Legs manual wins odd title prize

A self-help guide called "If You Want Closure In Your Relationship, Start With Your Legs" has been voted the oddest book title of the year.

It beat off stiff competition from another entitled "I Was Tortured By the Pygmy Love Queen" to win The Bookseller magazine's prize, reports the BBC.

"Cheese Problems Solved" took third place in a poll which attracted 8,500 votes.

Joel Rickett, deputy editor of The Bookseller, said of the winner: "So effective is the title that you don't even need to read the book itself."

He added that it "makes redundant an entire genre of self-help tomes".

The manual, whose author is named Big Boom, is described as a "self-help book, written by a man for the benefit of women".

Bookseller's contest began in 1978, and the roll-call of previous winners includes High Performance Stiffened Structures, Living with Crazy Buttocks and How To Avoid Huge Ships.

I need a day off - so shoot me!

A 21-year-old US man reportedly asked his friend to shoot him so he could skip work.

Sheriff's detectives say Daniel Kuch, of Pasco, Washington state, took a bullet in the shoulder to avoid taking a drug test at work.

Mr Kuch claimed he'd been the victim of a drive-by shooting while jogging with a friend, reports the Daily Telegraph.

But his story unravelled when detectives were called to the medical centre where Mr Kuch sought treatment for his bullet wound.

Detectives told KONA radio that Mr Kuch later acknowledged that he asked his friend to shoot him so he could get some time off work and avoid the drug test.

Pasco detective Jason Nunez said: "It's extremely concerning that someone would come up with a story like this. It presents such a serious situation, when someone makes up a false story just to help themselves."

Mr Kuch is expected to be charged with false reporting, while his friend has been arrested for reckless endangerment.

Police declined to say where he worked or if he still had a job.

Leona bags US No 1!

Leona bags US No 1!


Leona Lewis claimed the No 1 spot on the US singles chart yesterday (March 28), becoming the first British female to do so in 20 years.

Her smash hit single Bleeding Love has been gaining momentum since its US release six weeks ago while her recent performance on the prestigious Oprah Winfrey Show boosted her climb to clinch the top spot.

Hackney-born Leona told the BBC: "I'm so excited to be able to spend some time in the US and showcase my music to everyone here."

"Its been a dream of mine since I was a little girl and I can't wait."

Kim Wilde was the last British female to claim a US No1 with a cover of the Surpreme's hit, You Keep Me Hangin' On in 1987.

Trapped tourists go potty

Passengers on the London Eye cracked open supplies of blankets, water and emergency toilets after it ground to a halt.

About 400 people were on the tourist attaction ground when it had to be stopped for more than an hour for urgent repairs.

London Eye staff spoke to the trapped tourists via intercom, instructing them to open emergency supplies of water, blankets and commodes.

However, for anyone caught short, privacy in the glass capsules could not be guaranteed, reports the Daily Telegraph.

London Eye spokeswoman Liz Edwards said: "We had two-way communication with all the guests, so we spoke to everyone to reassure them.

"There was a technical fault with one of the tyres so we thought the best thing to do was op the wheel until it could be repaired.

"Engineers came along and the guests opened comfort packs with water, blankets and glucose tablets. There were commodes as well."

She said none of the passengers had suffered any health problems or panic attacks.

All the guests were offered warm drinks and a refund just after 7pm when they came down from the wheel.

Praying dog joins temple

A chihuahua has begun joining in daily prayers at a Buddhist temple in Japan.

Attendances have increased by 30% since temple pet, two-year-old Conan, started attending.

Conan sits on his hind legs, raises his paws and puts them together at the tip of his nose, reports the BBC.

"He may be showing his thanks for treats and walks," says a priest at Jigenin temple on Okinawa island.

Priest Joei Yoshikuni would like Conan to meditate, but "it's not like we can make him cross his legs", he says.

Mr Yoshikuni said it only took Conan a few days to imitate the motions of praying.

"I think he saw me doing it all the time and got the idea to do it too," he said.

Major disappointment...

A Chinese 'army major' who dated a string of girls and cheated them out of £16,000 has allegedly been exposed as a con artist - and a woman.

Police say Li Xu, from Anxian town, Sichuan province, had been disguising herself as an army officer for two years.

She was arrested after Liu Lian, of Datong city, Shanxi province, reported she had been cheated out of £11,000 by an army major named Li Zhanyu who she had met on the internet.

Li had described himself as a university-educated army major, reports Oriental Today.

Liu Lian said: "He said he wanted to date my daughter, but first needed money to break up with his current girlfriend. He also promised to find my daughter a good job."

But, after Liu wired the money, Li disappeared from her life.

Police caught up with him at an internet cafe in Kaifeng city. He reportedly told arresting officers: "You'll regret this. You'll pay for this. I'll call the leaders of the National Public Security Department."

Police thought he was a conman at this stage but their suspicions grew during questioning as they noticed his high-pitched voice and fair complexion.

A check-up by female police revealed Li to be a 25-year-old woman. She confessed she had cheated another two women with the same marriage con.

Li has been transferred to police in Shanxi province where she faces charges.