Olympia, WA -- When it comes to quitting smoking, the eighth time's the charm. According to research by the Washington State Department of Health, the average smoker attempts to stop eight times before finally succeeding in quitting the habit.

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. -- The U.S. economy should rebound this year, if women's hemlines are any indication. Shopping center manager Taubman Centers Inc. surveyed 1000 shoppers nationwide asking them where they thought hemlines should be this year. They then applied the "hemline indicator," which says the higher women wear their skirts, the better the economy will be. Sixty-three percent of respondents said hemlines should be above the knee this year, 36 percent were cautious, saying "below the knee," and seven percent were pessimists who said skirts will be at the ankle.

ST. LOUIS -- A 19-year-old convenience store clerk in St. Louis has been fired from her job following a holdup -- because she let the burglar get away with too much money. Store bosses claim Tina Schramm violated a store policy because she had more than $200 in her cash drawer when the robbery took place. What makes Schramm really upset about losing her job is that police later caught the thief and returned the stolen $365 to her bosses, according to the "St. Louis Dispatch."

KENNEDALE, Texas -- Customers who frequent X-rated video stores in Kennedale, Texas, should beware: A church pastor is taking pictures of their cars. To discourage porn-store patronage, holy man Jim Norwood turns the photos into postcards which he sends to the customers' homes with the message: "Observed you in the neighborhood. Didn't know if you were aware there is a church in the area...please stop by next time." Norwood tells the "Los Angeles Times" his special deliveries aren't blackmail -- they're an "invitation to church."

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More Weird News From 2004-01-27 The day's offbeat stories from around the world. • Around The Weird: Bizarre News Briefs • Flash Lites: Rip 'N' Read Pop Culture Recap • Hollywood Watch Out: Aguilera Is Headed Your Way • Super Bowl Balls Are In The Air • Outdoor Channel Has Gone Fishin' • Award-Winning Actors Get No Prizes For Acceptance Speeches • Halle Berry And Mel Gibson: Best Heads In Hollywood • Shout Out To My Peeps • Building A Better Toilet Seat Cover • Will Presidential 'N-Factor' Prevail In Primary? • Pedophile Researcher Wants A Scan Of Michael Jackson's Hand   « Current Weird News Stories