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Ikea official: Women better at assembly

BERLIN, Dec. 9 (UPI) -- The head of Swedish furniture company Ikea's German wing says women excel over their male counterparts when it comes to assembling the company's goods.

Petra Hesser, 50, Ikea's German chief, said women are better skilled at assembling the company's signature flatback furniture because "men never look at the directions and have the most problems with construction because they always think they can do that," The Local reported.

"The woman first sorts the parts in an orderly way. Men throw them in a pile and then, something goes missing," she said. "That is empirically proven."

Hesser estimated that women make up 40 percent of the furniture giant's customer base, but men often accompany their female friends and family to give approval for larger purchases.

However, "if the woman is against buying something, then nothing gets done," she said.

Police: Man swallowed, vomited evidence

MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich., Dec. 9 (UPI) -- Police said a Mount Clemens, Mich., man who apparently swallowed crack cocaine to hide it from police regurgitated the drug in front of officers.

Detective Capt. Richard Maierle of the Clinton Township Police said officers attempted to pull over a 2004 Cadillac Escalade for running a stop sign at about 6 p.m., Dec. 2, and two occupants fled the car after a short chase, The (Mount Clemens) Macomb Daily reported Monday.

Officers said one of the suspects got away but the second, identified as passenger Teron Hudgins, threw up while talking to investigators and police spotted crack cocaine in the vomit.

"Several rocks of crack were quite obvious in the vomit," Maierle said.

"We called in an evidence technician to go through the vomit to pull out the evidence," Maierle said. "It's a dirty job, but that's what the job entails sometimes."

Hudgins was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, a felony with a maximum sentence of 4 years imprisonment. Authorities said Hudgins could face increased penalties because this was his second offence.

The second suspect, Levarl Finley, was arrested Thursday and charged with fleeing and eluding police. The Michigan Department of Corrections said Finley is on parole for an assault charge from 2006.

Cocaine stolen from jail cell

STANLEY, Falkland Islands, Dec. 9 (UPI) -- Police in the Falkland Islands said nearly $1.5 million worth of cocaine disappeared from a double-locked cell at a police station.

Officers at the Port Stanley station -- where the 29 packets of cocaine were being stored after they were confiscated from a fishing boat in October -- said the two suspects arrested in connection with the raid were jailed at the police station but they were allowed free use of a corridor at night time that allowed access to the cell holding the drugs, The Times of London reported.

A court was told one of the suspects had reached between the gap between the bottom of the cell door and floor and removed the drug packets one at a time over the course of several days. Officers said they found last week that 23 of the 29 packets were missing.

Investigators said they do not know what became of the drugs but they are looking into whether they were flushed down a toilet or smuggled off the island.

Lawnmower team to march for inauguration

ARCOLA, Ill., Dec. 9 (UPI) -- A lawnmower drill team from Arcola, Ill., says it has been picked to perform in the Washington parade following President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration.

The World Famous Lawn Rangers from Amazing Arcola said about 40 members of the group -- which performs elaborately choreographed routines with push-lawnmowers and twirling broomsticks -- will travel to Washington for the 56th Inaugural Parade Jan. 20, the Champaign (Ill.) News-Gazette reported.

"We're quite honored to be included in this great inaugural parade," Lawn Ranger founder Pat Monahan said. "It's a new dawn for our country and we're excited about it."

The Presidential Inaugural Committee said in a Dec. 5 release that more than 1,300 groups from across the country applied to march in the parade.

"These organizations embody the best of our nation's history, diversity and commitment to service," Obama said in the release. "Vice President-elect (Joe) Biden and I are proud to have them join us in the parade."