UPI NewsTrack Quirks in the News

31 years for feces-flinging robber

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 27 (UPI) -- A San Diego man who pleaded guilty to robbery and smearing feces on his lawyer at his original trial was sentenced to 31 years and four months in prison.

Weusi McGowan, 38, who admitted to attacking a man with a rock inside of a sock during an October 2007 robbery, also pleaded guilty to smearing feces on his lawyer during his January trial and throwing excrement at jurors, hitting one juror's laptop case, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported Tuesday.

A mistrial was declared after the January incident and McGowan faced a new trial on the robbery and residential burglary charges plus two assault charges for his actions in the courtroom. He pleaded guilty to all charges and was sentenced to 31 years and four months in prison, with San Diego Superior Court Judge Frank Brown recommending the time be served at California State Prison in Lancaster.

McGowan was also ordered to pay $129 to replace the feces-stained computer case.

Roach crashes Rachael Ray school visit

NEW YORK, Oct. 27 (UPI) -- Officials at a New York elementary school have promised to investigate after a visit by TV chef Rachael Ray was briefly interrupted by a lone cockroach.

The roach was spotted crawling across a countertop a few feet from where Ray, who was visiting Public School 89 Monday to unveil her "sizzling soft tacos" school lunch, was espousing the health benefits of her food, the New York Daily News reported Tuesday.

Ray said she did not see the roach, which was swatted by her publicist, Charlie Dougiello.

"I did not see that. It's unfortunate if there was (a bug). I think that these schools strive to be the best across the board; I'm sure that includes cleanliness," she said.

Eric Goldstein, chief executive for school foods, was asked about the cockroach and promised to "take care of it."

"We have the highest standards," he said. "If there is any reported problem, we aggressively jump on it."

Every Beatles song to be played on ukulele

NEW YORK, Oct. 27 (UPI) -- Organizers of a musical festival in New York dedicated to Beatles songs played on the ukulele said nearly 100 musicians are slated to participate.

Roger Greenawalt, 48, co-founder of the Beatles Complete on Ukulele festival, said the 2nd annual event, slated for December, will feature nearly 100 musicians, including Naked Brothers Band pianist Mike Wolff and Guster lead singer Ryan Miller, playing all 185 songs recorded by the Beatles on ukuleles, the New York Daily News reported Tuesday.

Greenawalt said he is planning to play the ukulele on every song.

"My arm is going to be sore," Greenawalt said. "My hand is going to be sore, too. I'll probably be hallucinating by the end of the night."

He said this year's concert is expected to draw more than 4,000 spectators. Admission to the event is free for anyone who brings their own ukulele or dresses as Yoko Ono.

Library complains of crossed-out curses

COLUMBIA, Tenn., Oct. 27 (UPI) -- Workers at a Tennessee library said someone has been using blue ink to completely scratch out curse words from books in the collection.

Maury County Library director Elizabeth Potts said dozens of books have been discovered with blue ink marks where profanities used to be, including what she referred to as an "f-word" in the "9/11 Commission Report," The Daily Herald, Columbia, Tenn., reported Tuesday.

Employees estimated 50-100 books have been targeted by the language-cleansing vandal.

"It bothers me because nobody is holding a gun to their head making them read these books," Potts said. "If they don't like them, they should just return them."

"This person is evidently offended by these words," she said. "I'm more offended by (the suspect)."

Potts said the library doesn't have the money to replace the books, so patrons will "have to guess what the word was." She said workers have also put up signs asking people not to cross out curse words in the library's books.