One of the most popular features of MSNBC.com are those wacky, strange stories from around the world that have readers saying "Gee whiz" — and e-mailing them to friends and family.
We call them our Weird News. But which ones are — drum roll, please — the weirdest? The Most Peculiar of the Year?
Well, the tally from our weekly polls is in, and here are the Top 20 Most Peculiar Stories of 2008, as voted on by our users:
The envelope, please:
1: And the winner, with an 80 percent vote, is:
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2: Coming in second, with a 59 percent score:
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3: Death is always a favorite (in this case, at 42 percent):
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4: At 35 percent, a story that made headlines everywhere:
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5: And at just under 35 percent, one that made us say "Ahhh!":
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6: Also at 35 percent, more proof that death makes headlines:
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7: At 34 percent, this story has “What?!?!” written all over it:
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8: And, at 33 percent, a Halloween treat:
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9: At 31 percent, more spookiness:
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10: At 30 percent, no comment needed:
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11: And, also at 30 percent, death scores again:
Woman kills husband with pull-out couch
(Note: This story has expired on our site, but you can find it here on Reuters' site.)
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12: Another 30 percenter, this time concerning animal-caffeine craziness:
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13: And, at 26 percent, animal-legal madness:
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14: Also at 26 percent, death scores again:
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15: And another 26 percenter, a Goldilocks-type tale:
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16: At 25 percent, this, um, hair-raising story:
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17: Also at 25 percent, another toilet tale:
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18: Another 25 percenter, this time from Poland:
Man spots his wife during visit to brothel
(Note: This story has expired on our site, but you can find it here on Reuters' site.)
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19: A 24 percent, an irresistible animal story:
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20: And finally, at 23 percent, another bird-centered tale: