A Little Friday File Fun (03/14)

Well, here’s a couple of thousand worth…

Yesterday the Federal Reserve officially put into circulation a new $5 bill – – – and while it still prominently features Abraham Lincoln and the Lincoln Memorial – – – it’s a lot more colorful than its predecessor – – – with splashes of light purple at the center of the bill that blend into gray near the edges – – – the Great Seal of the United States, which features an eagle and shield, will appear in purple to the right of the president’s portrait, and arcs of purple stars border Lincoln and the seal – – – and there’s an enlarged “5” printed in high-contrast purple ink in the lower right corner of the back of the bill (it’s hard to miss that).   Yes, it looks like play money – – – but they say it will be harder to counterfeit.  MORE at http://www.moneyfactory.gov/newmoney/main.cfm/currency/new5

Hybrid buses in parts of San Francisco are under attack – first by rock throwers – – – and more recently by vandals who have been accessing the bus’s power switch (it literally shuts off all the power in the bus) through a panel door – – – on the sides of the hybrid buses.  MORE at http://cbs5.com/local/Muni.hybrid.buses.2.672640.html

– – – In Las Vegas, New Mexico , Jessie Vigil, 35, has applied a unique color scheme to his 2007 Ford Mustang – – – painting it black-and-white, adding a red-and-blue emergency bar across the top – – – and even painting the word “police” on the doors.   Apparently you can make your car look however you want – – – so long as you don’t act like a police officer.   As for why?   His 7-year-old son Thomas liked the police cruiser in the “Transformers” movie.   You can see Jessie’s handiwork at http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20080312/capt.6a5075ee960d416cbba697ef74cc6ca1.faux_cruiser__nmlav101.jpg?x=400&y=266&sig=ZqNqVzSP.ib494N.SwW_uw–

In Naya Ganj in Uttar Pradesh, India , Radhakant Bajpai, 50, has been recognized in the Guinness Book of Records – – – for what is reportedly the longest ear hair in the world – – – You can see it at http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article894780.ece

And here's another thousand...

- - - In Hamburg Township, Michigan , it didn't take long for police to nab a windshield-kicking culprit Friday night - - - in no small part because the windshield he targeted was a Hamburg Township, Michigan police cruiser - - - with a video camera inside - - - the man, described as a 40-year-old who had been fired from his job with the Michigan Department of Transportation earlier in the day, can be seen in "action" at MORE at http://blog.mlive.com/annarbornews/2008/03/camera_helps_police_catch_wind.html