News for Thought - 10/29/07

Mailbox Hit By Meteorite Sells for $83,000

NEW YORK -- Two of the world's most famous meteorites failed to attract buyers at an auction Sunday, while an ordinary metal mailbox in Georgia zapped by a falling space rock in 1984 was sold for the unearthly price of nearly $83,000. The small piece was offered at auction by Darryl Pitt, curator of the Macovich Collection, the world's largest collection of space rocks, who traded the museum a Martian rock for the Willamette chip in 1998. In spirited bidding, the mailbox -- somewhat the worse for the experience but with its red metal flag still bravely in the "up" position -- went to an unidentified bidder for $82,750 including the buyer's premium of 20 percent. A tiny piece of the rock itself, less than an ounce, went for $7,700.


Dog Steps On Gun, Wounds Hunter

TAMA, Iowa -- A Tama man was injured when hunting dogs stepped on his gun. Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources said James Harris, 37, was pheasant hunting with a group about three miles north of Grinnell when the accident happened.Officials said the group had shot a bird and when Harris went to retrieve it, he put his gun on the ground and crossed a fence. As he crossed the fence, hunting dogs stepped on his gun causing it to fire.

Harris was shot in the lower left leg. The investigation is continuing.

Police: Man Wanted Sex With Corpse

TAMPA, Fla. -- A Gulf Coast man was taken into custody over the weekend for what police said was a plan to kill man and have sex with the body. Police said Kevin Wade Daley, 50, of Citrus Springs was arrested and charged with criminal solicitation to commit first-degree murder in connection with the plot. Citrus County sheriff's officials said they were tipped off by a friend of Daley who said he was alarmed when he heard of the suspect's plans. Police searched Daley's home and confiscated his computer.Officers said Daley discussed his intentions to have sex with a corpse during phone conversations.