Beer ransom demand for world's highest maypole

[T_i_B]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/04/30/wbeer30.xml&sSheet=/portal/2004/04/30/ixportal.html&secureRefresh=true&_requestid=65151

The world's highest maypole has been kidnapped by ageing thieves who say they used a helicopter to steal it from a mountain peak and are demanding train tickets, beer and sandwiches for its return.

The 60ft, 1,750lb tree trunk had already been painted in traditional blue and white, ready to play the central role in celebrations this week at the top of the 9,718ft Zugspitze, Germany's highest Alp.

But with only two days to go before the dancing is due to start the maypole is missing, authorities who run the train which takes thousands of tourists to the peak each year have confirmed.

"That time they threatened us with lawyers," the wife of one of the thieves told the paper. "But it didn't work. The ransom must be paid." She said the kidnap was an ancient custom and stressed the danger the four had put themselves in to carry it out, flying by helicopter from the Austrian side of the peak.

[Oggy]

1. You're busy this morning

How many new threads are you up to now? I particularly liked this one. A very Friday thread. The Terry Jones one I also enjoyed. Keep up the good work.

[DarkPhenyx]

2. Priorities!

It good to see people maintaining their priorities here! Most people would have gone for something a gauche as money. I applaud their high moral fiber in sticking to something as important as beer.

[porkrind]

3. I think this is great!

What a great sense of humor. I wish we had more of this in the world.

---

Read about the Right-Wing "Master Plan": http://www.zmag.org/chomsky/sam/sam-contents.html

Have you read "War is a Racket"?: http://lexrex.com/enlightened/articles/warisaracket.htm

[VelmaD]

4. How very fun

:)

That's what's wrong with the US...we don't have enough fun traditions like this. There's no Maypole in my hometown for me to go dance around much less steal and hold hostage until they bring me 20 pounds of chocolate. x(

[T_i_B]

6. Only 20 pounds of chocolate?

Surely you could hold out for a bit more than that when you do get round to kidnapping a large pole! :evilgrin:

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

5. Mr Matcom this is THE BEST HEADLINE EVER

I have followed your news posts for some time but I must say that this one takes the biscuit. Surreal and too bizarre to be made up. Dadaists cutting up newspapers couldn't have come up with this shit!

In case it wasn't obvious - my sarcasm button is turned on to mock Matcom because he missed this one!!! Ha ha

[Kellanved]

7. they have reached an agreement - the pole is back

Instead of the demanded 200 liters beer, ten season tickets and free food they only got 50 liters beer and 150 free meals.
http://www.spiegel.de/img/0,1020,350462,00.jpg

Well, the helicopter they used happened to belong to the TV station arte - I guess there will be a documentary soon.