News Weird News Compilation

[nsaspook]

https://www.masslive.com/news/2025/...tate-trooper-with-fiji-water-to-get-cdls.html
Boston man pleads guilty to bribing state trooper with Fiji water to get CDLs

The free items included bottled Fiji, bottled Arizona Iced Tea and coffee and tea products.

What? You took Fiji water bribes!

 

[berkeman]

An underwater camera from 1970 that had been submerged to capture evidence of the Loch Ness Monster has been discovered by accident.

The U.K.'s National Oceanography Centre was conducting a routine test of one of their autonomous underwater vehicles, named Boaty McBoatface, when it happened upon the camera system at a depth of around 590 feet.

The camera is thought to have been submerged 55 years ago as part of the Loch Ness Investigation Bureau's first attempt to use underwater photography in their search for Nessie.

The center's underwater robot came across the contraption when part of its mooring snagged on Boaty McBoatface's propeller. When it was brought back to the surface, author and lifelong Nessie investigator Adrian Shine said he knew exactly what it was.

"It was a fascinating moment," Shine told CBS News.

He described the camera trap as "quite ingenious." "[It was] triggered by a bait line, which was above the camera on a float, and if that was pulled, an external magnetic switch was operated," he said.

Shine, who set up The Loch Ness Project in the mid-1970s to investigate Loch Ness, said around 24 film exposures had been taken but there was no evidence of Nessie in those pictures.

 

[Astronuc]

YONKERS, N.Y. (PIX11) – A boulder crashed into a building in Yonkers, causing it to collapse early Monday morning, according to a spokesperson for Mayor Mike Spano.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/boulder-crashes-york-building-causing-125108315.html

There is a low ridge behind the buildings along the road, which is in a river valley. The Saw Mill River runs through the middle of the valley, which can flood if there is enough rain. The area is a suburb of NY City.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/boulder-crashes-yonkers-building-causing-214127629.html

 

[nsaspook]

https://news.sky.com/video/boris-jo...ile-at-a-safari-park-with-his-family-13343984

Boris Johnson attacked by ostrich while at a safari park with his family​

The former prime minister was bitten by an ostrich as he drove through a safari park with his son.

 

[fresh_42]

https://news.sky.com/video/boris-jo...ile-at-a-safari-park-with-his-family-13343984

Boris Johnson attacked by ostrich while at a safari park with his family​

The former prime minister was bitten by an ostrich as he drove through a safari park with his son.

And I always thought that ostriches were comparably dumb.

 

[fresh_42]

 

[nsaspook]

He completely fell for her.

 

[nsaspook]

https://www.nola.com/gambit/news/th...cle_56f9087f-96b6-4e9f-b656-442b04bedff6.html

New Orleans officials can sexually harass workers so long as productivity doesn't decline​

The stunningly retrograde decision comes as part of an order reinstating former Clerk of Council Lora Johnson, who was fired last year after she was found by the New Orleans City Council to have engaged in a decade-long campaign of harassment of employees.

The commission, which is essentially the Human Resources department for city government, also ordered Johnson be given nearly a year in back pay.


The commission did not question those findings against. In fact, they explicitly acknowledge the city council proved Johnson had assaulted employees over an 11-year period.

 

[nsaspook]

The LA chainsaw bandit.

 

[Hornbein]

The LA chainsaw bandit.

The Illinois Enema Bandit.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_H._Kenyon

 

[Hornbein]

20,000 Bees Chased a Car for 24 Hours to Rescue Their Trapped Queen Bee​

https://blog.philhealthid.ph/?p=57

 

[nsaspook]

 

[sbrothy]

And the Chinese eat Finns in their soup ...
Considering all the Czechs who play in the NHL they should know better.

https://newsfeed.time.com/2013/04/2...-is-a-different-country-after-boston-bombing/

I hope you noticed the start of the article:

"War", Ambrose Bierce said, "is God's way of teaching Americans geography.

 

[Borg]

Sometimes there is a cure for from stupid.
'Unparalleled' snake antivenom made from man bitten 200 times

 

[Klystron]

Not to be too pedantic, but this was how ancient Romans enjoyed their drugs. With no experience smoking tobacco, a New World plant, but familar with incense varieties burned in charcoal braziers, Romans blazed hash and opium inhaling the fumes.

The HBO series "Rome" depicts teenagers inhaling cannabis extract over a charcoal brazier interrupted when Mother joins the party.

 

[sbrothy]

I can attest that the Rome series is true to history (although understandably dramatizied) and very entertaining. Rome really comes to life with colorful statues and sexy grafitti. Like Kipling you can almost smell the spices!

EDIT:

And of course with it's share of violence, which is not at all pretty. Like, you know, real violence.

 

[nsaspook]

https://apnews.com/article/speedboa...-havasu-race-4bc1589e11bc9710c6575d492a113fdd

 

[nsaspook]

https://ecency.com/hive-157940/@kur8/this-man-now-holds-the

 

[nsaspook]

 

[berkeman]

From Facebook:

 

[nsaspook]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/ghost-machine-rogue-communication-devices-050547906.html

Rogue communication devices found in Chinese solar power inverters​

While inverters are built to allow remote access for updates and maintenance, the utility companies that use them typically install firewalls to prevent direct communication back to China.

However, rogue communication devices not listed in product documents have been found in some Chinese solar power inverters by U.S experts who strip down equipment hooked up to grids to check for security issues, the two people said.

Likely just a few Rogue Engineers that once worked for VW.

And now VW, who find themselves engulfed by emissions test fixing scandals, are suggesting that rogues working as engineers at VW are to blame.

“We just do what they allow us to do,” writes an anonymous rogue in a book that promises to ” lift the lid ” on rogue culture, breaking their strict code of silence.

“Or we just do what everyone else is doing…but with a naughty glint in our eye, and a cheeky smile.”

However rogue community leaders have distanced themselves from the new book, dismissing it as the work of a rogue rogue.

“Emissions? No, this cigar has a catalytic converter.”

 

[Hornbein]

Set goals for your employees then don't ask how they got there. Virtue signal heavily in your employee training. The smart ones will sense you don't really mean it.

 

[nsaspook]

No need to Virtue signal.

Chinese companies are required by law to cooperate with China's intelligence agencies, giving the government potential control over Chinese-made inverters connected to foreign grids, experts said.

I think the engineers that make the Chinese gear want these 'features' to be found. Most are so obvious it's ridiculous to think it's going to be secret for very long.

 

[gmax137]

I think the engineers that make the Chinese gear want these 'features' to be found. Most are so obvious it's ridiculous to think it's going to be secret for very long.

Maybe they think you'll stop looking once you find one.

 

[nsaspook]

Maybe they think you'll stop looking once you find one.

They're wrong.

 

[berkeman]

In late May 2025, a rumor spread online that the Chicago Sun-Times used artificial intelligence to publish a "summer reading list" featuring books that don't exist.


The claim spread on X, Reddit and Bluesky; many posts on social media expressed frustration at the Sun-Times, questioning its editorial and fact-checking process in the wake of mass layoffs at the daily newspaper.


In short, it is accurate to say that the Sun-Times published a summer reading list filled with fake, AI-generated books. Thus, we rate this claim true.


However, the content did not originate with the Sun-Times' editorial team, but with King Features, a media distribution company that is part of Hearst, a media conglomerate best known for owning magazines such as Cosmopolitan and Esquire.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/c...hlid=d61afaffb6e4d2a894ebb5b7f67fbccc67254329

 

[Borg]

Not perfect and still in development but an interesting capability.

Infrared contact lenses let you see in the dark​

 

[Astronuc]

443-foot ship pulled free after nearly hitting home (by ~15 feet or ~ 5 m) as owner slept​

https://www.yahoo.com/news/443-foot-ship-pulled-free-115453144.html

 

[berkeman]

North Elba, N.Y. — Mark Twain is widely thought to have said that reports of his death had been greatly exaggerated, though the quote itself may have been greatly exaggerated.

The same can certainly be said about the fate of a hiker in upstate New York.

Two hikers in New York's Adirondack Mountains called 911 to report a third member of their party had died, but it turned out they had taken hallucinogenic mushrooms and were mistaken, officials said Wednesday.

<<snip>>

The supposedly dead person called and was not injured.

The ranger escorted the two hikers down to an ambulance, which took them to a hospital, and brought the third to the group's campsite, where they all later met up, officials said.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hikers-report-companions-death-greatly-exaggerated-mushrooms/

 

[Astronuc]

There was a recent news item that was widely circulated, but some of the story have been retracted, because it appears some images/video were doctored with AI.

Video of a Chinese paraglider who claims he climbed to a near record-breaking altitude appears to have been at least partially generated by artificial intelligence.
https://www.nbcnews.com/world/china...s-world-record-28000-feet-accident-rcna209647

 

[BillTre]

Not worse than the The MAHA Report: Making Our Children Healthy Again. It was full of wrong and made up citations.
Smells like a poor AI.

 

[Borg]

Robot Fight Night!
https://www.vice.com/en/article/china-just-held-the-first-ever-humanoid-robot-fight-night/

 

[BillTre]

Cockatoos in Sidney can operate water fountains with a springy twist valve.
Video here (maybe behind a paywall)

 

[jack action]

‘Dog Walking Is a Clear Crime’: Iran’s Latest Morality Push​

Iran’s government has also long seen pet dogs as a sign of Western cultural influence. And much of the opposition to dogs in Iran stems from religious beliefs, with dogs considered to be “najes,” or impure, in Islam.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, had issued a fatwa, or religious order, explaining the logic: A dog’s saliva or hair would render anything it touched — like a person, clothing or a surface — impure.

“Prayer is invalid with the presence of dog hair,” his fatwa read.

In Isfahan, in the center of the country, the city’s prosecutor, Seyed Mohammad Moussavian, said he had ordered law enforcement officers to “seize violating vehicles” and “seal unauthorized related shops and veterinary offices.”

In Hamedan, in western Iran, the provincial prosecutor’s office said that walking dogs or driving with them was “against religious and social values,” and “considered a threat to public health,” according to IRNA. Abbas Najafi, the prosecutor, said that dog walking was “considered a threat to the health, comfort and tranquillity of citizens,” according to IRNA.

He pledged “serious action” against violators, IRNA reported, and said that the police had been ordered to “systematically and physically seize vehicles” of anyone caught driving with a dog.

 

[jack action]

Toyota Math: 9 Million EVs Are Just as Polluting as 27 Million Hybrids​

Akio Toyoda is a man who speaks his mind. He’s been saying for years that forcing everyone to buy EVs isn’t the way forward. Toyota’s chairman is adamant that the transition can’t be rushed and that going all-in on electric vehicles would have massive repercussions across the automotive industry. He believes millions of jobs throughout the supply chain could be at risk if the combustion engine is phased out too quickly. On the environmental front, Toyoda maintains that EVs are still much dirtier than hybrids.

The grandson of Toyota founder Kiichiro Toyoda claims the company has sold around 27 million hybrids since launching the first-generation Prius in 1997. According to him, those hybrids have had the same carbon footprint as nine million fully electric vehicles when adding battery and vehicle production into the equation.

Toyoda argues that a single EV is as dirty as three hybrids.

 

[256bits]

Toyoda argues that a single EV is as dirty as three hybrids.

Reference: https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/weird-news-compilation.878428/page-59

well, if they would clean them out a bit more often.......

 

[256bits]

Maybe she is just a good guesser!

Judo Star Thought to Be Blind Found to Have Normal Vision​

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/sports/mm...N&cvid=6fc127164171453aaa57b07a50733529&ei=39

The Biggest Fraud in Sports History?

Shahana Hajiyeva, who won gold at the 2021 Tokyo Paralympic Games and topped the podium at the European Championships in Rotterdam, now faces serious accusations of deception.

Recent medical tests conducted before the World Judo Championships in Astana revealed that the Azerbaijani judoka has no visual impairment at all. In fact, her eyesight is completely normal.

As a result, Hajiyeva has been banned for life and is permanently barred from competing in any para-sport events.

 

[collinsmark]

This one hits close to home.

San Diego Gas & Electric has once again deployed its fleeced firefighting unit, and this year, San Diegans can follow them along.

Release the goats: San Diego Gas & Electric deploys firefighting livestock

 

[jack action]

Pricey Dam Project 7 Years In The Making Finished By Beavers For Free​

The project had been in the planning stages for seven years, and was slated to cost the equivalent of $1.2 million, according to National Geographic. But as officials hashed out the details of securing the necessary permits, a local beaver colony took matters into its own paws, building a natural dam in the perfect location to create a thriving wetland for free.

also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaver-engineered_dam_in_the_Czech_Republic

 

[berkeman]

This article made me do a double-take...

Burning pallets of hand sanitizer created challenges for Los Angeles firefighters.

"Water cannot be used safely in these conditions, as alcohol can float on water and spread flames. Crews are instead focused on protecting nearby structures and limiting environmental impact from runoff," an LAFD spokesperson told KCAL.

Sand dams were built to protect storm drains and firefighters considered using dirt to suffocate the flames.

Crews were expected to monitor the flames in the storage lot throughout the night.

 

[Astronuc]

Man in critical condition after being sucked into MRI machine
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crim...ter-being-sucked-into-mri-machine/vi-AA1IQaIn

Apparently, the gentleman died. He was wearing a large metal chain, mostly likely ferromagnetic.

Update/edit: Man dies after heavy weight-training chain around neck pulls him into MRI machine
https://apnews.com/article/mri-machine-long-island-chain-necklace-4126620d358e3d6b73d145d32ab72852

He was not authorized to be in that room. I suspect he had no idea that he was in danger.

 

[Ibix]

"Walked into an unauthorised area". How sharp is the edge of the field of these things? Would you not notice something before you were close enough for it to be dangerous? Or is it a positive feedback thing where a little pull on the chain gets it closer so it gets pulled harder so you get no effective warning?

 

[fresh_42]

The website of a producer reveals some interesting things. Walls, windows, and doors are all specifically designed to shield the EM field,

They also mention "An MRI examination is a stressful situation for many patients. The cramped tube and the loud sound of the MRI can make them frightened or panicky." The field is pretty strong and obviously shielded by the room and not by the device. Another image I found suggests that the field lines extend far into the room. So it's presumably the noise that warns people.

Anyway, wasn't that a candidate for the Darwin Award?

 

[fresh_42]

A 78-year-old man in Italy is declared dead. Doctors issue a death certificate, and the rescue helicopter flies away. Then the pensioner opens his eyes.

In Italy, a pensioner who was believed to be dead suddenly regained consciousness – around 30 minutes after doctors had declared him dead. According to the dpa news agency, the incident occurred in the central Italian town of Tarquinia.

The 78-year-old reportedly suffered cardiac arrest. Rescue workers attempted to resuscitate him but gave up after a while. A rescue helicopter that was called also turned away. The situation seemed clear – the doctors issued a death certificate, and a hearse was called.

But while everyone was waiting for transport, the presumed dead man opened his eyes and asked for his daughters. Paramedics immediately took him to a hospital, where he is now being treated. His condition is stable, the hospital reported.

Source.

 

[Astronuc]

‘Robo-Bunnies’ Are the Newest Weapon in the Fight Against Invasive Burmese Pythons in Florida​

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smar...nvasive-burmese-pythons-in-florida-180987018/

Scientists at the University of Florida are deploying the so-called “robo-bunnies” throughout South Florida in hopes of drawing Burmese pythons out of their hiding places so they can be euthanized, reports Kimberly Miller for the Palm Beach Post. By luring the pythons to the rabbit look-alikes, biologists can save time that might otherwise be spent searching through the swamp for the snakes.

The animatronic rabbits are outfitted with motors and internal heaters that are designed to replicate the behaviors and body temperatures of live marsh rabbits (Sylvilagus palustris), which Burmese pythons love to eat.

 

[Rive]

"An MRI examination is a stressful situation for many patients. The cramped tube and the loud sound of the MRI can make them frightened or panicky."

At my last MRI I just dozed off

 

[nsaspook]

“Imagine the envy on your friends’ faces as they fuss around with their stoves, or choke down a cold dinner, and you simply pull your warm dinner out of your pants.”

https://outdoorsmagic.com/article/gossamer-gear-crotch-pot/

 

[fresh_42]

A festival visitor calls the police because the bratwurst is too expensive for him.​

At the Hofer Volksfest in Bavaria, a young man was annoyed by the price of a bratwurst. He found it so expensive that he called the police – and more than once.

According to police, the 18-year-old had requested a patrol several times within a matter of minutes. "Even when the police arrived, he continued to call the police in a provocative manner," the report continued.

According to reports, the drunken man had wanted to buy a few bratwursts after visiting the festival that night. However, the price seemed too high to him and he tried to negotiate with the seller – without success. "A bratwurst with a roll should cost four euros," a spokesperson for the Hof police station told SPIEGEL upon inquiry. However, the man only wanted to pay 3.50 euros and caused a "huge fuss" over the 50-cent difference per sausage.

The man then bought the sausages at the regular price but claimed that a lower price had been agreed upon. According to police, the man insisted on receiving change. Since the sausage vendors refused to comply, the customer called 110 – several times. "He wanted the police to sort it out," said the police spokesperson.

When police arrived, the drunk man refused to calm down. He was reportedly unwilling to accept that the sale of the sausages was legal. The officers then issued a warning. Since he disobeyed, he was taken into custody. Criminal proceedings are now underway against the 18-year-old for misuse of emergency calls.

Source:

 

[Borg]

LOL. I wonder if he'll try to negotiate a lower bail with the judge.

 

[berkeman]

An unusual crime spree involving stolen Smokey the Bear signs led investigators to discover they were being sold online for as much as $1,900, Florida officials say.

The iconic signs, which promote fire safety, were taken from Florida Forest Service lands where dangerous wildfires erupt in dry conditions.

“Our Ag Law Team has a suspect in custody who traveled from Pensacola to Orlando stealing Smoky Bear signs from our state forests and selling them on Facebook Marketplace,” Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson said in a Facebook post.

The 29-year-old suspect lives in Milton in the Florida Panhandle, and was arrested July 30 on “multiple charges of felony grand theft,” state officials said. He is being held in the Okaloosa County jail on $5,000 bond, records show.

“The arrest follows an investigation into the recent thefts of Smokey the Bear signs at Florida Forest Service locations across northwest and central Florida,” the state said in an email to McClatchy News. “The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges are expected.”

Simpson’s July 30 Facebook post had more than 2,700 comments and reactions as of July 31, many questioning the wisdom of posting government property for sale online.

The post included photos of someone dressed as Smokey the Bear aiding in the arrest.

“Imagine getting arrested by Smokey the Bear,” Taylor Barton wrote on Simpson’s Facebook page.

“Sometimes you get the Bear, sometimes the Bear gets you,” Robert Shorback said.