Japan Sets World Record for Most Synchronized Dancing Mascots

Last weekend, 141 mascots from all across Japan gathered in Sasebo to attempt to break the coveted world record of "Most Synchronized Dancing Mascots at One Time." After 3 tries, they had broken the record. The criteria for their attempt to count was that participants had to complete the dance with at least 95% accuracy.

Presarvationist Wants to Rid New Zealand of Cats

Gareth Morgan, a bird enthusiast with an apparent vendetta against cats, has started a new campaign to encourage NZ residents to stop having cats. New Zealand is thought to have the highest percentage of cat ownership per citizen. Morgan writes that,
"About 40% of New Zealand's native land birds are already extinct. And the rest are endangered."

That little ball of fluff you own is a natural born killer

Morgan wants people to neuter their pets and reconsider before getting another. People have not been reacting very positively. Check out the website.

http://garethsworld.com/catstogo/

Police Looking to Flush Out the Milwaukee Bathroom Bandit

Milwaukee police have reported a slew of toilet part thefts in the last 4 months. The perpetrator is believed to be a young, white male, with some basic plumbing knowledge. He is believed to be targeting automatic flush valves. Current estimates place the cumulative cost of the thefts at around $30,000. Police suspect that the parts are being resold, on a toilet parts black market of some kind. For now, all the evidence that the police have is video surveillance. The thief targets college campuses and fast food restaurants. The thefts have gotten so bad that the regional manager of Arby's has ordered locks put on all urinal valves in his restaurants. Will the police be able to slam the lid on this serial thief? Only time will tell.

VIDEO: http://www.news10.net/video/2095940244001/1/Bathroom-bandit-steals-toilet-bowl-handles

Huge Garlic Smuggling Ring Uncovered by Swedish Authorities

Swedish authorities have reportedly uncovered a large garlic smuggling ring. Yesterday, the police put out international arrest warrants for 2 British men who are suspected of smuggling 1.2 tons of Chinese garlic into Norway by boat. From there, the smugglers transported the garlic by truck to it's next destination, avoiding custom checks and all taxes. All in all, it is estimated that the suspects dodged close to $13 million (USD) in taxes by illegally smuggling the Chinese garlic into the country. China accounts for nearly 80% of the world's garlic output, and is often significantly cheaper than alternative sources. This would not be the first instance of garlic smuggling. In 2010, Polish authorities seized 6 containers with 144 tons of Chinese garlic. The police are not yet sure if these cases are related, investigations are ongoing.

http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/09/16431519-extra-garlic-and-hold-the-taxes-sweden-goes-after-smuggling-suspects?lite

Maple Syrup Thieves Arrested

On December 18th, Canadian authorities arrested 3 men who are suspected to be involved in a massive maple syrup heist. Over 6 million pounds of syrup were stolen from a warehouse Saint-Louis-de-Blandford, Canada. The warehouse belonged to the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers, a keeper of one of the largest, global strategic maple syrup reserves. The theft was only recently discovered during a routine inventory check. Police suspect that the theft occurred somewhere between August 2011 and July 2012.
The total value of the syrup in the depot is estimated at around $30 million, but the Federation has not given exact figures on how much was stolen. Close to 300 people were interviewed by the police in search for the culprits, and the police are seeking 5 more suspects. So far, the police have only recovered 2/3 of the syrup stolen. As much as 80% of the world'syrup comes from Quebec.

http://www.siropderable.ca/home.aspx

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-01-02/the-great-canadian-maple-syrup-heist