Fairfield, Maine (AP) – The Super Bowl trophy’s run-in with a deer was nearly as improbable as the New England Patriots’ come-from-behind win over the Atlanta Falcons. But it happened Friday night in Maine when a Patriots employee who had the Vince Lombardi Trophy in his vehicle struck a deer in Fairfield. Team spokesman Stacey James on Saturday confirmed the accident. James said the employee was unhurt and the trophy was unscathed. The trophy was on display Saturday at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine, as scheduled. It has been traveling around the region to give fans a chance to see it. State trooper Tyler Maloon gave the team employee a ride after the accident and posted a photo of himself with the trophy on Facebook. He wrote: “A story for the ages!”
Urban myth proves true: Grammar vigilante is fixing UK signs
London (AP) – It’s an urban myth come true – the presence of a man dedicated to ridding the English city of Bristol of grammatical errors in its shop signs. He goes out at night with a self-styled device used to cover up misplaced apostrophes from street signs in the city 120 miles (195 kilometers) west of London. He uses stickers, not paint. The man has not been identified but he told BBC in a report broadcast Monday that he doesn’t consider his alterations of the signs and store fronts to be a crime. He says the real crime is putting apostrophes in the wrong places to begin with. It’s not a new obsession – he’s been at it for 13 years.
Feathers fly as pillow war overtakes downtown Los Angeles
LOS Angeles (AP) – The feathers were flying in downtown Los Angeles. Hundreds of people traded soft blows in LA’s Pershing Square in a giant pillow fight that dwarfed even the biggest slumber party slugfests. Children, teens, adults and seniors swung pillows at one another for over an hour on Saturday. The annual event is held to celebrate International Pillow Fight Day. Many wore pajamas, some wore masks and goggles. By the time it was over the ground was so covered with feathers it looked like it had snowed on a sunny April afternoon.
Hacked New York Post app sends out ‘Heil President’ alert
New York (AP) – The New York Post app has been hacked on April Fools’ Day, sending out push alert notifications that included “Heil President Donald Trump.” The Post apologized Saturday night, shortly after its app sent out a series of alerts. The Post said in a follow-up alert: “Our push alert notification system was compromised this evening. We are working to resolve the issue. Please accept our apologies.” The messages appeared directed at Trump. One message said, “Open your heart to those you do not understand and listen to all those you fear and look down upon.” The alerts even included lyrics from Nirvana’s song “Come As You Are”: “Take your time, hurry up, the choice is yours, but don’t be late…” The Post is owned by Trump-friendly media mogul Rupert Murdoch.
Russian Foreign Ministry poked fun at hacker scandal
Moscow (AP) – Need some election interference? The Russian Foreign Ministry is ready to help – or so it says on April Fools’ Day. On Saturday, the ministry posted on its Facebook page an audio file of the purported new automated telephone switchboard message for Russian embassies. “To arrange a call from a Russian diplomat to your political opponent, press 1,” the recording begins, in Russian and English. Press 2 “to use the services of Russian hackers,” and 3 “to request election interference.” A ministry duty officer, who did not give his name in line with official practice, confirmed to The Associated Press that the post was an official joke. Russian President Vladimir Putin has emphatically denied allegations of Russian meddling in the U.S. presidential election.
