Unusual News
Postal Service Breaks Tradition to Begin Honoring Living Americans (and Make More Money)
It used to be a person had to be dead for at least five years before their likeness could appear on a postage stamp. But with the U.S. Postal Service desperately in need of more money, Postmaster Patrick Donahue has decided to make the living el... read more
Helium Shortage Hits U.S. Forces in Afghanistan
Blimps, a tool of warfare utilized in World War I, are making a comeback in Afghanistan, where the large inflatable vehicles are helping the U.S. spy on insurgents.
But using blimps has run into a problem: not enough helium is available. Wit... read more
Arkansas Town Unveils Sculpture to Honor 15-Minute Visit by Beatles
Their appearance was fleeting but nonetheless memorable as far as the small Arkansas town of Walnut Ridge is concerned.
On September 18, 1964, the Beatles landed unannounced at an old World War II air base outside the sleepy town so that Joh... read more
Obama Administration Officials Brief Reporters on Transparency Plans…Anonymously
“Since the first day of his Administration, President Barack Obama has made Open Government a high priority.” Thus begins the latest product of the Obama administration’s effort at transparency—an opening sentence of a report that was unveile... read more
Scientists on Trial in Italy for Failing to Warn about Deadly Earthquake
Seismologists around the world are closely watching an unprecedented legal case in Italy that is threatening to indict their entire profession.
On trial are seven scientists and other experts accused of manslaughter for allegedly failing to ... read more
U.S. and Australia in Diplomatic Clash…over Vegemite
Australia’s Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd loves his Vegemite, but enjoying it in the United States has become a challenge.
On Sunday, Rudd had to convince American customs inspectors at a New York City airport not to confiscate his Vegemite, a... read more
Air Force Postpones Missile Test Scheduled for Annual International Peace Day
This year’s annual International Day of Peace won’t be marred by an American missile launch after all.
Last month, when the U.S. Air Force announced plans to conduct another Minuteman 3 missile test off the coast of California on September 2... read more
Suspended Animation Earns FDA Approval
Once considered the dream of science fiction writers, the use of suspended animation has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for clinical trials.
Spearheading the futuristic technique is Dr. Peter Rhee, who gained na... read more
West Virginia’s Safety Zone for People Allergic to Wi-Fi
For those physically affected by wireless signals, the place to go is in a remote part of West Virginia made possible by the U.S. government.
In the small town of Green Bank (population: 143), residents can live free of wireless signals. Exp... read more
Idaho Farmers Lose $17 Million for Filing Complaint a Day Late
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals refused to cut a group of Idaho farmers any slack in their fight against the federal government for contaminating their crops with a powerful herbicide.
The issue dates back to 1999-2000, when the Bureau of... read more
Lacoste Asks Norwegian Police to Prevent Mass Murderer from Wearing Brand to Court
Clothing brand Lacoste has one devoted customer it wished it didn’t: mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik.
The man behind the July 22 massacre in Norway that killed 77 people says his favorite line of clothing is Lacoste, which offers the id... read more
Best WikiLeaks Revelation of the Week: Indian Politician Sent Private Jet to Pick up Sandals
Politics in India’s state of Uttar Pradesh means dealing with Chief Minister Mayawati, for whom the terms ambitious and self-serving don’t even begin to describe.
According to a State Department cable released by WikiLeaks, Mayawati is “a firs... read more
Man Charged with Illegal Mining in National Forest…for the Last 4 Years
Roirdon Doremus of Idaho spent four years operating an illegal ore mining operation in the Nez Perce National Forest before the U.S. government took action to stop him.
With the help of “an International 125 bulldozer/backhoe, a trammel, a p... read more
German City Installs Sex Tax Ticket Dispensers for Prostitutes
Feed-the-meter has a whole new meaning in the German city of Bonn, where prostitutes working the streets must plunk money into converted parking meters before going to work.
In certain areas of Bonn where sex workers can operate legally, the... read more
No Solar Panels on the White House
To demonstrate President Barack Obama’s commitment to “green” power solutions, the administration’s top energy official promised 10 months ago that solar technology would be installed on top of the White House by the start of summer.
With su... read more
Gaddafi Collected Photos of Condoleezza Rice
Apparently former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made quite an impression on former dictator Muammar Gaddafi when she visited Libya three years ago.
As rebels ransacked Gaddafi’s compound this week, they found a photo album brimming with ... read more