Rotorua, New Zealand (WFN) -- Power officials in Rotorua, New Zealand, are blaming a recent power outage...on a snail. Apparently, the slimy creature crawled over a transformer and the ooze caused a short-circuit.

BANGKOK -- Villagers in Ban Tan, Thailand, are raising a stink over what the stork recently brought them. No, it's not babies, it's stork poop. The large birds' droppings reportedly smell so bad that villagers have been forced to wear face masks and block doors and windows to keep the smell out. However, there's nothing they can do about it because storks are protected by the Thai government.

GRONINGEN, Netherlands -- If aliens want to learn more about humans, a Dutch production company has an instructional film ready for them to watch. The eight-minute short by Pavlov Media explains human nature and is currently being shown at the public library in Groningen. However, filmmakers tell "De Telegraaf" newspaper they want to get the film sent into space on an upcoming mission.

STAVROPOL, Russia -- Yikes! A man in Stavropol, Russia, had the shock of his life when his penis stuck to a pole after he urinated in a freezing cold bus shelter. The BBC reports the man was coming home after a night at the bars when he relieved himself and leaned on the bus stop, unwittingly getting his most private area stuck.

MESSINA, Italy -- "Your honor, I couldn't have committed that murder because I was killing someone else at the time." That's the excuse a mob hitman gave at his murder trial in Messina, Sicily, reports London's "Sun" tabloid. The 33-year-old killer is already serving a life sentence, but decided to come clean about his true crimes because an innocent man had been jailed for those killings.

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More Weird News From 2003-01-13 The day's offbeat stories from around the world. • Neck Heads List Of Best Body Parts For Kissing • Flash Lites: Rip 'N' Read Pop Culture Recap • Oscars On Parade • Nfl Players Won't Raise Stink About Super Bowl Grass • Sci-Fi Network Doesn't Want You To See She-Males • Chuck Woolery: 'Naturally Stoned' But Not Singing About It • Dave Koz Jazzed About Grammy Nomination • Paranormal Researchers Discover Real-Life 'Predator' • Celebrities Rake In Loot At American Music Awards • Rock Band Oleander Gets Signature Lip Gloss • Around The Weird: Bizarre News Briefs   « Current Weird News Stories