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Welcome to Casual Friday where we wake you up with the overlooked news stories of the week. The offbeat, strange and sometimes downright weird news items that mainstream media tends to ignore, all wrapped up with a few funnies, all designed to get your face in smiling shape for the weekend.
Florida colleges rank high in 'sugar daddies' paying student tuition
Many college students find themselves struggling to hold down part time jobs, manage expenses, pay tuition, buy books while they attend classes and study, but what if a student could join a free "mutually beneficial" online service that would pair the student with a wealthy man or woman willing to chip in for school costs?
Four Florida universities — Florida International University in Miami-Dade, the University of Central Florida in Orlando, the University of South Florida in Tampa, and Florida State University in Tallahassee — made the Top 20 list of fastest-growing “sugar baby” memberships for SeekingArrangement.com, a website with more than two million users worldwide.
If college students register with a “.edu” email address, they are automatically given “premium” status on their profiles, which gives them privileges users typically have to pay to use such as reaching out to a prospective sugar daddy.
The website maintains that the sugardaddies merely get companionship in return. Sorry, but that dog don't hunt!
If you're like me and not buying into that b.s., then get ready to ramp up your outrage meter by reading what the site’s founder and CEO Brandon Wade said:
“the growth of southern female co-eds seeking the Sugar Lifestyle is a move in the right direction to bring back Southern charm.”
When asked what he meant by that, Gwynn [public relations manager for the site] said she believes being involved with a “sugar daddy” is a way that “people are cultivating these girls to become more successful later in life.”
“You have these southern gentlemen helping [sugar babies] find their way in life, as well as financially,” she said.
Well, bless their hearts. You know, I have quite a few girlfriends who, like me can whip out their deep southern accents and go all
Julia Sugarbaker on someone in a heartbeat and this CEO and his public relations manger seem richly deserving of getting "schooled" by a real southern lady.
Here are the Top 20 Fastest Growing Sugar Baby Schools, by new sign ups in 2012:
1. Georgia State University, 2. New York University, 3. Temple University, 4. University of Central Florida, 5. University of Southern Florida, 6. Arizona State University, 7. Florida International University, 8. University of Georgia, 9. Indiana University, 10. Texas State, 11. Kent State University, 12. Penn State, 13. University of North Texas, 14. Florida State University, 15.Tulane University, 16. Michigan State University, 17. University of Ohio, 18. Columbia University, 19. University of Alabama, 20. University of California Los Angeles
Firefighters free woman trapped between two downtown Portland, Oregon buildings
While walking on the roof of a two story parking garage, Anita Man fell and dropped over ten feet into an 8 inch space between two building around 3:30 am on Wednesday morning. Neighbors who heard the woman's screams called 911.
It took Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) more than 20 firefighters and around 4 hours to rescue the woman who was wedged in about 3 feet from the ground.
A PF&R Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team, trained specifically to tackle extrication situations, was called to the scene.
The USAR Team determined that the wall could not be breached. A fire official on scene said that Mann was complaining about debris hitting her as crews used special gear to cut into the wall. Crews, set to work in the tight conditions, with jack hammers and saws, drilling into the cement wall, eventually creating access points to the victim. The firefighters used tools designed for earthquake rescue situations.
"Those are tools specially designed to breach these types of walls,” Simmons said.
With temperatures hovering at about 36 degrees Fahrenheit, firefighters placed a heater nearby to help keep the woman warm. Eventually, crews were able to create a door-sized opening to reach the woman, and a soapy substance was placed on the walls to help her slide out, PF&R reported.
Crews freed the woman by 7:30 a.m. and checked her for injuries. Paramedics transported her by ambulance to Oregon Health & Science University.
“She was in good spirits the whole time,” said PF&R Lt. Rich Chatman, the lead rescuer. “She had that look of determination and I think we were all pretty convinced no matter what, she was coming out.”
Florida man arrested for giving people wedgies
Charles Ross, an 18 year old man from Bradenton, Florida who is known for filming video pranks of himself harassing and annoying people in Manatee County then posting the footage on YouTube, was arrested for giving people wedgies outside a movie theater in Manatee County.
Police say Ross grabbed people by the back of the pants and pulled them up, hard. Several victims said they were too embarrassed to press charges.
Ross was booked into the Manatee County Jail on battery charges and was released Monday on a $750 bond. It is not yet known whether he has retained an attorney.
Australian outlaw Ned Kelly to be laid to rest, 132 years later
Kelly's descendants, who received the bushranger's remains after they were exhumed from a mass prison grave, said on Wednesday they will hold a private church memorial service on Friday before the burial in an unmarked grave on Sunday.
Kelly and his family, The Kelly Gang, became a symbol for social tensions between poor Irish settlers and the wealthy establishment and Kelly became a folk hero for standing up to the ruling class. His final words before being hanged at Melbourne Gaol on November 11, 1880 were, "such is life".
"The descendants of the Kelly family wish to give effect to Ned Kelly's last wish and that he now be buried in consecrated ground with only his family in attendance in order to ensure a private, respectful and dignified funeral," the family said in a statement.
"Republicans and Democrats are working on a new bill to streamline the healthcare system. It will reduce the cost of mammograms and prostate exams. But don't worry. They'll still be free at the airport." –Jimmy Fallon
"President Obama's half-brother is running for political office in Kenya. Donald Trump has already accused him of being born in the United States." –Conan O'Brien
"President Obama is coming under criticism that his new administration has less diversity than his first one. Which is why this morning Obama said, 'All right, fine, I am a Muslim." –Conan O'Brien
"Daniel Day-Lewis won a Golden Globe for playing Abraham Lincoln and Julianne Moore won for playing Sarah Palin. The foreign press realized that the greatest challenge for an actor in Hollywood is pretending to be a Republican." –Jay Leno
"An economist is suggesting that the U.S. Treasury mint a trillion-dollar county and deposit it in the federal reserve – which is how 'The Lord of the Rings' starts, isn't it?" –Jimmy Kimmel
"The Treasury will not mint a trillion-dollar coin. That is a shame. Wouldn't it be nice to mint up nine or 10 and say we're even?" –Jimmy Kimmel