050412: Water Cooler News

Water Cooler News

Welcome to Friday and welcome to another edition of the Water Cooler News! It’s time to make sure you have fun things to chat about not only today but through the weekend as well!

From the off-beat news department…

  • Fake Giraffe Escapes Real Zoo
  • Quartet of Cops Fired for ‘Extreme Loafing’
  • Stray Parakeet Gets Home After Telling Cops His Address

You will also find some historical notes and a list of notable birthdays for this day too.

Daily Mindbender Question
2 out of 10 people have admitted to doing this to save money.
What is it?

Answer at end of post!

Off-Beat News

“Fake Giraffe Escapes Real Zoo”
To the shock of the patrons at The Franklin Park Zoo in Boston, a giraffe broke free from its pen, sparking an emergency response from employees who rushed to corral the animal with weapons drawn. However, more shocking to onlookers – the fact the giraffe wasn’t real but an employee in an animal costume. Officials now say the event was meant to test the zoo’s emergency preparedness.

—–

“Quartet of Cops Fired for ‘Extreme Loafing'”
Four Pinellas County, Florida Sheriff’s Deputies have been fired after they were found to have intentionally wasted hundreds of hours while they were supposed to be working. Officials say the four officers wasted a total of nearly 750 hours after they disabled their squad cars’ GPS units, ran errands and in some cases stowed the cars instead of patrolling. One even sat at home watching a movie while on the job.

—–

“Stray Parakeet Gets Home After Telling Cops His Address”
A Tokyo woman’s pet parakeet is safe at home after escaping over the weekend and it’s all because his owner taught him to repeat his address. Officials say police were given the bird for safekeeping when he was found by a passerby. But it took the bird until Tuesday to finally blurt out his address. The bird’s information led the police right to his owner – who had lost another bird previously and taught the parakeet the address so he wouldn’t suffer the same fate.

Historical Notes

Today Is
Intergalactic Star Wars Day – May the Fourth Be With You!
International Space Day
International Firefighters Day
No Pants Day
Tuba Day
Respect for Chickens Day
Star Wars Day

Notable Birthdays
Peggy Santiglia 68/singer, The Angels, “My Boyfriend’s Back”
Jackie Jackson 61/singer, Jackson Five
Pia Zadora 57/actress-singer, Hairspray
Randy Travis 53/country singer
Mary McDonough 51/actress, Erin on TV’s The Waltons
Mike Dirnt 40/bass, Green Day
Lance Bass 33/ex-singer, ‘NSYNC

Born on this date also known as the late
Nick Ashford 1941-2011/singer-songwriter, Ashford & Simpson
Audrey Hepburn 1929-1993/actress, My Fair Lady, Breakfast at Tiffany’s

Saturday, May 5
Cartoonists Day
Join Hands Day
National Scrapbooking Day
Free Comic Book Day

Sunday, May 6
No Diet Day
No Homework Day
Nurses Day or National RN Recognition Day
World Laughter Day

Music History
2000 – It was announced that KISS would auction off almost everything they own from its touring days. The auction was scheduled for June 24-25, 2000.

1986 – The number one song was “West End Girls” by Pet Shop Boys.

1977 – The Eagles had the number one single with “Hotel California.”

1976 – KISS performed their first concert in their hometown of New York City.

1974 – Grand Funk started a two-week run at number one with their version of the Little Eva hit, “The Loco-Motion.” It was produced by Todd Rundgren.

1973 – Led Zeppelin opened their U.S. tour, which was billed as the “biggest and most profitable rock & roll tour in the history of the United States.” The band grossed over three million dollars.

1970 – Four students were killed and 11 were wounded by National Guard troops at Kent State University during an on campus demonstration protesting the escalation of the Vietnam War. The incident inspired Neil Young to write the song, “Ohio,” which became a hit for Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

1967 – The Young Rascals started a four-week run at number one on the singles chart with “Groovin’.”

1964 – Jazz legend Louis Armstrong had his only number one pop hit with “Hello Dolly.”

1964 – The Moody Blues formed in Birmingham, England.

1963 – Andy Williams started a 16-week run at number one on the album chart with Days of Wine and Roses.

1959 – The first Grammy Awards ceremony has held in Los Angeles. Comedian Mort Sahl was the host. Record of the Year was “Volare (Nel Blue Dipinto Di Blu)” by Domenico Modugno. Album of the Year was The Music from Peter Gunn by Henry Mancini.

General History
1886 – Chichester Bell and Charles S. Tainter patented the gramophone. It was the first practical phonograph.

1927 – The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was founded.

1930 – Mahatma Gandhi was arrested by the British.

1932 – Al Capone entered the Atlanta Penitentiary federal prison for income-tax evasion.

1946 – A two-day riot at Alcatraz prison in San Francisco Bay ended. Five people were killed.

1961 – Thirteen civil rights activists, dubbed “Freedom Riders,” began a bus trip through the South.

1964 – Another World premiered on NBC-TV.

1989 – Oliver North, a former White House aide was convicted of shredding documents and two other crimes. He was acquitted of nine other charges stemming from the Iran-Contra affair. The three convictions were later overturned on appeal.

Daily Mindbender Answer
2 out of 10 people admit to “switching price tags” in order to save money.

Yours in Water Cooler News fun!

Dr. Rus

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