Donut Lovers

Technology find of the day: The Dough-Nu-Matic automatically forms, fries and drains delectable mini-doughnuts in just 50 seconds! Great for large parties and ideal for fundraisers since this machine makes easy-to-sell treats for pennies apiece. Makes a dozen doughnuts in under six minutes. Just add dough and the dough-Nu-Matic does the rest. Enclosed oil fryer keeps cleanup to a minimum. Dials adjust cooking temperature.

A single donut could cost a Missouri man 30 years in jail. Scott A. Masters, 41, is accused of shoplifting and pushing a store worker who tried to stop him. And it's the shove that has taken a simple theft of a donut into something that could land him in jail for a long time. The shove turned the case into strong-arm robbery. That carries a five to 15 year prison term, but with prior convictions he could get as long as 30 years. Farmington is a town of 14,000 people about 70 miles south of St. Louis. Masters is well-known to the police, generally for minor offenses such as drunkenness and marijuana possession, but also for more serious crimes such as insurance fraud. Although many in the town feel this is overkill, both the County Prosecutor and Police Chief keep emphasizing the donut's lack of importance in the case. Farmington Police Chief Rick Baker said "It's not the donut. It's the assault." County Prosecutor Wendy Wexler Horn said, "People are missing the point. It is not about the donut." My take on it: if you were going to do this, you could have at least tried to steal a Krispy Kreme donut!