<![CDATA[NBC Bay Area - Weird News, Strange News, and Odd News ]]> Copyright 2013 http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/weird en-us Wed, 22 May 2013 20:00:42 -0700 Wed, 22 May 2013 20:00:42 -0700 NBC Owned Television Stations <![CDATA[Wandering Bear Surprises Horses in Corral]]> Wed, 22 May 2013 14:02:56 -0700 http://media.nbcbayarea.com/images/213*120/bear-horses-tight.jpg

A wandering bear was on the move for about an hour Wednesday morning north of Los Angeles with squad cars and a helicopter on its tail as it scaled fences and surprised several horses in their corrals.

The bear was first seen in the Shadow Hills area, about 20 miles north of downtown Los Angeles.

"He was probably just trying to find a spot where he feels comfortable, safe and can find a food source," said California Fish and Wildlife Department warden J.C. Healy. "This is the time of year -- there are bigger males looking for food, and in the animal world, they're going to compete and push the little guy out."

The black bear surprised two horses as it emerged from a backyard, then walked through another corral that contained three horses a few blocks away. The bear scaled a fence around the second corral and walked along the top of it until leaping back to the ground and trotting under a tree.

Police in squad cars and an airship followed the bear, which was first spotted along Clybourn Avenue at about 6:30 a.m. 

"We deploy officers like we look for suspects," said LAPD Sgt. Rudy Lopez. 

Officers and at least one California Department of Fish and Wildlife agent -- armed with a tranquilizer dart gun -- cornered the bear under trees along Wentworth Street. Aerial video showed agents loading the tranquilized bear into the bed of a pickup.

"The California black bear is very docile, very timid, very afraid of people -- so they're going to do what they can to get away from people," said Healy. "But the general rule of thumb with wild animals is don't take their food source and don't get in front of mom and her cubs.

"Right now, he's just looking to get away from people."

The bear had a tracking tag attached to its right ear, indicating that wildlife officials were in contact before with the bear. The bear was tagged just a few weeks ago in a Santa Clarita neighborhood, about 20 miles northwest of Shadow Hills, Healy said.

The warden planned to transport the bear to a wildlife area, likely the nearby Angeles National Forest. The bear was sedated about four minutes after he was struck with the tranquilizer dart.

"I'm going to sit with him for a while until he wakes up and watch him walk off," Healy said after hoisting the bear into the pickup.

Healy estimated the 2- to 3-year-old male bear weighs about 150 pounds
 

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<![CDATA[Wilmette Middle School Has Record Amount Of Twins]]> Wed, 22 May 2013 11:18:54 -0700 http://media.nbcbayarea.com/images/213*120/Wilmette-twins-blurb.jpg The fifth-grade level at Highcrest Middle School class has 23 sets of twins, close to 10 percent of the school's 475 fifth-graders. If confirmed, it will break the Guinness Book of World Record of 16 sets of twins in a single grade level at one school. Read the full story here.]]> <![CDATA[Adorable Disabled Pig Grows Star Power]]> Wed, 22 May 2013 06:13:15 -0700 http://media.nbcbayarea.com/images/213*120/NC_chrispbacon0520_test_mezzn.jpg Catch up with YouTube sensation Chris P. Bacon. A YouTube video turned the pig into an Internet sensation five months ago. Since then, he's gained size and increased his public profile. Michelle Meredith reports..]]> <![CDATA[Smells of San Francisco Bacon Waft to Saturday Night Live]]> Tue, 21 May 2013 05:59:55 -0700 http://media.nbcbayarea.com/images/223*120/bacon15.jpg

 

The smells of bacon wafting from a San Francisco restaurant have not only generated local debate, but have become joke fodder for Saturday Night Live.

MORE: SF Bacon Restaurant Must Close Due to Aroma Issue

On this Saturday's "Weekend Update," host Amy Poehler referenced the now-national story about Bacon Bacon in Ashbury Heights coming under fire from a neighbor who suffered from the intense bacon smells from the restaurant, only to uncover the popular eatery also had permitting problems.

To watch SNL, click here, the Bacon Bacon portion is at minute 27:20.

 

 

Poehler made a quick reference to the San Francisco cafe debacle, by saying it's got to be "really tricky to walk up to a cop and say something smells like bacon" to grab a police officer's attention.

Owner Jim Angelus seems to be having a sense of humor about the whole thing as well.

"I just woke up from a dream where we had to close our shop, Amy Poehler made fun of it on SNL and I was driving this fancy new food truck around the Bay Area," he wrote on the Bacon Bacon Facebook page.

Over the phone, on Monday, Angelus said that "out of the ashes, bacon rises."

He said all this brouhaha has been great  for business. "Short term this is 'Ugh,'" Angelus said. "But ultimately, business is really strong."

MORE: Hopeful Reprieve For SF Bacon Restaurant Facing Closure

On Friday, Angelus agreed to install a $35,000 air filtration system to better aerate the bacon smells, an agreement his neighbor's attorney, Ryan Patterson, agreed to informally.

But Bacon Bacon has to shut down until July 11, when there will be a formal planning commission hearing to see if the new permits will be approved.

Until then, bacon lovers in San Francisco will just have to follow Angelus' bacon truck around. Current specialties include a melted cheese sandwich with bacon and bacon jam, the "Bird," a  panko-encrusted chicken sandwich with bacon and bacon mayo, and the "Belly," a pork belly sandwich with an organic fried egg, arugula and caper aioli.

And from the support he's gotten from bacon lovers around the world, they are bound to simply put their noses in the air, and find his delicacies by the smell of bacon in the air.

 

More Local Stories:

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<![CDATA[Hopeful Reprieve for SF Bacon Restaurant Facing Closure]]> Mon, 20 May 2013 11:39:33 -0700 http://media.nbcbayarea.com/images/203*120/bacon14.JPG

There may be no meat to incite the masses to action, like bacon.

Burger restaurants, pizzerias, bars have all folded under the vocal opposition of neighbors. But it seems a San Francisco restaurant that specializes in bacon will live to oink another day.

The year-and-a-half-old Bacon Bacon in the Ashbury Heights neighborhood has been battling for its porky existence since some neighbors began complaining a while back about the bacon smell wafting their way.

“Depending on the wind patterns day to day, there were strong odors of bacon,” said attorney Ryan Patterson, who is representing a neighbor with sensory olfactory nerves. “This is a restaurant that specializes in bacon and is called Bacon Bacon -- and it did smell like bacon.”

MORE: SF Bacon Restaurant Must Close Due to Aroma Issue

With dishes like fried chicken wrapped in bacon, bacon scones and a bacon bouquet (five bacon strips wrapped in paper), it’s not incomprehensible there would be a bacon smell.

But the restaurant had other issues beside just the aroma – namely it didn’t have a permit.

“They have been operating without a permit since December 2011,” said Richard Lee of San Francisco’s Health Department. "We finally set a deadline when they need to get a permit.”

Under the city’s deadline, the restaurant was set to shut down on Friday at 3 p.m. Owner Jim Angelus said he offered to install a $35,000 air filtration system, but was afraid to commit to the work if the city was going to shut him down anyway. But on Friday, Angelus seemed to work out a deal with his neighbor after saying he would install the new system, even thought it had yet to be put into writing, and still required approval from the Planning and Health departments. There is a hearing in July to formalize the permits, and until then, Angelus is running a bacon food truck. To see when and where click here.

Supporters signed petitions, and finally, came down Friday to pig out one last time, walking past a chalkboard sign out front that read “Save Our Bacon.”

“I want to stay here because I’m not going to let a couple neighbors ruin what’s a great neighborhood,” Angelus said. “I live in this neighborhood, too.”

But as Angelus’ four employees wondered if they’d have jobs next week, Angelus received a call Friday - just after lunch - from his neighbor and Patterson. As they negotiated over speakerphone, the contingent finally reached a verbal deal. Angelus agreed to put in the filtration system, and the neighbor would drop his complaint.

“My client has offered to contribute money to make this happen,” Patterson said. “I think everyone is really happy about it.”

But as he hung up the phone, Angelus illuminated a cautious smile. Then he headed back to the restaurant’s kitchen – there were bacon burritos to be made.

More Local Stories:



Photo Credit: Joe Rosato Jr.]]>
<![CDATA[Lion's Meat on Menu at Burlingame Restaurant]]> Fri, 17 May 2013 15:36:35 -0700 http://media.nbcbayarea.com/images/160*120/african-lion-closeup.jpg

Whoa-oh, here lunch comes -- and it's a man-eater.

Lion meat is on the menu at Mokuntanya Yakitori Restaurant in Burlingame.

The meat is "reportedly as tough as the animal itself," according to SF Weekly, and the king of the jungle on a plate also fetches a pretty penny -- $70 for one skewer, or about five ounces of meat.

This is not new for Jason Li of the restaurant, who recently has also made peacock and swan available to diners.

Animal-rights activists are stomping mad over the leonine treat. Lions are a "threatened species," for  whom going extinct is a "risk," the newspaper reported.

There is about two weeks' worth of lion meat in the kitchen at the restaurant, but beware: Li says last year, he sold out in seven days.



Photo Credit: Getty Images]]>
<![CDATA[SF Bacon Restaurant Must Close Due to Aroma Issue]]> Fri, 17 May 2013 14:12:50 -0700 http://media.nbcbayarea.com/images/160*120/Bacon+final.jpg

The bacon smell smelled so much of bacon that now, the bacon must go.

A San Francisco bacon restaurant — called Bacon Bacon — must shut its doors after neighbors' complaints about the smell of bacon revealed a fatal permitting issue, according to the San Francisco Examiner.

Bacon Bacon, at 250A Frederick Street, will close its doors at the end of service Friday after its owner "failed" to negotiate with neighbors who took offense to the pork restaurant's smell.

MORE: Reprieve for SF Bacon Restaurant Facing Closure

The smell led to the revelation that the restaurant lacked "proper health permits" last summer.

The restaurant may be able to secure a permit but the first time a hearing can be held is July. So the restaurant must close.

Neighbors claimed that the "porcine aroma" was overpowering and that grease was illegally disposed of in the sewers.

Neighbors also say that they offered to buy the restaurant owner a new air filter — but he declined.

Owner Jim Angelus says he'll revive the restaurant's food truck — when he can find an approved kitchen location in which to prepare meals.

More Local Stories:

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<![CDATA[Dramatic Video: Deer Crashes Through Bus]]> Wed, 15 May 2013 12:41:22 -0700 http://media.nbcbayarea.com/images/213*120/deergrab_P2.jpg A deer crashed through the front window of a Johnstown, Pennsylvania bus. And -- it safely left the same way every other passenger gets off the bus.
Read full story here]]>
<![CDATA[Neighbor Call Cops Over Frog Mating Calls]]> Wed, 15 May 2013 15:06:39 -0700 http://media.nbcbayarea.com/images/213*120/frogmatingcall.jpg

Police responding to a noise complaint in Baraboo, Wis., found that the loud noises were actually the loud sounds of frogs fornicating.

It was the second time this month that a neighbor called police to complain about "loud music" coming from Debbie and Jeff Alsip's backyard, Baraboo's News Republic reported.

"Every spring, this happens," Debbi Alsip told the News Republic. "It has woke us up before, if we have our windows open."

Officer Mike Pichler told the News Republic that when he arrived he found about a dozen frogs in the Alsip's backyard koi pond mating and emitting their loud, shrill mating calls.

The paper reported the Alsips have had the pond since 1994 and that each spring female frogs lay their eggs in the area outside Madison and look for Mr. Right.

 



Photo Credit: FILE-Getty Images]]>
<![CDATA[Thief Blames Zombies for Crash]]> Wed, 15 May 2013 08:29:09 -0700 http://media.nbcbayarea.com/images/213*120/Zombie-Truck-Crash-0514.jpg A driver who stole a big rig truck and crashed it on Interstate 15 near Temecula says the "walking dead" made him crash. NBC 7’s Catherine Garcia reports. ]]> <![CDATA[End is Near For Oakland Preacher, Christian Radio]]> Mon, 13 May 2013 14:26:46 -0700 http://media.nbcbayarea.com/images/180*120/Harold+Camping.jpg

The end is near -- for Harold Camping and his Family Radio network.

The Oakland-based preacher, who famously predicted that the world would end about two years ago (it didn't), may be off the air as his broadcasting network is busily shedding assets, according to the Contra Costa Times.

Camping, 91, made international headlines when he predicted the end of the world on May 21, 2011. Many of his followers quit their jobs and donated their retirement funds towards getting out his message, according to reports.

Camping suffered a stroke following the persistence of existence after his prediction. He has since sworn off predicting the end of times.

In the meantime, Family Radio has sought to balance its ledger by selling its three most-profitable radio stations, and has seen its cash on hand dwindle from $2.5 million in 2008 to $282,880 by the end of 2011, according to tax documents.

Matt Tuter, 55, who for years was Camping's "right hand man" before he was fired last year, says that the failed Rapture prediction cost Camping 70 percent of his donations -- and that things may be even worse than they appear.

"I believe they are killing it off," he told reporters.

Family Radio sold its "powerhouse" and "flagship" East Coast FM stations -- WFME in Newark-New York City, WFSI in Annapolis, Md.-Washington, D.C., and WKDN in Philadelphia, the newspaper reported -- and replaced at least one with an AM station.

In Family Radio's heyday, "its stations had no commercials, providing 24-hour, seven-days-a-week Christian programming in 30 languages -- including hymns, Bible teachings and gospel talk shows -- with Camping's "Open Forum" program airing every weeknight for 90 minutes," the newspaper noted.

But since then, Camping has gone off the air due to his stroke -- and the network may be soon to follow. The newspaper reported Camping's wish to have the radio network die with him.



Photo Credit: AP]]>
<![CDATA[Cicadas: "The Shrimp of the Land"]]> Mon, 13 May 2013 19:52:59 -0700 http://media.nbcbayarea.com/images/213*120/fried+cicadas+in+china.jpg

Billions of bite-sized snacks are about to appear in backyards across the Northeast.

After nearly two decades living under the earth, cicadas are about to shake off the dirt and invade our great outdoors. And they’ll be ripe for feasting, says Isa Betancourt, an entomologist from the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University.

“It’s a delicacy that’s rare,” says Betancourt, who’s known to dine on a few bugs from time to time. She calls cicadas "the shrimp of the land.”

“They are arthropods, which means they have an exoskeleton,” she said. “We regularly eat the arthropods of the sea and those are the shrimp, lobsters and crabs. And so cicadas are arthropods too.”

The Magicicada, as this type of cicada is named, spend 17 years underground snacking on the roots of plants, trees and vegetables. Now they’re coming above ground to shed their skin and mate.

Like other edible insects, cicadas are nutritious, according to Betancourt. She says their bodies are high in protein, low in fat and feature a lot of muscle.

Betancourt suggests trying to grab the magicadas when they’re fresh from the ground and undergoing their molting stage, which consists of shedding their skin as they prepare to fly away to find a mate.

“That’s when they’re softest,” she said. “When they first emerge, they’ll be kind of a green color and after a few hours they’ll harden.”

The scientist says you’ll most likely find the soft cicadas in the morning hours. She says you can still eat them once they harden, but you should expect a little extra crunch. You’ll also want to pull off the wings, because, like corn kernels, they can get stuck in your teeth.

There are a couple dozen recipes for how to specifically prepare cicadas. Betancourt is planning on taking an old shrimp skewer dish that her grandmother has made for ages and substituting in the insect. She also suggests boiling your insects first to quickly kill and clean them.

Online you can learn how to make Cicada-Portobello Quiche or a German Chocolate Cicada Cake – complete with a coconut-pecan frosting.

Cicada-Licious, a cicada cookbook (yes, this exists), has a number of other interesting ideas. The book was penned by University of Maryland entomology professor Mike Raupp and a group of students named the Cicadamaniacs. They put the book together when a brood, or group, of magicadas made their appearance around Maryland in 2004.

“I’ve had them several different ways and frankly, I’ve enjoyed them every way I’ve eaten them,” he said.

Raupp has been studying, teaching about, and feasting on cicadas for years. The insect ecologist is now working on a Discovery Channel special about the magicadas. He says as for how they taste, it really depends on how the insect is prepared.

“Boiled they’re going to taste a lot like shrimp. If you eat them au naturel, raw, they’ve got a delicate nutty flavor; a buttery texture,” he said. “I like the soft-shelled ones.”

Both entogastronomists -- what insect eaters are called -- warn those with food allergies, specifically those who are allergic to shellfish, should consult their doctor before eating cicadas. Betancourt says you should also avoid binging on cicadas that have been living in areas where a lot of pesticides have been used.

While eating insects is taboo in the United States and other Western cultures, that’s not the case for the rest of the world. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations estimates 2.5 billion people, mostly in Africa, include insects in the regular diet. Raupp says in some parts of the world, bugs make up as much as 20-percent of some culture’s diets.

For the squeamish, Raupp says he has a land and sea analogy he likes to use.

“Have you ever eaten an oyster or a clam out of the bay? It lives on the bottom of the bay and filters, you know what (feces),” he said. “You’d eat this thing, but would not eat this delectable insect that’s been sucking on plant fat for 17 years? I think it’s weird.”

Betancourt is more pragmatic, offering this piece of advice for the cicada-eating virgins: “Close your eyes when you’re taking the bite.”


Contact Vince Lattanzio at 610.668.5532, vince.lattanzio@nbcuni.com or follow @VinceLattanzio on Twitter.



Photo Credit: Getty Images]]>
<![CDATA[Power Surge Caught On Camera]]> Mon, 13 May 2013 05:25:53 -0700 http://media.nbcbayarea.com/images/213*120/Cleburne_Power_Surge16x9_722x406_30020675693.jpg NBC 5 viewer Matthew Spivey captures power lines arcing while driving through Cleburne on Sunday.

Photo Credit: Matthew Spivey]]>
<![CDATA[Alligator Shows Up on Parkland Family's Front Porch]]> Mon, 13 May 2013 05:12:17 -0700 http://media.nbcbayarea.com/images/213*120/gator-on-porch.jpg A Parkland, Florida family woke up to a big surprise on their front porch Sunday morning. Alfonso Castaneda found an approximately 8-foot alligator outside his front door after he heard his dog barking earlier than usual. Read the full story here.]]> <![CDATA[Police Say Man Sexually Abused His Peacock]]> Sun, 12 May 2013 10:33:46 -0700 http://media.nbcbayarea.com/images/213*120/David-Beckman.jpg

A man from northwest suburban Roselle, in DuPage County, faces a charge of misdemeanor animal cruelty after police said he sexually abused his pet peacock.

David Beckman, 64, of the 600 block of East Devon Avenue, was charged with the crime after police learned the bird died while they were investigating Beckman about an alleged case of indecent solicitation of a child.

Details surrounding the case with the peacock, reportedly named Phyl, were unclear Friday, as investigators said it was part of the case involving the child, the Daily Herald reported.

Court records confirmed Beckman faces three charges of harassment by telephone, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, two counts of marijuana possession, attempted indecent solicitation of a child, cruelty to animals, and two counts of battery.

He remained in the DuPage County Jail on Friday on a $10,000 bond. An arraignment was scheduled for June 12.
 
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<![CDATA[Cicadas: "The Shrimp of the Land"]]> Sun, 19 May 2013 03:57:27 -0700 http://media.nbcbayarea.com/images/213*120/fried+cicadas+in+china.jpg

Billions of bite-sized snacks are about to appear in your backyard.

After nearly two decades living under the earth, cicadas are about to shake off the dirt and invade our great outdoors. And they’ll be ripe for your feasting says Isa Betancourt, an entomologist from the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University.

“It’s a delicacy that’s rare,” says Betancourt, who’s known to dine on a few bugs from time to time. She calls cicadas "the shrimp of the land.”

“They are arthropods, which means they have an exoskeleton,” she said. “We regularly eat the arthropods of the sea and those are the shrimp, lobsters and crabs. And so cicadas are arthropods too.”

The Magicicada, as this type of cicada is named, spend 17 years underground snacking on the roots of plants, trees and vegetables. Now they’re coming above ground to shed their skin and mate.

Like other edible insects, cicadas are nutritious, according to Betancourt. She says their bodies are high in protein, low in fat and feature a lot of muscle.

Betancourt suggests trying to grab the magicadas when they’re fresh from the ground and undergoing their molting stage, which consists of shedding their skin as they prepare to fly away to find a mate.

“That’s when they’re softest,” she said. “When they first emerge, they’ll be kind of a green color and after a few hours they’ll harden.”

The scientist says you’ll most likely find the soft cicadas in the morning hours. She says you can still eat them once they harden, but you should expect a little extra crunch. You’ll also want to pull off the wings, because, like corn kernels, they can get stuck in your teeth.

There are a couple dozen recipes for how to specifically prepare cicadas. Betancourt is planning on taking an old shrimp skewer dish, her grandmother has made for ages, and substitute in the insect. She also suggests boiling your insects first to quickly kill and clean them.

Online you can learn how to make Cicada-Portobello Quiche or a German Chocolate Cicada Cake – complete with a coconut-pecan frosting.

Cicada-Licious, a cicada cookbook (yes, this exists), has a number of other interesting ideas. The book was penned by University of Maryland entomology professor Mike Raupp and a group of students named the Cicadamaniacs. They put the book together when a brood, or group, of magicadas made their appearance around Maryland in 2004.

“I’ve had them several different ways and frankly, I’ve enjoyed them every way I’ve eaten them,” he said.

Raupp has been studying, teaching about, and feasting on cicadas for years. The insect ecologist is now working on a Discovery Channel special about the magicadas. He says as for how they taste, it really depends on how the insect is prepared.

“Boiled they’re going to taste a lot like shrimp. If you eat them au naturel, raw, they’ve got a delicate nutty flavor; a buttery texture,” he said. “I like the soft-shelled ones.”

Both entogastronomists -- what insect eaters are called -- warn those with food allergies, specifically those who are allergic to shellfish, should consult their doctor before eating cicadas. Betancourt says you should also avoid binging on cicadas that have been living in areas where a lot of pesticides have been used.

While eating insects is taboo in the United States and other Western cultures, that’s not the case for the rest of the world. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations estimates 2.5 billion people, mostly in Africa, include insects in the regular diet. Raupp says in some parts of the world, bugs make up as much as 20-percent of some culture’s diets.

For the squeamish, Raupp says he has a land and sea analogy he likes to use.

“Have you ever eaten an oyster or a clam out of the bay? It lives on the bottom of the bay and filters, you know what (feces),” he said. “You’d eat this thing, but would not eat this delectable insect that’s been sucking on plant fat for 17 years? I think it’s weird.”

Betancourt is more pragmatic, offering this piece of advice for the cicada-eating virgins: “Close your eyes when you’re taking the bite.”


Contact Vince Lattanzio at 610.668.5532, vince.lattanzio@nbcuni.com or follow @VinceLattanzio on Twitter.



Photo Credit: Getty Images]]>
<![CDATA[Hooters Welcomes Moms With Kids for Mother's Day]]> Fri, 10 May 2013 16:07:26 -0700 http://media.nbcbayarea.com/images/213*120/hooters1.jpg

The chain famous for buffalo wings served by waitresses clad in tight tank tops and short shorts, Hooters will attempt to draw more women into its restaurants this Mother’s Day with a free meal -- but only if the kids come along.

Hooters expects to serve 20,000 moms this year, and the presence of a child serves as confirmation of the coupon, said Dave Henninger, the chain’s chief marketing officer.

“We know most people may not think of Hooters as a typical place to take mom for Mother’s Day, but we want to make it more appealing for mom to try Hooters,” Henninger said. "We’re a popular destination for families for lunch and dinner."

This Sunday will not be the first time Hooters has tried to gain female customers. For Mother’s Day in 2011 and 2012, the chain offered women 10 free wings.

“Hooters is showing moms they are the ‘wind beneath our wings’ with this free offer,” Mike McNeil, vice president of Hooters marketing, said on the company’s Facebook page in 2011.

This year, the chain -- which touts itself on Facebook as “delightfully tacky yet unrefined” -- will not restrict the deal to wings but will give moms any entree under $10 if they bring a child and buy any drink.

“A lot of mothers just weren’t into the wings,” Kyle Penera, Hooters of Burbank manager, said. He added that the $10 limit covers new salads and sandwiches, dishes that got many requests by moms.

The deal’s fine print requires a mother to “be accompanied by one or more of her offspring,” but Penera said he would still honor the deal if a mom is sans-child.

“If you say you’re a mother and you ask for the deal, we aren’t going to deny it,” he said.

Hooters has 24 locations in California, including three in the Bay Area.



Photo Credit: Getty Images]]>
<![CDATA[More Than 78,000 Apply for a One-Way Trip to Mars]]> Mon, 13 May 2013 09:14:48 -0700 http://media.nbcbayarea.com/images/213*120/mars+colony.jpg

Ever wanted to leave planet Earth behind for a one-way ticket to Mars? Here is your chance to apply for a mission that claims to make it possible.

More than 78,000 people have signed up for Mars One, a Dutch company’s project that aims to put four people on the Red Planet every two years, starting in April 2023.

Among those who applied to leave Earth behind forever are a self-described spacecraft engineer from MIT and an award-winning author of science fiction.

“Going to Mars would make me feel like I am a true 'Star Trek' officer,” said Michael Archavian, one of the many applicants who works as a repairman.

He said that if selected he would "do a lot of exploring, see the sites, stay up at night to see the dual moons.”

The project aims to be funded by a media event fashioned after a reality show and even “Big Brother” co-creator Paul Rome is on board. If it all sounds too good to be true, the company is also being backed by Nobel Prize-winning physicist Gerard’t Hooft.

"My first impression was that this is an extraordinary project by people with vision, imagination," Hooft said in a Mars One promotional video. "But my first reaction was I think like anyone who would be confronted by such an idea: this will never work."

Colonists would stay on the red planet for the rest of their lives, eliminating the challenge of returning them to Earth.

The Mars One project has already garnered applicants from over 120 countries -- all within two weeks of its 19-week application period. Most applicants are from the U.S. (17,324), followed by China (10,241) and the U.K. (3,581). Russia, Mexico, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Argentina and India also boasted a high number of applicants.

“This is turning out to be the most desired job in history,” said Bas Lansdorp, Mars One co-founder and CEO in a press statement. “These numbers put us right on track for our goal of half a million applicants.”

The application process forces would-be Mars pioneers to reflect on their life's purpose on Earth. They are required to explain their motivation to go to Mars in a one-minute video, some of which have been posted on YouTube. The application process extends until August 31 and charges a fee from $5 to $75, depending on the country.

For Andrew Rader, who has a PhD in aeronautical engineering from MIT and specialized in long duration human spaceflight, going to Mars is “the next great leap for humanity.”

“In the history of exploration, people have gone through a lot worse for a lot less,” Rader wrote in an e-mail. “I don't see a one-way mission to Mars as being fundamentally different from leaving England in 1790 to travel to Australia for six months on a rickety old sailing ship, facing dangers of storms, pirates, and shipwrecks, never to return or see your family again - and at least in this case, the food and communication with family will be better.”

American scientist and award-winning science fiction author David Brin explained that the mission’s purpose is to “promote thought, discussion and flat-out fun.” An applicant himself, Brin said he would “fight like hell to survive” and gather scientific data to help the next generation of colonists.

“And I'd write, using words to capture as much of the experience -- the Martian desolation in all of its stark beauty and promise - as possible,” he added.

While the idea of migrating to a whole new planet might scare some people, Francisco Jauregui from Mexico believes that Mars One is a mission he is “willing to die for.”

“My curiosity is way bigger than my fears,” said the 32-year-old, who currently works for a plastic containers factory. “Exploration is in human nature.”

Ashley Owl, a 21-year-old Cuban-American in Miami who volunteers at a hospital there, admitted that watching too many science fiction movies and TV shows had “desensitized” her to fear. “It just makes me to want to explore even more,” she said.

The announcement of the Mars One application flood came during an important week for Mars exploration enthusiasts. NASA officials, and various scientists and engineers met for the Humans 2 Mars summit in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday. And famed Apollo 11 moonwalker Buzz Aldrin this week released his book “Mission to Mars: My Vision for Space Exploration,” which was co-authored with veteran space reporter Leonard David. 



Photo Credit: Mars One/YouTube]]>
<![CDATA[Misspelled "Milipitas" (sic) Sign on Highway]]> Fri, 10 May 2013 12:21:03 -0700 http://media.nbcbayarea.com/images/197*120/050913-misspelled-milpitas-sign-thumbnail.jpg

There are typos. And then there are typos.

Caltrans could have sure used spellcheck when putting up a new green highway sign Wednesday night on the northbound side of Interstate Highway 880.

It's misspelled.

Instead of directing people to Milpitas off state route 237, the sign directs them to "Milipitas," with an extra "i."

An alert motorist with excellent spelling skills notified NBC Bay Area about the mistake on Thursday. NBC Bay Area then alerted Caltrans, who said the news agency was the first to report it, according to  spokesman Bernard Walik.

Before noon, the misspelling was covered in white plastic. The sign should be fixed in a month. Walik said there would be no cost to taxpayers, because the contractor who made the mistake will have to remedy it on his own.

"People were calling me and saying, 'Is it really Mili-pitas?' " Mayor Jose Esteves said, emphasizing the mispronounciation. "I told them it's M-I-L-I-P-I-T-A-S....We can't really afford this mistake."

Esteves is also worried that the white plastic covering up the sign will make drivers miss their exit.

Caltrans spokesman David Anderson said the state agency doesn't keep track of misspelled sign bloopers because they are so rare.

But this is certainly not the first misspelled road sign. Google images is full of signs with mistakes.

Ironically, the very low-tech error, was made in a city known for high-tech giants. Milpitas sits in the heart of Silicon Valley and is home to Cisco Systems and SanDisk.

 

 

 

 

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<![CDATA[Cute Puppy Stuck in Car Rescued]]> Wed, 08 May 2013 08:48:02 -0700 http://media.nbcbayarea.com/images/213*120/NC_survivordog0507_test_mezzn.jpg A 12-week-old puppy was found after being locked in an abandoned car at a Kansas City tow lot.]]> <![CDATA[Gerbils Strut Their Stuff in Annual Pageant]]> Mon, 06 May 2013 08:28:45 -0700 http://media.nbcbayarea.com/images/213*120/ma-gerbils-strutting-their-stuff_722x406_29043267510.jpg Dozens of gerbils will compete for coveted ribbons based on their body type and color during an annual pageant in Massachusetts.]]> <![CDATA[Woman Gets DUI While Celebrating End of Previous DUI]]> Sat, 04 May 2013 09:45:18 -0700 http://media.nbcbayarea.com/images/213*120/erin+james.jpg

An Illinois woman who was arrested Friday for driving under the influence told police she had been drinking to celebrate the fact that she was getting her driver’s license back after a previous DUI arrest, police said.

A Riverside, Ill. Police officer observed the driver, Erin James, speeding around 2:10 a.m., a press release from Riverside Police said. After stopping James, the officer noticed she might have been under the influence of alcohol.

The 58-year-old driver failed multiple sobriety tests and was placed into custody, the release said.

At the Riverside Police Department, James provided a breath sample, which showed an alcohol content of .155, nearly double the legal limit of .08, police said.

While being processed on the DUI charge, James told the officer the reason she was drinking was to celebrate the fact that was would be getting her license back from a DUI arrest in 2012, according to police.

“Ms. James purposely drove a car that she did not own to avoid the ignition lock device and was driving back from a Forest Park bar where she was celebrating that fact that she would finally have her driving privileges back after her 2012 conviction for DUI,” Riverside Police Chief Tom Weitzel said in a statement. “Ms. James is exactly the type of motorist I want kept off the road permanently under a new proposed habitual DUI law that I will be proposing in the very near future.”

Weitzel will propose James loses her driving privileges for 10 years, that her vehicle be confiscated and a that she serves a mandatory seven-year sentence upon conviction of repeat offenders, the release said.

James was expected to appear in court for a bond hearing Saturday morning.
 

 



Photo Credit: Riverside Police]]>