UPI NewsTrack Quirks in the News

Candidates vie for 'Best Job in the World'

BRISBANE, Australia, May 4 (UPI) -- A contest to find a winner for the "Best Job In the World," caretaking a tropical island in Australia's Great Barrier Reef, is nearing a winner, officials say.

Among the finalists for the job of living on Hamilton Island are a television personality from New Zealand and a charity fundraiser from England, CNN reported Monday.

Tourism Queensland officials say the six-month caretaker job pays $100,000 and among the job duties are feeding fish, cleaning the pool and filing weekly blog and video reports on what is happening on the island, the U.S. broadcaster said.

Finalists were chosen from a pool of more than 34,000 applicants from around the world. The winner will be announced Wednesday.

"For four years, we've been doing exactly what the job requires … sharing our life online, producing video and blogging on a daily basis," wrote Cali Lewis, a finalist from Dallas, CNN said.

Prospective juror sent court profane note

BELGRADE, Mont., May 4 (UPI) -- A Montana man's profanity-laced letter to get him out of jury duty -- purportedly written by his wife -- has surfaced on several Internet sites.

Erik Slye of Belgrade, Mont., replied to a summons for jury duty Jan. 26 with a letter to the court saying he had previously explained that he could not afford to take the time off from work, the Bozeman (Mont.) Chronicle reported Monday.

Slye's wife, Jennifer, took credit for writing the letter, which was signed by her husband.

"Apparently you morons didn't understand me the first time," the letter reads. "I cannot take time off from work. I'm not putting my family's well-being at stake to participate in this crap."

The letter, which was published on Web sites including The Smoking Gun and The Drudge Report, states Slye does not "believe in our 'justice' system" and includes multiple profanities.

District Judge John Brown ordered Slye to read the letter aloud during an April 21 court appearance. Slye apologized for the letter and Brown dismissed him with a warning.

Man ticketed for drunken riding

ARVADA , Colo., May 4 (UPI) -- Police in Colorado said a cowboy who was having trouble staying on his horse was ticketed for riding an animal while under the influence of alcohol.

Brian Drone of Arvada was cited for the Class B traffic violation, which carries a $25 fine, after the rider and his horse were pulled over in a strip mall parking lot, KUSA-TV, Denver, reported Monday.

Arvada Police Sgt. Jeff Monzingo said it was his first case of drunken riding in 15 years on the job.

"This is kind of a tricky call," Monzingo said. "Unlike in a DUI where you can tow a car, we had to do something with the horse."

Monzingo said a local stable owner who knows Drone offered to take the rider and his horse home.

Drone said he and his horse, Cricket, were out for a "joyride" when they were pulled over.

London cop may be fired for lewd singing

LONDON, May 4 (UPI) -- A London cop who was among soccer fans singing obscene songs on a train pleaded guilty to disorderly behavior and likely will be fired, officials said.

Police said Officer James Coleman, 27, a Metropolitan Police detective, was with Bristol City Football Club fans who sang obscene songs on the train to a game in southeast London and refused to heed a warning from London Police Commissioner Mike Bowron to tone down the language, The Daily Telegraph reported Monday.

Bowron said he was subject to verbal abuse from the group during the October train ride and at one point feared he may be assaulted by the soccer fans.

The commissioner circulated CCTV images of the suspects after being told a member of the group was a police officer and Coleman was recognized by a colleague who gave his name to investigators.

Coleman pleased guilty to disorderly behavior and was fined $450 plus $150 in court costs. He has been put on "restricted duties" ahead of disciplinary proceedings, which officials said are likely to end with Coleman losing his job.