Dumb Hoosier #1: Norma Meska

I currently am at a loss for recent adventures to write about, so I thought I'd start a new on-going series of people around the Hoosier State doing dumb things.

First up, a doozie I found while checking out The Times in Northwest Indiana:

A two story house in Trail Creek was destroyed by fire when a woman lit a cigarette while on oxygen.

Norma Meska told investigators she is on oxygen and was seated on a couch about 1 p.m. Saturday when she lit a cigarette at her home at 3203 Sal Court.

According to LaPorte County authorities, the lines feeding oxygen into her nostrils flamed and she threw down the plastic feed tubes.

Coolspring Township Fire Chief Mick Pawlik said the carpeting first caught fire.

He said the flames fed by the 100 percent oxygen being pumped by a machine into the lines and out into the room spread rapidly.

"The fire kept consuming everything it could," Pawlik said.

Meska called 911 then made her way safely out of the home before the flames engulfed the home, police said.

Firefighters from Michigan City testing some hoses nearby were first to arrive.

Despite the short response time, the fire had already engulfed practically the entire first floor.

Pawlik said portable oxygen tanks were kept in her bedroom upstairs, which sustained heavy smoke damage.

Is this for real?! Turns out that there are a lot more people other than dear Norma who have made the mistake. In fact, in 2002-2005, oxygen administration equipment was involved in an estimated average of 209 home fires reported annually to fire departments, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) report Fires and Burns Involving Home Medical Oxygen. These fires caused an average of 46 deaths and 62 injuries per year. Smoking materials provided the heat of ignition in roughly six in 10 of these fires and fire injuries, and three in four of the deaths.

So all you smokers out there on oxygen - be smart!!

Stop! Put Down That Watermelon!

There are many funny and strange laws that are still considered to be on the books though they are not necessarily enforced. Indiana is no stranger to some of these strange laws and some of these are incredibly funny! They make you think twice about saying that you have never done anything illegal since, according to these strange laws, I have broken the law on more than one occasion. Read these funny Indiana laws that are sure to make you scratch your head.

• A $3.00 per pack fee is imposed to anyone that is playing cards under the Act for the Prevention of Gaming.
• It is illegal for a man to be sexually aroused in public.
• Baths cannot be taken between the months of October and March.
• Oral sex is illegal in Indiana.
• Indiana liquor stores may not sell milk.
• It is illegal to pass a horse on the street.
• A man may not back into a parking space because it prevents a police officer from seeing the license plate.
• Grocery stores may not sell any type of cold liquor.
  
• It is illegal to sell cars on Sunday.
• A man may be arrested for statutory rape if his female passenger is under 17 and not wearing her socks and shoes.
• Drink on the house are illegal.
• Hotel sheets must be exactly 99 inches long and 81 inches wide.
• You can get out of paying for a dependent's medical care by praying for them.
• In Beech Grove, Indiana it is illegal to eat watermelon in the park.

How is this a Rollback Savings?

Hmm... looks like misleading advertising if you ask me. Only in Indiana would people be so dumb to think they were actually getting a deal! Thanks to John Rayman for posting this picture on his Facebook.

Speaking of Walmart... here's a car seen at Walmart last week by my friend Elizabeth Miller:

At least they can find humor out of having a big dent in their car!