One of China’s biggest ports, Dalian, shut on Monday after an pipeline explosion triggered a major offshore oil spill, forcing a refinery to cut processing and importers to divert cargoes elsewhere. The aftermath of the weekend fire could disrupt shipments of oil, iron ore and soy and add to pressure for stricter environmental standards in […]
Category Archives: Odd News
Prison Break Odd News
Cabbie Scam Exposed
They’re not as bad as mechanics or lawyers, but taxi drivers do have a bit of reputation for inflating their fares. But is this true or just an urban legend designed to keep Midwesterners out of Times Square? Unfortunately, it appears to have a ring of truth to it. We’re not saying all taxi drivers […]
Cash For Keys
Jon Daurio, chief executive officer of mortgage investor Kondaur Capital Corp., recently offered a $4,000 check to Barry Culver for the deed to his Bryan, Ohio house. With the exchange, and a pay-off to a second-lien holder, Culver was freed of $120,000 in crushing mortgage debt on the house, said Daurio, who had bought the […]
U.S. Postal Service Reveals Designs for 2011
Alan Shepard will be honored on a 2011 U.S. postage stamp wearing the silver spacesuit in which he made history as the first American astronaut to fly into space. The stamp’s design, which was quietly released last week by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), shows Shepard from his shoulders up centered between images of his […]
Gadgets That Will Save You Money
Invest in these smart household gadgets to cut your monthly bills and they end up paying for themselves in no time. Concoct your own cola Spend a fortune on fizzy drinks? You’re not alone. The average family of four consumes 2,400 sodas annually-totaling nearly $1,080. With a home fountain machine, you can save money and […]
$40,000 Rare Nintendo Game
Impressed by the story of the North Carolina eBay seller who stumbled upon an ultra-rare, $13,000 Nintendo game? So were we — and so was Kansas reader Dave, who headed for his basement to see if there was video game gold lurking down there. “We had quite a collection (185+ games) that has sat in […]
April Fool’s Day History
The history of April Fool’s Day or All Fool’s Day is uncertain, but the current thinking is that it began around 1582 in France with the reform of the calendar under Charles IX. The Gregorian Calendar was introduced, and New Year’s Day was moved from March 25 – April 1 (new year’s week) to January […]
Beware of These ‘Dirty Dozen’ Tax Scams
As the tax deadline draws near, the Internal Revenue Service wants you to beware of fraudulent tax preparers, hidden offshore bank accounts and offers that seem too good to be true. In its “dirty dozen” list, released Tuesday, the IRS urged taxpayers to avoid falling prey to — or carrying out — a number of […]