Must Reads : The Two-Way Some stories are just too weird, too funny or too sad to ignore. They may not be "serious news," but are so fascinating you must read them. NPR correspondents are on the watch for such tales. We pass along the best, from NPR and other news outlets.

The Two-Way

Must Reads

Saturday December 31, 2011

Must Reads

Banana-Sam Found! Monkey Stolen From S.F. Zoo

December 31, 2011 • The reward for Banana-Sam is now up to $5,000. The squirrel monkey was abducted from his cage, officials say, and the San Francisco Zoo is beefing up security to keep an eye on the rest of their animals.

Friday December 30, 2011

'An Evolutionary Throwback': Panda Filmed Eating Meat

A panda eating meat. Wanglong Nature Reserve hide caption

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Wanglong Nature Reserve

Must Reads

'An Evolutionary Throwback': Panda Filmed Eating Meat

December 30, 2011 • Even though giant pandas have the digestive system of a carnivore they've adopted a vegetarian diet.

Someday, Your Car May Know If That's Your Butt In The Driver's Seat

"Oh dear, the car doesn't seem to recognize me." (1960 file photo from the U.K.) Chaloner Woods/Getty Images hide caption

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Chaloner Woods/Getty Images

Must Reads

Someday, Your Car May Know If That's Your Butt In The Driver's Seat

December 30, 2011 • Researchers at the University of Tokyo's Graduate School of Industrial Technology have developed an anti-theft device for cars that senses whether the derriere behind the wheel is or isn't supposed to be there.

Thursday December 29, 2011

Body Odor May Explain Why Mosquitoes Prefer Certain People

An Anopheles albimanus mosquito, which is an important vector for malaria transmission in Central America. James Gathany/CDC hide caption

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James Gathany/CDC

Must Reads

Body Odor May Explain Why Mosquitoes Prefer Certain People

December 29, 2011 • Scientists found an African mosquito was less attracted to people with a diversity of bacteria on their skin. The kinds of bacteria on your skin affect the way you smell.

Currency is among the artifacts salvaged from the wreck of the Titanic. Stanley Leary/ASSOCIATED PRESS hide caption

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Stanley Leary/ASSOCIATED PRESS

Must Reads

Titanic Artifacts To Be Auctioned

December 29, 2011 • The company that salvaged thousands of artifacts from the Titanic will auction them together next April, on the 100th anniversary of the ship's sinking.

She'll be paid well to party: Kim Kardashian. David Livingston/Getty Images hide caption

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David Livingston/Getty Images

Must Reads

Are You Being Paid $600,000 To Party?

December 29, 2011 • That's what Kim Kardashian reportedly will earn for being in Las Vegas on New Year's Eve and again during some "special appearances" in 2012. But in the celebrity world, it's not unusual.

Are You Being Paid $600,000 To Party?

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America

Unused Gift Cards? What About A Group That Collects Them For Charities?

December 29, 2011 • Our post-Christmas post about the estimated $41 billion worth of gift cards that haven't been redeemed since 2005 seemed to strike a chord. Here's another idea about what to do if you've got cards just sitting around.

Siku Is So Cute! Little Polar Bear Is New Video Star

Siku on Dec. 8, 2011. Skandinavisk Dyrepark/AP hide caption

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Skandinavisk Dyrepark/AP

International

Siku Is So Cute! Little Polar Bear Is New Video Star

December 29, 2011 • Go ahead. Try not to feel all warm and fuzzy after you watch a video or two of the month-old polar bear who is quickly becoming an Internet hit. He's at a zoo in Denmark.

Wednesday December 28, 2011

Twin NASA Probes Will Arrive At The Moon By New Year's

An artist rendition of the GRAIL mission. NASA hide caption

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NASA

Must Reads

Twin NASA Probes Will Arrive At The Moon By New Year's

December 28, 2011 • The mission might help shed light on a theory that the moon resulted from a collision of two moons.

Judge Says Mexican-American Studies Program Violates Ariz. Law

Carlos Galindo protests in support of Tucson's ethnic studies program in May. Matt York/AP hide caption

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Matt York/AP

America

Judge Says Mexican-American Studies Program Violates Ariz. Law

December 28, 2011 • The judge said the Tucson program encourages "resentment against 'whites'" and advocates Latino solidarity.

There Will Be No Friday This Week In Samoa

Samoa: Would you argue with getting an extra day in a place like this? D. Kirkland/Samoa Tourist Authority/AP hide caption

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D. Kirkland/Samoa Tourist Authority/AP

International

There Will Be No Friday This Week In Samoa

December 28, 2011 • The tiny island nation in the South Pacific is moving from one side of the International Dateline to the other at midnight Thursday. So it will leap right to Saturday.

VIDEO: Monks Brawl With Brooms In Bethlehem's Church Of The Nativity

Armenian and Greek Orthodox clergymen scuffled inside Bethlehem's Church of Nativity today. Bernat Armangue/AP hide caption

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Bernat Armangue/AP

International

VIDEO: Monks Brawl With Brooms In Bethlehem's Church Of The Nativity

December 28, 2011 • Today's dispute between Greek and Armenian monks began when they accused each other of encroaching on parts of the church to which they lay claim. Soon, brooms were flying. Palestinian security forces had to break up the brouhaha.

Bird-Watchers Are All Aflutter: Asian Crane Shows Up In Tennessee

The surprise visitor: An Asian hooded crane that has shown up at the Hiwassee Refuge in Tennessee. John Kuehnel/Tennessee Sandhill Crane Festival hide caption

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John Kuehnel/Tennessee Sandhill Crane Festival

Tuesday December 27, 2011

Live Nativity Scene Lamb Born On Christmas Eve

Toby Talbot/AP

Must Reads

Live Nativity Scene Lamb Born On Christmas Eve

December 27, 2011 • A lamb was born on Christmas Eve to a live nativity scene sheep in a Cincinnati area park. The lamb has been named Mary Christmas.