News of the Weird

by Chuck Shepherd

Long Shot

In July, a judge relented and allowed Richard Quinton Gunn to act as his own attorney in his aggravated-murder appeal, following his conviction earlier in the year in Ogden, Utah, by a jury that deliberated just two hours. Gunn had confessed, saying he killed his tenant using a crowbar, a butcher knife, a handsaw, a fireplace poker, a 12-inch bolt, a straight-edge razor, an ax, walking canes, a pool cue and a large salad fork.

Alternate reality

The New York Times reported in October that Nabors Industries (operator of oil-well drilling rigs), which in 2001 moved its legal headquarters from the U.S. to Barbados (corporate income tax: 1 percent) and its tax headquarters to a mail drop in Bermuda (no corporate income tax), is now insisting that it receive favored U.S. legal status. Nabors wants to be treated as an American-owned company to get a competitive advantage under the 80-year-old Jones Act that bars non-U.S. companies from working on ships involved in domestic trade.

Happy birthday, Mickey!

Famous mouse turns 75

Tomorrow marks 75 years since the world was introduced to an animated mouse in two-button pants and big shoes. Mickey Mouse is still as sprightly as ever, with not even a laugh line to show his age.

Mickey has come a long way since his turn as a deckhand in "Steamboat Willie" in 1928. Today, he is the international symbol of the Disney empire - the three-circle silhouette of his head is one of the most recognized corporate symbols in the world.

Talking trash

Garbage and pollution facts

-- On average, Americans produce 4.5 pounds each of trash every day.

-- You get three hours of screen time on a TV on the energy saved by recycling one soda can.

-- A single quart of motor oil can pollute 250,000 gallons of water.

-- Americans produce 30 percent of the world's garbage, even though they make up just 5 percent of the population.

-- Enough paper gets recycled every day in the United States to fill a 15-mile-long train of boxcars.

Animal house

Americans love their pets

Pet ownership is at an all-time high. In fact, there are more pets in the United States than people -- 350 million pets, 280 million people. And people are expected to spend nearly $31 billion in the coming year caring for their furry friends.

Lucky dogs, indeed.

The rainbow connection

Colors say a lot about you

Want to find out something about yourself? Color expert Dewey Sadka says the colors you like and don't like can help you understand your personality.

Without thinking too carefully about it, pick the color you like most from these three: red, yellow and blue.

-- Did you pick yellow? You like to learn.

-- Red? You are into expressing yourself.

-- Blue? You like to dream.

Colors you don't like can tell you something about yourself, too. Look again at the colors and pick the one you like the least.

-- If you don't like yellow, you might be impatient. Don't rush.

-- If you don't like red, you might be shy. Speak up.

-- If you don't like blue, you might be a dawdler. Set goals.