Weird news

[fl]

Farmers hate 'couch potatoes'

June 20, 2005

From: AAP





BRITISH potato farmers have taken issue with the expression "couch potato", rallying in London to call for it to be struck from the dictionary.

They say it harms the vegetable's image, and potatoes are not bad for you.



The British Potato Council wants the Oxford English Dictionary to replace the expression with the term "couch slouch".



They plan protests outside Parliament and the offices of Oxford University Press.



The Oxford dictionary says couch potato originated as American slang, meaning a person who spends leisure time passively or idly sitting around, especially watching television or videotapes.

[fl]

Police chief's car stolen

From correspondents in Washington

June 23, 2005

From: Reuters





NO one in the U.S. capital is immune to car theft, not even the city's highest ranking law enforcement official.

Washington Police Chief Charles Ramsey's unmarked black Ford Crown Victoria disappeared from a street near his home some time between Friday and early Sunday while he was out of town, a police spokesman said.



"When he went out to use it to go to church, he found it was missing and reported it stolen," police spokesman Quintin Peterson told Reuters.



A riot helmet and some clothing were left in the car, but nothing that would be cause for alarm, he said.



"No equipment that can be used to cause anybody harm, no weapons of any kind, no radios, nothing like that," said Peterson.



http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,15 ... 62,00.html