Stolen Car Turns Up In Neighbor’s Garage

An Audi sedan written off by an elderly German woman as stolen two years ago has resurfaced — in her neighbor’s garage beneath a thick layer of dust.

Police said the 82-year-old from the northern city of Hildesheim took the car in for repairs two years ago and had the mechanics drive it back to her house and park it in her garage.

She got the keys and papers from her mailbox, but when she went to get the car it was nowhere to be found. So she reported it stolen.

Fast forward to when her neighbor went to clean up his unused garage so it could be rented. He found the car under “a centimeter-deep coating of dust.”

It didn’t take police long to piece together that the mechanics had parked it in the wrong garage.

It’s CAPRI Not CARPRI

Two Swedes expecting the golden beaches of the Italian island of Capri got a shock when tourist officials told them they were 650 km (400 miles) off course in the northern town of Carpi, after mistyping the name in their GPS.

“It’s hard to understand how they managed it. I mean, Capri is an island,” said Giovanni Medici, a spokesman for Carpi regional government, told Reuters. “It’s the first time something like this has happened.”

The middle-aged couple, who were not identified, only discovered their error when they asked staff in the local tourist office how to drive to the island’s famous ” Blue Grotto.”

“They were surprised, but not angry,” Medici said. “They got back in the car and started driving south.”

The picturesque island of Capri, famed as a romantic holiday destination, lies in the Gulf of Naples in southern Italy and has been a resort since Roman times.

Carpi is a busy industrial town in the province of Emilia Romagna, at the other end of Italy.

Cash For Clunkers Running Out Of Gas

The government’s popular “cash for clunkers” program may be running out of money after only a matter of days as car shoppers flock to dealerships to take advantage of the rebates.

The White House said Thursday it was assessing its options amid concerns the $1 billion budget for rebates for new car sales may have been depleted. The program officially began last week and has been heavily publicized by automakers and dealers.

Transportation Department officials called lawmakers earlier Thursday to alert them of plans to suspend the program as early as Friday. But a White House official said later the program had not been suspended and they were reviewing their options to keep the program funded.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said they were working to “assess the situation facing what is obviously an incredibly popular program. Auto dealers and consumers should have confidence that all valid CARS transactions that have taken place to date will be honored.”

Dubbed the Car Allowance Rebate System, or CARS, the program offers owners of old cars and trucks $3,500 or $4,500 toward a new, more fuel-efficient vehicle, in exchange for scrapping their old vehicle. Congress last month approved the plan to boost auto sales and remove some inefficient cars and trucks from the roads.

Today’s Dog Of The Day

As a new ‘Daily Andy’ feature, we’ll be showcasing a cute dog every weekday. 

Today meet Frankie:

Texas Librarians Show Their Stuff!

So much for the stereotype.

Texas librarians are baring their skin and revealing their tattoos — all to raise disaster relief money to help damaged libraries. Photos of the librarians and their body are appear in a new calendar sold by the Texas Library Association.

Librarian Shawne Miksa says it’s a way to get people to notice library issues. As the model for November 2010, she shows off Chinese characters on her lower back that mean “wisdom” and “desire.”

The “Tattooed Ladies of TLA” 18-month calendar is a follow-up to the successful “Men of Texas Libraries” calendar, which raised $9,000 to help libraries damaged by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The TLA says libraries thrive on promoting diversity and free expression and the calendar exhibits that spirit.

By the way, isn’t former First Lady Barbara Bush a Texas librarian?

A Brand New Benefit For The Germans!

German tourists can now reserve their poolside recliners before they have even left home.

The German arm of Thomas Cook, Europe‘s second largest travel company, has been deluged with inquiries since announcing that holidaymakers at nine hotels in Turkey, Egypt and the Canary Islands can book recliners in advance for a fee.

Germans are famous around Europe for rising early to reserve recliners near the pool with their towels, and then going back to bed or eating a lengthy breakfast.

This often annoys tourists from other nations, but they will be unable to take advantage of the new service — it is valid only for tourists booking their trips from Germany, Mathias Brandes, head of communications at Thomas Cook in Germany, said.

Woman Ticketed For Riding A Stolen Horse

A woman has gotten a ticket for riding a stolen horse down the main street in a small town in northwestern South Carolina.

 The Greenville News reported the 40-year-old woman was given a ticket for disorderly conduct after a pedestrian flagged down an officer in Six Mile and told them the woman was about to fall off the horse.

The sheriff’s report said an officer found a large tan horse tied to a bench at a convenience store and found the woman trying to use a phone inside.

The report said the woman’s speech was slurred, she had an aroma of alcohol and was unsteady on her feet. She said she was riding the horse to her boyfriend’s house. Her name was not released.

The horse’s owner said the animal was taken without consent, but he didn’t press charges.

Woman Accused Of Running Strip Club In Her House

Police investigating a noise complaint arrested a 28-year-old woman they said was operating an illegal strip club in her basement and garage.

Gwinnett County, Georgia, officers said they also found a sign at the home reading “1 Dollar Jello Shots” and minors drinking alcohol when they investigated on July 18.

The woman faces a misdemeanor charge of maintaining a disorderly house and remains free on $1,300 bond.

Another woman who lives with the suspect said the whole thing was just a misunderstanding. She said friends threw the suspect a party to celebrate her birthday and newly renovated home. She said that there were no strippers or underage drinking.

Police also arrested a 20-year-old guest whom they said lied about his age and was found carrying marijuana in his mouth. He has been released on $3,900 bond.

Naked Cowboy Runs For New York Mayor

The Naked Cowboy might be considered a quirky asset to New York City’s tourism industry. Now the Times Square traffic-stopper says he’d make a mighty fine mayor.

 Robert Burck, who performs in his underwear has made his candidacy official.

 He aims to give the buttoned-up, third-term hopeful, billionaire Michael Bloomberg, a run for his money.

 Burck says: “Being naked is a whole lot more than having no clothes on: It’s about transparency in politics, it’s about telling the naked truth.” 

 Burck does a brisk business posing for pictures with tourists. 

His standard fashion statement is a cowboy hat, boots, white briefs and a guitar strapped to his bare chest.

 As for campaign funds, he says: “I have no expenses. I own 40 pairs of underwear, a car and a suitcase.”

Sleeping Man Hauled Away With The Trash

Authorities said a man, who had been sleeping in a Dumpster, sustained minor injuries after he was picked up by a garbage truck along with the trash in Tampa, Florida.

Authorities said that when firefighters and paramedics arrived, they heard Kevin Hallaran, 52, banging on the metal sides of the sanitation truck asking for help.

Hallaran had been sleeping inside a Dumpster behind a restaurant and had been unknowingly dumped along with the garbage from restaurants and other businesses into the truck.

A sanitation department employee had not yet activated the truck’s compactor after he mistakenly dumped Hallaran inside.

Authorities said the compactor would most likely have killed Hallaran.