News of the Weird: Wife borrows muting trick from Oscars

Amber Denae Wright of Cape Town, South Africa, has shared a marriage tip on TikTok that others may want to adopt, People reported on March 9. A video on the social media site shows her husband, Nick, talking when Amber pulls out her phone and plays orchestral music on it. When Nick asks, “What is that? What are you playing?” Amber says, “It’s Oscars music. You know, when the speeches are too long.” Nick’s taking it well, though: “She’s been doing this the whole week.” One TikTok commenter suggested, “I should use this at work when guys mansplain.”

Arthur “Jack” Schubarth, 80, of Vaughn, Mont., pleaded guilty on March 12 to two felony wildlife crimes after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks concluded a yearslong investigation, Business Insider reported. Schubarth was accused of buying, selling and breeding “alternative” livestock, including extra-large mountain sheep. Between 2013 and 2021, court documents said, he conspired with others to create a large hybrid species of sheep that would garner higher prices from shooting preserves. To do so, he brought Marco Polo argali sheep from Kyrgyzstan to the United States without declaring them. His other crimes include forging veterinary documents and shipping hybrid semen to other breeders. He faces jail time, fines and supervised release.

At the Goodwill store in Du Bois, Pa., workers found a treasure in a box of old Lego pieces, United Press International reported March 12: a 14-karat gold Kanohi Hau mask from Lego’s Bionicle collection. Goodwill clerks originally estimated the value at $14.95; the piece eventually sold for $18,100 to an anonymous collector. “We didn’t know it was worth anything until people started asking if they could buy it for $1,000,” said Chad Smith, vice president of e-commerce and technology for Goodwill. Lego created only 30 pieces in gold in 2001.

LAD Bible reported on March 5 about two unacquainted Brits who were headed to Bangkok, Thailand. At the airport, Mark Garland, 58, of Wiltshire, tried to check in, but the gate staff told him he already had. After some sleuthing, they realized there was another Mark Garland (62, from Bristol) on the flight — and the namesakes were seated next to each other. As it happens, they live only about 15 miles apart and sometimes ride the same bus. They even have a friend in common. “We were so shocked by how strange it was,” said the younger Garland. “It was crazy — I have never known anything like it,” said the older. “I’ve made a friend for life.”

The Pittsburgh Penguins planned to provide collectible souvenirs to their passionate patrons on the evening of March 14, ESPN reported. Hockey legend Jaromir Jagr bobbleheads were promised for the game against the San Jose Sharks — but the cargo was stolen during transit. Penguins president of business operations Kevin Acklin said the team is looking forward to “resolving this theft and delivering the prized Jagr bobbleheads to their rightful homes, with our fans.” The team added, “The legend of Jagr continues.”