This week’s weird and wacky includes DNA testing of Santa, pampered bunnies, dance drama in Sweden, and reveals the fate of a much-loved hot dog statue, “Weinerman.”
A CRUMMY REQUEST
A young Rhode Island girl has finally figured out how to determine if Santa Claus is real – DNA. The girl sent a partially eaten cookie as well as a couple of gnawed-on carrot sticks to the town’s police department to ask if they can be tested for DNA. “I took a sample of a cookie and carrots that I left for Santa and the reindeer on Christmas Eve and I was wondering if you could take a sample of DNA and see if Santa is real?” the girl wrote. Her name and age were not disclosed.
Chief Matthew Benson forwarded the “evidence” to the state’s Department of Health-Forensic Sciences unit for analysis. “Items to be examined for traces of DNA and compared with profiles on record for the above-named suspect/aliases,” the department form says. The charge? Failure to finish snacks.
“This young lady obviously has a keen sense for truth and the investigative process and did a tremendous job packaging her evidence for submission. We will do our very best to provide answers for her,” Benson said. Results are pending.
WEEKLY BUNNY REPORT
In Hong Kong, where most apartments range from small to miniscule, rabbits are popular pets. And when their owners are away, there are rabbit lovers ready to look after their lonely pets at Bunny Style, a luxury rabbit resort where the furry critters can scamper around a climate-controlled play area, and climb a castle made of wood or explore a cotton tunnel. Owner Donna Li said she’s fully booked this year for the Lunar New Year holiday and keeps her charges happy with regular exercise, parties, spa treatments, and lots of hay. Some owners order special vegetable cakes in advance. Livestream and video clips are provided, so patrons can see their pet “out actively hopping and enjoying itself.”
YOU JUST HAVE TO LAUGH
The owner of the Dairy Winkle restaurant in Campbells Creek, West Virginia, has his coveted hot dog statue – dubbed “Wienerman” – back after it was stolen during a break-in. The short statue depicts a hot dog licking its lips and holding a bottle of mustard while pouring a bottle of ketchup on its head. A tip led police to a location where the statue was found undamaged and returned to its owner. Investigators have not identified a suspect and are seeking information about the theft.
A MIND OF ITS OWN
Authorities in southern Germany say efforts to put out a fire on a train turned into a spectacular chase after the driverless diesel engine began taking off toward Austria of its own accord. Firefighters had been called to put out a train blaze near the village of Strass, but shortly before they arrived the engine started moving downhill on the sloping track, picking up speed as it rolled several kilometres toward the town of Freilassing. A video showed flames and smoke pouring from the train as it swept through the town. With firefighters in hot pursuit, railway officials managed to switch the “ghost train” onto a side track near Freilassing station where it was stopped by a buffer before it could cross the border. The fire was extinguished and nobody was injured.
FOOTLOOSE, SWEDISH STYLE?
Sweden’s government wants to cut red tape when it comes to dancing by abolishing a decade-old requirement for restaurants, nightclubs, and other venues to obtain permits before they let patrons shimmy and sway. Instead, as a general rule, they would only have to register with the police, which can be done verbally and does not cost anything. Applying for a permit incurs a fee of at least 700 kroner ($90) for the establishment and owners can lose their liquor and business licenses if police officers come by and find out that a venue did not have authorization to let patrons dance.