The Odd Truth, March 24, 2005
The Odd Truth is a collection of strange but factual news stories from around the world compiled by CBSNews.com's Joey Arak.
Slow Chase, Fast Food
MOUNT CARMEL, Tenn. - A yearning for breakfast helped end a police chase.
Jeffery Lynn Drinnon, 30, was arrested at the drive-through lane of a Hardee's restaurant about 5 a.m. Tuesday after leading police on a low-speed chase.
"He turned into Hardee's, pulls up to the drive-through and rolls the window down like he's going to order a biscuit before he goes to jail," Mount Carmel Assistant Police Chief Mike Campbell said. "They had the car surrounded with guns drawn at the drive-through at Hardee's, and he's wanting breakfast."
Police began chasing Drinnon after a market reported he drove away without paying for $7 of gasoline. Officers said they used blue lights and sirens to try to get Drinnon to pull over, but he kept going until he saw the restaurant.
Drinnon was charged with driving under the influence, driving on a revoked license, evading arrest, resisting arrest and theft under $500.
He was taken into custody before he could place his order.
Cows Undergo Doping Tests
SION, Switzerland - Cows that lock horns in an annual test of strength in the Swiss Alps must face renewed doping tests, authorities have decided.
"There are controls for racehorses and dogs, and there's no reason to do it differently for cows," Joseph Jaeger, chief veterinarian in the Valais state, said Thursday.
Valais' annual cow-fighting contest -- known as "The Combat of the Queens" -- pits powerfully built, black-hided animals from the Swiss Val d'Herens breed against each other.
The grand final and earlier heats draw about 50,000 spectators, and a victory can add tens of thousands of dollars to a cow's value.
Now officials will restart the controls, halted in 2002 after six years of nothing but negative tests, Jaeger said.
Cow fighting, which began in Valais in 1922, is based on the natural struggle between cows for dominance of the herd as they leave their winter stables and head to the Alpine pastures in the spring.
During the largely bloodless fights, each cow tries to force the other to submit, using its head and horns. The contests often end without any physical contact between either cow, when one of the animals recognizes the superiority of the other.
Starbucks Boozing Unethical
SEATTLE - Starbucks is no longer considered socially responsible by a mutual fund company for ethical investors.
Pax World Funds is disappointed that the coffee chain has taken up with Jim Beam.
Their distribution agreement for a coffee-based liqueur has led Pax to divest itself of 375,000 shares of Starbucks worth more than $23 million dollars.
Pax had liked Starbucks' record on the environment and the way it treats employees. But the fund family says it has to follow its standards to avoid companies in the liquor business.
Starbucks is disappointed in the decision. It says the Starbucks liqueur is aimed at adult buyers in bars and restaurants and is not sold in its coffee shops.
Nissan: No 'Q' For You!
DETROIT - Luxury automaker Audi wants to start using the letter Q for its models, a proposition that is making rival Nissan queasy.
Nissan's luxury Infiniti brand has used the letter Q since its launch in 1989. Infiniti started with the Q45 and has also trademarked QX56, QX4 and "the new Q."
Audi has been partial to the prefix A, with the A3, A4 and other models. But it recently announced plans to market SUVs named the Q7 and Q5 between 2006 and 2009.
That prompted Nissan to file a lawsuit in federal court Tuesday. It says Audi's use of Q "is likely to cause confusion, deception or mistake among customers."
Gay And Nudist Cruise Sent Sailing
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Authorities in Nevis have barred passengers from a gay and nudist cruise from entering the tiny Caribbean island, saying their activities were offensive to local customs.
The Windjammer Barefoot Cruises ship carrying 110 passengers was stopped as it was approaching the port in Nevis.
A port authority official says Nevis doesn't want to allow people on the island who could be naked and who he says "carry a certain lifestyle and practices."
An organizer of the cruise says nobody would have been naked while leaving the ship. She says all of the passengers were told to behave appropriately on shore.
Wendy's Finger Food
SAN JOSE, Calif. - Health authorities in California report a woman bit into a human finger while eating chili at a Wendy's in San Jose. She immediately spit out the finger and warned others to stop eating. Then she got sick. The county medical examiner says the human finger was cooked but not decomposed. Authorities temporarily closed the Wendy's and seized all the ingredients at the restaurant. Officials counted all the fingers of the Wendy's workers -- and say none had a missing digit. Authorities think the finger must have come from one of Wendy's suppliers.
He's No Tom Cruise
WATSONVILLE, Calif. - Sometimes a crook will go to too much trouble. Police in the Watsonville, California, area charge Jonathan Peter Mitchell tried to rip-off a KOA campground market "Mission Impossible" style. According to authorities, Mitchell was found dangling from the rafters. He was dressed in all black, with a mask, gloves and black face paint. Police say Mitchell was all wet, too, after he belly-crawled commando-style up to the market. But it would have been a lot easier just to walk in through the door. The manager says the place was unlocked. Mitchell has been arraigned on burglary charges.
Bleachers A Hot Item
MEDFORD, Ore. - Sure, ballplayers steal bases. But someone has stolen the bleachers at a Little League field in Medford, Oregon. Authorities report thieves took apart two sets of bleachers late the other night at a six-field complex in Bear Creek Park. Fans looking forward to watching the boys and girls play ball this season will have to bring lawn chairs or a blanket. Officials say there isn't time to replace the stands before opening day on April 11th. Police estimate the aluminum benches are worth about $2,000. Authorities have notified scrap dealers to be on the lookout for the missing bleachers.
Principal Caught Puffing
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Eliazar Velasquez was suspended from Central High School in Providence, Rhode Island, after he snapped some pictures of the principal smoking right outside an open door. State bans smoking within 25 feet of a school building. Eliazar posted the pictures on his Web site. But he was suspended last week for harassment and slander via the Internet. Now, he's back in school after his cause was taken up by the American Civil Liberties Union. District officials say the principal's smoking violates state law and didn't set a good example for the kids. Eliazar was ordered reinstated and any mention of the suspension has been removed from his permanent record.