121709: Water Cooler News
Water Cooler News – December 17/09
Welcome to the Thursday edition of the Water Cooler News! Making sure you’re not left empty-mouthed at the daily gathering where you and your friends talk about nothing while passing the time. In this edition of the Water Cooler News you will find the usual collection of historical tidbits along with a list of birthdays for this date.
You will also find a collection of off-beat news!
- Pair Charged With Faking Death From Bad Oysters
- ‘Vampire’ To Discover That Prison Sucks
- Teen Flashes Motorist; Motorist Runs Over Flashing Teen
Off-Beat News
“Pair Charged With Faking Death From Bad Oysters”
The FBI says a South Dakota couple is facing fraud charges after the wife falsely claimed her husband had died after eating bad oysters during a vacation in Malaysia in 2003. The wife collected two million dollars from two insurance companies after reporting his death. Federal investigators say the scam was discovered about a year ago after the husband walked into the U.S. embassy in Indonesia to renew his passport.
“‘Vampire’ To Discover That Prison Sucks”
An Indiana man who claims to be a vampire has been sentenced to two years in prison after he pled guilty to threatening to not only beat up a judge, but also to torture, impale, dismember and decapitate him. According to court documents, 45-year-old Rocky Flash, also known as Jonathon Sharkey, claims to be the leader of a group called Vampyre Nation.
“Teen Flashes Motorist; Motorist Runs Over Flashing Teen”
A New Zealand teenager did more than catch the attention of a passing motorist by flashing her breasts — she also caught a front bumper when the car plowed into her. Authorities say 18-year-old Cherelle Dudfield was drinking with friends when she decided to flash passing motorists from a traffic island in the middle of a four-lane highway. One distracted driver plowed into Dudfield, sending her onto the hood and cracking the windshield. The teen suffered only minor injuries, but she was also fined close to 200 dollars.
Historical Notes
Today is…
The Simpsons Premiered on TV – 1989
National Re-Gifting Day – A time to “re-gift” with your co-workers
Wright Brothers Day
Notable Birthdays…
George Lindsey, 74, actor (Goober on The Andy Griffith Show)
Ernie Hudson, 64, actor (Ghostbusters)
Eugene Levy, 63, actor / comedian
Bill Pullman 56/actor, Independence Day
Barry Livingston 56/actor, TV’s My Three Sons
Born on this date…also known as the late…
Arthur Fiedler–1894-1979/Boston Pops conductor
Bill Black–1926-1965/original bass player for Elvis Presley
Eddie Kendricks–1939-1992/singer, Temptations and solo
Movie History
1982 – Tootsie premiered in theaters.
Music History
1999 – Jazz sax player Grover Washington Junior collapsed and died after taping a performance for CBS’ Saturday Early Show. He was 56.
1996 – Two members of Charlie Daniels’ band scheduled surgical procedures the same day Charlie was getting both of his knees realigned, in the same hospital. That way, they wouldn’t miss any tour dates.
1986 – The Doobie Brothers reunited for a benefit in Palo Alto, California. The performance inspired a reunion tour in 1987.
1986 – Wayne Newton won a $19.2 million suit against NBC News. NBC had aired reports claiming a link between Newton and mob figures. The reports were proven false.
1986 – Paul and Linda McCartney’s limo caught fire en route to a TV taping in Newcastle, England. They were both unharmed.
1982 – The Who played what they said was the “last concert of our farewell tour” at Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens.
1982 – Karen Carpenter gave what would be her last performance for a Christmas show at an L.A. school.
1978 – The number one song was “Le Freak” by CHIC. The single went on to sell over four million copies, making it the best-selling single in the history of Atlantic Records.
1970 – The Beach Boys played a show for Princess Margaret at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
1969 – Peter, Paul & Mary had the number one single with “Leaving On a Jet Plane.” The song was written by John Denver. It was the folk trio’s final single and their only number one.
1969 – Chicago’s first album, Chicago Transit Authority, was certified gold.
1957 – Bobby Helms’ “Jingle Bell Rock” entered the pop charts for the first time. It re-entered in December of 1958, 1960, 1961, and 1962 and was covered in 1983 by Daryl Hall & John Oates.
1955 – Carl Perkins wrote “Blue Suede Shoes.” Less than 48 hours later, he recorded it in Memphis.
General History
1843 – Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, featuring Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim, Scrooge and all the rest, was published for the first time.
1903 – The Wright Brothers, Orville and Wilbur, made the first powered flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, where the locals regarded them as no more than a pair of “poor nuts.” The 12-horsepower Wright Flyer I took off a 100-foot sand dune with Orville at the controls. The flight lasted only 12 seconds and covered 120 feet, at a height of eight-to-12 feet and an air speed of 30-to-35 miles an hour. Afterwards, while Orville and Wilbur were passing out the champagne, a big gust of wind picked up the plane and smashed it.
1986 – Automaker John DeLorean was found not guilty of embezzling $8.5 million.
Yours in Water Cooler News fun!
Dr. Rus
