Squirrel Roundup (September 28, 2012)

Here's a look at some recent news stories involving everyone's favorite vandalizing vermin.

Flaming squirrel ignites grass fire
The humble town of Spearfish, South Dakota, was the target of a squirrel terrorist attack:

Chief Travis Ladson said a squirrel had gotten shocked while touching the power lines, which caused the transformer to blow forcing the squirrel, which was on fire, to drop to the ground. Dubbed the "Dead Squirrel Fire," crews had the blaze knocked down in 20 minutes. "We had a really good response and everyone did a good job," Ladson said.

Houston residents aren't aware of the threat squirrels pose
Squirrel Watch 2012 is under way! KPRC in Houston asks viewers to send in their squirrel shots. I'm thinking of having readers send in pictures of their shot squirrels.

Voice of famous cartoon squirrel turns 95
June Foray, the voice of Rocket J. Squirrel (a.k.a. "Rocky") turned 95 on September 18:

In her decades as a voice actress, June Foray has portrayed a multitude of animated characters: From Rocky the Flying Squirrel and Natasha Fatale on "The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show," to Witch Hazel from Looney Tunes and Cindy Lou Who on "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."

Is that a squirrel in your shirt?
Sure, the guy had a few beers, but I think the squirrel orchestrated the whole thing:

Squirrel home invasion in Germany
This is why we Americans have the Second Amendment:

Of course, even I have to admit that exit was pretty amazing!

Clever squirrel prank
Gets rid of the critter with no messy cleanup:

(via 22 Words)

Global bacon shortage?!

Nooooooooooooooooooooo!

About that Packers-Seahawks game...

For those still scratching their heads over the controversial call at the end of Monday night's Packers-Seahawks game, this excerpt from the NFL Rulebook should clear things up:

In the event of simultaneous conflicting rulings on the field, the official in the black and white stripes shall have precedence over the official in the white and black stripes.

There. Case closed.

Father sends son's toy train into space

What little boy wouldn't like to send his favorite toy on an epic journey into space? That's what Ron Fugelseth did for his four-year-old son. Check it out:

The hazardous job of a pencil sharpener

(from 9 Laughs)

Warp drive may be more feasible than we thought

According to some physicists, the trick to achieving faster-than-light speed is relatively simple. All one has to do is figure out how to manipulate space-time itself -- because, after all, space-time isn't limited by the speed of light. Duh.

Scientist Harold "Sonny" White of NASA's Johnson Space Center explains:

The secret to warp speed is in spaceship design. Below is one concept:

I'm not sure how this works, but apparently the football is crucial.

There is, however, one major obstacle: energy. Studies have estimated that the minimum amount of energy required for a working warp drive would have to be "about equal to the mass-energy of the planet Jupiter."

Come on, scientists. "Feasible"? You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

Woman who botched painting restoration seeks royalties

All for charity, of course. The Telegraph reports:

Cecilia Gimenez, who is in her 80s, made headlines across the world after attempting a DIY restoration that left the 19th century fresco of Christ at her local church in Borja resembling a monkey.

The altered image of Ecce Homo – Behold the Man – became an internet sensation and sent thousands of curious sightseers to the Sanctuario de Misericordia to laugh at her handiwork.

Authorities threatened to sue Mrs Gimenez for her unauthorised attempt, which she insisted had been carried out with only good intentions because the painting was in need of repair.

But popularity for the modified masterpiece grew with even budget airline Ryanair offering cheap deals to nearby Zaragoza airport encouraging "pilgrims" to visit the work that was quickly dubbed "Ecce Mono" – Behold the Monkey.

An internet petition to keep the repair job garnered widespread support and seizing an opportunity to swell its coffers, the church began levying a 4 euro (£3) entrance fee on visitors, earning 2,000 euros in the first four days.

Lawyers acting for Mrs Gimenez now insist she should be entitled to a cut of the profits, which she wants to go towards a charity of her choice.

Charity or not, why does money always seem to be the preferred prescription for public humiliation?

Mark Twain made of LEGOs

(via The Mark Twain House & Museum's Facebook page)

The original stuffed animals that inspired Winnie the Pooh

As this evening was winding down, we were chilling to some toddler tunes on one of the cable TV music channels. Our four-year-old daughter perked up when she heard the first couple measures of a Carly Simon song. "This is from Winnie the Pooh!" she exclaimed. Sure enough, it was from the soundtrack of Piglet's Big Movie.

Now when it comes to the history of one of the most beloved children's characters of all-time, I am a bear of very little brain. I had a vague memory of hearing somewhere that A. A. Milne, creator of Winnie the Pooh, based his stories on stuffed animals belonging to his son, Christopher Robin.

Well, it's true. And it turns out those stuffed animals are still with us.

Kanga, Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, and Tigger are on display at the Main Branch of the New York Public Library in New York City.

1930s health drink: vitamin D beer

Healthy beer? Who'd a thunk it? Back in 1936, Milwaukee's Joseph Schlitz Brewing Co. began marketing a new product designed to boost the health of those who drank it: Sunshine Vitamin D.

Did this concoction do its drinkers any good? No one knows, but it apparently wasn't very profitable. The company quit making it in 1938.

(via LewRockwell.com)