Watercooler Stories

Man: Indecent exposure accidental

ANDERSON, S.C., Feb. 20 (UPI) -- An Anderson, S.C., man who pleaded guilty to indecent exposure told the judge the incident was an accident caused by his shirt becoming stuck in his zipper.

James Thompson, 35, who was arrested Saturday and accused of exposing his genitals, said the crime was the accidental result of his tendency to forgo underwear, The (Anderson, S.C.) Independent-Mail reported Thursday.

"My shirt got stuck in my zipper," Thompson told Judge Ken Mattison and Anderson Police Officer Matthew Stipe in court Tuesday. "I don't wear drawers. When I tried to put it back, it was too late."

Thompson was ordered to pay a $465 fine or face 30 days in jail.

"Get pants with a zipper that works or start wearing drawers," Mattison told Thompson.

Thompson also pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges of loitering in a drug area after police found a glass pipe in his pocket. The case is scheduled for trial in March.

Pot plants found in college greenhouse

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Feb. 20 (UPI) -- Police have confiscated 11 suspected marijuana plants from the University of Michigan's Matthaei Botanical Gardens.

University of Michigan Police Lt. Bob Neumann said the plants were confiscated after a teacher overseeing a research project created by biology students discovered the suspected cannabis growing among the sprouts planted by students, The Ann Arbor (Mich.) News reported Thursday.

The purpose of the project "was to grow various herbs, vegetables, annuals and perennials, but not marijuana,'' Neumann said. "I've never heard of this happening before and it's definitely unusual, and gutsy.''

Neumann said the project, which involves about 80 students, will be allowed to continue -- but without the suspicious sprouts, which are bound for the Michigan State Police crime lab for testing and evidence processing.

2,400 pennies comprise Lincoln portrait

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., Feb. 20 (UPI) -- A father and son in New Rochelle, N.Y., said they are donating a portrait of Abraham Lincoln comprised of 2,400 pennies to a local school.

Jeff Haber and his son, Danny, said the portrait, their third of the 16th president made from the coins that bear his image, will be donated to New Rochelle High School, The (White Plains, N.Y.) Journal News reported Thursday.

Danny, 15, is a sophomore at the high school.

The elder Haber said they were inspired to create the currency art after seeing a similarly made Lincoln portrait at the Ripley's Believe It Or Not museum in Florida in 2000. He said their first work of presidential art is hanging in their home, while the second was sold to the Ripley's museum for $500.

"I had a ton of pennies," Jeff Haber said. "I have 30 years of collected pennies."

Haber said none of the pennies were color-treated to create the artwork -- the different shades of the coins used are due to age and usage, he said.

"It's the only coin that has dark and light," he said. "We didn't do anything to the coins. None of the pennies are altered."

81-year-old light bulb going strong

MAGNUM, Okla., Feb. 20 (UPI) -- A light bulb at a Magnum, Okla., fire house has been burning for 81 years -- making it the third longest-burning bulb in the United States.

Fire officials at the station said the bulb has no off switch, since it is hooked directly into the building's electricity, KWTV, Oklahoma City, reported Wednesday.

"We have a light bulb that we know of, that has been burning since 1927," said Mangum Fire Chief Steven Slaton. "If you think about it, the state of Oklahoma was 30 years old when that light bulb was screwed in."

The bulb bears numerous markings from firefighters who have attempted to dim the lights for a power nap through the years.

"Some time ago different firemen had painted black spots on it and stuff like that to dim the light so they could sleep at night," said Slaton.

Slaton said reporters and curious parties have traveled from across the globe for a look at the durable bulb.

"(One reporter) was from over in eastern Japan somewhere. He came through," Slaton said. "About a year ago we had five college students from the Texas Longhorns. They came through wanting to look at it."