Vending machines for the rich, and more

Vending machines for the rich

A Beverly Hills gourmet market has installed a vending machine in a shopping mall that dispenses caviar and truffles. With prices ranging from $50 to $500, mall shoppers can use the vending machine to buy “a large selection of the world’s finest selection of caviar, truffles, escargot, bottarga, blinis, oils, mother-of-pearl plates and spoons, gift boxes, and gourmet salts.” Initially, at least, shoppers were more puzzled than enticed. “I can think of probably better things I can buy out of a vending machine than fish eggs,” said one shopper.

Living on the highway

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When two families refused to leave their apartment building to make way for a new road, Chinese transportation officials built the road anyway. The five-story building in Zhejiang province is now entirely surrounded by roadway. Zhang Ling, 46, says the government didn’t offer his family enough compensation, and he still has no intention of moving. “It could be a good opportunity for us,” Zhang said. “We could open up a drive-through shop on the ground floor.”

Smothering love from Germany

A German woman is accused of trying to kill her boyfriend by smothering him with her 38DD breasts. Franziska Hansen, 33, was allegedly upset that boyfriend Tim Schmidt was planning to leave her. While the couple were in bed, Schmidt said, she “grabbed my head and pushed it between her breasts with all her force. I couldn’t breathe anymore. I thought I was going to die.” Schmidt claims Hansen later confessed, saying, “‘I wanted your death to be as pleasurable as possible.’”