Darwin Awards Newsletter July 1999 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Visit Darwin Awards at Subscribe? Email me! subscribe@DarwinAwards.com To cancel, email cancel@DarwinAwards.com +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ HURRICANE HANGOVER Darwin Award Nominees (August 1969) On Aut\gust 15, 1969, Hurricane Camille claimed 143 victims along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.. Most were guilty only of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, unlike twenty who perished while attending a beachfront "Hurricane Party." Despite evacuation warnings delivered by earnest emergency teams, their festivities continued unabated. The party-goers defiantly declared that the concrete foundation and the second-floor location of their party provided plenty of protection from the impending hurricaine. Their confidence proved to be tragically misplaced when a 24 foot wave slammed into the apartment, destroying the building and subjecting the partiers to gale-force winds and violent ocean surges. Most of these Hurricane worshippers were killed. A few survivors were swept miles away, cheated of a Darwin Award by the capricious hand of fate. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Be our #1,000,000 visitor this year! Million Visitors Day. Watch for it at +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ CELL PHONE WARNING Darwin Awards Urban Legend You may not be aware of a recent incident where a motorist suffered severe burns when his cell phone ignited gasoline fumes at a gas station. "Read your handbook!" manufacturers warn. Motorola, Ericsson, and Nokia all print cautions in their user handbooks that warn against using mobile phones near gas stations, fuel storage sites, chemical refineries, and nuclear reactors. Electronic devices at gas stations are protected with explosive containment devices, making them safe to use around volatile hydrocarbons. Cell phones, on the other hand, and other high- voltage battery appliances, are not shielded. They are in clear danger of producing small sparks. Exxon has begun to place warning stickers on its gasoline pumps. All I can say is, finally! A solution to the obnoxious cell phone driver problem. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Translate Darwin Awards or Police the Forums Volunteer at +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ A SMARTER SNAKE Darwin Award Nominee (1991, Nicosia, Cypress) An Iranian hunter was shot to death near Tehran by a snake that coiled around his shotgun as he pinned the reptile to the ground. Another hunter reported that that the victim, named Ali, tried to catch the snake alive by pressing the butt of his shotgun behind its head. The snake coiled around the butt and pulled the trigger, shooting Ali in the head. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Macabre tales of misadventure. Free Newsletter. subscribe@DarwinAwards.com +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ MORE STORIES AT * Men Hospitalized for Eating Chili * Industrious Brain Dead Private * Breasts Injure Four * Loch Ness Monster * Don't Drink and Fly * Dynamite Woman * Do Bikes Float? * Poisonous Pets * Smokers Ignite! * Disco Dork ALL THESE AND MORE AT +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Visit Darwin Awards at http://www.DarwinAwards.com Subscribe? Email me! subscribe@DarwinAwards.com To cancel, email cancel@DarwinAwards.com +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++