The Pin Factory Blog

The Sicilian mayor Vittorio Sgarbi is offering houses for €1. In the words of Don Corleone: "I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse."

According to the Telegraph, Liverpool has been attacked by a giant spider. Apparently that's what happens when you are the EU's Capital of Culture.

Man successfully sues prosecutors to get his prosthetic leg back. Apparently the state didn't have a leg to stand on.

Are you bald? Do you want to supplement you income? Why not earn NZ$1000 by letting an airline company temporarily advertise on your head?

The housing crisis has forced a family to put their eco-home into a raffle because nobody wants to buy it. Junksmith will only enter if they throw in a Hummer.

A lorry carrying 2,000 pints of lager destined for a pub called the Windsor Castle was delivered to the Queen's residence by mistake. Junksmith has already changed the name of his house to the Marquis of Granby and is waiting expectantly.

Research suggests that thinking can make you fat. Perhaps the govenment should intervene...

Sheikh Muhammad Munajid, a Saudi cleric, has declared that Mickey Mouse is "one of Satan's soldiers" and must die.

No, really. Even Junksmith couldn't make it up...

Proof, if ever any was needed, that capitalism is not dead.

Next month, Stoke-on-Trent City Council is holding a referendum. Here's the question they will be putting to their constituents:

Are you in favour of the proposal for Stoke-on-Trent City Council to be run in a new way, which includes a councillor, who will be elected by the councillors of Stoke-on-Trent to lead the council and the community which it serves?

Hmm... Never mind whether they're going to vote yes or no. Can anyone work out exactly what the question means? Answers on a postcard, please.

Hat-tip to Harry Phibbs, the new editor of ConservativeHome's local government blog.