Friday Snippets and Soundbites

f “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! Are you ready? We are!

• His name is Obama and July 4 was a big day for him. No, where not talking about President Barak Obama. We're talking about Obama the loggerhead turtle. Named after the current U.S. president, the turtle, who had been receiving treatment at a turtle hospital in Florida, was set free on Saturday, the United States' 233 birthday. Apparently, the loggerhead turtle was found on a Key West beach on January 19. The 200-pound female turtle was obviously suffering and was nursed back to health at with a diet of squid and mineral oil at the Turtle Hospital in Marathon, Fla. Because she was discovered on January 19, the night before President Obama's historic inauguration, it just seemed appropriate to name her for the president. That's why it also seemed fitting to the let the recovered turtle loose on July 4. To read the whole story (and see Obama the turtle), go here.

• Merriam-Webster has released its list of new words for 2009. Some of those making the cut? Frenemy (a blend of friend and enemy); webisode, and fan fiction. To see the whole list and all the definitions, go here. To read USA Today's take on this year's picks, check this out.

• Turtles seem to be a popular topic in the news of the strange this week. That's because in addition to Obama the turtle going free, a runway at JFK International Airport was shut down on Wednesday morning because at least 78 turtles emerged from a nearby bay and "invaded" the tarmac. Ground crews gathered up the turtles and put them back in the bay, but not before the incident caused delays and disrupted the flight schedule. Want to know more? Go here.

• And finally, watch this video about Tai Shan, a 13-year-old panda at the National Zoo and get some ideas for how to celebrate your next birthday!