strange stuff

From strange crimes to strange celebrity deaths, read all of the latest weird and strange stuff news stories on Newser.com

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Grandpa Wakes Up Screaming in Morgue

Needless to say, the South African man was not actually dead

(Newser) - A South African grandfather is apparently just fine after spending 21 hours inside a morgue—but we're guessing family dinners are going to be awkward for a while. His family assumed he was dead when they were unable to wake him up, and called for an undertaker. But he...

Sinkhole: Woman in Guatemala City Finds 40-Foot Sinkhole Under Bed
 Woman Discovers 
 40-Foot Sinkhole 
 Under Bed 
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Jul 24, 2011 6:04 PM CDT

Woman Discovers 40-Foot Sinkhole Under Bed

She heard a loud boom, and then...

(Newser) - This makes monsters under the bed sound tame: A woman in Guatemala City heard a loud noise on Monday and tracked down the source—a 40-foot-deep sinkhole under her bed. "When we heard the loud boom we thought a gas canister from a neighboring home had exploded, or there...

Feds Pay for Study on Gay Men's Penis Size
 Taxpayers Fund Study 
 on Gay Men's Penis Size 
in case you missed it
Jul 23, 2011 7:30 PM CDT

Taxpayers Fund Study on Gay Men's Penis Size

To some, the results are less shocking than the study itself

(Newser) - Who's more preoccupied with the penis size of gay men: other gay men or the government? The National Institutes of Health recently conducted a study to find out how penis size affects the sexual health of gay men, reports the Daily Caller . Among the findings: Those who felt they...

Utah's Odd Liquor Laws Kill Some of the Buzz

The state's liquor laws are ... unusual

(Newser) - Happy hour never comes, you'll never see a restaurant bartender mix your drink, stiff drinks are a no-no, and don't even bother asking about a drink special … welcome to Utah! Though the state's infamously strict liquor laws lightened up considerably in 2009, the system remains rife...

Amish Teen Takes Cops on Buggy Chase

Police say he was drinking a beer

(Newser) - You shouldn't drink and drive—no matter what kind of horsepower you're riding. A 17-year-old Amish boy driving a buggy in upstate New York led deputies on a short chase after they saw him with an open can of beer, reports the Buffalo News . Once stopped, deputies say...

Food and Dieting Trick: Use a Bigger Fork
 Bigger Fork= 
 Smaller Meals 
study says
Jul 18, 2011 4:24 PM CDT

Bigger Fork= Smaller Meals

Users of bigger utensil left more food untouched

(Newser) - Looking to eat less? Try bigger utensils. A study compared how much restaurant-goers ate using different forks, one 20% larger than a standard restaurant fork, and the other 20% smaller. Researchers discovered that those who employed the big fork left more food uneaten—7.91 ounces of food compared to...

Guy Tries to Cremate Dog, Sets Fire to House

Now he's without his best friend and a place to live

(Newser) - A Virginia man accidentally set fire to his house while trying to cremate his dead dog, reports InsideNova . He reportedly set fire to wood that he placed next to the body of his 11-year-old Rottweiler, and added gasoline to encourage the backyard fire. The intensified flames caused $70,000 worth...

Squatter Gets Texas Luxury Home for $16

Uses an obscure "adverse possession" law to acquire ownership

(Newser) - Thanks to a little-known Texas real estate law, one creative guy seems to have snagged a $300,000 Texas home for just $16, reports KHOU-TV . Kenneth Robinson found a high-end home that had been abandoned after the owner walked away and the mortgage company went bankrupt. Then he filled out...

North Dakota May Not Be a State


 North Dakota 
 May Not Be a State 
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Jul 16, 2011 7:00 PM CDT

North Dakota May Not Be a State

Local historian trying to get constitutional 'oops' fixed

(Newser) - North Dakota has been a state since 1889—or has it? An 82-year-old government watchdog and local historian has been trying, for 16 years, to get someone to notice an important flaw in the state's constitution that he says renders North Dakota's very statehood invalid. The state constitution...

Philippines: Geckos Won't Cure AIDS

Health officials suggest trying actual medicine

(Newser) - Put down that gecko: The Philippine health department is warning citizens that using geckos to treat AIDS, asthma, and tuberculosis doesn't work and endangers those who don't seek proper treatment. There's no scientific evidence to the folklore behind the practice, and it's caused an increase in...

Peanut-Throwing Man Banned From Flying

He also had to forfeit his driver's license and passport

(Newser) - A Utah man may have gotten us that much closer to peanuts being banned on planes. Pogos Paul Sefilian is accused of throwing peanuts and pretzels at crew during a flight, and is now prohibited from flying on commercial airlines, reports Connect2Utah . He also allegedly refused to put away an...

Woman Mistaken for Casey Anthony, Attacked

Sammay Blackwell thinks she was targeted because they look alike

(Newser) - Looks like it may indeed be a good idea for Casey Anthony to disguise herself : In Chouteau, Oklahoma, a woman allegedly tried to kill an Anthony look-alike. Sammay Blackwell was working at her convenience store job last week when a suspicious-looking woman visited the store after 10pm. But after Blackwell...

Jail Lets Alleged Child Rapist Watch Videos of His Attacks

Acting as own lawyer, Weldon Gilbert must be given access to evidence

(Newser) - A loophole in Washington state law allows a man charged with sexually assaulting children to watch child porn—in a county jail, no less, KIRO-FM reports. Weldon Gilbert has chosen to defend himself, and all evidence in his case must be made available to the defense, including video of Gilbert...

Ukraine Zoo Gets Two-Headed Snake

And each has a mind of its own

(Newser) - A two-headed snake has gone on display at a zoo in southern Ukraine. The "Skazka" (Fairy tale) zoo in Yalta on the Black Sea said today that the albino California Kingsnake has two heads that think, react, and eat separately, though one is more passive than the other. A...

Swimmer Takes Dip in Central Park Reservoir

He's lassoed by firefighters

(Newser) - It apparently got a little too hot yesterday for a guy who decided to take a leisurely swim—through New York City's Central Park Reservoir. The swimmer, in his 40s, scaled a chain link fence surrounding the 40-foot-deep reservoir. He refused firefighters' orders to get out, so three of...

Drunk Actor Breaks Into Late Show Theater

22-year-old smashes glass, crawls inside

(Newser) - A struggling actor stuck waiting tables managed to make an appearance at the Ed Sullivan Theater—and was arrested for his trouble. Police say James Whittemore, 22, kicked through a glass door at the home of the Late Show with David Letterman yesterday morning, after a night of drinking, and...

Metal Sticks to 'Magnet Boy' Paulo David Amorim
 Metal Sticks to 'Magnet Boy' 
Jul 10, 2011 5:17 PM CDT

Metal Sticks to 'Magnet Boy'

Doctor says Paulo David Amorim's health not at risk

(Newser) - A real-life Magneto in Brazil? Metal appears to stick to Paulo David Amorim, reports the AP , citing local media. The 11-year-old’s apparently magnetic qualities have led classmates to nickname him “magnet boy.” Though a doctor says he’s never seen such a case before, he adds that...

The Weird, Wild World of Walmart

Strange stories often take place at the retail giant's stores

(Newser) - Does Walmart imitate life or does life imitate Walmart? The ubiquitous big-box chain is very often the setting for births, deaths, marriages, and strange events, reports the Wall Street Journal . Recent incidents include: a man dressed as a cow who stole 26 gallons of milk from a Virginia store in...

NFL Receiver Sues to Get Engagement Ring Back

...after sending it to intended through mail

(Newser) - Take note: It's probably not a great idea to propose marriage by sending a $76,600 engagement ring through the mail, unless you're absolutely certain your intended is going to say yes. Dallas Cowboys receiver Roy Williams sent a ring to former Miss Texas USA Brooke Daniels around...

Saks Fifth Avenue Coming to ... Kazakhstan

Luxury retailer to open 3-story location in August 2012

(Newser) - Soon the fine and fashionable people of Kazakhstan will be able to shop in added style: Luxury retailer Saks said today it will open a Saks Fifth Avenue store in August 2012. Saks plans to license the store, which will be built in the former capital of Almaty. Financial terms...

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