The Odd Truth, Sept. 30, 2004

The Odd Truth is a collection of strange but factual news stories from around the world compiled by CBSNews.com's Brian Bernbaum.

Man-Shaped Pillow

NAGAREYAMA, Japan - After a long night at work as a radio DJ, Junko Suzuki likes to snuggle at bedtime — and she says she's found the perfect partner: a man-shaped pillow.

Linen maker Kameo Corp.'s new "Boyfriend's Arm Pillow" — which consists of a headless torso and a stuffed arm that curls around the sleeper — might make some people uneasy.

But not Suzuki, or about 1,000 others in Japan who have bought the pillow, which Kameo says is the first of its kind. The product went on the market last December.

"I like to sleep holding someone's hand," Suzuki, 34. "And this pillow makes me feel relaxed because I can hold the arm and feel something warm at my side."

Kameo, based in the southern Japanese city of Fukuoka, says the pillow is not only an emotional comfort, but that its shape keeps the body balanced by supporting the sleeper from both sides.

Sleepers typically curl up in between the body of the pillow and the crooked arm, with the sleeper's head resting on the pillow's "bicep."

"My grandmother used to say that there is nothing more comfortable pillow than human," said Kameo President Tomoki Kakehashi. "So, I thought that maybe women would want to sleep on an arm-shaped pillow."

The pillow is only on sale in Japan, where customers can buy one for $80. Covered in a shirt-shaped pillow cover, it comes in blue, pink or green.

For Suzuki, who is estranged from her husband, the pillow has definite advantages: It doesn't squirm or thrash in the night, and you know it'll be there in the morning.

"It keeps holding me all the way through," she said in her home outside of Tokyo. "I think this is great because this does not betray me."

The company also has a prototype for its next big project: a female pillow for men. This one will be shaped like a woman's lap, with a "skirt" cover.

"I always thought someone's lap would the best pillow for me," said Kakehashi.

Customer Isn't Always Right After-All

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Police say a woman put a Harrisburg-area supermarket employee in a headlock after the employee refused to leave her post to get her iced tea and lemonade.

Police say a shopper at a self-checkout lane at the Giant supermarket in Lower Paxton Township insisted Tuesday that the clerk retrieve jugs of lemonade and iced tea for her.

Police say the woman started arguing after the clerk said she couldn't leave her post at the U-Scan register.

A second woman entered the store and told her friend to hurry up. When the first woman explained the clerk wouldn't help her, police say, the second woman jabbed her finger into the clerk's head, struck her in the shoulder and placed her in a headlock.

Police say other customers broke the fight up and the clerk escaped injury. The two women ran out of the store but police say they expect to make arrests.

Man Stages Fake Assault To Impress Wife

EDMOND, Okla. - A man staged a fake home invasion so he could impress his wife by chasing off the supposed bad guys, police said.

On Monday night, a 27-year-old man and his 31-year-old wife reported that two males in ski masks broke into the house, bound her hands with duct tape and put her in the bathroom.

The man was not home at the time.

He told police he came home and scared the men away, hitting one of them with a two-by-four.

Police spokeswoman Glynda Chu said the invaders were a juvenile and an 18-year-old man, who had been told it was a practical joke by the woman's husband.

One told his parents what happened, and they notified police.

Chu said the homeowner told police it was a hoax when he was questioned Tuesday. He told police he was trying to convince his wife he was a hero, and had asked the two teenagers to stage the break-in, police said.

No arrests were made and police did not release the names of the people involved.

A Whale Of A Ride

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. - Spyros Vamvas caught more than waves on a recent surfing trip.

The 60-year-old San Clemente therapist felt the ocean swirl under him and was lifted up, but when he looked down, he realized it wasn't the water he was riding - it was a whale.

"All of a sudden I just felt, wow, this huge noise and bump," said Vamvas, "and it lifted my board up. I'm looking down, and there's just swirling water and I see barnacles on the back of the whale. I'm used to dolphins. This was different. It was huge."

Witnesses at Lasuen Beach Monday morning began yelling.

"We were all screaming, `Oh my God!"' said Mona Ferner, who was playing volleyball with her sister when she spied the whale.

Vamvas had no idea how big the whale was. Others on the beach guessed between 15 feet to 30 feet long, meaning the whale was likely a juvenile.

Vamvas, who has been surfing since he was 12, said the whale lifted him gently. "I never changed position on my board," he added.

Those who saw the incident said that after setting Vamvas back onto the water, the whale turned and headed out toward the open sea.

"It looked like the whale was obviously spooked," said Marine Safety Capt. Bill Humphreys, one of several lifeguards on the beach.

The sight of the whale scared a number of surfers out of the water, Humphreys said. Vamvas was the only one left in the surf line as the whale approached. Witnesses said he was looking out to sea in search of a wave and didn't appear to see the animal heading his way.

Vamvas said that his 6-foot, 10-inch surfboard wasn't damaged, though he did pinch the middle finger of his left hand between the whale and his surfboard.

"A pretty odd deal," said Tom Kibblewhite, a San Clemente hotel worker. "I've seen some odd things down here at the beach, but not like that."

Talk About Hot Pants!

PINE BLUFF, Ark. - Police in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, report a jealous husband burned down his trailer when he set a pair of his wife's pants on fire. According to authorities, Leroy Brown accused his wife of fooling around. When he confronted her about the alleged tryst, police say he burned the pants his wife was supposedly wearing during the affair. Authorities say Brown dropped the flaming pants when he burned his fingers, and his mobile home went up in flames. Brown was held on an arson charge while prosecutors review the details of the case.

Sheriff: 'Thank God For The Dumb Ones'

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - In search of a date, an ex-con instead found a quick way behind bars when police said he tried to use a checking account that wasn't his - that of the Madison County Jail.

David Wroten was charged with financial fraud for allegedly using the account to try to cover the $39.95 membership fee for an online dating service, prosecutors said.

"How dumb is it to use a law enforcement agency as your bank, so to speak? I guess if you're going to scam somebody, picking on John Q. Public is one way to go, but picking on your neighborhood Police Department is even worse," said Sheriff Robert Hertz.

Wroten, 20, allegedly got the account number from a check issued to him for money left over in a jail account when he was released in April after being held there on a theft charge.

Shortly after, Wroten allegedly registered for the dating service, which accepts wire transfers from checking accounts for the membership fee. He allegedly gave them the jail's account number.

The bank stopped the transfer and authorities began investigating.

"Thank God for the dumb ones, because this dating service apparently requires that you post a picture of yourself so prospective dates can see what you look like before they contact you," Hertz said.