oddly enough

oddly enough

New Mexico landfill search for ‘E.T.’ video game halted

ALAMOGORDO, N.M.

New Mexico environmental regulators are blocking two companies from digging up an Alamogordo landfill in search of a rumored cache of what some consider the worst Atari video game of all time.

The Alamogordo News reports “E.T. The Extraterrestrial” game cartridges were rumored to have been dumped in the landfill in the 1980s.

New Mexico Environment Department spokesman Jim Winchester says an approved waste-excavation plan is needed before any dig.

Winchester says the original excavation plan was rejected Feb. 27, and the companies haven’t yet submitted a new one.

Fuel Entertainment and LightBox Interactive recently announced plans to search the landfill for the game that proved a financial drain for Atari.

Lasso-yielding officers chase loose bull in Texas

WACO, Texas

A bull apparently in no mood for vaccinations led police on a chase down a Texas city street before horse-riding, lasso-yielding officers were able to wrangle the animal.

The Waco Tribune-Herald reports that the bull was being vaccinated at a veterinary clinic in Waco when it broke out of its corral Tuesday.

Officers say a man spotted the animal running down the street and gave chase, wielding a whip and lasso from a pickup truck with three or four police cars behind him.

Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton says the bull ran into a fenced yard after about 45 minutes. Two animal-control cowboys were able to lasso it into a trailer.

Students have festive protest of canceled spring break

BETHLEHEM, Pa.

When Northampton Community College canceled spring break to make up for excessive snow days, students decided to protest — by wearing flip-flops, bathing suits and tank tops to class. Not to mention plastic leis.

The imaginary beach day Tuesday drew sympathy, not scorn, from winter-weary administrators at the eastern Pennsylvania school. They set up a Tiki bar with an inflatable palm tree in the campus food court to serve nonalcoholic drinks with paper umbrellas.

Protest organizers Thoai Luong and John Cronce, both 20 and from Easton, were a bit disappointed in the turnout, which totaled about 15 people, mostly male. But they said those who joined in were having a blast.

“Most of the campus is looking at us like we’re nuts,” Cronce told the Express-Times of Easton. “It would be nice if there were more girls.”

The food court also featured a plastic kiddie pool and a pingpong table, where college President Mark Erickson played against the students. Erickson wore sandals, an orange polo shirt, madras shorts and a lei, although he stashed a suit in his office for some afternoon functions.

Associated Press