Strange News Headlines of 2007: The Madness Has Just Begun!

We've just rung in a spanking brand new year, with all the fears and expectations we have every time this occasion approaches. Some things change, while other things stay the same. One thing you may be sure of, however, is that odd happenings are bound to occur each day we see or hear another news report.

Here are a few ones to get 2007 off to a nice start:

Why Didn't He Just Call In a Professional?

In Berlin, Germany. a retired construction foreman decided to rid himself of some pesky moles by rigging up a 380 volt cable. His intent, apparently, was to zap the little suckers.

His intended victims, however, were not destroyed, but the unfortunate homeowner did succeed in one killing ...his own. He was accidentally electrocuted while performing his unique pest control method.

I'd Rather Just Pay the Bill

Rainer Schoenfelder, a 29-year-old skier, had to pay up when he lost a bet to his physiotherapist.

It wasn't money that Schoenfelder dispensed to the therapist, but his follow-through on a promise to ski nude down the Lauberhorn if the treatment he was given proved effective within a certain time period.

Obviously, it worked, because Schoenfelder, clad only in orange helmet, orange gloves and yellow boots slid on down the Lauberhorn, as he vowed he would do, to satisfy his end of the bargain.

Photos were taken of the bizarre event.

Didn't Rembrandt Start Out This Way?

Stephen Murmur got canned at the Richmond high school where he taught art.

The reason? In his private time, Murmer created abstract works of art which involved his putting paint on his backside and ...er...male "equipment" and pressing them up against the canvas. He even offered these "masterpieces" for sale on a website for as much as $900 each.

Once it was discovered that Murmer was doing this, he was, quite understandably, dismissed by the Chesterfield County School Board.

Can you say ...EWWW?

Guess He Missed His Old Pals

Most prisoners spend time trying to get out of prison, but not so one Danny Robert Villegas.