ABC News: Snow-loha! White Stuff Hits Hawaii

ABC News: Snow-loha! White Stuff Hits Hawaii

Jan. 24, 2006 — A rare rush of snow and ice closed the road to the summit of Mauna Kea, the tallest volcano on the island of Hawaii, and bad weather was expected for the rest of the week, forecasters said Monday.

An unusual snowstorm over the weekend prompted officials to close the popular tourist destination for the first time this winter season.

A blanket of snow forced everyone to evacuate, including park rangers, Mauna Kea Observatories Support Services said.

“We’ve got to make sure and keep everybody healthy and safe on the summit. So, I’m closing it,” Mauna Kea ranger Kimo Pihana said.

Or, is the park ranger afraid someone will think this is a sign of global warning?

File under too much time on their hands

PageOneQ | Barbie website changed to appease conservatives 

WASHINGTON (January 6, 2006) Under pressure initiated by a variety of conservative groups, the Barbie website has been amended to no longer include “I Don’t Know” as a choice in addition to “Girl” and “Boy.”

I can imagine how this “outrage” started.

Kid: “Mommy, what do they mean, ‘I don’t know’?”

Mommy: “What do you mean, what do they mean, precious?”

Kid: “It says, ‘I am a Girl, I am a Boy or I don’t know.’”

Mommy: “Well, let’s see. I am a girl, I am a boy or I don’t know. Hmm. I am a girl, I am a … OH MY GOD! I DON’T KNOW! AAAAAAGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Mommy’s head explodes, fade to black.

In a statement issued by [the Gender Public Advocacy Coalition], executive director Riki Wilchins noted, “Conservative organizations have attacked a variety of cartoon and fictional characters, including Winnie the Pooh, Tinky Winky, SpongeBob SquarePants, Shrek 2’s Pinocchio, and now Barbie for either sex or gender issues,” continued Wilchins. “What’s next?,” she added.

Acknowledging that children are given a neutral or non-response option on all questions on their websites, Mattel spokeswoman Lauren Bruksh called such an option under gender, “just an innocent oversight.”

Apparently, mediocre web design equals vast rainbow conspiracy.

Chihuahuas attack police officer

Here’s further proof that truth is stranger than fiction. Surely no one would make up the phrase, “A pack of angry Chihuahuas.”

Chihuahuas attack police officer
Fremont, Calif. – A pack of angry Chihuahuas attacked a police officer who was escorting a teenager home after a traffic stop, authorities said.

The officer suffered minor injuries, including bites to his ankle, Detective Bill Veteran said.

The five Chihuahuas escaped from the 17-year-old boy’s home and rushed the officer in the doorway Thursday, authorities said. The teenager had been detained after the traffic incident.

The officer was treated at a hospital and returned to work less than two hours later.