Strange News

$500,000 Gets You A 170-Foot-Tall Ketchup Bottle In Illinois

7:51am July 23, 2014

The condiment container towers above the former Brooks Old Original and Tangy Ketchup factory. The company moved out decades ago; now the space is for sale. It doesn't come with a giant side of fries.

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National

Sheriff Puts Inmates Back In Stripes As Orange Jumpsuits Gain Fame

1:13pm July 22, 2014

The Michigan sheriff worried that the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black has turned orange jumpsuits into a fashion statement. So, they're out. And black and white stripes are back in.

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How Many Frequent Flyer Miles Can You Get With A $36M Charge?

8:30am July 21, 2014

Last spring a man bought an ancient Chinese ceramic cup, sold by Sotheby's Hong Kong. The price: $36 million. But because of currency rules, he paid with his American Express card.

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The Man Who Would Own All The World's 'Speed' — But Only On VHS

7:17pm April 24, 2014

by Audie Cornish

Ryan Beitz has a goal: Collect every VHS copy of the movie Speed known to man. He has over 500 of them now, he says. But the man pushes on, scouring the earth for more.

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Instead of a public service announcement, the FBI has made a movie. Game of Pawns is a docudrama about a college student recruited by the Chinese government. The message is obvious: Don't be a spy.

National

Hey, Kids, Remember You're On Our Side: The FBI Makes A Movie

6:43pm April 20, 2014

by NPR Staff

Instead of a public service announcement, the FBI has made Game of Pawns, a docudrama about a college student recruited by the Chinese government. The message is obvious: Don't be a spy.

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Fake Chef, Real Recipes — And The Food's Disgusting

6:31pm March 04, 2014

by Melissa Block

Nick Preuher is no chef; he only plays one on TV. More accurately, he has pretended to be one, appearing on various local morning television shows as a prank.

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Couple Stumbles Upon $10 Million Trove While Walking The Dog

7:57pm February 27, 2014

Many know the joy of finding change in a sofa. Only one couple knows the feeling of finding $10 million dollars' worth of antique coins in the backyard. Rare coin expert Don Kagin discusses the find.

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National

A Furry Feline Welcome From A Cat Cafe

12:05pm February 08, 2014

Plans are underway to open KitTea, a gourmet tea house in San Francisco, where patrons mingle with "resident" cats. The felines will come from rescue shelters and be up for adoption. NPR's Scott Simon talks to Courtney Hatt, the co-founder of KitTea, about starting a cat cafe.

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A poster advertises a stage adaptation of Sherlock Holmes, starring actor William Gillette in 1899.

Books
Arts

Sherlock's Expiring Copyright: It's Public Domain, Dear Watson

9:53am January 08, 2014

by NPR Staff

The famous sleuth has discovered that U.S copyright law is anything but elementary. A federal judge recently ruled that elements of the Sherlock Holmes characters are now both licensed property of the Doyle estate and in the public domain. The Doyle estate plans to appeal the decision.

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Texas Teacher And His Groovy Shirt Retire

11:30am December 21, 2013

For 40 years in a row as a physical education teacher, Dale Irby wore the same outfit for his school photo. He explains to NPR's Scott Simon how this annual tradition got started.

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