The Odd Truth, March 28, 2003
The Odd Truth is a collection of strange but factual news stories from around the world compiled by CBSNews.com's Brian Bernbaum. A new collection of stories is published each weekday. On weekends, you can read a week's worth of The Odd Truth.
Unlucky Penny
FALLON, Nev. - It took eight trips to the doctor, but a couple have finally learned the source of their infant daughter's health problems over the last four months: a penny lodged in her throat.
On previous visits, doctors diagnosed 15-month-old Erin Spaletta's breathing problems and persistent coughing as a respiratory infection and prescribed antibiotics.
But last week, physician's assistant Cameron Byers of Banner Churchill County Hospital suggested a chest X-ray and the culprit clearly showed.
"I thought it was a quarter," said her mother, Lynn Spaletta.
Erin was taken to Washoe Medical Center's emergency room in Reno, where a doctor used an instrument to remove the penny.
She's had no health problems since.
"She's doing absolutely fabulous," Lynn Spaletta said. "She was pretty cranky for a long time, but she's smiling and energetic again."
Lynn and her husband, Cliff, have put the penny on display on a fireplace mantle at home.
Lying Could Be A Crime
MOUNT STERLING, Iowa - Lying could be perceived as more than just a character flaw in this southeast Iowa town. It could become a crime.
Four City Council members have proposed an ordinance against fibbing.
Acting Mayor Jo Hamlet said he's tired of the exaggerating that comes with stories in the town of 40 residents famous for its hunting and fishing.
"We wanted to slow down on this lying," Hamlet said this week. "Plus, I'm bored. ... It's been a long winter."
Hamlet said the ordinance has a chance of passing.
"We're going to beat it around," he said. "You never know with the City Council around here what's going to happen."
Israel Declares Peanut Puffs Vital Food Staple
JERUSALEM - Even if Iraq attacks Israel with missiles, Israeli children will still be able to eat their peanut-buttery puffs.
The popular snack, known as "Bamba," was declared a vital staple food on Thursday, along with milk, sugar, flour and bread. That means the Tel Aviv-area factory that makes the peanut-flavored morsels can issue emergency call-up orders for its workers to ensure that production goes on, even in case of a missile attack.
"We see the Bamba factory as vital, just like a bakery," said Labor Ministry spokesman Nahum Eido.
In the 1991 Gulf War, Iraq fired 39 missiles at Israel, putting the country in a state of emergency and causing lots of damage, but few casualties.
Israeli authorities have recommended that citizens carry gas masks, seal a room in their homes and stock up on bottled water and canned food in case of a non-conventional attack. But Israeli officials say the probability of a missile strike is very low.
Man Sets 70 Dogs Loose
CHARLESTON - Sheriff's deputies say a man accused of setting as many as 70 dogs loose from a Lowcountry shelter was trying to get back his friend's two dogs who were picked up while he was taking care of them.
42-year-old Harland Titus has been charged with second-degree burglary.
Sheriff's Captain Dana Valentine says Titus cut a hole in the fence March 18th, trying to find the dogs.
Those dogs weren't at the shelter, but the burglar opened all of the outdoor dog runs and up to 70 dogs escaped. Most were caught unharmed, but one dog was struck and killed by a car and two others are missing.
Deputies say tips from the public helped them find Titus. An arrest warrant says one person said Titus told him of his plans to release the dogs.
Leather Biker Gear Banned In Utah Court
PROVO, Utah - A judge has ordered a group of bikers to leave their leather at home if they're going to sit in his courtroom.
The motorcycle enthusiasts belong to a group called Bikers Against Child Abuse. They often show up in Utah courtrooms when child abuse suspects are on trial to show support for the victims.
But they won't be able to wear their leather jackets with the group's logo - a red and white fist with the letters "BACA" on the knuckles - in Judge Anthony Schofield's courtroom.
Schofield ruled Thursday after the attorney for a man set to go on trial on sex-abuse charges asked the judge to exclude the bikers.
Schofield agreed, saying: "This is not a forum for conveying a message. This is a courtroom."
He's backing up his order, too, ruling that anyone who enters court wearing logos or demonstrating support for either side in the case will spend a month in jail for contempt of court.
Outside court, BACA members said they weren't happy with Schofield's ruling but would obey it. "We're not vigilantes; we are here to support kids," said Todd "Skulls" Bailey.
Sony Robot Now Even More Life-Like
TOKYO - Sony Corp.'s toddler-shaped singing and dancing robot has expanded its vocabulary and musical repertoire and now avoids pinching human fingers with its metal joints.
But the 23-inch-tall SDR-4X II, shown to reporters Thursday, has a long way to go before it's a family friend.
Not destined for stores probably for years, it for now remains a showcase for the Japanese electronics and entertainment giant's technology.
When the original SDR was introduced last year, Sony said it would go on sale within a year for the price of a luxury car.
But Fujita said the Tokyo-based company decided against that because of unclear marketing potential, including pricing and demand.
The upgraded SDR knows 20,000 words and can sing more than 10 songs, Sony says.
If you tell the robot you're feeling great in the morning and then say you feel awful after you come home, the machine remembers and says, "That's not what you said this morning."
Equipped with touch sensors in its moving parts, the robot will turn down the power on its limbs when a person touches them, appearing to lift its arm to prevent a finger from getting caught.
The robot knows how to break a fall, putting its arms in front of it to prevent a crash.
It also recognizes colorful signs to create a map in its computer brain so it can walk toward targets while avoiding obstacles.
In Thursday's demonstration, the robot peered from left to right looking for targets but failed to locate one of them.
It sidetracked into an elaborate detour, trudging in mincing steps, to advance just a few feet, muttering in a squeaky voice, "This is difficult."
$10,000 In Girl Scout Cookies Sent To Troops
NEENAH, Wisconsin - Life in the war zone will be getting a little sweeter - thanks to a Wisconsin doctor. Radiologist Lawrence Bauer has bought $10,000 worth of Girl Scout cookies to donate to the troops. Bauer says he was inspired by actor Bruce Willis, who has donated 12,000 boxes of cookies to GIs in Afghanistan. Bauer says unlike Willis, he's no millionaire - but he can afford $10,000 for the cookies. Bauer's cookies will be sent directly from the Girl Scouts' supplier to the USO. The Thin Mints and other goodies will given to the troops as they board planes to head overseas.
Boston Sued Over Anti-War Vets March
BOSTON - Organizers of Boston's main St. Patrick's Day parade are suing the city and police - for allowing anti-war veterans to march.
John Hurley of the South Boston Allied War Veteran's Council says they had the right to organize their own event. Hurley had earlier decided to exclude the protesters from the March 16th parade.
The anti-war veterans walked behind the parade, but in front of a police escort and street sweepers that marked the parade's end. The protesters were cheered and jeered.
The police department's legal adviser wrote to parade organizers that even though Veterans for Peace did not have a permit, police decided to allow them to express their feelings separate from the actual parade.