Obscure Store and Reading Room

Eatery stops using grill after chef sees Virgin Mary's image on it

The day after the chef spotted Mary, the Rev. Gerardo Fernandez of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church confirmed the image was a true likeness of the Virgin, says restaurant general manager Brenda Martinez. Since then, the griddle with the image has been retired from service in the kitchen and put on display in a storage room. (ImperialValley Press)

Let the swine flu hijinks begin! (The first of many prank posts?)

A high school senior thought it would be a funny to wear a surgical face mask to school and tell people he had swine flu. "He’s a good kid, but he was just being stupid," says the principal. "What he did was mean and it was not funny. People are upset and rightly so." (WickedLocal.com)

Woman tries to swallow baggies during traffic stop

Officers removed one small baggy from the woman's mouth, but they didn't know that a larger, golf ball-sized baggy was lodged in her throat until responding paramedics removed it using special equipment. (Wisconsin State Journal)

High school seniors apparently love playing nude water tag

This story notes that the nature of the game makes it easy for fun to cross into illegal activity: trespassing, public nudity and reckless driving. The triple threat! (Columbus Dispatch)

Judge denies inmate's request to change his name to "Sinner"

It has something to do with the Norse religion. The judge wrote in his ruling that Jonathan Thomas said he wanted the name change “because he is a heathen and Thor is his ‘High God.'" (Lincoln Journal-Star)

Yet another Confederate flag controversy (this one in Minnesota)

Dozens of school staff members have signed a petition asking the school board ban a student's Confederate flag decal on his pickup truck. One teacher says: "We regulate hoods and we regulate hats yet we allow a symbol that is clearly designed to intimidate another group." (Minneapolis Star Tribune)

Cops: "Old ladies" peddled $10,000 worth of heroin a week

The sisters, 65 and 70, seemed to be nice, friendly women who lived modest lives in their mobile home park. "I couldn't believe it," one woman says after hearing her neighbor was busted for heroin. I never would have expected that from her because she's a nice person." (Allentown Morning Call)

Man arrested for placing sex-and-death ad on Craigslist

The 24-year-old man requested a woman who was willing to have sex with him — and then be killed. The guy was arrested when he showed up at a Seattle motel room with a length of chain and a knife. (Seattle Times)

Woman told to say sorry for punking ex-beau with Craigslist ad

Kari A. Heath, 20, (left) was ordered to do community service and write an apology for placing an ad under her ex-boyfriend's name, saying he wanted other guys to call and talk dirty to him. She was originally charged with a felony count of causing harm through identity theft. (Eau Claire Leader-Telegram)

Boy with form of autism satisfies his desire to take a plane ride

The 13-year-old bought a ticket, snatched his dad's car, drove to the airport and took a cross-country flight. "I can't believe he pulled this off," says his mom. "I'm flabberghasted." (Palm Beach Post)