Honolulu Lite
ALOHA Friday reader Lani passes on the following possible urban myth: "A mainland motorist was caught in an automated speed trap that photographed his car. He later received a ticket for $40 and a photo of his car. Instead of paying the fine, he sent police a photograph of $40. A few days later he received a letter from the cops that included a photo of handcuffs. He immediately paid his fine." Drivers finally getting
the pictureI find the story hard to believe because the fine was only $40. A Star-Bulletin staffer recently got one of the new photo-speeding tickets and his fine was $72! That's for only going 44 miles per hour in a 35 mile per hours zone (a speed trap set up right outside the Likelike Tunnel where it's 45 in the tunnel but 35 right when you leave it.)
Want to know how to beat the camera speeding enforcers? Read Honolulu Lite on Sunday for secrets from veteran defense attorneys.
Now the news:
Money = happiness
LONDON (Reuters) >> The adage that "money can't buy happiness" is wrong. A study by two English professors of lottery winners and others who suddenly receive a large influx of moola-coola showed "a very strong link between cash falling on you and higher contentment and better mental health."Even tiny windfalls increase long-term happiness, professor Andrew Oswald said. But, he added, "the more you get, the better you feel."
(No big surprise here. We learned long ago that being poor isn't a whole lot of yuk-yuks.)
Don't dis dog dishes
SEOUL (Reuters) >> South Korean dogmeat proponents unveiled plans to deploy an academic dubbed "Doctor Dogmeat" to counter foreign critics of dog consumption and to popularize canine cuisine in a run up to this year's World Cup soccer finals.The new federation will promote restaurants that serve dogmeat dishes near the World Cup stadium for foreign visitors. Headlining the pro-pupu-pup project will be university professor Ahn Yong-keun, who boasts 350 canine recipes.
( He's particularly proud of "Fido 'n Feta Fondue," "Coq au Chihuahua," "Souffle of Shiitake Shih Tzu" and "Poached Poodle Pesto Pilaf." )
Work woes whet wetters
HONG KONG (Reuters) >> More than 60,000 adults in Hong Kong wet their beds and a quarter of those bed-wet every night, according to a survey by a Chinese university. Researchers believe that problems at work are the root of the problem. Hong Kong is facing its second recession in four years and many people face possible job cuts or layoffs.(I don't know about you, but losing my job would p--, er, tick me off, too.)
Quote me on this: "There are only two tragedies in life: One is not getting what you want and the other is getting it." -- Oscar Wilde
Alo-Ha! Friday compiles odd bits of news from Hawaii
and the world to get your weekend off to an entertaining start.
Charles Memminger also writes Honolulu Lite Mondays,
Wednesdays and Sundays. Send ideas to him at the
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 7-210,
Honolulu 96813, phone 235-6490 or e-mail cmemminger@starbulletin.com.
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