Bizarre News - November 14, 2015

Greetings fellow Bizarros:

What is it that makes America great? I would say it is our individuality and rugged independence. We are a people who can take care of ourselves, no matter what. A lesson that was taught in no uncertain terms to one of the next generation of individualists in an Arizona desert.

53-year-old Paul Rater took his 5-year-old granddaughter for a ride in his truck. It was a generational bonding experience. That is until the truck got stuck.

Rater did not have his cell phone with him, but being proactive about such little inconveniences he set out across the desert on foot with his granddaughter in tow to find help.

Rater later said that the girl became too tired to continue walking, so he left her under a tree.

Now before you become all shocked and scandalized that a man would leave his own 5-year-old granddaughter alone in the desert, you should know that he left her a loaded .45 caliber handgun. For snakes and coyotes and such.

When he finally found a bar, Rater decided to get something to eat and drink as he was hungry and dehydrated. He then called his wife to let her know that he left the girl in the desert.

The family called police, who used a helicopter to search for the child. Meanwhile, a family member found the girl alone with the .45.

Rater was later located still at the bar and arrested.

He has been charged with two counts of child abuse and one count of child endangerment.

Bizarrely,
Lewis

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*-- Canadian university looks to ban political correctness --*
TORONTO - As U.S. universities Yale and Missouri deal with internal social justice and free speech issues, a Canadian university is implementing new rules to prevent the stifling of controversial or unpopular opinions. John Harris, founder of the Harris Institute in Toronto, has drafted a new set of rules, effective for the Spring semester, in response to complaints about use of language and topics being discussed in the classroom. Students and faculty will be required to agree and comply to "Rules of Civility," one of which threatens probation and even dismissal, for anyone found to have "shouted down an opposing view." Harris told Metro News that he and administrators agree that there is no room for avoiding touchy subjects at the university, known for its courses in music production and management. "We've got courses that talk about hip-hop culture and rap culture and for some people those are sensitive areas in terms of racism, sexism, et cetera," he said. "In the end, the decision to approve the policy was unanimous." Harris cites backlash against an on-campus speech from punk rock drummer Martin Atkins, who he admittedly described as "outspoken," and a trend of over 290 guest speeches that were cancelled across Europe and North America as signs that political correctness has gone to far. "You shouldn't have limits on what can be discussed," he told Metro News. "It's undermining what a lot of people, including me, feel is the essence of post-secondary education."


* Car dealership offers 'vending machine' for cars *
NASHVILLE - Used-car website Carvana added an alternative pick-up method for their customers, building the world's first coin-operated car vending machine. The company first came up with the idea for a car vending machine in 2013 and on Friday the five-story structure opened in Nashville. The vending machine is fully-automated and can hold up to 20 cars at a time. It also features a slot for a giant coin and a robotic arm that picks up the car and places it in a delivery bay for the customer. "The experience itself is exactly a vending machine experience," Caravan founder and CEO, Ernie Garcia told The Verge. "The customer even gets a customized, oversized coin that they drop into a slot." When customers arrive to pick up their online order they drop the coin into the slot and pick up the car from the delivery bay. They then have the opportunity to inspect and test drive the car and, unlike traditional vending machines, the transaction is not final until the customer drives the car off of the lot. The company hopes to open additional vending machines in the future, but for now they are offering $200 toward airfare and "white glove" chauffeur service for any customers willing to make the trip.


*-- READER COMMENTS --*
Actually, while the cop who attempted suicide in a 'bullet-proof' vest may have certainly decreased his chances of success, he may have been onto something. Because 'Bullet-proof' vests are only bullet resistant--you could technically still get killed while wearing one.
[So are you suggesting that he was hoping his vest would fail? Or maybe that he shot himself in the vest first to create the illusion that he had been shot by someone else? I don't understand where your comment is going?]

Re: Brazilian toddler bites and kills potentially venomous snake at his home. OMG, a real life Hercules! Who doesn't remember their mythology section from middle school? Hera sent serpents to slay the infant Hercules and he strangled them to death. -Jennifer
[Wouldn't it be weird if this kid eventually got a job shoveling out stables somewhere?]

Those 2 woman have been doing this scam taking wallets for months. They scammed me 3 days in a row and again last Thursday. There's a sale on wallets at Walmart.

*-- END OF READER COMMENTS --*
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