ALBUQUERQUE, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- A New Mexico researcher says the rap music that emerged from New York in the 1970s had its roots in a medieval Scottish tradition.
ALBUQUERQUE, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- The economic recession has been good for soothsayers across the United States, so says the American Association of Psychics.
VENICE, Italy, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Venice, Italy, is reinforcing its image as a city of romance by holding a mass "kiss-in" Wednesday night to welcome the new year.
FORT WORTH, Texas, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Four teenagers in Fort Worth, Texas, told police investigators they broke into a middle school looking for ghosts rumored to haunt the third floor.
Police find man living in woman's attic ... California newborn weighs 14 lbs., 2 oz. ... Web game leads to bomb scare ... Shot misses dog, hits neighbor ... UPI Quirks in the News.
URBANA, Ohio, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Police in Urbana, Ohio, say an Internet game played like a scavenger hunt caused a bomb scare and forced the evacuation of a retail area.
LAGUNA HILLS, Calif., Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Doctors said a 14-pound, 2-ounce boy born at a Laguna Hills, Calif., hospital may be the largest baby ever delivered in Orange County.
WILKES-BARRE, Pa., Dec. 29 (UPI) -- A Pennsylvania woman alleges a man police discovered in her attic had been stealing food and clothing from the home she shares with her three children.
NEW YORK, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- A New York man who advertised a service on his blog for free love letters to treat the holiday blues says he received 1,000 requests by mid-December.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Authorities in Jacksonville, Fla., say a woman who fired a pistol at a dog missed and inadvertently shot her neighbor in the back.
BUCHAREST, Romania, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- A team of bakers in Bucharest, Romania, have baked a 619-pound dessert to set a record for the world's heaviest cake.
SYDNEY, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Australia's self-proclaimed "Robinson Crusoe" has taken out an online personal ad searching for his own "Girl Friday" to share his island life.
FRESNO, Calif., Dec. 29 (UPI) -- A California skateboarder who drains pools behind foreclosed homes says skaters the world over are coming to Fresno for the backyard venues.
Dog an unfortunate Christmas gift return … U.K. police: Christmas crank calls no joke … Chicago dispatchers save Christmas … Family finds $10,000 in cracker box … Watercooler stories from UPI.
Man, 54, lives Mississippi River dream … Man burned trying to impress girlfriend … Stripper Idol has strip club in trouble … Eagles may intercept jilted Giants fan … The world as we know it from UPI.
MANCHESTER, England, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- Police in Manchester, England, say Christmas calls to the 999 emergency line proved that too many people abuse the system with frivolous and crank calls.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- Sondra Fortunato says after being a loyal fan of the New York Giants for 30 years she is considering shifting her allegiance to the Philadelphia Eagles.
CHICAGO, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- Chicago's 911 dispatchers say they rescued Christmas this year for a family whose distraught grandmother had called for help.
AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- A strip club in Austin, Texas, is profiting off the fame of the "American Idol" TV series by holding Stripper Idol nights, a company alleges in a lawsuit.
Emmanuelle Riva (L), Michael Haneke (C) and Jean-Louis Trintignant arrive at the award photocall after Haneke received the "Palm D'Or" prize for the film "Amour (Love)" during the 65th annual Cannes International Film Festival in Cannes, France on May 27, 2012. UPI/David Silpa
