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Welcome to Casual Friday where we wake you up with the overlooked news stories of the week. The offbeat, strange and sometimes downright weird news items that mainstream media tends to ignore, all wrapped up with a few funnies, all designed to get your face in smiling shape for the weekend.
Meadows Announcer Plays Along When Deer Get Onto Track
It wasn't your typical day at the Meadows racetrack in Washington County, Pennsylvania last Wednesday night. Three deer got onto the course just before the horses were ready to race. Announcer Roger Huston was such a calm and cool veteran that he didn't miss a beat and began to announce it as though it were a real race.
“As they race down the track, Bambi has the lead. Here comes Rudolph from the outside.”
It didn't take long before the deer left the track, but Huston called the race for Bambi.
The New Zealand SPCA really means it when they have an "adoption drive".
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Smithsonian to unveil largest aquamarine gem
The museum will unveil the obelisk-shaped Dom Pedro gem Thursday for long-term display. The blue-green crystal was mined in Brazil in the late 1980s and is named for Brazil's first two emperors.
The gem was designed and cut by renowned gem artist Bernd Munsteiner. It stands 14 inches tall and weighs 10,363 carets — or nearly 5 pounds. Cuts in the reverse faces serve to reflect light within the gem.
$9K artwork bought for $12.00 at Goodwill
"Red Nose" just meant a reindeer named Rudolph to Karen Mallet until she bought a print by that name for $12.34 at a Goodwill store in Milwaukee. It turned out to be a lithograph by American artist Alexander Calder worth $9,000.
Hummmm....turns out that this is the fourth time in six months that valuable art has been bought from Goodwill stores. Last month a Salvadore Dali sketch was found at a Tacoma, Washington and sold for $21,000.00. A North Carolina woman made $27,000.00 on a painting she bought for $9.99 and last spring a dusty old jug in Buffalo, NY was found to be a thousands-of-years-old American Indian artifact which was returned to its tribe instead of being offered for sale.
Woman Says Breast Implants Saved Her From Flying Bullets
A Canadian woman said her breast implants saved her life when her ex-boyfriend shot her, according to the Toronto Sun.
“My implants took the brunt of the force,” Likness said in court on Wednesday.
When Fernando Chora, 61, allegedly fired his 9mm handgun at her, the bullet grazed her right arm, pierced both implants and left forearm, Likness testified at Chora's trial.
Ms Likness had another breast enhancement surgery after she recovered from her injuries.
Honey, you don't need better boobs, you need better taste in boy friends!
"The Obamas have decorated the White House with 54 Christmas trees. It's all part of their 'For the last time, we're not Muslim' campaign." –Conan O'Brien
"It's a very proud night for myself and my family and my staff and my friends. I received a Kennedy Center Honor. And today the Republicans are trying to block it."
–David Letterman
"Mitt Romney is going back to work. Romney is joining the board of directors at Marriott hotels. See, who says President Obama can't create jobs? There's one right there." –Jay Leno
"I think it's great that Romney's getting back to the workforce and not becoming one of those 47 percent looking for a handout." –Jay Leno
"Texas Gov. Rick Perry says he's taking steps to run for president in 2016. In fact, this week he's meeting with donors. He better hope they're brain donors." –Jay Leno
"A lot of dissension among conservatives. One of the leaders of the Tea Party has resigned after a major split in the movement. The Tea Party is now divided between angry whites and even angrier whites." –Conan O'Brien
"The CEO of the Olive Garden blames his company's low profits on Obamacare – which is odd because most people won't eat at the Olive Garden until they have health insurance." –Conan O'Brien
"Mitt Romney of course lost the election. Think about it this way. One day you're the Republican candidate running for president of the United States, and the next day you're sitting in Applebee's blowing on your soup." –David Letterman
"Mitt Romney has a new job. He's going back to work. He got a job at a Marriott. When you're at the front desk arguing over your mini bar bill, Mitt will be the guy that comes from out back and says, 'I understand there's some trouble?'" –David Letterman