Fact from Fiction ***Updated***

Browsing through the newspaper yesterday, I came across a story that I found fascinating. It was reported that in Fort Sumner, New Mexico, a mouse took his revenge on a local homeowner. Luciano Mares, 81, was reported to have caught a mouse inside his house. As he was burning some leaves outside, he tossed the mouse into the fire. The mouse was then reported to have ran from the fire and back into the house. At which time the house caught fire destroying all contents of the home.

I thought that this would make a great post. The story had so many angles to it. I could write about the old adage of if you build a better mousetrap then God would make a better mouse, or maybe a story of mice being the next terrorist arm of PETA, or even a story of one man getting his just desserts. There was only one problem. The entire story is one steaming load of bullshit.

The local newschannel after reading the story sent a reporter to interview Mr. Mares and he stated that he did not know how the reporter came up with his story. He stated that yes it was true that he had killed a mouse earlier in the day and yes he had thrown the dead mouse into the fire. He went on to say that the mouse was dead and stayed that way. It was high winds that carried the fire to his house and caused it to catch fire not a reanimated mouse.

I expect reading hoaxes on e-mails and when surfing the net. In fact, I make it a weekly habit to go to Snopes.com in order to sort through the real from the unreal. I do not expect to read this kind of crap in a regional paper. I hope that this reporter for the AP gets his ass fired. Strange but true stories are something that I can't get enough of but for fake news I can watch 'The Daily Show' or 'SNL'. I do not need it disguised as real news.

*** And Now The Update***

It seems that Luciano Mares has recanted his story (the second one). Now this geezer states that his original story is the straight dope. According to Mares the mouse did indeed escape the fiery inferno. The heat from the blazing leaves loosend this prison of glue and he rushed back to the house starting the fire.

Fort Sumner Fire Cheif, Juan Chavez, believes him. He states, 'There's no reason for him to lie about what he told us. I don't doubt it at all.'

Well maybe he had no reason to lie when he gave his story to the local newschannel, but I can think of a few reasons for him to recant his story to this newschannel; Publishers, talk shows, and possibly free sex from Peta activists to name a few. I know the last item might be a little far-fetched but it is a sick world and I am a happy man.

My apologies to the A.P. reporter. I hope that your pen forever hold ink and that you don't meet up with another wishy-washy geezer for quite some time.