Some people will do anything to look good. Even something stupid.
SEEKING APPROVAL: Douglas Altman of Florida
FROM WHOM: His mom
HOW: By keeping a huge stockpile of weapons stashed in his condo. In 2000 Altman was arrested for impersonating a Navy officer. Cops then searched his home and found rifles, swords, and 17,000 rounds of ammunition. Asked why he had all that artillery, his attorney explained, “He was trying to impress his mother.”
SEEKING APPROVAL: A 31-year-old Chicago basketball fan
FROM WHOM: Dennis Rodman of the Chicago Bulls
HOW: Trying to “be like Dennis.” The fan got several body piercings to emulate his heavily spiked hero. Unfortunately, they resulted in a severe bacterial infection—from which he barely survived.
SEEKING APPROVAL: Police Chief John Tuchek of Lanesboro, Minnesota
FROM WHOM: His ex-girlfriend
HOW: By burning down her apartment building. He had hoped to be her hero by setting fire to some cardboard behind her building and beating the fire department to the rescue. But the fire got out of control, destroying two century-old buildings and causing an estimated $500,000 in damage.
SEEKING APPROVAL: South Korea
FROM WHOM: The world community
HOW: By treating dogs in a kinder and gentler way. After becoming official hosts of the 2002 World Cup, South Korea took a lot of heat for one of their traditional foods—dog. Trying to polish their image, South Korean officials vowed to improve the conditions in which the specially bred canines are raised. They would not, however, promise to stop eating them.
Per capita, Canadians buy more diamonds than anyone on Earth.