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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.
Woman shot by oven while trying to cook waffles
The Tampa Bay Times reports that 18 year old Aalaya Walker was visiting her friend, JJ Sandy, 25 in St. Petersburg when they decided to make some late night waffles. Walker was pre-heating the oven, unaware that Sandy was storing a magazine from his .45 caliber Glock 21 in the oven.
The magazine exploded about 9 p.m. ET, spraying casing fragments at high speed and striking Walker. She managed to pick some of the fragments out of her leg and chest and then took a bus to the hospital, where she was treated and released.
Sandy told police he'd stored the gun in a drawer but had stored the magazine in the oven. Four rounds were in the 13-capacity magazine, he said.
Gun and ammunition references indicate that Glock bullets can explode at temperatures as low as 280 degrees — or even lower if they've been exposed to heat for a long time, which can degrades the structure.
Sandy "stated that he does not have a temperature gauge on the oven so he estimates the temperature based on how far the knob is turned," according to the police report, which was obtained by the Times. "I observed that the inside of the oven was damaged."
In a memorable 2007 episode, the popular science TV show "Mythbusters" found in several experiments that bullets can explode "once the oven was hot enough."
"Without a gun barrel to contain and direct the propellant gases, the bullets did not develop enough speed to pierce the glass or steel portions of the oven. The shell casings actually caused more damage than the bullets," it found — essentially reproducing what police said happened Monday.
Sandy wasn't charged because he had a proper concealed weapons permit, The Tampa Tribune reported.
Cardinals Host Going-Away Party At Pope's Favorite Vatican City Dive Bar
Following Pope Benedict XVI’s announcement that he will resign the papacy at the end of the month, a group of cardinals reportedly hosted a going-away party for the pontiff at his favorite Vatican City dive bar, The Empty Chalice, on Thursday night. “Ratzy’s had a wild ride for the past eight years, and me and the guys figured there was no better way to send him off in style than a night out at the Chalice,” a visibly intoxicated Cardinal Bishop Angelo Sodano said of the celebration at the dingy, no-frills watering hole, which sources said is renowned for its €2 shot specials and is reportedly “stumbling distance” from the 85-year-old pontiff’s private quarters at the Apostolic Palace. “This is our usual after-work spot and we’ve had a lot of rowdy times here, so tonight might get a little out of control. Hey, they don’t call this place ‘Puke-arist’ for nothing!” At press time, Benedict and his archdiocese heads had reportedly been ejected from the bar for harassing a group of young boys at the other end of the bar.
Police called on strainer wearing man
Apparently Dayton, Ohio officials and DMV have no respect for the Flying Spaghetti Monster as they were called to the Motor Vehicle Commission office to see to a man who was refusing to take a pasta stainer off his head for his driver's license photo.
The man, Aaron Williams, 25, said the pasta strainer was a religious head covering as he practices Pastafarianism, the religion of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.
The satirical religion is a movement opposed to the teaching of intelligent design and creationism in schools.
Williams reluctantly agreed to have his picture taken without the strainer and deleted a video he had taken in violation of office rules.
Austrian Niko Alm, who described himself as a Pastafarian, won a three-year battle in his country to have his driver's license photo taken with a pasta strainer on his head.
Dog finds new-born baby girl in Walmart plastic bag in Houston
The dog sniffed out the unclothed but clean infant in a Walmart plastic bag between a tree and a bush at the Stonegate Villas Apartments in Cypress, Houston, The Houston Chronicle reported.
"If it had not of been for the resident that came out to walk her dogs, that child may have laid there all night, possibly would've died," said Sergeant Gordon Trott of the Harris County Sheriff's Office.
"The child could not have been out there very long," said Sgt Trott.
"The child had a normal body temperature."
The baby was taken to Texas Children's Hospital, where she was in a "good condition."
Jenn Jacome, a spokesperson for the hospital, told the New York Daily News that the baby's vital signs - pulse, temperature and blood pressure - were stable and within regular limits. She was conscious and comfortable with her chance of recovery between good and excellent.
Grey Poupon to air "Pardon Me" ads after 16 years
Kraft Foods' Grey Poupon's commercials which famously mocked it's own stuffed shirt image in their "Pardon Me" ads, will return after a 16 year absence for a one time only airing at the Oscars on February 24th. Sales have been lackluster from the growing competition of high-end condiments at supermarkets.
The new ad begins in the same way as the original — an aristocratic English gentleman is being chauffeured in the countryside, when another car pulls up alongside them at a stop. The back window rolls down and a second man asks in an over-the-top snooty accent, "Pardon me, would you have any Grey Poupon?"
The first man courteously responds, "But of course" and hands him a jar out the window.
In the new version, however, the scene continues with the second car speeding off without returning the mustard. A wild car chase through a golf course and city streets ensues, complete with explosions to make the spot look like a trailer for an action adventure movie.
Kraft Foods Group Inc. plans to air the ad only once on TV, after which it will be available online. According to Kantar Media, a 30-second spot during the Oscars this year is estimated to cost $1.7 million. But Kraft, based in Northfield, Ill., is hoping the high-profile placement will help spark enough interest to engage people in online marketing campaigns.
"The Vatican said that as soon as the Pope resigns, he will no longer be infallible. The Vatican said it's the same thing that happened to Oprah." –Conan O'Brien
"As you know, the Pope is resigning. He said he feels there's just no room for advancement. It's a dead-end job." –Jay Leno
"Big news coming out of the Vatican. Pope Benedict resigned. And they're busy looking for replacements. The smart money is on Tim Tebow." –David Letterman
"The Vatican was struck by lightning after the Pope announced he was retiring. That really happened. Sounds like someone's not handling the breakup well." –Conan O'Brien
"The Italian press is reporting that the next Pope could be the cardinal from Boston. If he gets the job, he'll be the first Pope to make you kiss his 2007 World Series ring." –Conan O'Brien
"The Pope, a couple of weeks ago, was fired. One day you're the leader of the Catholic Church, and the next day you're at Denny's blowing on your soup." –David Letterman
"Here's one of the odd things about being Pope. You're the Pope and you're in your office and sitting at your desk, and on your desk is a photo of your boss's son." –David Letterman