The Season for Drunken Elves

Posted By: Paul - Mon Dec 21, 2009 - Comments (1)
Category: Costumes and Masks, Holidays, Motor Vehicles, Alcohol

News of the Weird / Pro Edition (12-21-2009)

News of the Weird/Pro Edition
December 21, 2009
(alarming and/or delicious news from December 12-19)

Bad Week for Justice: Two inmates who between them had spent 63 years in the slammer received "Oops, My Bad"'s from the justice system when DNA overcame obviously-shaky eyewitness ID on one and ridiculous hair-fiber "evidence" (perpetually overrated by forensic "experts") on the other. James Bain, released 35 years after a jury of Florida's finest declared it beyond any reasonable doubt that he raped a kid, said, Ehh, "Everybody had a job to do. The police needed a suspect. The prosecutor needed a conviction. The wheels turned." St. Petersburg Times [quoted in the print edition; quote missing from the archived online edition] /// Washington Post

"Old Media" / "New Media": In New Bedford, Mass., the public library imposed its maximum fine for a book that was 99 years overdue: $361.35. In Hayward, Calif., a 13-year-old girl over-data'ed during one month on her dad's cell phone, and he was billed $22,000. Boston Globe /// KTVU-TV (Oakland)

Sounds Like a Joke: U.S. surgeon Mark Weinberger, who had been on the lam for five years avoiding a flood of malpractice lawsuits, was spotted in Italy and about to be captured. However, rather than face justice, he tried to check out by stabbing himself in the throat, but as befitting an incompetent surgeon, he missed the key artery and is now in custody. The Guardian (London)

And another: The Great Yarmouth Sea Life Centre in Norfolk, England, has lowered the water level in its giant aquarium for Christmas because the big turtles (herbivores) are getting their annual holiday treat of brussels sprouts. Officials know from experience that if they don't lower the water level, the gas bubbles from the powerful turtle emissions will raise the level enough to trigger the emergency tank-flooding buzzers. Daily Telegraph

It's Good to Be a British Criminal (continued): Three knife-wielding home invaders burst in on businessman Munir Hussain, his ill wife, and their three children, forced them to the floor, and enconstipated them with fear, but Hussain eventually gained the upper hand, chased them away, and beat one with a pole and a cricket bat. Hussain got 2½ years' hard time. The burglar (the one who got caught) got probation. The Independent



More in extended >>

Posted By: Chuck - Mon Dec 21, 2009 - Comments (6)
Category:

A Lesson In Hunting Safety

A Greek man was killed while boar hunting in the town of Nemea, Chalkidiki this weekend. He was moving through the bushes dressed in dark goat skins and was mistakenly shot. The man was pronounced dead on arrival at the local hospital. That's why we require hunters to wear orange vests over here.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/greece/6850972/Man-dressed-in-animal-skin-shot-dead-during-hunt.html

Posted By: Alex - Sun Dec 20, 2009 - Comments (4)
Category:

Smokes for Xmas

And yet another perfect Xmas present: cancer sticks!

Posted By: Paul - Sun Dec 20, 2009 - Comments (3)
Category: Business, Advertising, Products, Holidays, Tobacco and Smoking, 1950s

Bongo Boards

If you're still looking for that perfect Xmas gift......

More in extended >>

Posted By: Paul - Sun Dec 20, 2009 - Comments (7)
Category: Toys, Public Indecency, 1950s

Lego Disneyland

The entire Disneyland complex made out of legos! The article does not say where it resides or who built it, but there are some awesome pictures at the link.
http://planetoddity.com/disneyland-made-out-of-lego/

Posted By: Alex - Sat Dec 19, 2009 - Comments (5)
Category:

Soft Machine

Soft Machine was certainly one of the weirder bands of a weird era.

Posted By: Paul - Sat Dec 19, 2009 - Comments (5)
Category: Music, Surrealism, 1960s, 1970s, Europe

Rudolph Got Run Over By A Redneck

Ron Lake of Santa Maria, California is just expressing his free speech on his own property with a slightly different Christmas display. A stuffed Rudolph lays dead across the hood of a pick up truck while Jesus stands by holding a double barreled shot gun with Santa on the ground also dead. Ron says it is a statement about commercialism verses the real meaning of Christmas. Neighbors say it is frightening to children, especially as there is a school bus stop right in front of the area with the display. Police say there is nothing they can do as it is on private property. People who live near by are starting a petition against the display but it remains to be seen if that will effect a removal. There's a clip with the display and an interview with Ron Lake as well as a couple of the neighbors at the link.
http://www.wftv.com/news/22005291/detail.html

Posted By: Alex - Sat Dec 19, 2009 - Comments (3)
Category:

Visit the Strange

Looking for an unusual vacation spot? Then you might consider one of eight strange destinations as listed in this article on the Matador Network. There's Mount Thor (pictured), in Nunavut, Canada which has the highest (4101ft) vertical drop, if you're into rock climbing... or falling, as the case may be. Or you can swing by the Principality of Sealand which is nothing more than several gun platforms in the English Channel that were abandoned by the British after World War II. It was declared an independent nation in 1967 and has its own currency and can issue passports and visas. Sealand is also for sale, if you ever dreamt of owning your own country, and let's face it, all of us here at WU have had that dream I'm sure. But no matter where you might want to go in the world, this list could be a great starting point.

Posted By: Nethie - Sat Dec 19, 2009 - Comments (2)
Category: Geography and Maps, Nature, Travel, World

Billboard Uproar

St. Matthew-in-the-City Church in New Zealand is responsible for the controversial billboard in the above picture. A sad Joseph and Mary in bed with the caption "Poor Joseph, God is a hard act to follow." A spokesperson for the Anglican St. Matthews says the billboard was meant to poke fun with a too literal idea of Jesus' conception. Predictably other religious groups are up in arms. The Catholic church, of course, finds the billboard disrespectful as does Families First, a family values group. The billboard was defaced with paint soon after it was put up.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20091217/od_nm/us_newzealand_billboard

Posted By: Alex - Fri Dec 18, 2009 - Comments (6)
Category: