Flamethrower scooter mod keeps tailgaters at bay. A clever UK plumber, Colin Furze, added the James Bond-like modification to his motorcycle (or “motorbike” as they say in Britain), which shoots a 15-foot column of flame out the back end. This pretty much ensures motorists keep a safe distance behind him. It brings a whole new meaning to the slogan “start seeing motorcycles.”

BC Environment minister sets cat on fire to celebrate Earth Hour. The mishap, which was purely an accident, occurred when British Columbia minister Barry Penner’s misguided feline brushed up against a candle during the lights-out Earth Hour observance last weekend. Penner’s wife, overcome with fur, said “put the cat out.” Literally. Fortunately, the kitty was unharmed, walking away with only some singed hair and a new instinctive fear of fire.

Papalgate continues to unravel for all the world to see. Pope Benedict XVI’s botched handling of the ever-widening sex abuse scandals just seems to be getting juicier all the time, with more evidence of widespread child abuse and cover-ups and denials by the church. Abstinence makes the church grow fondlers.

This week’s edition of NFTS was compiled by Norm, who apparently did some fashion shopping last weekend at the local Army surplus store. He managed to frighten half the people on the block while walking from his car into AITS headquarters yesterday morning. It took him 20 minutes trying to convince all of us that he didn’t join some militia group.