Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Boston Shut Down By Idiotic Marketing Campaign Criminals

Having been one of, what, millions of people today who were worried that a terrorist plot may have been underway in Boston, I am still so struck by the carelessness and stupidity of it all.

Ted Turner and the Cartoon Network did not release a statement until 7:30pm EST, which infuriated the mayor of Boston and many citizens.

They 'apologized' and said they were cooperating with police in other cities to tell them where additional boxes are located.

Seattle station KOMO-TV is reporting that police officials in the city and in suburbs around the city have located and removed about five of the boxes. Other cities like New York, Los Angeles, Washington DC and seven others have been reported.

Now I will editorialize:

Turner need to be held accountable for this enormous fiasco. What happened today in Boston was no mistake or blunder.

It was terrorism, no question about it and they should be punished, especially since they did not alert city or police officials.

So that I can calm down, I am going to create a scenario of the hatching of this stupid and nefarious marketing campaign.

Imagine having been a "fly on the wall" when the folks at the Cartoon Network responsible for the Aqua Teen Hunger Force sat down to discuss the plan to promote the show.

"Hey guys, I know what we can do. Let's place suspicious-looking packages under bridges and near medical centers all over Boston, and when the bomb squads open them up, or blow up, and they see they are just the Aqua Teen Hunger Force, we'll get lots of press because the terror alert will go up and everyone will be talking about it."

Superior: "Yeah good idea!"
Everyone else in the room: "Umm, ok, I guess."
Superior: "Bully, get to work!"

Criminal idiots! Did they pass on the campaign idea to the legal department for clearance first?

They should all lose their jobs and be charged with criminal mischief and obstruction of justice, and be forced to pay back the city of Boston, state of Massachusetts and the federal agencies involved for all of their costs (which are really ours because we pay the taxes).

Think about the ambulance that couldn't get to a call quick enough because bridges and streets were closed.

Think of the businesses that may have lost hundreds of thousands. Think of the terror they instilled throughout Boston (the origin of the two planes that hit the World Trade Center buildings on 9/11).

The utter complete irresponsibility in a climate of heightened fear and anguish is simply criminal and they should be punished.

I can't wait to see how they respond to the obvious question: "Why would you do such a stupid campaign like this, especially after 9/11? Are you really that insensitive, stupid and willing to put other people's lives at stake for a 'creative' marketing campaign?

Labels: Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Boston, Boston Terror, Cartoon Channel Fiasco, offbeat, Weird News, Weird Terror Alert

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Mozart The Iguana Loses Penis No. 1

Zoo officials at the Aquatopia in Antwerp, Belgium have cut off (feeling the pain) the penis (did he say penis?) of Mozart the iguana after determining that his permanent erection (what's that? oh yeah, priapism) was too uncomfortable and made it difficult for the reptile to walk (what, he can't walk on five legs?).

The iguana had been suffering from a permanent case of priapism for a week when officials called in experts to help decide what to do.

Officials at the zoo made the decision to remove the iguana's "thingy" after consulting with the experts and veterinarians.

Mozart is expected to make a full recovery. Plus, he has his spare penis (no, I'm not kidding) to rely on.

Labels: Amputee, Antwerp, Aquatopia Zoo, Beligum, Iguana, Mozart, Priapism

Villagers Flock to See Chicken with Duck Feet

It's a duck, it's a chicken.

Nope, it's a little of both.

A chicken born in Buga, Colombia, let's call him "Chuck" (cross of chicken and duck), has an unusual appearance.

Chuck is a chicken with the webbed feet of a duck (see photo to the right).

Scientists call it a mishap of nature, more specificially a genetic imperfection.

Villagers from all over the area are reportedly flocking to Buga to see Chuck for themselves.

Watch the video

Labels: Chicken with Duck Feet, Odd News, Odd Video, Strange News, Unusual Video, weird video

Sunday, January 28, 2007

Giant Python Eats 11 Guard Dogs

A 23-foot python reportedly consumed 11 guard dogs on Friday that were protecting a fruit orchard in Malaysia.

Villagers in the southern region of Johor discovered the giant python and realized it had consumed all of the dogs in a short period of time.

The python was not injured by the villagers but instead tied to a tree until wildlife officials could come to recover the mammoth reptile.

Labels: News of the Weird, Odd News, Offbeat News, Python Consumes Dogs, Strange Stuff, Weird News, Weird Stuff

This Is Damn Awesome Video of a Guy and Coin Tossing

Only known as Dr. Cox, I stumbled upon this video while looking for something else.

In the first few seconds I thought, "Whatever, some guy filming himself pitching coins into a glass. How many drunk college students do you think are doing that right now? "

But then, as I continued to watch, I was quite amazed as he kept taking it up a notch (and wonder if he does anything but this).

The video is awesome, in my opinion, and even has some funny moments. Yet more than anything, the variety of coin tossing and pitching he demonstrates is worth a spot on one of those national talent shows that I don't watch (where's that United Airlines puke bag I had around here somewhere?)

So, here it is, judge for yourself and feel free to get a discussion going. I'm incredibly interested to hear what others think of this video. If someone has a video they think tops this, send it to me and I'll post it here on some of our affiliate websites too.

Now, ladies and gentlemen and all of those who don't think of themselves as either, Dr. Cox:

Labels: Amazing Videos, Coin in Glass Contest, Cool Videos, Great Videos, News of the Weird, Popular Videos

Man Gets Valid License and ID Using A Cartoon Photo of Batman's Rival "The Joker"

A 35-year-old man in the Dutch town of Hellevoetsluis was able to trick local authorities into issuing him a valid identification card and a renewed driver's license with a picture of "The Joker" rather than the man's own mug, reports Reuters.

Apparently the unnamed man works in the security field and wanted to make a point about how easy it was to fake an identification in the town to obtain an identification.

The Joker has been Batman's top rival in comics, television and film for decades. He is characterized by his white painted face, long cigarettes and the ever-present black hat.

Labels: Batman, Funny Events, Offbeat News, Strange Stuff, Strange Things, The Joker, Weird News

Thursday, January 25, 2007

Diver Partly Swallowed By Shark Survives with Lead Vest

An Australian abalone diver survived an attack from a great white shark that had him locked in the shark's jaws for a few terrifying seconds, Reuters reports.

Eric Nerhus, 41, was diving with his son and other divers off Cape Howe, near Eden on Australia's southeast coast when he was attacked by a ten-foot great white.

The shark partly swallowed Nerhus and held him in his jaws until Nerhus freed himself by using his abalone tool to stab the shark in the head, at which time it let go. It is extremely rare to be attacked by a great white, but even more rare to survive.

"He stated that he was head-first into the shark," a spokeswoman for Snowy Hydro SouthCare rescue service said about Nerhus' ordeal.

"When he came to us he was conscious and alert but had a broken nose and lacerations to both sides of his torso and chest -- bite marks all the way around," she said.

A friend of Nerhus, Dennis Luobikis, told Reuters:

"He was actually bitten by the head...the shark swallowed his head." Luobikis said he could see the shark clench its jaw around Nerhus' chest on the second bite.

"The brunt of the bite was taken by his lead-weight vest. Its all over your torso. Eric said to me at the wharf that his weight vest saved him," he said.

Divers often use lead vests (rather than belts) to keep them weighed down because they can spend up to 8 hours looking for and removing abalone. The popular sea urchin is fast-disappearing around the world because of the high human demand for what is considered a seafood delicacy and in some countries and male potency enhancer.

From 1990 and 2005, there were a reported 341 shark attacks in the waters off Florida, compared to 74 attacks in Australia, 72 South Africa, 62 Brazil and Hawaii 57.

Labels: Great White Shark Attack, Mammal News, Near Death Experiences, Offbeat News, Weird News

Monday, January 22, 2007

Today is Your Worst Day of the Year, Doctor Says

You haven't been able to catch with all your work emails. The bills for the Christmas spending mania are piling up.

New Year's resolutions to quit smoking, lose weight or spend more time with the kids have already fallen from grace.

The weather is cold, stormy and making a mess of everything. The days are short and the nights are long. You're exhausted and just want to stay in bed instead of go to work.

Add it all up and today is supposedly everyone's worst day for the whole year.

Oh really? Well you can believe in the tooth fairies too.

But, According to British psychologist Dr. Cliff Arnall, it's true. He has devised a sophisticated mathematical calculation that predicts Monday as the worst day of the year.

Dr. Arnall specializes in seasonal disorders at the University of Cardiff, Wales. A few years ago he devised a formula that equates peoples' saddness along with other factors, and found that Jan. 22 is indeed "Blue Monday".

Umm, I'm not sold.

Nevertheless, let's give the guy a shot. Here is his formula:

[W + (D-d)] x TQ M x NA

Here is a legend for the formula: (W) weather; (D) debt; (d) monthly salary; (T) time since Christmas; (Q) time since failed quit attempt, (M) low motivational levels and (NA) the need to take action.

The formula was devised to help a travel company “analyze when people book holidays and holiday trends,” said Alex Kennedy, spokesperson for Porter Novelli, a London-based PR agency.

Ticket sales to the sunnier parts of the globe apparently go up this time of year exactly because of the lack of warmth and daylight.

“People feel bleak when they have nothing planned, but once they book a holiday...imagine [sic] yourself on the beach it makes you feel positive. You will save money, go to the gym and come back to the optimism,” she said. In U.K., nearly one third get SAD.

There are others who agree with Arnall. “I’m sure it's right,” said Dr. Alan Cohen, spokesperson for the Royal College of General Practitioners, referring to Arnall's equation.

So, if you're feeling really depressed right now, try these links for a little joy and happiness:

Bushisms
Funny Videos
Jokes

Labels: Best Videos, Blue Monday, Bushisms, Fun, Funny Videos, Jokes, Offbeat News, Strange News, Stupid Bush Quotes, weird video

Monday, January 15, 2007

Start Staring At Me!

Can you stare at someone for an extended period of time without flinching?
philip rockhammer, national association of staredown professionals, weird, strange, offbeat, weird video, staring
It's called a stare-down. Millions have tried it; few can make past a couple of minutes.

How long have you gone?

If you a stare-down professional, you may be able to make a living at it. No kidding.

Why you would want to make a living at it is a whole other story.

But each year, dozens of stare-down events take place throughout the world. (Paris Hilton should host the next one.)

The event has become so popular it is now considered a sport (see the embedded video below) by many participants and fans.

A couple of years ago film maker J.R. McCord followed Philip Rockhammer in his quest to become the NASP national champion.

When the Unflinching Triumph documentary debuted on the Internet last year, the Wall Street Journal called it one of the most worth online films to watch.

Labels: national association of staredown professionals, offbeat, philip rockhammer, staring, strange, weird, weird video

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Toilet Bandit Turns Himself and Urinal In to Police

A British man, caught on video camera stealing a urinal from the Royal Oak Pub in South Hampton, and broadcast around the world, turned himself in to police today.

The infamous video was broadcast on TV news and on the Internet and seen by millions of viewers. British police willing supplied the video to the press, who of course spun it in every way you can imagine. However, the tape reportedly never shows him actually stealing the urinal itself.

Police said he did a professional job of removing the urinal, even shutting off the water, then stuffed it into a duffel bag and left (show in the photos above).

But when the 42-year-old saw himself on television, he turned himself into police. Apparently, he said he stole it as a 'souvneir'. Well I'm sure we can all sleep better tonight.

Labels: Crazy People, Toilet Bandit Turns Himself In, Urinal Thief

Monday, January 08, 2007

Colorado Snow Sells on eBay

The world's most famous auction site, eBay, has been known over the years to host some pretty weird items for bidders, as long as they are not body parts, explosives or drugs.

But who on earth would buy snow? And how can that be auctioned; I mean, how does the recipient get it without it melting.

Well, according to some of the sellers slinging snow, there is no guarantee that the "snow" will arrive in "frozen" form. Excuse me? Then someone is really just buying water?

Yup, they are just buying water. Can anyone imagine what they would be buying it for?

One seller of Colorado, non-yellow (thanks!!) snow writes in the auction description: 'It will melt, but you will be the only one on your block with COLORADO SNOW. No Returns and all sales are final and 'as-is'".

These people need some serious psychiatric help to go so far as to sell snow over the Internet. Maybe the seclusion of being buried in for so many weeks is getting to them. Perhaps not in the way that is depicted in Stanley Kubrick's horror class "The Shining," but it's not too far off. Goodness!!

We are going to make a list of the weird auctions on eBay during the next week, so look out for it, or sign up for our feed to be emailed when the story is published.