High Point, N.C., resident Vic Clinco is believed to have the largest hot sauce collection in the world. He started collecting 26 years ago with three bottles; today he displays almost 11,000 in his basement shrine. “It has turned into an obsession,” Clinco admits. He’s become such a celebrity in the hot sauce “culture” that manufacturers send him samples of their new varieties. “I want it to be shared with anyone that has the love of the heat as I do,” he said. He hopes to hold tastings to introduce others to the love of the spicy condiments.
Mayonnaise Bouquet
Brenda and Dennis Delgado first met by chance in 2021 in the condiments aisle at Fry’s, a grocery in Casa Grande, Ariz. Dennis told Brenda a joke, she laughed, and they talked for 30 minutes before exchanging their contact info. Both were widowed, and as they spent more time together, they grew close. So when they decided to tie the knot, they returned to the scene of the spark: the mayonnaise aisle. On Nov. 19, they exchanged vows on Aisle 8 as the “Wedding March” played over the store’s loudspeakers. “It was wonderful,” Dennis said. Floral arrangements provided by the store included Miracle Whip and mayo. “If you’re looking for love, go to Fry’s,” Brenda said. “Keep looking.”
Chicken Rentals
RayLee Holladay and her husband, Bubba, live in Lascassas, Tenn., where they raise cows. Six years ago, RayLee was seeking a venture of her own to bring in money when she discovered Rent The Chicken, a business founded by Phil and Jenn Tompkins of Pittsburgh, Penn. Today, RayLee’s Rent The Chicken franchise is thriving. Customers can either rent egg-laying chickens for about six months, or hatching chicks, which can be returned about two weeks after they hatch. “It’s great for teaching kids a little responsibility,” RayLee said. “And this is a trial. It’s not like getting a puppy for Christmas.” Chickens can be rented by families or by schools, day cares and senior living facilities. If renters grow attached, they can adopt the fowl for an added fee. Since its beginning 10 years ago, Rent The Chicken has expanded into 24 states, the District of Columbia and into Canada.
Slow Learner
A 72-year-old woman was arrested in Berlin after she allegedly turned off her hospital roommate’s ventilator twice because the sound of it was annoying her. After the first incident, police said, the woman was told the machine was necessary to keep the roommate alive. But she switched it off again later in the evening. The other patient had to be revived, although she is expected to recover. The suspect was charged with suspicion of attempted manslaughter.
Mooning A Form Of Free Speech
When Hassan Chokr appeared for a hearing in Wayne County, Mich., he became frustrated with Judge Regina Thomas and started yelling and pointing at the courtroom camera. Thomas asked for his microphone to be muted and things escalated: “I want the record to reflect that … now he has removed his pants to show the court his backside,” Thomas said. “I don’t know why anyone would think it is appropriate to pull down his pants and show the court their behind during a court proceeding.” Chokr’s attorney agreed with Thomas that a mental health evaluation “probably would be a good thing” and said Chokr was just exercising his right to free speech. Thomas wasn’t buying it, though: “We don’t get to do and say anything we want to without the consequences of those actions,” she said. “That’s where your client finds himself today.”
Prove Your Dog Has Died
An Olive Garden restaurant manager in Overland Park, Kan., is out of a job after she sent a ranting message to team members about excessive time off. “We are no longer tolerating ANY excuse for taking time off. … If your dog died, you need to bring him in and prove it to us. … If you only want morning shifts, too bad, go work at a bank. … Do you think I want to be here until midnight on Friday and Saturday? No. I’d much rather be at home with my husband and dog,” the message said. An Olive Garden representative said the message was “not aligned with our company’s values. We can confirm we have parted ways with this manager.”
No More Cocktails Tonight
Five-year Chicago police veteran Henry Capouch was arrested for battery and disorderly conduct in St. Petersburg, Fla., where he was vacationing. According to officers, Capouch was discovered around 12:30 am by an employee of Jimmy B’s Beach Bar as he was “(urinating) on the ice in the machine.” The worker told Capouch to stop. Instead he shoved both the worker and a security guard. Police said Capouch actively resisted arrest. They said he showed an “indication of alcohol influence.”
Hey! Give Me Back My 125 iPhones!
A young man visited the Apple store on Fifth Avenue in New York City and bought 300 iPhone 13s. He bought the phones to resell through his small business. But he didn’t get very far with them: As he walked to his car, another car pulled up and men jumped out, demanding his three bags. The customer defended himself, but the thieves made off with one of the bags, which contained 125 phones worth $95,000. The New York Police Department is investigating.
Missing Nose
Mark Curtis Wells of Biloxi, Miss., and another golfer got into an altercation at Hollywood Casino. They had played earlier in the day at Bridges Golf Course, where the argument allegedly began, police said. When officers arrived at the casino parking lot, they found one of the men suffering a facial injury: his nose had been bitten off. Wells took off from the scene in a Tesla but later turned himself in and was charged with mayhem. The nose was not found.
Judge: What Is Facebook?
When prosecutors went to court in Prince George, B.C., in a case involving a nightclub that was flouting COVID-19 restrictions, they thought their argument was airtight. They had video from Lambda Cabaret that had been posted to Facebook showing patrons dancing and drinking with nary a mask in sight. The club even bragged about their disobedience: “Open with zero mandates 2 weeks in a row,” it posted. But Judicial Justice Brent Adair saw it differently. “There are so many holes in this case — it’s like someone shot a shotgun,” he said. For one thing, he asked, “What is a social media post?” “These are posts that Lambda Cabaret made on Facebook,” environmental health officer Joey Cheng answered. “How do you know they made them on Facebook?” Adair asked. “Umm … it was on their Facebook page,” Cheng replied. Adair explained he’s not a “technical person … I know Facebook exists. I don’t use Facebook. What is it? What does it show?” He ended up dismissing all the charges against Lambda Cabaret, saying he didn’t know why video evidence was relevant.
Note: Don’t Sleep On The Road
In Japan, a phenomenon known as “rojo-ne” — literally, “sleeping on the road” — is once again becoming a hazard as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted and people go out partying. The number of deaths of snoozing partiers has nearly doubled in Tokyo compared to last year, police say. Officials have asked taxi drivers and others to drive with their high beams on and slow down.
Who Knew?
In June, 2023, people in South Korea will suddenly become younger. On Dec. 8, the South Korean parliament voted to switch from two traditional methods of counting age to the more widely recognized international method for official documents. Currently, Koreans are 1 year old at birth and then gain another year on the first day of each following year. An alternate method has them at 0 upon birth, then adding a year each Jan. 1. So, for example, someone born on Dec. 31, 2002, is 19 years old using the international method. But under Korea’s traditional methods, they might be 20 or 21 years old. One member of parliament said the change would reduce “unnecessary socio-economic costs, because legal and social disputes as well as confusion persist due to the different ways of calculating age.”
Porno Cop
Phoenix police officer Christian Goggans, who had been assigned to home duty, took advantage of the situation by dedicating some time to his porn career. Goggans is facing an internal investigation after he allegedly traveled back and forth to Las Vegas while on the clock to produce and star in pornographic videos. He posted the films to a public Twitter page using his “stage” name, Rico Blaze. (The page has since been made private). A Phoenix PD public information officer said Goggans’ work-from-home assignment required only that he call in once daily.
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