NPR Topics: DiversionsIrrestible and odd stories from news, culture, sports, and literature. Subscribe to the Diversions RSS feed.Bikini Baristas Try To Get Leg Up In Seattle- September 17, 2008 Baristas in spike heels, lingerie and other sexy attire are attracting long lines and large tips in Washington state. But some residents insist that coffee shops should be G-rated family locales. The community is drawing the line at pasties, which have inspired some frothy rage and a new law.http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94715155&ft=1&f=1051 GOP Delegate Says Woman Drugged, Robbed Him- September 17, 2008 Republican convention delegate Gabriel Nathan Schwartz jokingly proposed bombing Iran, saying the U.S. should pay for it by taking Iran's oil. Then something like that happened to him. He remembers bringing a woman back to his hotel room, but the rest is fuzzy. When he woke, his money and jewelry were gone.http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94699117&ft=1&f=1051 Israeli Suburb Uses Dog DNA To Punish Owners- September 17, 2008 Stepping on dog droppings is one of the more irritating aspects of life. In Israel, a suburb of Tel Aviv is testing a new way to determine who isn't scooping the poop. The local vet is collecting samples of doggie DNA, using a mouth swab from the pets. If droppings end up on someone's shoe, the city can check it against its database and fine the owner. Owners contribute the DNA sample voluntarily, but the city is considering making it the law.http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94699120&ft=1&f=1051 Blemish, Anyone Bets Show Dark Side Of Tennis- September 17, 2008 Tennis may seem rather dainty. But, in fact, the sport has always had a dark underside, populated by gamblers and match fixers. Commentator Frank Deford says he's not reassured by a ruling that cleared a top player of throwing a match.http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94669461&ft=1&f=1051 The Wine-With-Vegetables Challenge- September 17, 2008 It may be challenging to find wines to pair with vegetables, but it's not impossible. It's especially worth the effort at this time of year. Plates laden with the harvest's abundance will only be enhanced by the right glass of wine.http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94630846&ft=1&f=1051 Silent Ravers Dance 'Together, But Individually'- September 16, 2008 Young people are organizing online and gathering in public spaces to throw the quietest dance parties ever. It's called a "silent rave" — with MP3 players in hand, they show up en masse and dance together to their own music.http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94541066&ft=1&f=1051 Nepal Closes Nude Disco- September 16, 2008 Everybody faces economic trouble these days, but Nepal's trouble may be more fun. The United States has the collapse of Lehman Brothers; Nepal has the collapse of the nude disco. Police ordered nude dancing establishments to close early. Then police started shutting them down entirely. Disco workers protested this week. They claim that the government's move endangers 80,000 jobs.http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94658971&ft=1&f=1051 Fla. Town's Saggy Pants Law Ruled Unconstitutional- September 16, 2008 Riviera Beach, Fla., followed several other southern towns in passing a law against saggy pants. The mayor exulted: "The people have defined what is indecent in our city." Now, a judge has defined what's constitutional, and it's not a law against letting your boxers show. The case went to court after a teenager was arrested and spent a night in jail for riding his bike with his pants partly down.http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94658974&ft=1&f=1051 For White-Water Guides, The Thrill Is Never Gone- September 16, 2008 The Grand Canyon's rafting season is ending, after giving thousands of visitors one-of-a-kind memories. The guides that take them downriver are like larger-than-life superheroes. And that can be hard to walk away from.http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94108011&ft=1&f=1051 Dog Calls 911, Saves Owner Struck By Seizure- September 15, 2008 The tale of a German shepherd saving its owner's life goes back to Rin Tin Tin. Buddy is the latest chapter. He called 911 when his owner had a seizure. John Stalnaker trained Buddy to make the emergency call, should he — as he sometimes does — have a seizure. The Arizona Republic reports emergency officials arrived within two minutes — after hearing Buddy whimpering on the other end of the phone.http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94617128&ft=1&f=1051 |