about an hour while employees led customers out of the store and called wildlife officials, who tranquilized and removed the animal.

Historical Tidbits

Today is…
Alaska Day – Anniversary of transfer of Alaska on Oct 18, 1867 from Russia to the U.S.
Evaluate Your Life Day

Notable Birthdays…
Jeannie C. Riley, 64, singer (Harper Valley PTA)
Patrick Simmons 61/singer, The Doobie Brothers
Evander Holyfield, 47, boxer
Ty Pennington, 45, carpenter / TV host
Jon Favreau 43/actor, Swingers, Iron Man
“South Park” co-creator Trey Parker is 40
Benjamin Salisbury (”The Nanny”) is 29.

Born on this day…also known as the late…
LaWanda Page–1920-2002/actress, Aunt Esther on Sanford and Son
Robert Reed–1932-1992/actor, Mike Brady on TV’s The Brady Bunch

Music History
1998 – George Martin, “The Fifth Beatle,” retired from the music business.

1998 – Mark Nieto filed a lawsuit against Aerosmith for alleged hearing loss after he attended an Aerosmith concert.

1994 – During a Pink Floyd concert at London’s Earl Court, a section of seating collapsed with over 1,000 fans escaping serious injuries.

1957 – Elvis Presley was number one on the singles chart with “Jailhouse Rock.”

General History
1744 – On this day, it’s believed the Earl of Sandwich was playing cards and didn’t want to stop to eat.  He ordered his servant to wrap some meat around a piece of meat and bring it to the table — thereby inventing the sandwich.

1814 – The Star-Spangled Banner was performed in public for the first time, in Baltimore.

1982 – Automaker John DeLorean was arrested in Los Angeles on charges of possession and conspiring to distribute cocaine.

1987 – It was Black Monday on Wall Street, as the stock market took a 508-point plunge, the worst ever in trading history.  All told, the market lost about $500 billion.

1998 – Government lawyers opened their anti-trust case against Microsoft.

1998 – Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson got his boxing license back after he had lost it for biting Evander Holyfield’s ear during a fight.

Daily Mindbender Answer
More than 40% of Americans say if it were offered they would get a “device to keep them from driving if they were drunk”.

Yours in Water Cooler News Fun!
Dr. Rus

Welcome to Friday!

Here we go, it’s Friday and that means we’re rapidly approaching the start of a brand new weekend! Of course even though it’s Friday, you still need some fun factoids, birthdays and off-beat news for the idle chat time at work.

In this edition of the Water Cooler News you will find some great off-beat news…

• Inmate Charged With Assault in TV Remote Ruckus
• Spiders Can Kill — Even When They’re Not Real
• Putting The ‘Head’ In ‘Pothead’

Daily Mindbender Question
According to Men’s Health, as of July 2009, it would cost $144,326 to do this. What is it?

Answer at end of post!

Off-Beat News

“Inmate Charged With Assault in TV Remote Ruckus”
Shacoya Crawley, an 18 year old inmate at the Sheboygan County Jail in Wisconsin attacked another inmate while they watched an episode of The Office. Officers say the two prisoners were watching the show when Crawley said she wanted to change the channel. When the other inmates wouldn’t hand over the remote control, Crawley hit one of them in the face and pulled her hair. Crawley is in jail on arson and reckless endangerment charges after she allegedly set a mop on fire after a friend refused to answer her door when Crawley knocked.

“Spiders Can Kill — Even When They’re Not Real”
A 54-year-old British man is so scared of spiders his doctor has recommended he stay inside on Halloween because even fake rubber ones often seen in store windows can be enough to trigger a fatal heart attack. John Stafford, who’s tried to overcome his phobia using everything from hypnosis to pills, says when he sees a spider, quote, “I stop breathing and pass out, it’s just terrifying.”

“Putting The ‘Head’ In ‘Pothead’”
Police in Lebanon, Pennsylvania arrested 29 year old Cesar Lopez after they found him in a convenience store with a bag of marijuana stuck to his forehead. Lopez was wearing a baseball hat, but when he raised his head, police saw the bag smack dab on his head. Officers removed the bag and cuffed Lopez.

Historical Notes

Today is…
National Boss Day
Dictionary Day
World Food Day

Notable Birthdays…
Angela Lansbury, 84, actress (Murder She Wrote)
Barry Corbin (”One Tree Hill,” “Northern Exposure”) is 69
C.F. Turner 66/guitar-vocals, Bachman-Turner Overdrive
Suzanne Somers, 63, actress
Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead is 62
Tim Robbins, 51, actor
Wendy Wilson (Wilson Phillips) is 40

Music History
1976 – Stevie Wonder’s two-LP set Songs In The Key Of Life started a 14-week run at the top of the pop albums chart.

1973 – Legendary jazz drummer Gene Krupa died of leukemia at age 64.

1971 – Isaac Hayes’ “Theme From Shaft” was released.

1968 – The New Yardbirds played their first concert. The band later changed their name to Led Zeppelin.

1957 – Elvis Presley made his first appearance on The Louisiana Hayride.

1956 – Elvis Presley’s first film, Love Me Tender, premiered.

1951 – Little Richard held his first recording session in Atlanta.

General History
1701 – The Collegiate School was founded in Killingworth, Connecticut. The school moved to New Haven in 1745 and changed its name to Yale College.

1962 – The Cuban Missile Crisis began as President Kennedy was informed that reconnaissance photographs had revealed the presence of missile bases in Cuba.

2000 – The New York Mets won the National League Championship, but they would go on to lose the World Series to the Yankees.

Daily Mindbender Answer
According to Men’s Health as of July 2009 it would cost $144,326 to “buy all the apps in the iPhone library”.

Yours in Water Cooler News Fun!
Dr. Rus