Hi Jim

>He was imitating Steve Austin (the 6 Million Dollar Man), thinking he could stop the car just like him.

Wow :)

>My *guess* is that stuff like that has gone on since there were movies but we are hearing of much more instances because:
>- communication is so good these days;
>- this kind of "news" gives to media cheap 'filler', letting them off-the-hook for "real" news reporting.

This is true, now they have to give new news for 24 hours before any of the other new news 24 hours channel airs it.