Offbeat News : Weird News Stories from Around the World

Wednesday has come around again, and it's time for the latest weekly edition of Offbeat News.

What Is Offbeat news?

Offbeat news stories are those weird news items that make you realize that fact is stranger than fiction. These are the odd but true bizarre news stories that make you wonder how, why, what on earth were they thinking, and that's just amazing!

I am still trying to come up with a new name for my edition of Offbeat News to make it unique. I hope to do this in the next week, but meantime - it's still Offbeat News.

This is a selection of weird news stories from the past week that I hope will leave you as astounded as they did me:

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The Science Of Attracting Women On The Dance Floor

Scientists at Northumbria University in the North of England have uncovered the secret of how the way that a man moves on the dance floor can attract a woman.

It's apparently something to do with the way that he moved his neck and torso, and also the speed at which he moves his right knee.

Research has previously been made difficult because the participants have taken into account the appearance of the subject, not just the moves that they made.

This has been overcome in the new research study by using realistic three dimensional avatars, which were programmed to copy common male dance moves.

Apparently the animal kingdom also works in the same way, where the males of the species gather together and vie to show the females who is the best.

I guess when it comes to mating rituals, we still resort to our basic animal instincts.

Read the full story HERE

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French Fry Marathon In Belgium Breaks Records

A 53 year old man from Belgium has broken the previous record for non-stop chip making by 11 hours, having spent 83 consecutive hours frying chips.

Having completed the task, he said that his fingers were burnt, his feet were sore, and his wrist was painful. However, he was ready to party...

During the marathon frying session, he cooked over 1,500kg (3,300lbs) of French fries, all to help raise funds for a children's hospital.

Sadly he failed to set a new record for the number of bags of chips sold, 1,500.

Makes me feel like a bag of chips - how about you?

Read the full story HERE

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Officially The World's Shortest Man

A man from Colombia who stopped growing when he was two years old has been named as the World's Shortest Man by the Guinness Book Of Records.

Nino Hernandez weighs only 10kg (22lbs) and is only 70cm tall (27.5 inches).

The previous title holder, a man from China, died in March, however he was 4cm taller.

It's a strange world that we live in isn't it.

Read the full story HERE

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Primary School Pupils Presented With Porn Pens

It's a great idea don't you think, primary school children being given sweets and candies on their first day at school.

Well this is a tradition in Germany at least, however this year at the Adolf Reichwein School in the city of Essen, the Communist Party handed out pens to the pupils instead.

The problem is, the pens, which were purchased at a discount store, lit up when a button was pressed, and projected images of naked women.

The German Communist Party is apparently deeply apologetic, and is checking to see if it can take legal action against the store, and has promised to exchange the pens for something that is more suitable for children.

I wonder how many of the children ask to be allowed to keep the pens instead of trading them in.

Read the full story HERE

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One Way Of Preserving Zsa Zsa Gabor's Memory

Zsa Zsa Gabor's husband has told the media that after the ailing 94 year old actress dies, he wants to preserve her body, by a process called plastination.

Frederic von Anhalt said that "My wife has always dreamed that her beauty would be immortal", and if he has his way, I guess it will be.

He plans to preserve her body in a scene from one of her movies, and wants a renowned German anatomist to perform the procedure. The anatomist, Gunther von Hagens, developed a travel ling exhibition of plastinated bodies, with just their muscles and tendons intact.

Zsa Zsa's lengthy career in show-business included John Huston's 1952 Moulin Rouge and Orson Wells's 1958 Touch Of Evil.

I am still always amazed at her clinging to fame, and yet her prominent roles were in the 1950's or before, and since then she has only played minor roles in movies or in episodes of television shows.

Read the full story HERE

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When Sex In Public Can Get You Arrested

Meanwhile back in Florida, more of the typical news stories that come from the Sunshine State.

Last week a naked couple were cavorting outside the back of a vacant house in Pompano Beach in Florida, however since the back of the house faced the Intracoastal Waterway, they could be seen by members of the public.

Not only could people in passing boats see what was going on, they were visible to children and staff at a local day care center across the street.

The local sheriff was called, and you are going to love this - Captain Wiener arrived in his squad car and arrested the couple who were still naked.

Now for those of you who think that there is nothing wrong with a couple engaged in the act of love, I beg to to click on the link below (at your own peril) and I am sure you will quickly change your mind.

Read the full story and see the pictures HERE

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Mother Has Shock Of Her Life When She Gets Off Cruise Ship

A 32 year old mother walked off a cruise ship in Fort Lauderdale, little knowing that she was about to be arrested and thrown in jail for prostitution.

Paola Londono just happens to be the same name as another woman, aged 26, who was arrested in Kissimmee, near Orlando, on drugs and prostitution charges and who failed to turn up at her court hearing.

A warrant was issued for her arrest, and the wrong Paola Londono was placed under arrest.

Apparently Broward County authorities had no choice but to arrest the woman, because her name and birth date were on the arrest warrant. Unfortunately, with it being Labor Day weekend, her attorney was unable to obtain a copy of the real criminal's fingerprints, and so the woman was kept in jail until 10:30pm on the Monday evening.

Not only is this Paola Londono 32 and the criminal only 26, she is 5 inches shorter and 40 pounds heavier than her namesake. They also have different birth dates and social security numbers, and live at different addresses.

Despite all the evidence presented that shows that the wrong woman was arrested, she still has to go to court in Osceola County to prove her identity.

I wonder what damages she will be able to claim for wrongful arrest and the distress that this caused both her and her family.

Read the full story HERE

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Well you heard these stories first on Offbeat News, and if these aren't proof enough that the truth is stranger than fiction, check the previous installments of this weekly series.

You can now also find links to all of the Offbeat News editions at Squidoo, and if you do enjoy these weekly Offbeat News articles, please could you help share them with your friends etc. I am sure they could use a good laugh too.

For more fun at the expense of victims around the world, take a look at the previous editions of Offbeat News:

1st September 2010

25th August 2010 - 18th August 2010 - 11th August 2010 - 4th August 2010

28th July 2010 - 21st July 2010 - 14th July 2010 - 7th July 2010

30th June 2010 - 23rd June 2010 - 16th June 2010 - 9th June 2010 - 2nd June 2010

26th May 2010 - 19th May 2010 - 12th May 2010 - 5th May 2010

28th April 2010 - 21st April 2010

31st March 2010 - 24th March 2010 - 17th March 2010 - 10th March 2010 - 3rd March 2010

24th February 2010

As always, your comments on any of these news stories are appreciated, and if you enjoy the Offbeat News, please share this edition with your friends.

Sources:

Digital Spy

ABC News Australia

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

The Bournemouth Echo

The London Evening Standard