Briefs

By Randall Higgins |Staff Writer|

Liar, liar, pants on fire!

The House, Ways, and Means Committee determined in a congressional report that the Internal Revenue

Service (IRS) intentionally misled both Congress and the public about its ability to assist customers and answer questions to get more money from Congress.

It diverted money from that section and used it for frivolous and unnecessary items in order to claim not enough money and therefore the need of a larger budget, according to Yahoo.com.

The report shows that the tax agency could have helped 25.9 million more phone calls than it did if it had prioritized customer service.

The students review again

Mirroring a similar incident in the sixties, students from Chapman College in Orange County wrapped the busts of Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, and Ayn Rand in caution tape and hung signs on the front notifying that all three were on “student review.”

According to the ijreview, Reagan and Thatcher were indicted on racism, classism, and homophobia.
Two more busts were also selected, Albert Schweitzer and Milton Friedman.

Because there was no damage, school officials deemed it freedom of expression and decided no punishment would be administered.

Polly has a fire

Firefighters, who called out to a two-alarm blaze in Boise, Idaho, were caught off guard when they answered screams of “Help, help, fire,” while no one was inside the house.

After containing the fire and extinguishing it, they were able to track down the calls of help to two birds. The parrots had been trained to call out for help and to warn others.

It is expected that the two parrots would fully recover, according to CBS.

Pucker up, Cottonmouth

Eighteen-year-old Austin Hatfield caught a cottonmouth while swimming last week and kept it in a pillowcase at his girlfriend’s house.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is investigating the catch because the teen did not have the proper permit to catch and keep the cottonmouth. It came to their attention when Hatfield attempted to kiss the snake on the mouth and it bit him.

Although initially in critical condition, his condition has improved to good condition, and he is expected to fully recover, according to United Press International.