The Odd Truth, Oct. 1, 2002

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.

10-Second Mid-Life Crisis

SAGINAW, Mich. — Baby boomer Jim Zimmerman's brief fling as a tough biker ended in pain very quickly.

The retiree's misadventure began when, facing 60, he gave into a youthful yen and got a local dealership to deliver a brand-new Harley-Davidson to his door.

"It was a mid-age crisis thing," Zimmerman admitted last week. "I'd see these dudes with women and thought a motorcycle would put me in like Flynn.

"I didn't look at the obvious, that I hadn't been on a bike in 30 years and probably didn't remember much about it."

Ten seconds after he climbed aboard for the first time, he struck a neighbor's utility trailer at 40 mph and broke several ribs. The odometer logged a tenth of a mile.

"It was so fast, and I didn't think fast enough," he said. "I probably panicked and throttled the gas in a death grip.

"Oh my god, I hurt in places I didn't know could hurt. The cops said it's a miracle I'm alive."

After $2,000 in insured repairs on the bike — and more on the neighbor's trailer — Zimmerman sold his Harley for an $800 loss. But the experience isn't quite over. Until his complimentary membership in the Harley Owners Group runs out, "I get a mailing every two to three weeks, reminding me of how stupid I was," he said. (AP)

Man Bungees From Bridge To Ship, Bounces Off

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — A Vancouver Island carpenter who hopes to become a movie stunt actor has been charged with mischief after trying to bungee-jump from the Lions Gate bridge and landing on a cruise ship.

Dean Sullivan, 36, a father of one from Nanaimo, was arrested Sunday, his second arrest in two years for attempting the same stunt.

Sullivan said Monday he found himself unable to control his descent, bounced off the tennis court on the ship, sprang back toward the bridge and settled a few yards over the water, nursing a few cuts and bruises.

He was picked up by a water taxi and arrested soon afterward.

Sullivan was released from jail on condition that he not stop on any bridges in the province or carry any of his bungee-jumping gear.

With movie executives from around the world in town for the Vancouver Film Festival, Sullivan said he thought the jump was his best chance to interest producers.

"They might talk to me now, hopefully," said the father of one. "I don't know how to get in the movie business."

He said he spent more than two years planning the jump, checking tide times, boat layouts and itineraries as well as lining up sponsors and half a dozen helpers, and insisted no one on the ship or the bridge was at risk.

"People on the boat loved it," he said. "They were screaming, yelling, waving." (AP)

Picking Pot For The Man

CANBY, Calif. — Here's your chance to pick pot plants — and not worry about being busted.

Local authorities have asked private citizens to help shovel out more than 6,000 marijuana plants found growing in a Modoc National Forest canyon.

The marijuana plants were found Friday in the Devils Garden section of the forest by Mike Crutcher, head of the Modoc County Drug Task Force, as he flew overhead on a routine reconnaissance flight.

Some local businessmen have pitched in to supply the manpower and equipment to help the Modoc County Sheriffs Office, Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service pull the plants up.

About 1,200 plants had already been harvested and the remaining plants were mature and ready to harvest, police said. (AP)

Small Iowa City Resigns

LEWIS, Iowa — There'll be no city business conducted in this town until at least Dec. 3, and the reason is simple: There's no one left to conduct it.

Two City Council members and the city clerk resigned more than a week ago over personnel disagreements.

Former Council woman Linda South said she quit because she disagreed with how some local business was handled. "I'm just tired of a few individuals trying to hold the town hostage," she said.

Former Councilman Bill Worth said he felt members of the city's fire department were trying to get rid of the city clerk.

Clerk Shirley Ward also resigned.

A special meeting was called over the weekend to appoint council members to open seats and to find temporary help to act as city clerk in the town of 500 south of Atlantic.

Then, before the meeting could be held, a third council member resigned, leaving the city without a quorum to conduct business.

The remaining two council members approved the motion to have a special election Dec. 3, which was to elect people to all of the council positions and the position of mayor. (AP)

The World's Largest Enchilada

LAS CRUCES, N.M. — Las Cruces came up with the perfect recipe for heartburn.

Combine 75 gallons of red chili, 50 pounds of onions, 175 pounds of cheese and 750 pounds of corn flour.

In Las Cruces, they call it an enchilada.

The three-layer enchilada, featuring 10-foot-wide tortillas, was fashioned Sunday as the culminating event of the annual Whole Enchilada Festival in Las Cruces.

Each huge tortilla was flattened, carried to a 500-degree oil bin and then put on a plate and topped with chili.

Roberto Estrada, who has built the giant enchilada for the festival for 21 years, and his crew of nearly three dozen men took nearly four hours to complete the main dish as festival-goers watched from metal bleachers.

Many in the crowd stood and cheered as the final layer was made. (AP)

Executive Panhandler

LONGMONT, Colo. - Ruby Stevens is dressed in a business suit but she's taking a page from the panhandler's book. She stands on a street corner every morning in Longmont, Colorado, holding a sign and handing out resumes. She's a former executive for Georgia Pacific and was laid off last November. Stevens says the more conventional job hunting tactics didn't yield anything, so she decided to try something different. She says it was her boyfriend's suggestion and has netted at least one interview. But Stevens isn't looking for just any job. She wants something close to her old salary of $56,000 a year. (AP)

Your Own His-And-Her Action Figures

DALLAS - A mere $3 million will buy you the most expensive item in this year's Neiman Marcus Christmas Book.

It's a series of ten original sports paintings by late artist Andy Warhol, called the "Athlete Series."

The least expensive item in the catalog is an $18 tin filled with pretzels, gingerbread or shortbread cookies.

The his-and-hers gifts this year are personalized action figures.

Recipients begin their adventure with a full-body, three-dimensional digital scene at a California studio. Artisans will then mold, cast, sculpt and paint lifelike six-inch action figures of the couple.

Each person will receive two figures.

The action figure package goes for $7,500 dollars.

The catalog was unveiled yesterday in Dallas.

Among its other offerings: a Burberry London taxi, at $58,900 and a 29-foot-long yacht, for $258,500. (AP)