Unusual News
NYC Settles Yankee Stadium “Enforced Patriotism” Case
It used to be an unwritten rule at Yankee stadium that when “God Bless America” was played during the seventh-inning stretch, fans were supposed to remain still in honor of the patriotic song. But that supposedly will not be the case any longer af... read more
Job Opening: Witch
Wanted: Female (preferable) willing to live in cave, cast spells, and cackle on command. That’s what the British tourist site Wookey Hole is looking for, now that its “witch” has retired.
Wookey officials are willing to pay £50,000 a year for ... read more
Is a College Degree a Bad Investment?
Have things deteriorated so much for higher education in the United States that it is no longer a wise investment to attend college? Jack Hough at SmartMoney says “yes,”
based on the combination of staggering tuitions and the declining value of c... read more
Prison Inmates Raise Endangered Frogs
If the spotted frog manages to make a come back in Oregon, the species will have two state convicts to thank in part for the success story.
Prisoners Harry Greer and Albert Delp, both serving time at the minimum-security Cedar Creek Correction... read more
Tour Guides Sue to Avoid Taking History Test
Who knew Betsy Ross, creator of the American flag, was a femme fatale who killed three of her husbands? Or that Benjamin Franklin fathered 69 illegitimate children? Apparently, such historical inaccuracies have been perpetuated by certain tour gui... read more
Chinese “Anti-Porn” Filter Blocks Johnny Depp and Garfield
The mighty Green Dam of China, a computer software program intended to block pornography on Chinese PCs (and carry out other censorship and spying activities) is also capable of shutting out images of some of America’s favorite exports: Paris Hilt... read more
Marine Recruiting Success Leads to Tighter Standards: No Drugs, No Tattoos
While the U.S. Army has struggled to meet recruiting goals, resulting in lower standards and the enlistment of Neo-Nazis, the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) is turning away people who don’t meet its tougher standards to become one of “the few, the proud... read more
Toronto Fun Guide Cover Digitally Adds Black Father to Family
City officials in Toronto, Canada, are so big on pushing diversity that they doctored the cover photo for their summer events guide, digitally adding the image of an African American man to what appears to be a Latino family. None of the people in... read more
Will Puerto Rico Become the 51st State?
The United States has controlled Puerto Rico for 110 years, yet American lawmakers have never bothered to ask Puerto Ricans what they want to do about their future. But a bill currently in Congress would do just that, by conducting a two-part refe... read more
Mexico Searches for Missing Island (And Oil Rights)
When is a tiny mysterious island bigger than just a “speck” of earth in the ocean? When that speck sits atop huge oil reserves, say officials in Mexico. The long lost Isla Bermeja has been the focus of an intense search by scientists from the Nati... read more
No More “No Child Left Behind”
“No Child Left Behind” is getting an extreme makeover. The controversial education reform plan created during the Bush administration had its red schoolhouse branding image torn down last Saturday outside the Department of Education building in Wa... read more
Imprisoned Judge Tries to Continue Collecting $174,000 Salary
Federal Judge Samuel Kent, convicted of obstructing an investigation into allegations of sexually assaulting female employees, began his 33-month prison sentence on June 15—but decided to post-date his resignation from the bench to June 2010 so he... read more
Truck Driver Files to Run for Congress…Two Elections in Advance
Sam Spradlin can be faulted for lacking political support and fundraising, not to mention a home in the district, as part of his quest to get elected to Congress. But he does not lack foresight or patience. The truck driver and political novice is... read more
The Case in Favor of a $3 Million Turtle Tunnel
Republicans in Congress can complain all they want about how some federal stimulus funds are being spent on so-called frivolous projects, but the Lake Jackson Ecopassage in Florida is not one of them, according to supporters. The project is a $3 m... read more
House Sets Record for Most Votes in One Day: 53
It took nearly eight hours and a record-setting 53 votes, but the House of Representatives finally approved the first appropriations bill for the FY 2010 budget on Thursday. Although the $64.4 billion bill was not without importance—providing fund... read more
Austin First City to Approve “Humanure” Toilet
After years of negotiations with local officials, an off-the-grid collective in Austin, TX, has won approval for the city’s first officially-sanctioned “humanure” toilet—a modern day outhouse that uses no running water. Built by the Rhizome Collec... read more