Reuters: Oddly Enough

Rat meat in demand as inflation bites

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 23:32:45 -0400

PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - The price of rat meat has quadrupled in Cambodia this year as inflation has put other meat beyond the reach of poor people, officials said on Wednesday.

Woman wearing veil told to leave Italian museum

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:31:42 -0400

ROME (Reuters) - The head of one of Venice's most prestigious museums apologized on Wednesday to a Muslim woman asked to leave the building by a guard because she was wearing a veil over her face.

Australian school may backflip on cartwheel ban

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:29:16 -0400

SYDNEY (Reuters Life!) - An Australian school which recently banned its students from doing cartwheels, somersaults and other gymnastics during recess is reviewing the decision after parents and students got all bent out of shape.

Free pizza in price protest

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:27:57 -0400

NAPLES (Reuters) - "Pizzaioli" or pizza chefs in Naples, birthplace of the Margherita, handed out free pizzas on Wednesday in protest at high prices charged by rivals who, they say, use the spike in commodity prices to rip off consumers.

Cat survives being walled in under bath for 7 weeks

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:48:30 -0400

BERLIN (Reuters) - A four-year-old cat in Germany called Bonny has survived after being walled in beneath a bathtub for seven weeks, its owner said Tuesday.

No nuns on catwalk, priest stops "beauty contest"

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 10:58:56 -0400

ROME (Reuters) - An Italian priest who had planned an online "pageant" for nuns has suspended the project, saying he was misinterpreted and had no intention of putting sisters on a beauty catwalk.

Ants bite, phones fly in Finnish summer bonanza

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 10:55:37 -0400

HELSINKI (Reuters) - They carry their wives, sit on ants, throw milking stools, boots and mobile phones -- here in the home of weird world championships, participants will do just about anything to win their offbeat crowns.

Cupid's arrow hits Olympic archers

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 10:52:54 -0400

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's top male and female archers capped gold medal performances at the Beijing Olympics by announcing wedding plans just as the games ended, an archery official said on Tuesday.

Deer, cattle have true animal magnetism

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 10:51:15 -0400

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Grazing cattle and sleeping deer tend to align their bodies along the North-South axis of the Earth's magnetic field, European researchers said on Monday, giving new meaning to the phrase animal magnetism.

Country ordered to pay damages for sailor's suicide

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:25:50 -0400

TOKYO (Reuters) - The Japanese government will have to pay damages to the parents of a sailor who hanged himself after being repeatedly insulted by his superior, in the first such court ruling involving a civil servant, media said.