70 Years for Stealing a Quarter - and She was Innocent
From the Justice is not Quite Served department
Jean Gambell was 15 when she was accused of stealing 12 1/2 pence which carries about the same value as a U.S. quarter. The money was later found, but at that point she had already been sentenced under the 1890 Lunacy Act. After being diagnosed with a "feeble mind", she was transferred from mental institution to institution until at the age of 85 her brother finally found her, verified her story, and worked to get her released.
Her father tried for years to get her released, but failed because her paperwork had been mishandled. For more than 50 years her family thought that she was dead.
Walgreens substitutes Chemo Drug for Prenatals
From the Read the Label departmentChanda Givens was given a presription for Materna, a prenatal vitamin, but her local Walgreens pharmacist gave her Matulane, a drug used to treat advanced Hodgkin's disease.
There is not much to the article, but it does state that the drug is designed to prevent cells from splitting and reproducing.
consumerist.com
Nevermind, He's in the Bedroom
From the land down under
Authorities searched an area roughly 10 to 15 hectares (no idea how much land that is, but it sounds big) looking for a missing 3 year old boy. After a couple of hours of searching, they decided to re-check his house. Mom and Dad ended up being a little bit embarrassed.
Watergun Picture equals Suspension
From the Justice is Served Department
A 7 year old in New Jersey boy drew a picture of himself and his buddy. The stick figure picture included the boy shooting his friend with a water pistol. The school suspended him.
Schools vs. Breast Cancer Awareness part 2
From the Two Hump Wump department
Schools just don't want students to be aware of breast cancer for some reason. Although in this particular case, you can almost see where the administrators are coming from.
Hooray for Mona
From the Ladies with Hammers Department
Fear not, fellow Americans! In these dark days of war, pestilence and Paris Hilton, a new hero has arisen. She is none other than 75-year-old Mona "The Hammer" Shaw, who took the aforementioned implement to her local Comcast office in Manassas to settle a score, and boy, did she!
You're a better Mom than her
From the not even on my worst day department
20 year old Mom Krystle Leigh Weber decided it would be a good idea to share a joint with her two year old. Her 19 year old friend decided it would be a good idea to take a video. Fortunately, her friend had a run-in with police and they found the video.
Spork from Spuds
From the Crunchity Crunch department
Richmond based "Excellent Packaging & Supply" has carved out a new niche for itself - disposable eating utensils made out of food. They sell dinner plates and coffee cups made from sugar cane, drinking straws made out of corn starch, and forks, spoons, and knives made from potatoes and soy.
Middle Class Exposed
From the paycheck to paycheck department
MSNBC takes a look at two middle class families. One has a combined annual income between 70 and 90K and lives comfortably - owning a home, four cars, and a wide screen HDTV. The other makes $100K / year, carries no credit card debt, drives a 9 year old car and is barely getting by.
Ban on Pen Caps
From the land of Crazy Ideas
The parents of a County Durham schoolboy, who choked to death on a plastic pen top, are stepping up their campaign to get them banned.
I don't want to minimize their tragedy - but banning pen tops?
news.bbc.co.uk
