Odd News

Tortoise returned after 2 1/2 weeks on the lam

AP - Fri Jul 4, 4:36 AM ET

HIGHLAND, Ind. - A 60-pound tortoise that escaped from a family's garage last month is back home after a 2 1/2-week adventure that took him through three northwestern Indiana towns.

  • Youths sit in the fast food restaurant 'Buns and Guns' in Beirut, Lebanon, June 27, 2008. The military themed restaurant opened this month in the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital. The restaurant's chef wears a military outfit and its customers sit behind a wall of sandbags. Food is served under the slogan 'a sandwich can kill you'. (Cynthia Karam/Reuters)
    Restaurant makes meal out of war Reuters - Tue Jul 1, 3:52 PM ET

    BEIRUT (Reuters) - At "Buns and Guns" you can order a "Kalashnikov" sandwich from a bullet-shaped menu, prepared by chefs in military fatigues with the roar of explosions as background music.

  • The Swedish flag flies over the finish area at the Alpine Skiing World Championships 2007 in Are February 10, 2007. (Pascal Lauener/Reuters)
    Drunken Swede tries to row home from Denmark Reuters - Mon Jun 30, 1:02 PM ET

    COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - A drunken 78-year-old Swede stole a dinghy after a night out in the Danish town of Helsingor and tried to row back to Sweden, but fell asleep halfway, Danish police said on Monday.

  • A giraffe licks its face in the Kariega Game Reserve east of Port Elizabeth, South Africa, January 5, 2008. (Alex Grimm/Reuters)
    Police suspect giraffe in circus breakout Reuters - Mon Jun 30, 1:02 PM ET

    AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Fifteen camels, two zebras and several llamas and pot-bellied pigs escaped from a circus visiting Amsterdam early Monday, police said.

  • Controversial tiger photos faked Reuters - Mon Jun 30, 1:01 PM ET

    BEIJING (Reuters) - China has fired a number of government officials and arrested a man in connection with a set of fake photographs that local authorities had said was proof of the existence of a highly endangered tiger.

  • A sign promoting the auction of all Ian Usher's possessions stands outside his house in Perth in this undated handout photo made available to Reuters on June 18, 2008. (Handout/Reuters)
    Man auctions off his life, sale price disappoints Reuters - Mon Jun 30, 1:00 PM ET

    SYDNEY (Reuters) - A man who put his life up for auction on eBay found it wasn't worth quite as much as he thought when he settled for around A$100,000 less than his target price.

  • U.S. trade court rules against sex-bias claim Reuters - Thu Jul 3, 5:51 PM ET

    WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. trade court on Thursday rejected an importer's claim that differing tariff rates for men's gloves amounted to unconstitutional sex discrimination, in a case closely watched by the fashion industry.

  • Former Polish President Lech Walesa talks during an interview following a news conference in Vienna March 28, 2008. REUTERS/Heinz-Peter Bader
    Polish bank rejects Walesa commemoration coin Reuters - Thu Jul 3, 12:19 PM ET

    WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland's central bank confirmed on Thursday it had turned down a request to mint a coin with the image of ex-president and Nobel Laureate Lech Walesa, but denied suggestions that its decision was politically motivated.

  • A pig, which was rescued after being buried for 36 days beneath rubble in quake-hit Sichuan province, is seen in Dayi county, Sichuan province July 1, 2008. The hog was 50 kilograms when it was found and currently weighs nearly 100 kilograms, China Daily reported. Picture taken July 1, 2008. REUTERS/China Daily
    Chinese man gets award for caring for quake pig Reuters - Thu Jul 3, 1:02 AM ET

    BEIJING (Reuters) - A Chinese man who bought an emaciated pig who survived for 36 days under rubble after May's massive Sichuan earthquake and promised to care for it for life has been given an award by an animal rights group.

  • An Armenian worshipper lights a candle during Sunday mass in Istanbul January 13, 2008. REUTERS/Osman Orsal
    Taiwan man pays dearly for fiery romantic gesture Reuters - Thu Jul 3, 4:48 AM ET

    TAIPEI (Reuters) - A Taiwanese man's show of love for his girlfriend has backfired after an arrangement of candles in the shape of the words "I love you" started a blaze at a hotel.

  • Ashley MacIssac plays the fiddle in an undated handout photo. REUTERS/Paquin Entertainment/Handout
    Fiddler looks for quick payday via eBay Reuters - Wed Jul 2, 8:57 PM ET

    TORONTO (Reuters) - A Canadian fiddler who is no stranger to controversy has put half his future music earnings up for sale on eBay, the auction website.

  • Takeru Kobayashi, left, of Japan poses for photographs with last years hot dog eating champion Joey Chestnut, of San Jose, Calif. during the weigh in news conference for the Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest Thursday, July 3, 2008 in New York. The contest will take place Friday July 4, 2008 in the Coney Island section of the Brooklyn borough of New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
    Former hot-dog champ Kobayashi hungry to regain title AP - 16 minutes ago

    NEW YORK - He's gone from hot-dog top dog to underdog. Renowned competitive eater Takeru Kobayashi is aiming to chomp his way back to the top of the annual Fourth of July hot dog eating competition on Coney Island after a disappointing three-dog loss last year shattered his six-year winning streak.

  • Lake Toya is seen from the window of the main lobby of The Windsor Hotel, the venue of the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit in Toyako, on Japan's northern island of Hokkaido July 2, 2008. REUTERS/Issei Kato
    G8 leaders to wish upon a bamboo tree Reuters - Wed Jul 2, 9:44 PM ET

    TOKYO (Reuters) - World leaders converging in Japan for the Group of Eight summit won't wish upon a star, but instead post their hopes on a bamboo tree.

  • Man accused of robbing, then hugging Mo. victim AP - Thu Jul 3, 9:12 PM ET

    POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. - Police in the southeast Missouri town of Poplar Bluff are looking for the gunman who robbed a man on Monday night, then gave him a hug before fleeing.

  • Leona Helmsley is seen in New York in this January 21, 2003 file photo. REUTERS/Chip East
    New York magnate leaves billions to the dogs Reuters - Tue Jul 1, 10:20 PM ET

    NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York hotelier and real estate magnate Leona Helmsley left millions to her beloved dog, Trouble, but she has left billions for the care of dogs in general, The New York Times said on Tuesday.

  • Man nabbed after calling cops on stolen cell phone AP - Thu Jul 3, 9:12 PM ET

    DULUTH, Minn. - A Duluth man is under arrest after he called police on a cell phone from a purse he had just allegedly snatched. Police arrested the 29-year-old man on Wednesday.

  • A general view of the fast food restaurant "Buns and Guns" in Beirut June 27, 2008. The restaurant with a military theme opened this month in the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital. The restaurant's chef wears a military outfit and its customers sit behind a wall of sandbags. Food is served under the slogan "a sandwich can kill you". REUTERS/ Cynthia Karam
    Beirut restaurant makes meal out of war Reuters - Tue Jul 1, 1:22 PM ET

    BEIRUT (Reuters) - At "Buns and Guns" you can order a "Kalashnikov" sandwich from a bullet-shaped menu, prepared by chefs in military fatigues with the roar of explosions as background music.

  • Cremated remains part of fireworks show AP - Thu Jul 3, 9:12 PM ET

    INDIANAPOLIS - One of the fireworks bursting above the city this year will contain a bit of cremated remains — a fitting tribute, organizers say, to the man who ran the annual event for 40 years.

  • A bumble bee collects pollen from a flower in a garden near York, June 28, 2008. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis
    Lorry crash stirs up 12 million angry bees Reuters - Mon Jun 30, 2:03 PM ET

    OTTAWA (Reuters) - How do you deal with millions of upset bees? Very carefully.

  • Wrong number! Job hotline was sex line AP - Thu Jul 3, 2:53 PM ET

    ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Looking for work in all the wrong places?

  • A handout photograph released June 30, 2008 shows an athlete sprinting along the Galleries of Tate Britain, as part of a four month installation called "Work No. 850" by artist Martin Creed. REUTERS/Hugo Glendinning/Handout
    The Tate takes on gallery sprinters Reuters - Mon Jun 30, 11:44 AM ET

    LONDON (Reuters) - A runner will sprint through a gallery every 30 seconds for the next four months in the latest art installation by artist Martin Creed.

Most Popular Odd News

  • Miniature dachshund gnaws off diabetic owner's toe AP - Fri Jul 4, 12:35 AM ET

    ALTON, Ill. - An Illinois woman says her beloved miniature dachshund gnawed off her right big toe while she was asleep. Linda Floyd told the Alton Telegraph for a story Wednesday that her beloved Roscoe was euthanized because of safety concerns.

  • Historic re-enactor Ralph Archbold, right, as Benjamin Franklin, places a ring on the finger of Linda Wilde, who portrays Betsy Ross, as they exchange wedding vows during their real life wedding ceremony officiated by Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, center, in front of Independence Hall, Thursday July 3, 2008, in Philadelphia. The groom, who has portrayed Franklin since 1973, and his bride are both attired in Colonial-era formal wear. (AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)
    Ben Franklin, Betsy Ross actors wed in Philly AP - Fri Jul 4, 1:49 AM ET

    PHILADELPHIA - Benjamin Franklin and Betsy Ross celebrated the eve of the Fourth of July not with fireworks but with wedding vows.

  • Tom Gray, owner of Cowden Art Conservation, inspects an 1851 Alger Cadet Gun after it was placed on display at the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History in Little Rock, Ark., Thursday, July 3, 2008. The bronze Artillery piece was commandeered by Confederate forces during the Civil War and assigned to an Arkansas infantry regiment during the conflict. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston)
    1851 gun used in Civil War returns to Arkansas AP - Fri Jul 4, 1:33 AM ET

    LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - An 1851 artillery gun carried into battle by Arkansas military school students who joined the Confederate Army was unveiled in its home state Thursday after nearly 150 years.