So Close, Yet So Far

more than 500 pounds. Sushi didn’t manage to cross that threshold.

The Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament in North Carolina has become extremely popular in recent years with more than 270 boats taking part in this latest competition.

“I think the mutilation rule is outdated,” Bleau said. “We’ve got a more prevalent shark population, but in a nutshell, the rule needs to be done away with, period. In the past three years, this rule has come into effect twice.

“There’s different interpretations. It’s about as clear as mud. Everybody thinks it’s black and white and it’s not.”

It’s reel-y not fair.

Crying Wolf

They thought they won the million-dollar prize, only to be told their catch was a bit fishy.

Ashley Bleau, owner of the Sensation fishing boat, had reeled in a massive 619-pound blue marlin with his crew on Saturday, battling with the gargantuan sea creature for six hours before hoisting it aboard.

Their catch was set to nab them a $3.5 million prize. But then, judges ruled that the fish had been “mutilated” by a shark prior to the catch.

To be so close to victory and then to have it pulled from underneath their noses was disappointing, to say the least.

“The mutilation was less than the size of my hand,” Bleau told Pirate Radio during a discussion about the tournament on Monday.

Instead of Sensation winning the big fish, the crew of Sushi hauled in the winnings of $2.77 million.

Sensation would have received a larger payout because of their catch weighing

Mary Simmons is not backing down. The woman from Dayton, Ohio, is refusing to remove a fake wolf from her property.

The wolf in question stands 9½ feet tall in her yard. The city has asked her to take it down – it’s been up since October of last year – but Simmons is adamantly refusing to get rid of her monster pet.

It’s more than a toy for her. “He’s kind of become my house mascot,” Simmons told WKEF-TV. “I kind of look at it as a security thing. Who wants to break into a house with a 9.5-foot werewolf sitting outside of it? I know I wouldn’t.”

She’s been dressing the wolf in various costumes to represent seasons and holidays.

“We’re going to get a big Hawaiian shirt and maybe some sunglasses,” she said, regarding the summer season.

The werewolf, which Simmons dubbed Phil, now has his own Facebook page with over 2,000 followers.

Simmons said neighbors have largely been welcoming of Phil’s presence in her yard, but at least one resident sent an anonymous complaint to the city of Dayton, which issued Simmons a warning.

Did you know?

For now, Simmons says Phil is here to stay, although she is making sure he stays safe for the neighbors.

“I don’t want somebody walking by and his head falls off, hitting them,” Simmons explained. “I try to treat people like I want to be treated and I wouldn’t want that to happen to me.”

We wouldn’t want to throw her to the wolves.

Going for the Gold

Vending machines in South Korea don’t just sell soda and chips. With gold bars gaining popularity in the country, the precious metal has been making its way to convenience stores.

On Friday, GS Retail confirmed that sales of gold bars at its convenience stores totaled $19 million in the past nine months ending in May.

The gold bars, dispensed through vending machines, were introduced last September at five of its stores. The machines offer five sizes of gold bars, weighing 0.13 ounces to 1.3 ounces.

How much does a gold bar cost? Well, it depends on the day, fluctuating with the international valuation for gold.

“The most popular gold bar is the smallest, the 0.13-ounce one, which is currently priced at around $225,” a GS Retail representative said.

“People in their 20s and 30s appear to be the main buyers, purchasing physical gold as an investment vehicle, especially in times such as these, when its value is continuing to rise,” he added.

Inha University Professor Lee Eunhee noted that buying gold at a convenience store makes it a fun endeavor.

“A gold bar purchased at a convenience store seems more like something done in fun rather than as a means for serious investment. I believe the popularity of these gold bars is mainly due to its easy accessibility, at convenience stores no less,” she said.

A golden opportunity.

Only female mosquitoes can bite.