Friday Snippets and Soundbites

If “Snippets and Soundbites” on pages 38-39 of the July (and every issue!) of ec isn't enough for you, we've got your odd news for the week right here!

Ready, set, GO!

• Crop Circles: Message from the wallabies
Wallabies in Sydney, Australia, are getting extra “hoppy” in legal-to-grow-there opium poppy fields. It has been reported the animals eat the poppies, then rambunctiously jump around in circles . . . creating “crop circles,” that many people once believed were messages from aliens. With the extra terrestrial theory put to rest, all Sydney is left to deal with are crazy bouncing wallabies addicted to opium. For the full story and picture of a wallaby go here.

• Losing your memory is easier in Britain
Senior adults in America can remember more facts and for a longer period of time than seniors in Britain. A “memory and awareness test” found that American 75-year-olds remembered better than others their same age in Britain—having the same memory function as people 10 years younger! The results surprised researchers. Americans tend to have higher risk factors for “cognitive decline” (memory loss)—such as obesity, high blood pressure and physical inactivity. Next time you see great-grandma, and she calls you by your sisters’ name, give her an extra hug. For the seniors’ test score and more visit this Web site.

• Congratulations! You have the World’s Ugliest Dog
Not many people would have chosen a dog from a shelter in Citrus Heights, Calif., as a prize winner. The light brown boxer has a serious under-bite . . . leaving some of his pearly white teeth outside his mouth. But this so-ugly-he’s-kinda-cute pup named Pabst is the winner of the World’s Ugliest Dog contest. Pabst won $1,600, pet supplies and a modeling contract! For the full story and a link to see Pabst and a slideshow of ugly dogs, go here.

• Momma in trouble at school
Worried about taking your SAT? For one teenage girl in Pennsylvania, there was no need for such stress. A high school secretary (and mother of the student), Caroline McNeal, has been charged with “29 counts of unlawful use of a computer and 29 counts of tampering with public records.” The girl has not been charged. However, her mother could spend up to 7 years in prison for each count. McNeal changed her daughter’s SAT score and lowered the scores of other students to improve her daughter’s class ranking. A school counselor discovered that school’s records weren’t matching those from the College Board. The records were corrected before the students’ graduation, and the phrase “honesty is the best policy” rings true once more. For the full story, read this.

• Long time, no see
Bill Fulton, a 78-year-old man from Baker City, Ore., got a special surprise from 1946. His wallet, that he lost over 63 years ago, was returned to him—social security card and bicycle license still inside. The wallet has been hidden beneath the local middle school gym’s bleachers. The stands haven’t been moved from their place until now (for renovations) because they were attached to a brick wall. Fulton said the return of his wallet after all these years caused him to think back over his life. “Where did all the time go?” Fulton said. “It’s hard to believe that the times have gone by so fast.” Read the whole story here.

This week's "Snippets and Soundbites" was written by Kennan Neuman, our summer intern. Yesterday was her last day with our department. Thanks, Kennan, for a job well done!