oddly enough

oddly enough

Polish folk-art society defends its ‘Oskar’ award

WARSAW, Poland

The head of a Polish folk-art society is defending the name of its main award, the “People’s Oskar,” against a legal protest by the U.S. film group that awards the Oscars of Hollywood fame.

Waldemar Majcher of the Association of Folk Artists says the “People’s Oskar,” honors Oskar Kolberg, a 19th-century Polish ethnographer who wrote down some 10,000 Polish folk songs.

In its 10-year history, the “People’s Oskar” — a plaque with an engraved image of Jesus — has been given to museums, folk festivals and even a bread fair.

Majcher said Monday that he has received a letter from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences protesting the use of the name “Oskar,” which is the Polish spelling.

He says his group’s lawyers are writing a response to defend its use.

Danish cops recruit burglars to stem home break-ins

COPENHAGEN, Denmark

What to do when burglaries get out of hand?

In Denmark, police think they might have the answer: Turn to the experts themselves, the housebreakers.

Northern Zealand police spokesman Finn Bernth Andersen says burglars caught red-handed in the district will be asked to participate in an anonymous questionnaire about their profession.

The region, which has seen a 60 percent annual surge in break-ins in some areas, will ask burglars questions about their typical targets, motives and disposal methods for stolen goods.

Bernth Andersen conceded that police are not sure of the project’s success but said Thursday, “We’ll do anything we can to lower the number [of burglaries].”

The project is planned to last a few months.

Cops: Pa. man confesses after reading about robbery

LEECHBURG, Pa.

Police say a western Pennsylvania man who claims to have split personalities confessed robbing a Chinese restaurant after reading about it in the newspaper and realizing he was the person who did it.

Online court records don’t list an attorney for Timothy Beer, 23, of Leechburg, who’s been jailed since surrendering in the recent robbery of the China King Restaurant about 35 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.

Beer came to the police station last Tuesday, saying he wasn’t feeling well and “did something stupid.”

Beer told police he ordered food and became angry when he perceived the person waiting on him was continuing to speak Chinese. The next thing Beer remembers, he was playing video games at his cousin’s home — but says he later realized he committed the robbery when he read about it in last Tuesday’s Valley News Dispatch.

Associated Press