Strange notes to end the year

The last week of the year is usually pretty quiet as far as news goes. 2003 has obviously been a notable exception, with the mad-cow scare and the earthquake in Iran, among other stories.

Not all of the year-end news has been serious, scary or tragic. There's also been an unusually large number of bizarre stories the past few days. Some highlights:

• A naked man was rescued from a chimney on Christmas Day (he said he was trying to retrieve dropped keys)
• A Bronx packrat spent the weekend buried under a pile of books and magazines that tipped over. The landlord says he heard the man calling for help but didn't pay attention because "he's always talking to himself."
• Tip: If you're a rogue cop who breaks the rules, don't brag about it on your blog.
• M&M's candies will be available only in black and white in the United States for the next several months. Part of a big contest. Whatever.