SoDu We Like WEIRD News? January 2025

Look, I earned my stripes as a professional journalist covering strange stuff in Florida for The St. Petersburg Times (now Tampa Bay Times) – from an armadillo assassin to a bunch of cattle running loose on Interstate 75 to the mysterious Bayport Boomerang that baffled skywatchers decades before drones troubled the New Jersey skies.

So, I maintain an affinity for unusual news – not just from Florida, although I’m a sucker for great “Florida Man” stories, but from all over the world. Therefore, each month, I’ll share some highlights from the realm of the weird and curious.

Remote Scottish Island Celebrates New Year Late

From The Scottish Sun: Foula, a secluded island in Scotland’s Shetlands, observes New Year’s Day on Jan. 13, adhering to the Julian calendar, which the UK abandoned in 1752. The island’s 35 residents maintain this tradition.

Florida Deputy Resigns After Crashing While Watching Porn

From ClickOrlando.com: A Lake County deputy wrecked his patrol vehicle while watching pornography on his phone during a November 2024 accident, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Authorities found that he rear-ended a vehicle in front of him that had stopped for a school bus with its lights activated.

World Chess Champion Withdraws Over Dress Code

From Sky News: Magnus Carlsen, the world’s top-ranked chess player, withdrew from a tournament after refusing to change out of jeans, which violated the event’s dress code.

Maryland Man Wins $500,000 with Rude Driver’s License Plate

From UPI: A Maryland man took note of the license plate of a car that cut him off in traffic and then visited a liquor store in Glen Burnie, where he bought 10 identical Pick 5 tickets. They won, with jackpots of $50,000 each.

Overdue Stravinsky Autobiography Returned to Library – 72 Years Later

From UPI: The New York Public Library recently received a copy of Igor Stravinsky’s 1936 autobiography from the son of a woman who checked it out 72 years ago. She had checked it out while studying music at Hunter College.

Woman Mistakes Nail Glue for Eye Drops

From WCCB Charlotte: A woman in Concord, N.C., accidentally glued her eyelid shut after mistaking her nail glue for eye drops to soothe dry contact lenses. Apparently, this happens more commonly than one might expect.

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