Friday Snippets and Soundbites

The first week of June is coming to an end, and the only appropriate response (in our minds) was a rundown of all the random news stories and facts we've heard about this week. And if this collection of all things odd isn't enough for you, be sure to check out "Snippets and Soundbites" on page 38 of the June (and every!) issue of ec.

Ready to get on with the show? Here. we. go.

• We've all heard about runaway brides, but what about a rescuing bride? That's exactly what Georgette Fogarty-Clemons became on her way home from her wedding last Sunday night. While riding with a friend on the way back to her house—slowly because they had leftover cake and flowers still in water—the bride noticed smoke coming from a neighbor's home. She asked her friend to stop the car and jumped out—still wearing her wedding dress and fancy shoes. She ran to the neighbor's door and informed the family that their house was on fire. The sudden stop confused her friend and other guests following the car. Because of Georgette's actions, a woman, her 16-year-old son and several family pets were able to escape the house unharmed. The owner of the house said she and her son had no idea the house was on fire and wouldn't have known without Georgette alerting them. She also said it was surreal having a bride in full wedding attire run up to her house to warn her about the fire. "I thought it was amazing and selfless," the homeowner said. To hear the whole story, go here.

• And then there's the story of Remington the Clydesdale who might just be the world's tallest horse. The Guinness World record is currently held by Radar, a Belgian draft horse who lives in Mount Pleasant, Texas. He stands He stands 19 hands and 3 ½ inches (6 feet 7 ½ inches) to the withers (from hoof to top of the shoulder). Cheryl Davis, Remington's owner, believes he stands taller than that and could just break the record. He'll be measured at a Texas animal hospital twice this weekend—today with his shoes on, tomorrow with them off. If Remington breaks Radar's record, Davis says she'll submit the paper work and enjoy the record as long as it lasts. To learn more, check out this story.

• Competitive eating is always big news here in "Snippets and Soundbites." And this week, Takeru Kobayashi beat Joey Chestnut in a pizza-eating contest. Sponsored by Pizza Hut, the two met in California last weekend to see who could eat the most Pizza Hut P'Zones. Kobayashi, a six-time world hot dog eating champion from Japan, consumed 5 3/4 P'zones in six minutes to beat Chestnut, but barely. Chestnut ate 5 1/2 P'zones. The two are arch rivals in the competitive eating world. Each year they showdown at a Fourth of July hot dog-eating contest on New York's Coney Island. Chestnut has beaten his Japanese competitor the last two years, winning last year in a five-dog eat-off after they tied at 59 frankfurters in 10 minutes. Read a play-by-play here.