Book excerpt: Thanks to the twenty-four-hour news cycle, today we can learn of big news developments in no time at all. But what about the smaller—and stranger—events that are often overlooked or ignored? This captivating volume offers readers the oddest stories ever to hit the newspapers. A dog on trial for murder? A man who choked to death on the garlic he used to repel vampires? A torrent of frogs raining from the sky? A lady who picked up broadcasting signals through her teeth? The trouser thief? These crazy news stories will convince readers that truth is often stranger than fiction. Sidebars, a glossary, and books and websites in the further reading section are also included.