http://www.mail.com/subjects/7606-oddities.html Mail.com - the best personalized free web-based Email en en http://sec-s.uicdn.com/mail.com/2.23/img/mailcom_logo_rss.png http://www.mail.com/subjects/7606-oddities.html http://www.mail.com/news/us/1862572-montana-man-up-sob-story-that-pizza.html HELENA, Mont. (AP) — A Montana man whose tearful reluctance to rob a pizza restaurant earned him free food apparently made up the sob story that gained him the clerk's sympathy. David Randall Lacey, 35, entered a Papa John's pizza restaurant on Jan. 22 with a bandanna over his face and gave the clerk a note demanding money, Helena police said. He broke do... Fri, 01 Feb 2013 21:34:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/us/1862572-montana-man-up-sob-story-that-pizza.html 2013-02-01T21:34:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1862208-russian-judge-fired-falling-asleep-court.html MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian judge has been fired after he caught 40 winks in court and then sentenced an outraged defendant to five years in prison. Judge Yevgeny Makhno of Blagoveshchensk City Court in Russia's Far East was forced to resign Friday for obviously falling asleep several times while trying a businessman on charges of fraud. The case became a nat... Fri, 01 Feb 2013 15:42:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1862208-russian-judge-fired-falling-asleep-court.html 2013-02-01T15:42:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1858942-sperm-whale-secretion-spell-fortune-uk-man.html LONDON (AP) — One very smelly sperm whale secretion may soon make one lucky British beachcomber a very happy man. Ken Wilman told British broadcasters that he had been walking along Morecambe beach in northern England when his dog, Madge, discovered a hard, soccer ball-sized piece of smelly rock. "She wouldn't leave it alone. I picked it up and it smelt h... Thu, 31 Jan 2013 13:17:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1858942-sperm-whale-secretion-spell-fortune-uk-man.html 2013-01-31T13:17:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1856394-police-pa-man-stopped-beer-breakout.html BURGETTSTOWN, Pa. (AP) — Police say a western Pennsylvania man stopped at a bar and had a beer minutes after he broke out of a police station holding cell after his arrest on an assault charge. The Washington County public defender's office on Wednesday declined to comment on the charges filed against 40-year-old Smith Township resident Timothy Bonner. Po... Thu, 31 Jan 2013 05:11:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1856394-police-pa-man-stopped-beer-breakout.html 2013-01-31T05:11:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1855778-green-thumb-wash-pot-consultant.html TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — Wanted: A green thumb with extensive knowledge of the black, or at least gray, market. As Washington state tries to figure out how to regulate its newly legal marijuana, officials are hiring an adviser on all things weed: how it's best grown, dried, tested, labeled, packaged and cooked into brownies. Sporting a mix... Wed, 30 Jan 2013 22:01:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1855778-green-thumb-wash-pot-consultant.html 2013-01-30T22:01:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/us/1857028-pipe-theft-report-leads-lincoln-police-to-pot-bust.html LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say they discovered a budding marijuana-growing operation after residents of a Lincoln house called police to report the theft of marijuana pipes. The Lincoln Journal Star reports (http://bit.ly/TBcgDU ) that officers were called to the house Saturday morning. Residents had reported that two people, one of them armed with ... Wed, 30 Jan 2013 17:55:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/us/1857028-pipe-theft-report-leads-lincoln-police-to-pot-bust.html 2013-01-30T17:55:00Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1856236-cyprus-reprints-election-ballots-guinness-flap.html NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — Cyprus has been forced to reprint all 575,000 ballot slips for next month's presidential election after Guinness World Records objected to a candidate's use of its logo, officials said Wednesday. The government will ask Andreas Efstratiou to pay at least €15,000 ($20,000) to cover reprinting costs, election commission official Demet... Wed, 30 Jan 2013 14:57:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1856236-cyprus-reprints-election-ballots-guinness-flap.html 2013-01-30T14:57:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/us/1856336-aspen-reviews-14-mph-speed-limit-to-alert-drivers.html ASPEN, Colo. (AP) — Aspen city council members are considering a 14 mph speed limit in a residential area of the Colorado mountain town in attempt to get the attention of drivers and have them slow down. Residents say few drivers are obeying the current 25 mph speed limit and are ignoring other efforts to protect people. The Aspen Times (http://tinyurl.co... Wed, 30 Jan 2013 14:02:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/us/1856336-aspen-reviews-14-mph-speed-limit-to-alert-drivers.html 2013-01-30T14:02:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/us/1856288-roaming-cows-create-havoc-mass-cemetery.html SOUTHAMPTON, Mass. (AP) — The vandals that damaged a Massachusetts cemetery this week have pleaded "moo." Police say a small herd of cows knocked over 40 American flags and veterans' bronze grave markers, then snacked on a few flower arrangements, at the Center Cemetery in Southampton on Monday. Motorists called to report that the cows were loose. Police ... Wed, 30 Jan 2013 13:52:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/us/1856288-roaming-cows-create-havoc-mass-cemetery.html 2013-01-30T13:52:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/us/1854602-gnomes-to-stay-calif-utility-poles.html OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Small paintings of gnomes that have popped up on utility poles have become a community sensation in Oakland, prompting Pacific Gas & Electric Co. to say Tuesday that it will keep them in place for now. The hand-painted portraits on 6-inch blocks of wood began going up last year in an apparent effort to brighten up the blue-collar Ca... Tue, 29 Jan 2013 19:25:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/us/1854602-gnomes-to-stay-calif-utility-poles.html 2013-01-29T19:25:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1854164-search-golden-cookie-stolen-germany.html BERLIN (AP) — Missing: One golden cookie, weighing around 44 pounds (20 kilograms). Suspect: The Cookie Monster? The rectangular gilded bronze sculpture was part of a statue gracing the facade of German cookie baker Bahlsen's Hannover office. How the century-old symbol was taken remains unclear, but police say witnesses reported having seen two men with a... Tue, 29 Jan 2013 17:25:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1854164-search-golden-cookie-stolen-germany.html 2013-01-29T17:25:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1853230-nyc-pulling-dont-honk-signs.html NEW YORK (AP) — New York City's "Don't Honk" signs are coming down, but it's still against the law to blow a car horn unnecessarily. The city Department of Transportation says all the signs will be removed by the end of the year. According to The New York Times (http://nyti.ms/117Avza ), city officials say the decision is part of an effort to de-clutter t... Tue, 29 Jan 2013 10:03:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1853230-nyc-pulling-dont-honk-signs.html 2013-01-29T10:03:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/us/1851458-library-solves-animal-controls-puppy-poop-problem.html SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — San Francisco's animal control agency is proving that the print editions of newspapers remain just as vital in the digital age. The agency relies on the papers to line cages and catch its puppy's poop. It is now turning to the city's public library to ensure a consistent newspaper supply. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the a... Mon, 28 Jan 2013 17:26:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/us/1851458-library-solves-animal-controls-puppy-poop-problem.html 2013-01-28T17:26:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/us/1850898-library-solves-digital-age-puppy-potty-problem.html SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — San Francisco's animal control agency is relying on donations to solve an unforeseen problem in the digital age — a shortage of newspapers needed for potty training puppies. It seems digital newspaper subscriptions and smartphones have cut the once abundant supplies of old newsprint. Animal Care & Control has been relying on public co... Mon, 28 Jan 2013 13:39:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/us/1850898-library-solves-digital-age-puppy-potty-problem.html 2013-01-28T13:39:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/us/1848426-pa-man-drive-thru-send-off-funeral.html YORK, Pa. (AP) — Mourners at a Pennsylvania fast-food fan's funeral wanted him to have it his way, so they arranged for his hearse — and the rest of the procession — to make one last drive-thru visit before reaching the cemetery. David Kime Jr. "lived by his own rules," daughter Linda Phiel said. He considered the lettuce on a burger his version of health... Sat, 26 Jan 2013 22:38:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/us/1848426-pa-man-drive-thru-send-off-funeral.html 2013-01-26T22:38:00Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1845316-help-too-crocodiles-safrica-police.html JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Calling all crocodile experts — South African police say you're needed to help capture thousands of crocs out on the lam. Thousands of crocodiles escaped a breeding farm along a river on the South Africa-Botswana border when the farms' gates were opened earlier this week to alleviate pressure caused by rising flood waters. ... Fri, 25 Jan 2013 15:40:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1845316-help-too-crocodiles-safrica-police.html 2013-01-25T15:40:00Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1843298-worms-zimbabwe-snack-tree-to-dinner-table.html GWANDA, Zimbabwe (AP) — In Zimbabwe, mopane worms are a staple part of the diet in rural areas and are considered a delicacy in the cities. They can be eaten dry, as crunchy as potato chips, or cooked and drenched in sauce. When harvest season for the worms began recently, I decided to document the process, and I found it somewhat stomach-turning. But the worms can be mighty... Fri, 25 Jan 2013 03:54:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1843298-worms-zimbabwe-snack-tree-to-dinner-table.html 2013-01-25T03:54:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1844508-prostitution-sting-lures-woman-straight-to-police.html SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Authorities say a 20-year-old Portland woman drove 50 miles to reach the man she thought was her client after being solicited for prostitution through phone and text messages. But there was something unusual about the destination: It was the Salem Police Department. Stranger still, police say the woman walked past several uniformed offi... Thu, 24 Jan 2013 22:12:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1844508-prostitution-sting-lures-woman-straight-to-police.html 2013-01-24T22:12:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1843410-ireland-wont-ease-drunken-driving-law-farmers.html DUBLIN (AP) — A license to drive drunk? Some small-town politicians think it's just the tonic for rural Ireland. Councilmen in Kerry, southwest Ireland, passed a motion this week asking the government to create a permit that would allow isolated farmers the ability to drink a few pints and then return home in their car, or on their tractor, without fear o... Thu, 24 Jan 2013 17:50:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1843410-ireland-wont-ease-drunken-driving-law-farmers.html 2013-01-24T17:50:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1841946-flower-eating-goat-cleared-vandalism.html SYDNEY (AP) — Gary the flower-eating goat's graze with Australian police has ended with his comedian owner getting the last laugh in court. A Sydney judge ruled Wednesday that neither the goat nor his owner could be found guilty of vandalism over an August incident when Gary decided to snack on a flowerbed outside a city museum. Police at the time leveled... Thu, 24 Jan 2013 01:05:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1841946-flower-eating-goat-cleared-vandalism.html 2013-01-24T01:05:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1841258-trader-joes-raises-price-two-buck-chuck.html SANTA ROSA, Calif. (AP) — The popular wine known as "Two-Buck Chuck" will need a new name after the bargain beverage's price was raised. The Santa Rosa Press Democrat reports (http://bit.ly/V7znEA ) that over the past decade shoppers at Trader Joe's California stores paid $1.99 for a bottle of Charles Shaw shiraz or cabernet sauvignon. ... Wed, 23 Jan 2013 19:30:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1841258-trader-joes-raises-price-two-buck-chuck.html 2013-01-23T19:30:00Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1836972-nz-to-eradicate-pet-cats-purr-ish-thought.html WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Gareth Morgan has a simple dream: a New Zealand free of pet cats that threaten native birds. But the environmental advocate has triggered a claws-out backlash with his anti-feline campaign. Morgan called on his countrymen Tuesday to make their current cat their last in order to save the nation's unique bird species. He set u... Wed, 23 Jan 2013 01:52:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1836972-nz-to-eradicate-pet-cats-purr-ish-thought.html 2013-01-23T01:52:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/us/1837630-soda-spills-freezes-pa-road-when-rigs-crash.html READING, Pa. (AP) — Everyone knows soda can be bad for your teeth. Sometimes, it can apparently threaten the morning commute, too. Police say two tractor-trailers collided on U.S. Route 422 outside Reading, Pa., around 12:40 a.m. Tuesday. The Reading Eagle reports (http://bit.ly/10mYCVv ) one of the trucks was carrying 2-liter bottles of soda. ... Tue, 22 Jan 2013 14:00:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/us/1837630-soda-spills-freezes-pa-road-when-rigs-crash.html 2013-01-22T14:00:00Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1836272-artists-obsession-with-twinkies-spans-4-decades.html RENO, Nev. (AP) — Long before Hostess Brands' plan to shut down made Twinkies the rage, Nancy Peppin found something special about the cream-filled snack cakes. No, she doesn't have a sweet tooth for them. But she has featured Twinkies in hundreds of pieces of quirky, satirical artwork because of an obsession with what she calls the "ultimate American foo... Mon, 21 Jan 2013 21:26:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1836272-artists-obsession-with-twinkies-spans-4-decades.html 2013-01-21T21:26:00Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1831668-explorers-rare-scotch-returned-to-antarctic-stash.html SCOTTBASE, Antarctica (AP) — Talk about whisky on ice: Three bottles of rare, 19th century Scotch found beneath the floor boards of Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackelton's abandoned expedition base were returned to the polar continent Saturday after a distiller flew them to Scotland to recreate the long-lost recipe. But not even New Zealand Prime Minister ... Sat, 19 Jan 2013 11:37:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1831668-explorers-rare-scotch-returned-to-antarctic-stash.html 2013-01-19T11:37:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/us/1831144-sheriff-calif-burglar-was-using-sauna.html SAN ANDREAS, Calif. (AP) — Authorities in Northern California say a man arrested in nothing but a trench coat and socks after a break-in told investigators he had been using the homeowner's sauna. Calaveras (ka-luh-VER'-is) County sheriff's deputies arrested 49-year-old Robert London this week after they responded to a report of a burglary at a home in Sa... Fri, 18 Jan 2013 21:46:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/us/1831144-sheriff-calif-burglar-was-using-sauna.html 2013-01-18T21:46:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1830068-polite-british-vandal-guilty-damaging-cars.html LONDON (AP) — A British professor who specializes in cities and urban life has been convicted of damaging luxury cars with graffiti that was surprisingly polite. Stephen Graham was found guilty Friday of using a screwdriver to scrawl inoffensive words such as "very silly," ''really wrong" and "arbitrary" into the paintwork of vehicles including a Mercedes... Fri, 18 Jan 2013 15:21:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1830068-polite-british-vandal-guilty-damaging-cars.html 2013-01-18T15:21:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1824838-detective-prankster-registered-obama-2008.html PITTSBURGH (AP) — A Pennsylvania detective is trying to figure out how an apparent prankster was able to fill out a 2008 voter registration card signed "Barack H. Obama." By the time Butler County elections officials processed the card, it went into the state's computerized database with the last name "Obana" — that is, with an 'n' in place of the 'm.' Bu... Wed, 16 Jan 2013 16:09:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1824838-detective-prankster-registered-obama-2008.html 2013-01-16T16:09:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1824582-pa-detective-prankster-registered-obama.html PITTSBURGH (AP) — A Pennsylvania detective is trying to figure out how a prankster was able to fill out a 2008 voter registration card signed "Barack H. Obama." Butler County Detective Scott Roskovski says nobody voted using the bogus voter registration card, though filling it out falsely could be a felony. Elections officials in the county north of Pitts... Wed, 16 Jan 2013 14:24:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1824582-pa-detective-prankster-registered-obama.html 2013-01-16T14:24:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/us/1822196-ohio-ex-teacher-sues-fears-young-kids.html CINCINNATI (AP) — A former high school teacher is accusing school district administrators of discriminating against her because of a rare phobia she says she has: a fear of young children. Maria Waltherr-Willard, 61, had been teaching Spanish and French at Mariemont High School in Cincinnati since 1976. Waltherr-Willard, who does not have children of her ... Tue, 15 Jan 2013 18:21:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/us/1822196-ohio-ex-teacher-sues-fears-young-kids.html 2013-01-15T18:21:00Z