■ UNITED STATES
Knife-biting fish identified
A fish that bared its teeth and bit a fisherman's knife in North Carolina was identified as a piranha. The catch highlights the growing problem of people keeping exotic animals and fish as pets and later dumping them into local waters, said Paul Barrington, an ichthyologist with the Fort Fisher Aquarium. "I hadn't seen anything like it before," said fisherman Jerry Melton, 46. He said the fish's bite left an impression on the blade of his pocketknife on Saturday. Melton, who is keeping the piranha in his freezer until he can have it mounted, said the experience will keep him out of the river.
■ UNITED STATES
Park singer not guilty
Saying "This is America, not Afghanistan," a judge found a man not guilty of disorderly conduct for refusing to obey a police officer's request that he stop singing in a public park. Anthony Riley, 20, had faced a three-month sentence after loudly singing A Change is Gonna Come in downtown Philadelphia in March. Greg Wilkinson, the arresting officer, said Riley was singing so loud his voice drowned out his police radio. "All he had to do was lower his voice and this never would have happened," prosecutor William James said. The city is now reviewing what kinds of music should be allowed in its public parks.
■ UNITED STATES
Strippers at golf club
A golf outing for local Democrats left some participants embarrassed after they found out strippers were handing out drinks at the event. One participant said he saw a woman flash a group of golfers. Others at the fundraiser for the Lucas County Democratic Party said they did not see any inappropriate acts. "When the word got out that these girls are strippers, it gave the party a black eye," Clerk of Courts Bernie Quilter said. Ryan Kemp, the general manager of a local strip club, said he paid for four people to golf at the outing and club waitresses staffed it.
■ CANADA
Porn pizza a hit
A new pizza restaurant in Winnipeg that delivers pornography with every pie has once again proven the adage: sex sells. Porno Pizza has been doing brisk business since opening last week, titillating the hungry with racy pictures at the bottom of every pizza box. "They range from softly-lit, lube-on-the-lens pictures like in Playboy, to raunchy, hardcore photos that would make [porn publisher] Larry Flynt blush," pizzeria owner Corey Wildeman said. "The image is revealed as you eat the pizza." The "ultra erotic" marketing gimmick has attracted "scowls" from some observers, "hooting and hollering" from others and at least one "drive-by flashing" of breasts, he said.
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