Seal Attempts Sex With A King Penguin

BROWSING the Journal of Ethology, the Anorak happens upon the case of the Antarctic fur seal attempting coitus with a king penguin.

This might have been going on for years, but that it should come to light now is not without scientific interest.

“At first glimpse, we thought the seal was killing the penguin,” says Nico de Bruyn, of the Mammal Research Institute at the University of Pretoria, South Africa.

“But then we realised that the seal’s intentions were rather more amorous.”

The effect of the 100kg seal subduing the 15kg penguin by lying on it brings to mind the uncomfortable image of a be-jumpered John Prescott wresting with a packet of chocolate covered biscuits, penguins, naturally.

Anorak

Posted: 2nd, May 2008 | In: Strange But True | Comments (6)

The Convicts’ Poker Rodeo

IT’S hard to look at the cards when there’s an aroused bull approaching from the rear.

Is that tell on the other’s players face, a bead of sweat, or is it a line of snot flicked from the bull’s flared nostrils?

This is entertainment in the USA. This is rodeo day at Angola Prison, Louisiana, where Convicts’ Poker is the go.

The game’s winner is the last man sitting as the bull stampedes the table. He gets $50.

The show’s finale is called Guts and Glory. The clue is in the title.

Anorak

Posted: 2nd, May 2008 | In: Photojournalism, Strange But True | Comments (3)

Mr Speivak Grows A Finger With Magic Dust

MR Speivak grew a finger.

Mr Speivak’s brother Alan – who was working in the field of regenerative medicine – sent him the powder.

For ten days Mr Spievak put a little on his finger.

“The second time I put it on I already could see growth. Each day it was up further. Finally it closed up and was a finger.

Maybe he only thinks it’s a finger?

Anorak

Posted: 1st, May 2008 | In: Strange But True | Comments (2)

Man Arrested For $360 Billion Cheque Fraud

CHARLES Ray Fuller, 21, of Crowley, Texas, walks into the Chase bank in the 8600 block of South Hulen Street, Fort Worth.

It is about 4pm.

He has in his possession a personal check. The check is not made out to Mr. Fuller. The bank clerk is unsure.

She contacts the check owner, the mother of Fuller’s girlfriend mother.

She says she did not write a check for… $360 billion.

That’s $360,000,000,000.00.

Police are called.

Mr. Fuller is accused of unlawful carrying of a weapon and possession of marijuana.

Mr Fuller tells the police his girlfriend’s mother gave him the money to start a record label.

Mr Fuller has a record…

Source 

Picture

Anorak

Posted: 1st, May 2008 | In: Money, Strange But True | Comments (7)

Big In China: World’s Longest Sea Bridge And Biggest Building

BANISH any arcane and stereotypical ideas you have of the Chinese being less tall, less big then Westerners.

Everything in China is big, massive, even.

The country has just opened the “world’s longest sea bridge”, the 36-kilometre (22-mile) Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Bridge connects Jiaxing city near Shanghai to the port city of Ningbo in the eastern province of Zhejiang.

China is home to the world’s largest shopping mall (the seven-million-square-foot South China Mall); the largest hydroelectric dam (the Three Gorges project); and the highest railroad (5,000 meters above sea level).

In Beijing there’s the world’s biggest concert hall, the National Center for the Performing Arts, aka The Egg, a venue twice as big as the Kennedy Center in Washington.

And the new Terminal 3 at the airport in Beijing is twice the size of the Pentagon.

Anorak

Posted: 1st, May 2008 | In: Strange But True | Comments (4)

Crocodile Hwyl: There Be Monsters In Wales

THERE be crocodiles in Wales.

“Startled” Steven Jenkins tells the Sun how convinced he is that he spotted a crocodile in a lake by a branch of Morrison’s in Swansea.

Police were called. They dived down – “several times” – but they found nothing. Although the Sun’s picture clearly identifies a shopping trolley and a canister of gas.

Of course the crocodile could be hiding, an idea given added weight by Mr Jenkins’ admission that’s since giving throat to his discovery he is rubbed mercilessly and when people see him they whistle the tune Crocodile Shoes.

And deep in the reeds and the cans and the old boxes, a pair of boots lives in fear…

Anorak

Posted: 1st, May 2008 | In: Strange But True, Tabloids | Comments (6)

Lebsians Sue Over Use Of Term Lesbian

A COURT in Greece court has been approached by three islanders from Lesbos — home of the ancient poet Sappho, who praised romance between women.

The trio are protesting at the Homosexual and Lesbian Community of Greece daring to use the word lesbian in its name.

One of the plaintiffs says the name “insults the identity” of the people of Lesbos, also known as Lesbians.

“My sister can’t say she is a Lesbian,” says Dimitris Lambrou. “Our geographical designation has been usurped by certain ladies who have no connection whatsoever with Lesbos.”

She goes on: “This is not an aggressive act against gay women. Let them visit Lesbos and get married and whatever they like. We just want (the group) to remove the word lesbian from their title.”

Anorak

Posted: 30th, April 2008 | In: Strange But True | Comments (11)

Iran Warns Of Dangers Of Barbie Dolls And Harry Potter

IRANIANS have been alerted to the “destructive” cultural and social consequences of importing Barbie dolls.

Prosecutor General Ghorban Ali Dori Najafabadi has written an official letter to Vice President Parviz Davoudi. In it, hhe say Barbie is a “danger” that need to be stopped.

Had only the French been so resolute when the plastic effigies of Klaus Barbie, the notorious head of Lyon’s Gestapo unit, infiltrated that land.

Says Najafabadi: “The irregular importation of such toys, which unfortunately arrive through unofficial sources and smuggling, is destructive culturally and a social danger.”

The letter goes on: “The displays of personalities such as Barbie, Batman, Spiderman and Harry Potter … as well as the irregular importation of unsanctioned computer games and movies are all warning bells to the officials in the cultural arena.”

He makes no mention of GI Joe, Gonks and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but this is surely only an oversight. Better the Iranian kids stick with their Ahmadinejad dolls, a hairier version of the every popular Troll.

Anorak

Posted: 29th, April 2008 | In: Politicians, Strange But True | Comments (3)

When Chair Sniffers Confess: Troy Buswell Inhales

A WOMAN, who does not wish to be named, says Mr Troy Buswell, West Australian Opposition Leader, began to sniff the chair she had been sitting on at his Parliament House office in December 2005.

“I was shocked and outraged and I told him,” says the woman in the West Australian newspaper

“Outrage over chair-sniffing incident,” says The Age.

The Australian says that “Just 24 hours after 13 times labelling the chair sniffing an ‘unsubstantiated, anonymous rumour’ which he would not comment on, Mr Buswell finally admitted he sniffed the woman’s chair seat after she got up so he could get a laugh from other staff.”

Had Mr Buswell only whipped the chair away at the opportune moment or made a farting sound as soon as the women sat down things would have been left there.

But he elected to sniff, an action one imagines intended to imply the woman has made a smell, or else Mr Buswell is searching for her scent, marking him out as a pervert or a chair fetishist.

No CCTV footage of the sniffing has been unearthed, which is itself a shock. But the matter has nonetheless reached a head.

“Yes, I did inhale,” says the Sydney Morning Herald.

Anorak

Posted: 29th, April 2008 | In: Politicians, Strange But True | Comments (2)

Chilean Town Hands Out Free Viagra

TO Lo Prado south of Santiago, Chile, where Viagra is handed out for free.

Older men have been complaining – as is their wont – about not getting enough sex.

Says the town’s mayor Gonzalo Navarrete: “This has to do with quality of life and it’s done responsibly. It’s not just like handing out candy at the corner.”

Navarrete, a trained doctor, goes on: “We’ll give out four, 50 milligram pills, in other words, for four sexual relationships per month.”

He issues the caveat: “Sildenafil doesn’t get you going without direct stimulation.”

Look out for a class action from the town’s female residents…

Anorak

Posted: 29th, April 2008 | In: Strange But True | Comments (16)

When Dolphins Collide: Sharky Is Dead

HAD only health and safely got their first, Sharky the dolphin would be alive today.

The Mail looks on as Sharky and Tyler rise from the waters at Discovery Cove Orlando, Florida.

Heads band into each other. And Sharky is dead.

“It’s an unfortunate and random incident,” says a park spokesman.

Anorak

Posted: 29th, April 2008 | In: Strange But True | Comments (10)

Zhirinovsky, Vice-Chairman Of Duma Is Hunting For Crows

Zhirinovsky, Vice-Chairman of Russian Parliament, the Duma, is hunting for Crows by shooting from a moving train.

He sees some crows and shoots some of them. He then shoots at chickens.

Anorak

Posted: 29th, April 2008 | In: Politicians, Strange But True | Comment

Free Tibet Flags Are Made In China

IN China they make everything. Now they’re making Free Tibet flags.

Police in China has discovered a factory in Guangdong, China, filling overseas orders for the flag of the Tibetan government-in-exile.

According to reports, the factory owner and the workers said they thought they were just making colourful flags and did not realise what they were.

You can’t help but believe the excuse.

Anorak

Posted: 28th, April 2008 | In: Strange But True | Comments (8)

Nuclear Explosions Since 1945 And Deformities

THIS is a map of all the nuclear explosions since 1945.

Click on it to make it, er, blow up.

Interestingly, a painter by the name of Cornelia Hesse-Honegger collects and paints mutant bugs in the vicinity of irradiated wastelands.

At Sellafield I collected Heteroptera and Cicada Homoptera as well as ladybird beetles, Coleoptera. I found morphological disturbances, growths and deformities of the chitin, the material that makes up the exoskeleton of many insects. I found the most profound deformities in Ponsonby…

Hesse-Honegger is from Switzerland, the most depressing and annihilation-friendly country on Earth.

No nuclear explosions there. But they do have a relaxed take on assisted suicide…

Anorak

Posted: 28th, April 2008 | In: Photojournalism, Politicians, Strange But True | Comment

Florida Moves To Ban Fake Testicles

OVER In America – you look and you look for a story that gives an insight into the Land of the Free, and you fine one:

Senate lawmakers inRepublican Sen. Cary Baker, a gun shop owner from Eustis, Florida, called the adornments offensive and proposed the ban.

Motorists would be fined $60 for displaying the novelty items, which are known by brand names like “Truck Nutz” and resemble the south end of a bull moving north.

No fakes. Just the real thing…

Anorak

Posted: 28th, April 2008 | In: Strange But True | Comments (4)

The World’s Most Expensive Globally Warmed Ice-Cream Pudding

TO the Oxbow Public Market in Napa, where  organic Three Twins Ice Cream can be yours for less-than-small sum…

Anorak

Posted: 27th, April 2008 | In: Photojournalism, Strange But True | Comment

The Priest Ran Away With The Balloon: Rev Adelir Antonio de Carli Is Missing

UPDATE: Rescuers have found a cluster of brightly coloured party balloons floating in the ocean.

“Given his physical condition and the equipment he was carrying, I would say there is an 80 percent chance that he is still alive,” said Johnny Coelho, commander of the Penha Fire Department, which is searching for the priest.BEYOND Parody: “A Roman Catholic priest who floated off under hundreds of helium party balloons is missing off the southern coast of Brazil.”

We know. There are time when the parodist needs to sit back and clap a higher talent. Reports the Daily Mail:

Rescuers in helicopters and small fishing boats were searching off the coast of Santa Catarina state, where pieces of balloons were found.

The Rev Adelir Antonio de Carli lifted off from the port city of Paranagua on Sunday afternoon, wearing a helmet, thermal suit and a parachute.

The smiling 41-year-old priest was strapped to a seat attached to a huge column green, red, white and yellow balloons, and soared into the air to the cheers of a crowd. He was reported missing about eight hours later after losing contact with port authority officials.

Read the rest of this entry »

Anorak

Posted: 23rd, April 2008 | In: Strange But True | Comments (10)

Ukraine’s Little Hitler Doll

THE Hitler toy for all the family. For you Ken, ze good times with ze lovely blonde Barbie ist over.

The 16in Hitler figurine comes with moveable arms  – to reproduce Hitler’s salute – is to go on sale in Kiev this summer.

You can dress your little Hitler in “early days Adolf” (brown shirts and jodhpurs), and “wartime Adolf” (a grey double breasted tunic, black trousers and simple Iron Cross medal). Look out for Beach Hitler, Rehab Hitler and Strictly Come Dancing Hitler.

The doll will also come with accessories like a miniature Blondi, Hitler’s Alsatian, cyanide capsules, a Panza tank (in any colour so long as its pink) and millions of Jewish and gypsy slaves to keep the Hitler Haus clean…

Anorak

Posted: 23rd, April 2008 | In: Strange But True | Comments (15)

The Pope Blesses The Irish Air

THE Pope if flying over Ireland. He is sending a text to Irish president Mary McAleese:

“Entering Irish airspace en route to the United States and the United Nations organisation, I renew my greetings to your excellency and cordially invoke upon all beloved Irish people God’s abundant blessing.”

What need to land when the Pope can fly overhead and bless you from on high?

Anorak

Posted: 23rd, April 2008 | In: Strange But True | Comments (8)

Street Photography Is Illegal In Middlesbrough

TO Middlesbrough with ‘I Didn’t Mean To Go To Stoke’ and his camera. He takes up the story:

My friend and I were photographing in the town. I spotted a man being detained by this security guard and a policeman, some kind of altercation was going on, i looked through my zoom lens to see what was happening and then moved on.

Moments later as i walked away this goon jumped in front of me and demanded to know what i was doing. i explained that i was taking photos and it was my legal right to do so, he tried to stop me by shoulder charging me, my friend started taking photos of this, he then tried to detain us both. I refused to stand still so he grabbed my jacket and said i was breaking the law. Quickly a woman and a guy wearing BARGAIN MADNESS shirts joined in the melee and forcibly grabbed my friend and held him against his will. We were both informed that street photography was illegal in the town.

Anorak

Posted: 22nd, April 2008 | In: Strange But True | Comments (3)

A Month Of Sundays For The Spanish Calendar Girls

THE only group not have produced an erotic calendar is the Royal Family, and then only because Diana insisted on a wearing a bikini and Fergie’s toes only stretch to eleven months of the year.

The latest raunchy calendar girls are seven middle-aged Spanish mothers who posed to raise money for their children’s school.

Such was the clamour to see seven middle-aged women in various stages of undress that they are now saddled with debt and 5,000 unwanted copies.

“The sad part for us is figuring out what to do with them because it is not something you can recycle,” says Rosa Garin, 36, one of the models in the vilalge of Serradilla del Arroyo.

Anorak

Posted: 18th, April 2008 | In: Strange But True | Comments (8)

Guillermo Habacuc Vargas Starves A Dog To Death For His Art

AFTER the abortion art, Anorak learns of Costa Rican artiste Guillermo Habacuc Vargas, who starved a dog to death and tied in an art gallery as an exhibit.

The title of the works – Eres Lo Que Lees” – was spelt out on the gallery wall in dry dog food, beyond the dog’s reach. A pot of water was placed on the floor, beyond the dog’s reach. The dog died. The artist said it was ill and would have died anyway.

Not every one is happy. A letter writing campaign is being organised:

Read the rest of this entry »

Anorak

Posted: 18th, April 2008 | In: Strange But True | Comments (99)

The Biggest Goldfish And Smallest Minke Whale In The World

ADA Shaw has a goldfish. Her goldfish is called Goldie. Her goldfish is 15.7in long.

The Mirror says the pet “weighs more than two pounds and is five inches tall (surely long? – Ed). Experts say he will one day overtake the world’s longest goldfish, an 18.7in whopper in Holland.”

Mrs Shaw, a retired civil servant, said: “I don’t overfeed him but I am very particular about how I care for Goldie. He gets fed fish flakes like clockwork twice a day in the morning and evening and I always talk to him and keep him occupied.

“I leave the light on at night so he is not in the dark and if the sun is glaring on him, I will draw the curtains so he doesn’t get too much sun.”

The Mail wants to know if Goldie is the largest goldfish in the world, or the smallest minke whale?

Anorak

Posted: 17th, April 2008 | In: Strange But True, Tabloids | Comments (2)

The Evolution Of Space Junk

THERE’S a lot of junk in space. Pass the recycle bin:

Between the launch of Sputnik on 4 October 1957 and 1 January 2008, approximately 4600 launches have placed some 6000 satellites into orbit, of which about 400 are travelling beyond geostationary orbit or on interplanetary trajectories.

Today, it is estimated that only 800 satellites are operational – roughly 45 percent of these are both in LEO and GEO.

Read the rest of this entry »

Anorak

Posted: 17th, April 2008 | In: Photojournalism, Strange But True | Comment

May 10: World Population Hits 6,666,666,666

ON May 10: World Population Hits 6,666,666,666…

Fact!

Anorak

Posted: 17th, April 2008 | In: Strange But True | Comments (2)