Congratulations to the Fenway Faithful. Thanks to the magic of the lunar eclipse, the Curse of the Bambino is at last dead.

Well… maybe that’s not the reason. But it makes a good story. 😉

DUIs for herbal-tea-drinking motorists

Kava is not considered a drug by federal health officials. The FDA lists it as an nutritional supplement that can be used to relieve anxiety. Having visited southern California a time or two, I can see why an anxiety-relieving herbal tea would be in demand among drivers.

Now California prosecutors are cracking on kava-drinking drivers. San Mateo prosecutors obtained their first successful conviction in June, and have file charges in three other cases out of about a dozen kava-drinking-drivers that have been pulled over.

San Mateo Deputy District Attorney Chris Feasel explains why:

Motorists under the influence of Kava had a “thousand-yard stare,” Feasel said. “They’re drooling on themselves sometimes, their motor function is so bad.” He said that police had pulled over kava-addled motorists who were swerving, veering into other lanes and drifting onto the road’s shoulder. “Kava basically has the opposite effect of alcohol,” Feasel said. “Kava affects your motor skills before it affects your mental abilities.”

[…]”We’re cracking down on DUI drivers,” Feasel said. “Whether it’s driving under the influence of kava, or a good merlot or Advil, you’re going to be prosecuted.”

So… if you’re a kava drinker, and have the habit of consuming 20 – 30 cups before getting behind the wheel, be warned!

Taiwanese parliament food-fight

Breast implants are becoming more and more popular with a rather surprising selection of Shanghai citizens — men. The implants are similar to the ones used by women, except they are shaped differently and are stiffer. The apparently desired result is to make those pecs look buff without the bother of exercising.

“To be frank, surgery is unnecessary,” Liu Chunlong, from the Shanghai Ren’ai Hospital, was quoted as saying.

“Physical exercise can create the same effect and it is safer.”

He said the hospital had received 40 patients this year and operated on 10, compared with just two or three such operations last year.

He said many of the patients had psychological problems.

“They ascribe the unhappiness in their lives to their weak muscles,” he was quoted as saying.

“The surgery, in some instances, serves as psychological therapy.”

Uh… wouldn’t it be cheaper and safer to just hire a personal trainer and see a shrink?

A Finnish commuter ferry captain has been suspended after forgetting to turn off the autopilot and crashing into a pier — twice.

I can understand once. But twice?

After running the same route for 10 years, last Tuesday he for some reason forgot that the autopilot was engaged. Two passengers and one crew member were injured when the ferry crashed into the pier. He was given a dressing down by the ferry company. But he was also given a second chance.

Back he went to his usual route. On Thursday, forgetting again that the autopilot was engaged, he headed for the same stop. This time nobody was injured, but the pier was totally demolished.

He was not drinking on either occasion. But the ferry company was unable to say when, or if, he would be returning to his job.

I think they’ll have to rebuild the pier first.

It’s a weird news day this morning. From the side blog:

In Berlin, a drunk fell asleep in a sex shop until after the store was closed. He was picked up by police when he set off the alarms trying to get out. Police say he “provided evidence” that he was not a burglar. I’m not sure I want to know what that evidence was. 😆

Police in a wealthy Vancouver, British Columbia, neighborhood are looking for three female theives who only steal expensive wines.

Exeter, England, claims to harbor as many ghosts as citizens.

News of the weird must have risen to the top of the Reuters RSS feed this morning.

Or maybe it’s just that I haven’t had any sleep for a week, and after having the permanent crown put on my tooth yesterday I still feel like I’ve been kicked in the jaw several times.

Psycho actress Janet Leigh passed away last night at the age of 77. She died peacefully, with her daughters Jamie Lee Curtis and Kelly Curtis and her husband Robert Brandt by her side.

Mostly remembered for the shower scene in Psycho, Leigh also appeared in films such as The Manchurian Candidate (that’s the original version, not the remake), Bye, Bye Birdy and A Touch Of Evil.

I mostly remember her for that shower scene, also. After seeing that as an impessionable child, it was years before I would take a shower without the bathroom door firmly locked.