oddly enough

oddly enough

Massachusetts to use more humor on highway signs

BOSTON

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation announced the winners of a contest to come up with humorous yet important driver-safety messages for electronic highway message boards.

The contest was inspired by a message posted on highways in May that encouraged drivers to “Use Yah Blinkah” — or turn signal — when changing lanes.

The winners were “Make yah Ma proud, wear yah seatbelt,” to encourage belt use, submitted by The Parent’s Supervised Driving Program team of Safe Roads Alliance; “Keep Calm and Drive On,” to prevent road rage, submitted by Patrick Casey of Boston; and “Put down the phone! Your LOLs and OMGs can wait,” to fight distracted driving, submitted by Justin Lovell of Whitman.

The winners get gift cards from gas stations and restaurants.

More than 500 entries were received.

“We received some very creative, thoughtful and funny message suggestions,” Transportation Secretary Richard Davey said.

The winning messages will be displayed on hundreds of message boards during busy travel periods in the coming months.

Santa Claus and Rockettes stop traffic in New York City

NEW YORK

The calendar says August, but that didn’t stop Santa Claus from visiting midtown Manhattan and snarling a section of Sixth Avenue, much to the bafflement of tourists and the frustration of drivers forced to idle their vehicles.

Father Christmas, along with 15 Rockettes costumed as rag dolls, stood on a Radio City Music Hall porch Thursday as 12 Rockettes dressed as toy soldiers marched on the street below to perform the “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers.”

It was a six-minute promotional event — complete with a belching snow machine — for “The Radio City Christmas Spectacular,” which starts Nov. 7.

“Merry Christmas!” said Santa. “And I want to see you all at the show this year.”

Prosecutors: Woman attacked at party over too-short shorts

EVERETT, Wash.

Prosecutors say a 25-year-old Washington state woman attacked another woman at a barbecue because she thought her shorts were too short.

Papers filed in Snohomish County Superior Court say the woman attending the June 22 party confronted the other woman, telling her that her shorts were too short. Several minutes later, the suspect attacked the victim, knocking her to the ground.

The Daily Herald reports the victim suffered broken facial bones and bleeding in the left eye.

The suspect is charged with felony assault.

Associated Press