Friday Snippets and Soundbites

It's Friday. Spring break is likely right around the corner for most of you. And we just want to help you get the weekend started off right—with a little randomness!

That's right, it's time for this week's online edition of "Snippets and Soundbites." If these stories aren't enough, there's more where they came from. Just check out page 38 in this month's (and every month's) issue of ec!

Ready?

Test Drive Thief
Taking a test drive is just part of buying a new car, right? Well, yeah, for most of us. But a Nebraska man decided to use the common practice in his plan to steal a truck. The man took the truck for a test drive on Tuesday, and the dealership, Red Star Auto of Lincoln, called the police the next morning when they found the truck was missing. After investigating, it appears the man stopped during his test drive (unaccompanied by a salesman apparently) to have a copy made of the truck's key. Later, under the cover of darkness, he used the copy of the key to simply drive the truck off the lot. But the man likely forgot the dealership had his address. The dealership owner drove there—a mere 10 blocks away—and found the missing truck. The man has been arrested, but so far, no charges have been filed. We're thinking Red Star Auto of Lincoln may soon change their police. . . and no one will be taking test drives solo anymore!

Pet Problems
Do you have a pet? A dog? A cat? Maybe a hamster, a bird, or a lizard? Well, it appears that miniature goats are becoming more and more popular as pets. Yes, you read that correctly. GOATS. Fans of miniature goats as pets say they live in your yard, are tame, wear leashes, and might produce milk and cheese, so what's not to like? As more and more people take in miniature goats as pets, more city governments have to deal with the issue. Hillsboro, Ore., has held three community meetings this year, including one last week, to ask residents whether goats and chickens should be added to a list of acceptable pets. The Carbondale, Ill., Planning Commission has also debated the issue. In Portland, Ore., you don't need permits to keep up to three goats. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is a little worried about the trend though. "My sense is it will get old for people pretty fast," ASPCA representative Stephen Zawistowsk said, and mini-goats will "end up in animal shelters or rescue sanctuaries." Read all about the trend here.

The Mystery of the Midnight Knitter
Jen, ec's graphic designer, loves to knit, but even she would be a little confused by this next story. It appears the New Jersey shore town of West Cape May has a mystery to unravel—and it's not your run-of-the-mill mystery. Recently, under the cover of darkness, someone the residents have dubbed "The Midnight Knitter" has been covering tree branches and lamp poles with tiny knitted sweaters. No one knows who's knitting the sweaters, but they do appreciate the colorful addition to the town. Police are investigating, though, since the sweaters are technically against the law since they're being done on public property without permission. Read more (and watch a video) here.