A Little Friday File Fun (09/11)

AND IF IT’S FRIDAY – – – even though it’s 09/11 – – – and yet perhaps in some respects, particularly because it is – – – it’s time for – – – (the rest of) THE FRIDAY FILES

– – – In Fort Walton Beach, Florida , Jeffie Dewitt Morris, 36, was caught shoplifting at the Wal-Mart Super Center here – – – and what did Jeffie, who said he had a drug habit, and needed cash to fund it, shoplift in order to raise that cash? – – – a box of flea and tick drops, valued at $8.12 – – –

– – – In Okaloosa Island, Florida , a County Sheriff’s Office deputy pulled over to help a motorist with a disabled vehicle – – – when he smelled a “strong odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle’s open trunk” – – – driver Maurice Alexander Lowery, 20, was charged with felony drug possession for the 97 grams of mari.juana collected from various places in the trunk – – –

– – – In Columbus, Ohio , Stephfon Bennett, 20, and two of his associates robbed a couple’s house here – – – and just two hours later Stephfon returned to the scene of the crime – – – to ask one of the residents out on a date – – – “We are not exactly sure what he was thinking at the time,” said Columbus police Sgt. Sean Laird. “She recognized him right away when he returned and was able to have her cousin call 911” – – –

– – – In Edmonton, Canada , an unnamed motorcyclist was ticketed while heading northbound doing

126 km/h in an 80 km/h zone – – – then, less than 10 minutes later, the same motorcyclist – – – now travelling southbound – – – was issued a ticket for going 139 km/h in an 80 km/h zone – – –

– – – In Durant, Oklahoma , a caller to the county sheriff’s office here reported a bunch of “shrubs” in the road here about 1:30 a.m. – – – and when officials arrived to investigate, they found 236 potted plants – – – high-grade marij.uana plants (worth about $500,000) – – – police think the public “deposit” may be the work of a jilted lo.ver – – –

– – – In Wamsutter , Wyoming , firefighters battling an intensely hot fire after a cargo truck crashed on a highway here found themselves under attack – – – by corks from exploding wine bottles inside the truck – – – besides the heat (the fire was so intense it burned the trailer down to its axles, melted the tires and damaged about 75 feet of pavement) – – – and the flying corks – – – firefighters also had to deal with shattering bottles – – –

– – – And finally, in Cassel, Wisconsin , Kolton Kafka, 19, Kevin Schleicher, 21, Benjamin Theisen, 20, and Micah Ehrike, 18, with defective rear lights on their vehicle and erratic driving (around 3:30 a.m.) drew the attention of police – – – who sought to pull the car over – – – but instead wound up in a 3 mile chase (at speeds of up to 120 mph) – – – during which Kevin tossed an empty keg of beer out the window – – – Kolton was arrested on charges of first-offense drunken driving and knowingly fleeing an officer – – – Benjamin and Micah were cited for underage drinking – – – and Kevin was arrested on a charge of recklessly endangering safety for throwing that empty keg out the window – – –

- - - In Limpopo Province, South Africa , a reporter for the Daily Telegraph found a story idea by getting into a cage - - - with a lion. This is really something to watch.

If you can't view the video below, try http://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/lifestylevideo/?bcpid=1911416382&bctid=36873208001

And here's another thousand!

- - - In Los Angeles, California , a firetruck found itself in an unusual predicament - - - swallowed by a massive sinkhole that formed after a water main burst - - - you know you want to see this - - -

The 2008 Lehman Brothers bankruptcy filing was the largest in history - what was the second-largest (based on total assets pre-bankruptcy)?

Answer

It came just two weeks after that of Lehman Brothers; Washington Mutual (09/26/08) with assets of nearly $328 billion.

In case you were wondering, Worldcom's 2002 was the third largest; with assets of nearly $104 billion, just ahead of the 2009 bankruptcy of General Motors ($82 billion), and Enron's $65.5 billion (12/02/01).