How About That?

From the unusual to the funny and the downright bizarre, we bring you a sample of weird news from around the world, along with cartoons, blogs and games... because news doesn't have to be serious.

A dog is just for the afternoon
Pet rental in Japan is booming. The number of companies dedicated to renting out pets in Tokyo alone has risen from 17 in 2000 to 134 today.
25 Nov 2007

Political correctness infests the pantomime
Whatever happened to the good old-fashioned British panto? Struggling under the weight of political correctness, the much-loved Christmas tradition is not what it once was.
25 Nov 2007

Texan town sold for £1.5 million on eBay
13-acre Albert includes a house, dance hall, tavern and a schoolhouse reportedly attended by former President Lyndon Johnson in 1920.
24 Nov 2007

Movie role prize on offer for Harry Potter fans
Harry Potter fans have the chance to win a magical Christmas present - a walk-on role in the next film about the boy wizard.
23 Nov 2007

The X-rated anthem that helped sink England
Football fan websites in Croatia want a medal for the British singer whose x-rated rendition of the their national anthem apparently helped the team to beat England.
23 Nov 2007

Metal detector pair find Roman Briton skeleton
The 1,800-year-old skeleton of one of Roman Britain's "social elite" has been discovered by two men with metal detectors who had already unearthed a £1 million Viking treasure
23 Nov 2007

BT customer turns to YouTube to settle query
A man who spent six months calling BT to query his phone bill has finally got a response after posting his complaint on YouTube.
22 Nov 2007

Queen's undertakers have 'first call coffin'
The Queen's official undertakers have a special 'first call coffin' at the ready in case a member of the Royal family dies suddenly abroad.
22 Nov 2007

'Chairman' Kevin Rudd in communist satire
A YouTube video satirising the man predicted to win Australia's election as Chairman Mao has won a tongue-in-cheek political film-making competition.
22 Nov 2007

Record-breaking 32ft shark caught
A giant thresher shark - the biggest ever caught - was auctioned this morning after being netted off the coast of Cornwall.
22 Nov 2007