The Odd Truth, Sept. 17, 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.

TOKYO - It might be the perrrfect cab to some: A pink and baby blue sedan with two Hello Kitty characters painted on the side, a Hello Kitty blanket inside and Hello Kitty music piped in through the sound system.

This mobile paradise for fans of the popular kitten character is the latest service offered by a Japanese taxi company, Kanachu.

The 10 Hello Kitty cabs - equipped with Hello Kitty umbrellas, ponchos, and tissue for customers - have been operating since April.

Kanachu integrated the new taxis into their fleet of 500 cabs serving suburban Tokyo after deciding they needed a special service targeting children. They also figured there was also no danger of alienating anyone with the cute cat, said Katsuo Habu, a manager at Kanachu.

Kanachu has licensed Hello Kitty from Sanrio, the character's creator, for three years. Fares - about 660 yen for the first 1.2 miles - are the same as regular taxis.

The cars are driven only by women drivers, in part to satisfy Sanrio, Habu said.

"The Sanrio people told us they associated taxis with bearded, smoking male drivers. That is why they were not really sure if they wanted us to use their character," Habu said. "But we told them that we would have female drivers and the cars would be nonsmoking."

Big, Big ... Savings

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - Guys may have thought the bikini was a gas. But authorities say the gas station thong was all wrong. Flagstaff, Arizona police Sergeant Gerry Blair says they had plenty of complaints about the thong-wearing model outside the Varsity Gasser service station. Owner George Nackard says he was hoping to get some extra sales with last Friday's gimmick. But he may end up before a judge. Authorities say a local ordinance requires a person's butt be covered while performing in public. Blair says officials are still considering whether to press charges against Nackard and model Ashlee Dawn. The thong stunt could cost each four months in jail and a $750 fine.

'Kindness Movement' Pushes Wedding Punctuality

SINGAPORE - In Singapore, being fashionably late for a wedding is now officially frowned upon.

The city-state on Wednesday began a wedding "punctuality drive" to encourage guests to turn up on time for couples' big day.

The government-backed Singapore Kindness Movement said it would provide 400,000 cards for couples to insert into their invitations as "gentle reminders."

Previously the group has led efforts to encourage citizens to smile more, wave at fellow motorists and switch off mobile phones in cinemas.

"Wedding couples are held back from starting their wedding dinners when the majority of their guests turn up late," the Singapore Kindness Movement said in a statement.

The reminder cards will be distributed by leading hotels to "prompt guests to be more socially responsible," the statement said.

"It's a small act of courtesy, but can mean so much to everyone, especially the wedding couple on their big day," the movement's chairman Noel Hon said in the statement.

Magician Blaine's Life Line Nearly Cut

LONDON - Police arrested a man Tuesday who allegedly tried to cut the water line sustaining an American magician trying to live without food for 44 days in a box dangling near Tower Bridge.

The magician, New Yorker David Blaine, reportedly was awakened by the suspect but was not injured. Police said they received a report at 4:45 a.m. that a man had climbed on to the water tower near Blaine's box and tried to cut through water and cable lines connected to the tower, but without success.

Stephen Charles Field, 38, was charged with using threatening behavior and causing criminal damage. He was released on bail and will appear in court Sept. 30.

Since he entered the box Sept. 5, Blaine has been jeered, pelted with eggs, taunted with food and awakened by drummers - though other Londoners have expressed support for his stunt.

Sqeamish Aussie Men Wary Of 'Fairy'

WELLINGTON, New Zealand - A New Zealand outdoor clothing company said Wednesday it had to change a brand name for the Australian market because men there were uncomfortable with the effeminate associations of the label - Fairydown.

In Australia, the clothing line has been renamed Zone, the managing director of Arthur Ellis clothing company, Hugo Venter, told The Dominion Post newspaper.

He was "taken aback" by market research findings that Australian men didn't like the less than macho connotations associated with the word "fairy." He said the brand name had never been an issue in New Zealand.

New Zealand mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary, who conquered Everest in 1953 wearing Fairydown clothes and using a sleeping bag by the same company, said Australian males were being ridiculous.

"Reading that connotation into the name is just absolutely stupid. It's a good brand. I have a Fairydown jacket and I am very proud to wear it," he told the newspaper.

He said his sleeping bag performed well until the expedition got close to the summit of Mt. Everest.

"At our highest camp at 28,000 feet it was a bit on the chilly side. We survived and pushed on to the summit," he said.

Automotive Suicide

SYDNEY, Australia - The Australian arm of Japanese car company Honda has withdrawn a television commercial that showed a car plunging off a cliff amid criticism it was insensitive and traded on suicide.

The ad shows the owner of an old Honda Accord model admiring the car's latest version. In response, the old car locks its doors, revs its engine and speeds off the cliff.

National depression body "beyondblue" said Wednesday the company had demonstrated gross insensitivity to depression and suicide.

"Depression and suicide are major health issues for all Australians and it is not unreasonable to expect large companies that operate in this country to respect our attempts to reduce their impact here," said beyondblue clinical adviser Ian Hickie.

Honda Australia director Lindsay Smalley said the ad was a bit of tongue-in-cheek fun.

"At no time was there any intention to cause anyone in the community distress," Smalley said in a statement.

"If the advertisement has caused this we apologize. We have withdrawn the Accord advertisement from broadcast and will work with our advertising agency to create a revised television commercial," he added.

Apparently, Size Does Matter

LOS ANGELES - One size doesn't fit all - at least according to Condomania. The Internet retailer is offering a new line of condoms in 55 sizes. Condomania's Adam Glickman says the "They-Fit" brand condoms are more comfortable and less likely to tear than other styles. But just what size would a customer need? They-Fit offers a special measuring tool on the Internet. But potential customers don't have to worry about being labeled petite or extra small. The measurements are defined by random number and letter combinations, like "J33" or "G22." "They-Fit' condoms cost about $12 for a dozen.

Everyone's A Wiener!

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. - In this race, everyone was a wiener.

About 130 dachshunds participated in the annual Running of the Wieners on Sunday.

The dogs, which are known for the ballpark snack they resemble, competed in three divisions: Little Smokies for those under 1-year-old, Frankfurters for the 1- to 5-year-olds and Senior Sausage for the older dogs.

Three of Brenda Alberts' four dachshunds entered the race, which is in its third year. The Alberts' other dog, Flash, didn't get to run because he was neutered last week.

The best showing for the Alberts, who came to the race from Axtell, went to second-place finisher Tito in the Little Smokies division.

John and Jonan Barkalow traveled 250 miles from Creston, Iowa, to attend the race. They entered their dog Barnaby Barkamore in the Frankfurter race.

The dog didn't do too well.

He had to be pushed across the finish line.