The Other News

In between the usual news tragedies, politics, weather, celebrity mishaps, and sports are non-front page human interest news stories - the true oddities. They may be humorous, tragic, tragic-comedic, or full of pathos or irony, but they’re outside the norm. Here’s the news you may have missed. Let’s start with Bob Filner, Anthony Weiner, and Detroit, all in the news. As the soon to be ex-mayor of San Diego, Bob Filner, was undergoing therapy, vacationing, and mediation, the Chief Administrative Officer of San Diego changed the lock on his office door. He has no office to return to. He also will not be eating at Hooters. A prominent sign was posted in four San Diego Hooters Restaurants: “The Mayor of San Diego will not be served in this establishment. We believe women should be treated with respect.” Hooters, which is otherwise known for sexualizing women, got the language for the sign from Glenn Beck, which he proposed on his show. What a hoot! Sydney Leathers, Anthony Weiner’s sexting partner, filmed a porn flick. It would sell better if the ex-Congressman contributed his privates to the movie. Detroit is not totally down. 1.3 million people witnessed the Woodward Dream Cruise, an annual cruise of Detroit heavy medal, classics and hot rods. Very few incidents were reported. On the other hand two police officers, a sergeant from Detroit and a sergeant from the neighboring St. Claire Shores, were arrested for pistol whipping and robbing a victim at a CITGO gas station. The detectives viewing the videos originally thought the assailants were impersonating police officers. Imagine their surprise when they realized they were looking at police officers impersonating police officers. Conversely a criminal impersonating traffic cops made the mistake in New Mexico of pulling over an unmarked cap with two real state police officers inside. Former California madam Heidi Fleiss was busted for growing 400 marijuana plants in Pahrump, Nevada. 18 year old Kendra McKenzie Gill, the winner of the Miss Riverton beauty pageant in Utah, surrendered her crown when it was revealed she was arrested on August 3 for throwing from her car homemade “bottle bombs,” otherwise known as Molotov Cocktails. She acted with three friends – all four of whom were honor students. Dirk Anderson was celebrating his friend’s bachelor’s party at the Lady Luck Casino in Blackhawk, Colorado by climbing out of the room on the eleventh floor ledge and falling to his death by landing on the roof of a parking garage. Derek Miranda murdered his wife in south Miami by shooting her multiple times. He then posted a photo of her bloody body lying on the kitchen floor on Facebook. He sought his 15 minutes of infamy by including this statement: “I’m going to prison or death sentence for killing my wife love you guys. Miss you guys take care Facebook people you will see me in the news.” Will it be life or capitol punishment in Florida? Huntington Beach suffered a major riot in July 28 after the U.S. Surfing Open. It posted online photos of several participants. One was Luis Enrique Rodriquez who allegedly wrote obscenities on the sides of police cars. He was so proud of the Facebook photo that he “liked” it and circulated. He was arrested. Another early arrestee was 30 year old Michael Lytle of Anaheim. Michael’s full time job was as a firefighter in Fullerton. He is now on administrative leave. Aeromexico Airlines apologized for its ad agency sending out a casting call specifying that only “light skinned” people need apply.