Strange News http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1146&ft=1&f=1146 Unlikely stories from around the nation and the world. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Thu, 09 May 2013 12:40:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Strange News http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1146&ft=1&f=1146 Need A Lift? See Japan's New 'Branomics Bra' A lingerie company says the bra has a "growth strategy" to help bust Japan's inflation problem. Thu, 09 May 2013 12:40:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/09/182571333/need-a-lift-see-japans-new-branomics-bra?ft=1&f=1146 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/09/182571333/need-a-lift-see-japans-new-branomics-bra?ft=1&f=1146 A lingerie company says the bra has a "growth strategy" to help bust Japan's inflation problem.

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]]> Chicken Diapers? Urban Farming Spawns Accessory Lines As urban chicken farms grow in popularity, many people are bringing the birds into their homes. They need the right equipment to keep them clean. So several businesses have popped up online, offering everything from custom-sized diapers and leash-ready saddles to chicken caviar. Wed, 01 May 2013 14:23:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/04/30/180135026/chicken-diapers-urban-farming-spawns-accessory-lines?ft=1&f=1146 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/04/30/180135026/chicken-diapers-urban-farming-spawns-accessory-lines?ft=1&f=1146 As urban chicken farms grow in popularity, many people are bringing the birds into their homes. They need the right equipment to keep them clean. So several businesses have popped up online, offering everything from custom-sized diapers and leash-ready saddles to chicken caviar.

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]]> High Schoolers Show Up For Prom On Wrong Night About 400 students from Bloomington High in Southern California showed up for prom a week early — because the invitations had the date wrong. The venue managed a makeshift party for them anyway, complete with a DJ and chicken strips. Wed, 01 May 2013 10:47:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/01/180290821/high-schoolers-show-up-for-prom-on-wrong-night?ft=1&f=1146 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/01/180290821/high-schoolers-show-up-for-prom-on-wrong-night?ft=1&f=1146 About 400 students from Bloomington High in Southern California showed up for prom a week early — because the invitations had the date wrong. The venue managed a makeshift party for them anyway, complete with a DJ and chicken strips.

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]]> Video May Show 747 Jet's Last Seconds Before Bagram Crash The final seconds of a 747 civilian cargo jet's disastrous takeoff from an airfield in Afghanistan Monday — resulting in a crash that killed all seven aboard — were apparently captured by a dashboard camera. In the video, the aircraft is seen in a steep climb, until it fails to gain altitude and plummets into the earth. Tue, 30 Apr 2013 17:39:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/04/30/180107632/video-may-show-747-jets-last-seconds-before-bagram-crash?ft=1&f=1146 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/04/30/180107632/video-may-show-747-jets-last-seconds-before-bagram-crash?ft=1&f=1146 The final seconds of a 747 civilian cargo jet's disastrous takeoff from an airfield in Afghanistan Monday — resulting in a crash that killed all seven aboard — were apparently captured by a dashboard camera. In the video, the aircraft is seen in a steep climb, until it fails to gain altitude and plummets into the earth.

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]]> Just In Case: Cruise Line Insured Against Loch Ness Monster Jacobite Cruises is now insured against damage, however unlikely, from "Nessie." Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:14:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/04/30/180057308/just-in-case-cruise-line-insured-against-loch-ness-monster?ft=1&f=1146 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/04/30/180057308/just-in-case-cruise-line-insured-against-loch-ness-monster?ft=1&f=1146 Jacobite Cruises is now insured against damage, however unlikely, from "Nessie."

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]]> Freaky Friday: Autonomous Tissue Grabbers Are On Their Way Scientists have deployed hundreds of tiny, experimental robots to help with biopsies. They're as small as a speck of dust. They look like tiny ninja throwing stars. And researchers use magnets to retrieve them. Fri, 26 Apr 2013 15:33:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/04/26/179213090/freaky-friday-autonomous-tissue-grabbers-are-on-their-way?ft=1&f=1146 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/04/26/179213090/freaky-friday-autonomous-tissue-grabbers-are-on-their-way?ft=1&f=1146 Scientists have deployed hundreds of tiny, experimental robots to help with biopsies. They're as small as a speck of dust. They look like tiny ninja throwing stars. And researchers use magnets to retrieve them.

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]]> Have You Seen Me? Giant Styrofoam Head Found A huge plastic foam head floated up to a startled Marist College crew team practicing on the Hudson River this week. No one has come forward to claim it. Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:54:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/04/25/179007777/have-you-seen-me-giant-styrofoam-head-found?ft=1&f=1146 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/04/25/179007777/have-you-seen-me-giant-styrofoam-head-found?ft=1&f=1146 A huge plastic foam head floated up to a startled Marist College crew team practicing on the Hudson River this week. No one has come forward to claim it.

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]]> Help Wanted: Must Like Big Stones, Work Well With Druids Stonehenge is seeking general manager to maintain "dignity of stones" and speak to Druids. Robert Siegel and Audie Cornish have more on what the job entails and how the selection is made. Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/23/178651274/help-wanted-must-like-big-stones-work-well-with-druids?ft=1&f=1146 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/23/178651274/help-wanted-must-like-big-stones-work-well-with-druids?ft=1&f=1146 Stonehenge is seeking general manager to maintain "dignity of stones" and speak to Druids. Robert Siegel and Audie Cornish have more on what the job entails and how the selection is made.

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]]> Juror In Oregon Held In Contempt For Texting During Trial A Michigan judge who held himself in contempt when his cellphone went off in the courtroom recently said judges are not above the rules. This week, an Oregon judge showed that jurors aren't above the rules, either. During a trial in Salem, the judge saw a juror's pocket glowing. The juror, who had been texting, was held in contempt and spent the day in jail instead of the courtroom. Fri, 19 Apr 2013 12:15:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/19/177946415/juror-in-oregon-held-in-contempt-for-texting-during-trial?ft=1&f=1146 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/19/177946415/juror-in-oregon-held-in-contempt-for-texting-during-trial?ft=1&f=1146 A Michigan judge who held himself in contempt when his cellphone went off in the courtroom recently said judges are not above the rules. This week, an Oregon judge showed that jurors aren't above the rules, either. During a trial in Salem, the judge saw a juror's pocket glowing. The juror, who had been texting, was held in contempt and spent the day in jail instead of the courtroom.

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]]> Explosions In The News Hit Home For Boston Runner From Texas Joe Berti traveled to Boston for that city's marathon and crossed the finish line seconds before the first bomb exploded. He was OK and returned home to Texas — where he was close enough to a fertilizer plant to see it explode Wednesday night. Fri, 19 Apr 2013 12:11:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/19/177944965/explosions-in-the-news-hit-home-for-boston-runner-from-texas?ft=1&f=1146 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/19/177944965/explosions-in-the-news-hit-home-for-boston-runner-from-texas?ft=1&f=1146 Joe Berti traveled to Boston for that city's marathon and crossed the finish line seconds before the first bomb exploded. He was OK and returned home to Texas — where he was close enough to a fertilizer plant to see it explode Wednesday night.

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]]> Bacteria On Dog Lovers' Skin Reveal Their Affection Dog owners have similar germs growing on their skin: a signature blend of bacteria from canines' tongues and paws. Scientists couldn't find an analogous signature for cat owners. Perhaps cats are just being selfish. Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:01:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/04/18/177746969/bacteria-on-dog-lovers-skin-reveal-their-affection?ft=1&f=1146 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/04/18/177746969/bacteria-on-dog-lovers-skin-reveal-their-affection?ft=1&f=1146 Dog owners have similar germs growing on their skin: a signature blend of bacteria from canines' tongues and paws. Scientists couldn't find an analogous signature for cat owners. Perhaps cats are just being selfish.

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]]> A Blooming Mistake: Irish James Joyce Coin Misquotes Author The Irish Central Bank announced the launch of a limited-edition coin to honor the Irish writer. When the error was pointed out, the bank put it down to "artistic representation," and said it would continue with the sale of the coin. Thu, 11 Apr 2013 17:42:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/04/11/176960844/a-blooming-mistake-irish-james-joyce-coin-misquotes-author?ft=1&f=1146 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/04/11/176960844/a-blooming-mistake-irish-james-joyce-coin-misquotes-author?ft=1&f=1146 The Irish Central Bank announced the launch of a limited-edition coin to honor the Irish writer. When the error was pointed out, the bank put it down to "artistic representation," and said it would continue with the sale of the coin.

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]]> Man Gets A Refund Over Missing Explosion In 'Jack Reacher' The action film <em>Jack Reacher</em> hit theaters in December, but a man didn't think it was action-packed enough. That's because the trailer featured an explosion that wasn't in the movie. He complained to the Advertising Standards Authority and got his money refunded. Thu, 04 Apr 2013 07:07:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/04/176213203/new-zealand-movie-goer-misses-featured-explosion?ft=1&f=1146 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/04/176213203/new-zealand-movie-goer-misses-featured-explosion?ft=1&f=1146 The action film Jack Reacher hit theaters in December, but a man didn't think it was action-packed enough. That's because the trailer featured an explosion that wasn't in the movie. He complained to the Advertising Standards Authority and got his money refunded.

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]]> No April Fool's Joke: Samoa Air Charges Passengers By Weight The airline says it's a fairer system that saves some passengers money. The news comes just days after an economist in Norway argued that charging passengers by weight would benefit them in the long run. Tue, 02 Apr 2013 18:07:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/04/02/176062612/no-april-fools-joke-samoa-air-charges-passengers-by-weight?ft=1&f=1146 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/04/02/176062612/no-april-fools-joke-samoa-air-charges-passengers-by-weight?ft=1&f=1146 The airline says it's a fairer system that saves some passengers money. The news comes just days after an economist in Norway argued that charging passengers by weight would benefit them in the long run.

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]]> Gates Foundation Says It's Time For A Snazzier Condom Condoms have evolved little since latex ones were first manufactured in the 1920s. Bill Gates is hoping to change that. His foundation is giving $100,000 to anyone who can come up with a condom that men or women actually want to wear. Mon, 25 Mar 2013 15:26:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/03/25/175258772/gates-foundation-says-its-time-for-a-snazzier-condom?ft=1&f=1146 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/03/25/175258772/gates-foundation-says-its-time-for-a-snazzier-condom?ft=1&f=1146 Condoms have evolved little since latex ones were first manufactured in the 1920s. Bill Gates is hoping to change that. His foundation is giving $100,000 to anyone who can come up with a condom that men or women actually want to wear.

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