NPR Topics: Diversions http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1051&ft=1&f=1051 Irrestible and odd stories from news, culture, sports, and literature. Subscribe to the Diversions RSS feed. Copyright 2009 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.93 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:55:00 -0500 http://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/thumbnail/npr_generic_image_75.jpg Diversions http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1051&ft=1&f=1051 yes Bank Robber Leaves Wallet Behind Albert Perkins lost his wallet. He took it out at the bank, and that's the last time he saw it. What makes it awkward is that authorities say Perkins was robbing the bank at the time. Perkins left his wallet on the counter of the First Federal Bank in Kansas City, Mo. Police used the driver's license to identify the robber, leading to Perkin's guilty plea. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:55:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120603664&ft=1&f=1051 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120603664&ft=1&f=1051 Albert Perkins lost his wallet. He took it out at the bank, and that's the last time he saw it. What makes it awkward is that authorities say Perkins was robbing the bank at the time. Perkins left his wallet on the counter of the First Federal Bank in Kansas City, Mo. Police used the driver's license to identify the robber, leading to Perkin's guilty plea. 29 no Albert Perkins lost his wallet. He took it out at the bank, and that's the last time he saw it. What makes it awkward is that authorities say Perkins was robbing the bank at the time. Perkins left his wallet on the counter of the First Federal Bank in Kansas City, Mo. Police used the driver's license to identify the robber, leading to Perkin's guilty plea.

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]]> Drug Paraphernalia Disguised As Ornaments Seized Customs authorities in California seized a large shipment of Christmas ornaments from China. They weren't meant to adorn any tree. More than 300,000 pieces of drug paraphernalia were seized. The items were disguised as glass figures and Christmas ornaments. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:49:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120603635&ft=1&f=1051 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120603635&ft=1&f=1051 Customs authorities in California seized a large shipment of Christmas ornaments from China. They weren't meant to adorn any tree. More than 300,000 pieces of drug paraphernalia were seized. The items were disguised as glass figures and Christmas ornaments. 29 no Customs authorities in California seized a large shipment of Christmas ornaments from China. They weren't meant to adorn any tree. More than 300,000 pieces of drug paraphernalia were seized. The items were disguised as glass figures and Christmas ornaments.

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]]> Dealer Selling Letter Lincoln Wrote To Boy A letter written by Abraham Lincoln is up for sale. An eight-year-old boy claimed to have met Lincoln, but his friends didn't believe him. So the boys' teacher wrote the president. In one of only two known letters he sent to a child, Lincoln confirmed: "I did see and talk with master George Evans Patten, last May, at Springfield, Illinois. Respectfully, A Lincoln." Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120562920&ft=1&f=1051 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120562920&ft=1&f=1051 A letter written by Abraham Lincoln is up for sale. An eight-year-old boy claimed to have met Lincoln, but his friends didn't believe him. So the boys' teacher wrote the president. In one of only two known letters he sent to a child, Lincoln confirmed: "I did see and talk with master George Evans Patten, last May, at Springfield, Illinois. Respectfully, A Lincoln." 29 no A letter written by Abraham Lincoln is up for sale. An eight-year-old boy claimed to have met Lincoln, but his friends didn't believe him. So the boys' teacher wrote the president. In one of only two known letters he sent to a child, Lincoln confirmed: "I did see and talk with master George Evans Patten, last May, at Springfield, Illinois. Respectfully, A Lincoln."

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]]> Big-Time Blowouts Still Can Help Losing Team Houston Baptist had one of the worst weekends in women's college basketball history. The Huskies got hammered 104-35 by Duke on Friday, then got beat 109-30 by TCU on Sunday. Coach Todd Buchanan is not discouraged. He says losing that big was an "incredible" experience. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120562924&ft=1&f=1051 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120562924&ft=1&f=1051 Houston Baptist had one of the worst weekends in women's college basketball history. The Huskies got hammered 104-35 by Duke on Friday, then got beat 109-30 by TCU on Sunday. Coach Todd Buchanan is not discouraged. He says losing that big was an "incredible" experience. 29 no Houston Baptist had one of the worst weekends in women's college basketball history. The Huskies got hammered 104-35 by Duke on Friday, then got beat 109-30 by TCU on Sunday. Coach Todd Buchanan is not discouraged. He says losing that big was an "incredible" experience.

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]]> Leggo My Eggo. There's A Waffle Shortage There's a nationwide shortage of the popular breakfast food Eggo waffles. Kellogg's says flood damage at its Atlanta bakery disrupted waffle operations. The waffles are being rationed to stores across the country. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120527483&ft=1&f=1051 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120527483&ft=1&f=1051 There's a nationwide shortage of the popular breakfast food Eggo waffles. Kellogg's says flood damage at its Atlanta bakery disrupted waffle operations. The waffles are being rationed to stores across the country. 29 no There's a nationwide shortage of the popular breakfast food Eggo waffles. Kellogg's says flood damage at its Atlanta bakery disrupted waffle operations. The waffles are being rationed to stores across the country.

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]]> Clerk's Mistake Is Lottery Players Good Fortune It takes the right kind of luck to win the lottery, and for a New Jersey man it also took getting the wrong ticket. He had asked for the scratch-off lottery ticket called Deuces Wild. The clerk mistakenly gave him Aces High. A short time later he returned to the store, but not to complain. He had a winning ticket worth $100,000. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120527487&ft=1&f=1051 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120527487&ft=1&f=1051 It takes the right kind of luck to win the lottery, and for a New Jersey man it also took getting the wrong ticket. He had asked for the scratch-off lottery ticket called Deuces Wild. The clerk mistakenly gave him Aces High. A short time later he returned to the store, but not to complain. He had a winning ticket worth $100,000. 29 no It takes the right kind of luck to win the lottery, and for a New Jersey man it also took getting the wrong ticket. He had asked for the scratch-off lottery ticket called Deuces Wild. The clerk mistakenly gave him Aces High. A short time later he returned to the store, but not to complain. He had a winning ticket worth $100,000.

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]]> What Exit? Turkey Calls N.J. Turnpike Home A wild turkey is attacking the New Jersey Turnpike. The turkey wanders around the toll booths at Interchange 14B. It dodges cars and disrupts traffic. It sits on the toll collectors' parked cars. And it defies every effort to catch it. Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120488590&ft=1&f=1051 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120488590&ft=1&f=1051 A wild turkey is attacking the New Jersey Turnpike. The turkey wanders around the toll booths at Interchange 14B. It dodges cars and disrupts traffic. It sits on the toll collectors' parked cars. And it defies every effort to catch it. 28 no A wild turkey is attacking the New Jersey Turnpike. The turkey wanders around the toll booths at Interchange 14B. It dodges cars and disrupts traffic. It sits on the toll collectors' parked cars. And it defies every effort to catch it.

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]]> 2009 Word Of The Year: Unfriend The editors of <em>The New Oxford American Dictionary</em> have announced their 2009 Word of the Year. It was a crowded field. Words under consideration included: zombie bank, death panel and sexting. The winner: unfriend. It means to remove someone as a friend on a social networking Web site such as Facebook. Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120488594&ft=1&f=1051 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120488594&ft=1&f=1051 The editors of <em>The New Oxford American Dictionary</em> have announced their 2009 Word of the Year. It was a crowded field. Words under consideration included: zombie bank, death panel and sexting. The winner: unfriend. It means to remove someone as a friend on a social networking Web site such as Facebook. 28 no The editors of The New Oxford American Dictionary have announced their 2009 Word of the Year. It was a crowded field. Words under consideration included: zombie bank, death panel and sexting. The winner: unfriend. It means to remove someone as a friend on a social networking Web site such as Facebook.

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]]> How Do You Say 2010? In 45 days, there will be a mob at Times Square counting down. But what do we call the year that kicks in when the ball comes down? The four digits &mdash; 2,0,1,0 &mdash; are not in dispute, but how we say them evidently is. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120470656&ft=1&f=1051 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120470656&ft=1&f=1051 In 45 days, there will be a mob at Times Square counting down. But what do we call the year that kicks in when the ball comes down? The four digits &mdash; 2,0,1,0 &mdash; are not in dispute, but how we say them evidently is. 273 no In 45 days, there will be a mob at Times Square counting down. But what do we call the year that kicks in when the ball comes down? The four digits — 2,0,1,0 — are not in dispute, but how we say them evidently is.

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]]> Searching For Shackleton's Abandoned Scotch A century ago, Sir Ernest Shackleton abandoned a bid to reach the South Pole. His party also abandoned two crates of Scotch whiskey. The owners of the McKinlay and Co. brand want to find that Scotch. They want to recreate the original whiskey from 100 years ago. It's for that purpose that they will set out on an expedition in January, the height of the Antarctic summer. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:29:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120448512&ft=1&f=1051 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120448512&ft=1&f=1051 A century ago, Sir Ernest Shackleton abandoned a bid to reach the South Pole. His party also abandoned two crates of Scotch whiskey. The owners of the McKinlay and Co. brand want to find that Scotch. They want to recreate the original whiskey from 100 years ago. It's for that purpose that they will set out on an expedition in January, the height of the Antarctic summer. 28 no A century ago, Sir Ernest Shackleton abandoned a bid to reach the South Pole. His party also abandoned two crates of Scotch whiskey. The owners of the McKinlay and Co. brand want to find that Scotch. They want to recreate the original whiskey from 100 years ago. It's for that purpose that they will set out on an expedition in January, the height of the Antarctic summer.

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]]> Chavez Urges Venezuelans To Lose Weight Hugo Chavez wants his countrymen and women to shape up. In a televised speech, Venezuela's president announced he had lost nearly 20 pounds by eating well and exercising. And he urged Venezuelans to do as he has done: keep the revolution strong with sit ups and soy milk. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:25:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120448414&ft=1&f=1051 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120448414&ft=1&f=1051 Hugo Chavez wants his countrymen and women to shape up. In a televised speech, Venezuela's president announced he had lost nearly 20 pounds by eating well and exercising. And he urged Venezuelans to do as he has done: keep the revolution strong with sit ups and soy milk. 28 no Hugo Chavez wants his countrymen and women to shape up. In a televised speech, Venezuela's president announced he had lost nearly 20 pounds by eating well and exercising. And he urged Venezuelans to do as he has done: keep the revolution strong with sit ups and soy milk.

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]]> Darvin Moon Advances In Poker Tournament Host Guy Raz checks back in on Western Maryland logger Darvin Moon's quest to win the World Series of Poker. The near-novice played a record 18 hours straight over the weekend, and he's in the final two. He'll square off against 21-year old Joe Cada on Monday night for the $8.5 million grand prize. Sun, 08 Nov 2009 16:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120227968&ft=1&f=1051 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120227968&ft=1&f=1051 Host Guy Raz checks back in on Western Maryland logger Darvin Moon's quest to win the World Series of Poker. The near-novice played a record 18 hours straight over the weekend, and he's in the final two. He'll square off against 21-year old Joe Cada on Monday night for the $8.5 million grand prize. 187 no Host Guy Raz checks back in on Western Maryland logger Darvin Moon's quest to win the World Series of Poker. The near-novice played a record 18 hours straight over the weekend, and he's in the final two. He'll square off against 21-year old Joe Cada on Monday night for the $8.5 million grand prize.

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]]> Yankees Manager Helps Car Crash Victim It was very early Thursday morning when police say a woman crashed into a wall along the Westchester County parkway in New York. A man appeared beside the car to help. It was New York Yankees Manager Joe Girardi. He was on the road that late because the Yankees had just won the World Series. Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:16:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120159975&ft=1&f=1051 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120159975&ft=1&f=1051 It was very early Thursday morning when police say a woman crashed into a wall along the Westchester County parkway in New York. A man appeared beside the car to help. It was New York Yankees Manager Joe Girardi. He was on the road that late because the Yankees had just won the World Series. 28 no It was very early Thursday morning when police say a woman crashed into a wall along the Westchester County parkway in New York. A man appeared beside the car to help. It was New York Yankees Manager Joe Girardi. He was on the road that late because the Yankees had just won the World Series.

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]]> Aspiring Driver Passes Written Exam On 950th Time Cha Sa-soon needs a driver's license for her business in South Korea. The 68-year-old woman has been trying to pass the written test almost every day since 2005. She has spent more than $4,000 in application fees. Her persistence finally paid off. This week, on her 950th try, she passed. She won't be on the road just yet &mdash; she still has to pass the driving test. Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:06:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120159855&ft=1&f=1051 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120159855&ft=1&f=1051 Cha Sa-soon needs a driver's license for her business in South Korea. The 68-year-old woman has been trying to pass the written test almost every day since 2005. She has spent more than $4,000 in application fees. Her persistence finally paid off. This week, on her 950th try, she passed. She won't be on the road just yet &mdash; she still has to pass the driving test. 28 no Cha Sa-soon needs a driver's license for her business in South Korea. The 68-year-old woman has been trying to pass the written test almost every day since 2005. She has spent more than $4,000 in application fees. Her persistence finally paid off. This week, on her 950th try, she passed. She won't be on the road just yet — she still has to pass the driving test.

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]]> Air Jordans Cost UCF Adidas Deal University of Central Florida freshman Marcus Jordan laced up his famous father's Nike Air Jordan's Wednesday night. The sentimental gesture may have helped the school win an exhibition basketball game, but it ended up costing the school big time. A multi-million dollar contract between the university and Adidas requires players to wear its shoes exclusively. After the game, Adidas said it is pulling the sponsorship. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:46:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120112315&ft=1&f=1051 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120112315&ft=1&f=1051 University of Central Florida freshman Marcus Jordan laced up his famous father's Nike Air Jordan's Wednesday night. The sentimental gesture may have helped the school win an exhibition basketball game, but it ended up costing the school big time. A multi-million dollar contract between the university and Adidas requires players to wear its shoes exclusively. After the game, Adidas said it is pulling the sponsorship. 29 no University of Central Florida freshman Marcus Jordan laced up his famous father's Nike Air Jordan's Wednesday night. The sentimental gesture may have helped the school win an exhibition basketball game, but it ended up costing the school big time. A multi-million dollar contract between the university and Adidas requires players to wear its shoes exclusively. After the game, Adidas said it is pulling the sponsorship.

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