Creative Loafing Charlotte: Bad Habits

Bizarre crimes from Charlotte police files

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:00:00 MST

By Ryan Pitkin Doin' Work: A 35-year-old woman called police after she was burglarized by her own son. She told officers that she always keeps her door locked when she goes to work, and her son is the only one there. When she returned on this day, the "home invader in training" had kicked the bedroom door off the hinges and stolen $80 in cash and change. That's what happens when you are a day late with my allowance, woman! Geek Squad: A

Are these guys more than just best friends?

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:00:00 MST

By Dan Savage My boyfriend and his best friend are close. Last summer, I noticed that when my boyfriend gets drunk he tries to grab his friend's ass, throws his arm around him, and sits close to him. Then one day I found a pair of underwear in our bedroom that belonged to my boyfriend's best friend. My boyfriend said he didn't know how they got there. I figured he and his pal messed around and he didn't know how to talk about

Horoscope Nov. 18-24, 2009

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:00:00 MST

By Vivian Carol Sagittarius The Archer (Nov. 22-Dec. 20): The sun returns "home" to your sign this week. You likely will find it to be energizing. Now is the time to focus on new plans for this next year of your life. This week may be challenging for those on a diet or other self-improvement program. You are prone to self-indulgence right now. For All Signs: Venus, goddess of love, and Mars, the warrior, are squared off for battle at this time. Many

How can racing yachts sail faster than the wind?

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:00:00 MST

By Cecil Adams How can those America's Cup yachts sail faster than the wind? Here's what the San Francisco Chronicle has to say: "It's physics." Come on, Cecil, I know you can do better. -- P. McCartney, Oak Harbor, Washington<> I should hope. To give the Chronicle some credit, though, "it's physics" was preceded by an accurate if somewhat murky explanation that, unfortunately, you didn't get. Let's try again. The America's Cup, for those whose taste in sports runs more to bowling, is

Bizarre crimes from Charlotte police files

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:00:00 MST

By Ryan Pitkin Starting Early: Police were called to James Martin Middle School after a male student was found to be intoxicated. The boy was released to his parents and no charges were pressed. It became obvious the boy was drunk when he slurred to his teacher, "My homework ate my dog, I mean ... umm," then started laughing. All In The Family: A woman called police after her 14-year-old son beat up his 12-year-old sister. The mother told officers the child struck

How did the states establish long straight borders before GPS?

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:00:00 MST

By Cecil Adams How is it that, in places without natural features such as a river or mountain range to mark a border, U.S. states could establish a nice, even line over hundreds of miles before GPS? -- Granite-Morale The lines aren't always nice and even. Study a U.S. atlas and you'll find many supposedly straight boundaries with slants and zigzags in them, the work of surveyors who were, and it pains me to say this, borderline incompetent. Still, the remarkable thing isn't

Woman interested in threesome may have to do the asking

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:00:00 MST

By Dan Savage I'm a 20-year-old girl, and I've been dating my boyfriend, who is 23, for two years. From the get-go, he has known that I am bi, and like most straight guys, he's happy to be with a girl who likes girls. The thing is, I am too shy to go out and hit on a girl. Getting a man was the easy part, but getting a girl who is willing to fuck around not only with me but also with

Horoscope for Nov. 11-17, 2009

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:00:00 MST

By Vivian Carol Scorpio The Phoenix (Oct. 23-Nov. 20): Fear of the unknown, or perhaps the skeleton in the closet, may want to control your mind. Cultivate a better mental habit, one that gives you hopeful thoughts and no negativity. About 90 percent of what we worry about never comes to fruition. For All Signs: This week is the first of the three Saturn square Pluto aspects that will be prominent over the next two years. This energy calls for cleaning up the

Bizarre crimes from Charlotte police files

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:00:00 MST

By Ryan Pitkin Not A Crime: A 15-year-old boy called police after being hit by a car. He told officers a woman was driving by when she began to yell at him and his friends for skateboarding in the street. After he yelled back, the woman backed her car up, then accelerated into the boy and drove away. The boy is now the envy of all his friends for being the first one to do flips while skateboarding. That Girl's Hot: A 14-year-old

Does the camera really add ten pounds? Plus: Is there any nutritional value in eating corn?

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:00:00 MST

By Cecil Adams I've often heard people say "the camera adds ten pounds" when they're photographed. Is that just an excuse or is there any truth to it? -- Emma No question there's an element of denial here. Since you're not looking at yourself most of the time, it's easy to maintain a self-image reflecting the svelte physique you had 10 years ago, as opposed to the corpulent wreck you've become. But that's not the whole story. For reasons having to do with

Simply gross

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:00:00 MST

By Dan Savage I'm a 67-year-old woman, almost 68, who has been married four times -- once widowed (with three kids in their 40s who've turned out pretty well), divorced three times. I recently met someone online: 48, a wealthy, educated man with two boys, 12 and 14. He lives the cuckoldt lifestyle and is looking for a woman to marry who would participate and enjoy this with him. He says he "craves and needs" this lifestyle, and from what he's said so

Weekly horoscope for Nov. 4-10, 2009

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:00:00 MST

By Vivian Carol Scorpio The Phoenix (Oct. 23-Nov. 20): You are up for an entire change of lifestyle and cleansing of the critic who plagues you. Your career is becoming unworkable in your life, so a new education is on the horizon. If you accept these changes as positive, your ego will not feel so pounded by the critic. For All Signs: Saturn is squaring Pluto in the zodiac at this time. This square continues its influence through 2010 and beyond. It represents

Bizarre crimes from Charlotte police files

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 04:00:00 MST

By Ryan Pitkin That's Deep: A 51-year-old woman called police after being threatened by a known suspect. The man called her three times and stated, "Bitch, I know you are with that nigga. The next time your mama sees you she is gonna be shoveling dirt on you." OK, will someone tell this guy that funerals are handled much differently in the 21st century than, well, whenever it was he last attended one. Knock On Wood: A woman was arrested and charged with

Fitness nut weighs consequences of unhealthy kink

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 04:00:00 MST

By Dan Savage I'm a 25-year-old girl dating a 26-year-old guy. My boyfriend identifies as sexually submissive. He likes to be tied up, put in women's underwear, and locked in a chastity device, and he has a strong urge to please. I hate the term, but I suppose you could call me a "feeder." I am turned on by the idea of someone eating a lot of food, usually junk food, and putting on weight. It's probably related, but I'm also a bit

Horoscope for Oct. 28-Nov. 3, 2009

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 04:00:00 MST

By Vivian Carol Scorpio The Phoenix (Oct. 23-Nov 20) You must gather all your energy together to accomplish an important task at this time. The initiation of the goal may have begun last winter but now it materializes and demands definite and clear intentionality of purpose. Scorpios are strong and you will manage. For All Signs: Last week I wrote about the individual signs and our reactions to Saturn's change of signs to Libra. The transition is precise on Oct. 29. As a