Funny/Strange News Stories

[Outspacer]

Ipsos Mori (PDF)

 

[UKMikey]

Judi Dench seems like a random choice. I'm probably missing something obvious but what did she or the Queen do to make the list this year? Perhaps that's the strange part.

 

[Outspacer]

I have no idea! Just perennials I guess. All google is keen to tell me is that Judi Dench was on Vogue's cover in June

 

[TexRex]

Judi Dench seems like a random choice. I'm probably missing something obvious but what did she or the Queen do to make the list this year? Perhaps that's the strange part.

She was in Cats. Wait...she's on the 'nice' list? I don't have the slightest idea then.

 

[UKMikey]

I did think about nominating Old Deuteronomy for the nasty list when researching her 2020 resume. At least I found out there's a new remake of Blithe Spirit coming out soon. I always liked that movie.

 

[DG_Silva]

At least I found out there's a new remake of Blithe Spirit coming out soon. I always liked that movie.

Can't compare with Margaret Rutherford!

 

[gnomefromnome]

https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2...olith-that-appeared-christmas-day-has-fallen/

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) - A monolith made of gingerbread that appeared Christmas Day has collapsed.

The monolith, like recent ones seen around the world, mysteriously showed up - this time, at Corona Heights Park in San Francisco.

The structure even had icing and gumdrops.

 

[TenEightyOne]

The Scouts (formerly Boy Scouts of America) have gone to war with the Girl Scouts.

Fortunately, as Robin Williams once reminded us, they don't have heavy artillery. Or are Cubs separate there?

 

[ryzno]

The Scouts (formerly Boy Scouts of America) have gone to war with the Girl Scouts.

Fortunately, as Robin Williams once reminded us, they don't have heavy artillery. Or are Cubs separate there?

Cub Scouts/Brownies are one group now. They are under the BSA but separate.

 

[Dotini]

What appears to be a man flying a jetpack has been seen and now videoed over the ocean near Los Angeles.

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zo...-the-elusive-los-angeles-jet-pack-guy-emerges

 

[BobK]

Yup, that's definitely a man in a jetpack. Uh huh. No doubt about it. Couldn't possibly be anything else. Just look at the remarkable clarity of the image.

By the way, from the article:

"The FAA has not received any recent reports from pilots who believe they may have seen someone in a jetpack in the skies around Los Angeles. The FAA has taken the sighting reports it has received seriously, and has worked closely with the FBI to investigate them. However, the FAA has been unable to validate the reports."

Although the article says the pilot did not report the incident to the FAA, hence the above quote, it also says

multiple reported sightings from airline pilots on more than one occasion of a guy in a jet pack flying around at thousands of feet near Los Angeles International Airport—some of the most congested airspace on earth—as well as ongoing FAA and FBI investigations into the matter,

 

[PeterJB]

Like most UFO sightings, it's so small and so far away it could be basically anything.

 

[Dotini]

Since the jetpack man has been spotted and reported by pilots at 6000 feet, and passing by a jetliner in level flight at 300 yards distance on approach to LAX, I'm guessing it's not a man but an exotic and illegally operated drone.

The CEO of a local jetpack manufacturer has said that it would be virtually impossible for any known jetpack to take off, reach 6000 feet, maneuver next to a jetliner, then land again safely. Not enough fuel.

https://www.popularmechanics.com/flight/a35083324/guy-in-jetpack-los-angeles-video-footage/

 

[TenEightyOne]

Could have gone in Brexit but it's funny/strange enough for here: Brexit deal mentions "modern" technological solutions such as Netscape and Mozilla Mail.

@Jordan might need to do a gray theme for UK users so we're not blinded by Rest Of The World Internet

 

[Dotini]

@PeterJB

One day a few years ago, Mt Fuji decided to detach itself from Earth and stretch up for a good look around.
Hoax, mirage, or simply nuts?

 

[TenEightyOne]

In 1993 Comedian Rory Bremner accidentally thwarted a Eurosceptic revolt during John Major's government by telephoning opposing MPs to test his impression of the Prime Minister.

 

[Roo]

In 1993 Comedian Rory Bremner accidentally thwarted a Eurosceptic revolt during John Major's government by telephoning opposing MPs to test his impression of the Prime Minister.

The cabinet secretary then called Michael Grade, then-chief executive of Channel 4.

He told him that in his view and that of the PM the calls had "crossed the boundary between entertainment and real life to an unacceptable degree".

This is the point at which you have to take a long, hard look at your real life.

 

[TexRex]

I read that as "Euroseptic."

 

[TenEightyOne]

I read that as "Euroseptic."

Perfectly interchangeable.

 

[Touring Mars]

@PeterJB

One day a few years ago, Mt Fuji decided to detach itself from Earth and stretch up for a good look around.
Hoax, mirage, or simply nuts?

Most likely not Mt. Fuji, since it was seen near Kumamoto City, which is nowhere near Fuji. But still, if the images/video footage is real and not manipulated, then it is pretty cool. I happen to know one of the people who appears in that video, so I'd be interested to know how they got involved with that video and what they think... I have to say, some of the comments from the people in that video are pretty pointless to say the least, and there's no mention of the possibility that it is an example of 'Fata Morgana', or a mirage - which is arguably the most likely explanation. But even if it is/was a mirage, and assuming it is real, then it would be a staggering example of what optical tricks can occur naturally. Sadly, there doesn't seem to be any mention of the source or any links to some proper analysis of the video/images, which wouldn't be too hard. What one can see from the images available is that is looks like more than one image superimposed on another... this could be an effect caused by the double window of the plane from which the footage was captured, or it could be the result of different projections of the same object, or both.

 

[Dotini]

Most likely not Mt. Fuji, since it was seen near Kumamoto City, which is nowhere near Fuji. But still, if the images/video footage is real and not manipulated, then it is pretty cool. I happen to know one of the people who appears in that video, so I'd be interested to know how they got involved with that video and what they think... I have to say, some of the comments from the people in that video are pretty pointless to say the least, and there's no mention of the possibility that it is an example of 'Fata Morgana', or a mirage - which is arguably the most likely explanation. But even if it is/was a mirage, and assuming it is real, then it would be a staggering example of what optical tricks can occur naturally. Sadly, there doesn't seem to be any mention of the source or any links to some proper analysis of the video/images, which wouldn't be too hard. What one can see from the images available is that is looks like more than one image superimposed on another... this could be an effect caused by the double window of the plane from which the footage was captured, or it could be the result of different projections of the same object, or both.

Thank you for your astute remarks. It is both amazing and fortunate that you know one of the persons involved, and I dearly hope you learn more and pass on whatever it is. For those who have never encountered unusual/baffling phenomena, it takes a bold one to reply much less make an informed comment. I'm glad you have done so in this case. My own suspicion of this particular case is that, while exceptionally weird, it is probably not legitimate.

 

[Joey D]

From today's "Not the Onion"

Utah lawmaker wants to require new smartphones or tablets to filter out porn

As an aside, there's already a popup warning that shows up on every single porn site if you visit it in the state of Utah to tell you about how dangerous porn is. Funny enough, the non-Mormon population has no issue with porn, but the Mormon population has a disproportionate amount of porn addicts that actually need real therapy (not church therapy) to deal with it.

 

[UKMikey]

From today's "Not the Onion"

Utah lawmaker wants to require new smartphones or tablets to filter out porn

As an aside, there's already a popup warning that shows up on every single porn site if you visit it in the state of Utah to tell you about how dangerous porn is. Funny enough, the non-Mormon population has no issue with porn, but the Mormon population has a disproportionate amount of porn addicts that actually need real therapy (not church therapy) to deal with it.

sltrib.com is blocked by a paywall but it sounds like this isn't the first time.

https://phys.org/news/2016-05-utah-lawmaker-opt-in-requirement-porn.html

Time to buy shares in VPN vendors perhaps.

 

[TexRex]

From today's "Not the Onion"

Utah lawmaker wants to require new smartphones or tablets to filter out porn

As an aside, there's already a popup warning that shows up on every single porn site if you visit it in the state of Utah to tell you about how dangerous porn is. Funny enough, the non-Mormon population has no issue with porn, but the Mormon population has a disproportionate amount of porn addicts that actually need real therapy (not church therapy) to deal with it.

I have it on good authority that Space Jesus Himself jacks it to gifs of chicks licking tapioca pudding out from between each other's toes.

Mormons are a special bunch, to be sure, but their disregard for the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution isn't unique to them.

 

[Dotini]

Statue of Mothman, a legend in West Virginia. Click twice to see into his eyes.

 

[daan]

Statue of Mothman, a legend in West Virginia. Click twice to see into his eyes.

Why is Wilson there?

 

[Dotini]

Why is Wilson there?

Sorry, I don't understand your question. Could you rephrase it another way, please?

Edit: Oh, you mean the Wilson the volleyball lost at sea. I just watched that movie over the summer.

I think he's there to help us through a time of loneliness and danger. Kind of like Mothman. Or Lord Kinbote.


Lord Kinbote

He is ensuring the survival of all earthlings, not from outer space, but from inner space, residing at the core of the Earth, the realm of reincarnated souls.

The X-Files, s03e20, "Jose Chung's From Outer Space" (1996)

 

[EngieDiesel]

So some Covidiots are claiming that they found the schematic for the SECRET 5G MIND CONTROL CHIP that is being inserted into every vaccine dose to steal your brainwaves.

Only it's actually the schematic for an electric guitar pedal. Why would a mind control chip need a footswitch, exactly?

 

[UKMikey]

So some Covidiots are claiming that they found the schematic for the SECRET 5G MIND CONTROL CHIP that is being inserted into every vaccine dose to steal your brainwaves.

Only it's actually the schematic for an electric guitar pedal. Why would a mind control chip need a footswitch, exactly?

That's what I said when @R1600Turbo posted the story on the Covid thread. Presumably the Italians amongst whom the post was circulated didn't know the English word for "footswitch".

 

[TenEightyOne]

Only it's actually the schematic for an electric guitar pedal. Why would a mind control chip need a footswitch, exactly?

It makes you feel fuzzy.

Here's a strange story, actress Tanya Roberts (View To a Kill, Charlies Angels) has passed away. However, her death was announced a couple of days ago before her agent announced that she remained ill but had not died. It turns out her partner thought she'd died while he was visiting her, he was so upset he left the hospital and announced the news without checking with doctors if she was actually still alive. She's now succumbed to her condition and has passed away.

BBC.

EDIT: Lead poisoning. That's what I should have said for nano-footswitches. They give you lead poisoning.