Strange & Bizarre News

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Zoologist was sacked for believing in the Loch Ness Monster

Dr. Tucker had been a highly respected zoologist at the prestigious museum for years, but when he was unceremoniously sacked from his role as the museum's principal scientific officer in 1960, the precise explanation for his alleged 'insubordination' would remain a topic of speculation for more than 60 years.

Now though, newly released documents have finally confirmed that, despite his impressive academic achievements and reputation - Dr. Tucker had been removed from his position solely for the reason that he believed that the Loch Ness Monster was real.

Months before his sacking, he wrote about the monster in New Scientist magazine, prompting senior figures at the museum to express concerns about potential reputational damage.

"The trustees wish it to be known that they do not approve of the spending of official time or official leave on the so-called Loch Ness Phenomenon," a memo issued in 1959 reads.

"If, as a result of the activities of members of the staff, the museum is involved in undesirable publicity, [the trustees] will be gravely displeased.'"

Dr. Tucker was ultimately sacked on the basis of "continued, vexatious, insubordinate and generally offensive conduct towards the museum's director and other senior staff."

In reality, he had simply been attempting to secure funding in an effort to investigate the monster. "I put the project up to the Natural History Museum," he was quoted as saying at the time. "The museum does send out expeditions to collect specimens. But they didn't like the idea of a Loch Ness expedition at all."

"They refused me leave to lecture on the subject. Since I was sacked, they have banned me from the library. I had an international reputation as a zoologist. Now I'm like a struck off lawyer."

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Woman believes that she has been cursed by 'goblin' trinket

Georgina Jones got more than she bargained for when she bought a 'cute' ornament from a charity shop. Georgina had been on a day trip recently when she spotted what she initially believed to be a simple ornament in a charity shop - a small porcelain pot with the word 'goblin' written on it.

It wasn't until she examined the ornament more closely upon returning home however that the significance of her purchase became apparent. When she opened it - to her horror - she found what appeared to be human ashes inside it.

After posting her story on Twitter, she now believes that she has been cursed by the object.

"Oh my GOD I just bought this little trinket in a charity shop [because] it made me laugh it said goblin on it (there was a merlin too) and I've just opened it and there's ****ing ASHES INSIDE," she wrote.

"That's it I'm cursed for life now aren't I."

In all likelihood, the pot had been recovered from a home clear-out and taken to the charity shop to sell on. Whoever had put it up for sale seemingly hadn't checked inside it first. Unfortunately Georgina has been unable to return the item because she doesn't live in the area.

"So you need to make finding out who these ashes belong to your life's work now..." one of her followers wrote on Twitter in response to her story.

As things stand, the identity of the previous owner remains a total mystery.

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Scientists Train Goldfish to Drive

Israeli researchers studying animal behavior managed to pull of a rather remarkable feat by teaching a goldfish to drive a tiny robotic car. The intriguing experiment was reportedly the brainchild of scientists from Ben-Gurion University who wondered if an animal's navigational skills were dependent on their environment or if these abilities transcend their setting. To put this thought-provoking question to the test, they created a unique vehicle consisting of a tank of water on wheels with overhead cameras that tracked the movements of a goldfish inside the contraption and then drove in the corresponding direction.

Setting up a system wherein the fish were rewarded if they reached a target placed on a wall in a small room, the researchers were able to document an amazing response from the creatures. Not only were the goldfish able to successfully navigate the vehicle towards the desired spot, but they were able to discern false targets from real ones and overcome obstacles that were placed in the way of the tiny car. Additionally, the animals managed to improve their performance over time, initially needing around 30 minutes to complete the task to eventually, in some instances, pulling it off in less than a minute.

The jaw-dropping experiment, scientists say, suggests that the way a fish comprehends its surroundings and navigates within them "may be as successful in a terrestrial environment as they are in an aquatic one" and that this finding "hints at universality in the way space is represented across environments." They also noted that the study proved to be something of a testament to the cognitive ability of goldfish as the creatures were able to "learn a complex task in an environment completely unlike the one they evolved in," likening their experience to the challenges human face when they first try to ride a bike or drive a car.

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I had no idea this would happen!
[Not able to embed videos, but available at link.]
New York AG releases video showing man burst into flames after Taser discharge
Jason Jones, 29, allegedly stormed into the police station on Oct. 30 and kicked off an argument with officers in the lobby, according to authorities.

More than six weeks after the incident, he died in a hospital, according to New York Attorney General Letitia James.

In previously unreleased videos made public Friday by James' office, Jones appears to pace around the lobby aggressively, confronting officers.

He tries to open a secured door and appears to be shouting, although the videos don’t include audio. At one point, he empties his pockets, throwing what appears to be a wallet, keys and cellphone down on a table in the lobby, and tears off his shirt. A moment later, he removes his boots too.

About 30 seconds into the second video, a visibly belligerent and allegedly intoxicated Jones grabs a jug of sanitizer off another table in the lobby and begins spraying himself over his head and upper body.

One of three officers in the lobby aims a stun gun at him and says something before discharging the device. Jones is off-camera at this time, but several seconds go by before a bright light appears in the bottom of the frame and the officers back up, with shocked expressions on their faces.
 
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Ichthyosaur: Huge 'sea dragon' fossil dating back 180 million years found in UK reservoir - CNN

Giant 180 million-year-old 'sea dragon' fossil found in UK reservoir
By Jeevan Ravindran, CNN

Updated 1:23 AM ET, Tue January 11, 2022

(CNN)The colossal 180 million-year-old fossilized remains of an ichthyosaur have been found in the UK, in what researchers have described as one of the most significant discoveries in the region.

Discovered in a reservoir in the county of Rutland, in the English East Midlands, the specimen is the largest and most complete ichthyosaur fossil ever found in the UK, measuring nearly 33 feet in length and with a skull weighing one ton.
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An artistic reconstruction of what the ichthyosaur may have looked like
It is also thought to be the first of its particular species -- Temnodontosaurus trigonodon -- to be found in Britain.
Marine reptiles that lived alongside the dinosaurs, ichthyosaurs resembled dolphins in body shape. They became extinct around 90 million years ago, after first appearing 250 million years ago.
The ichthyosaur was first uncovered in February last year in the Rutland Water Nature Reserve by Joe Davis, a conservation team leader from Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust, which operates the nature reserve in partnership with owner Anglian Water.
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Palaeontologists working on the excavation of the ichthyosaur fossil in August 2021
Davis was undertaking routine re-landscaping work, which involved draining the water in the lagoon, when he spotted parts of vertebrae sticking out of the mud, the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust said in a press release.
Then followed a large-scale excavation in August and September by a team of paleontologists, led by Dean Lomax, an ichthyosaur expert and current visiting scientist at the University of Manchester.
"The size and the completeness together is what makes it truly exceptional," Lomax told CNN, adding that previous finds of ichthyosaurs in the UK had been "nowhere near as complete and as large as this."
Lomax said it was the most complete large specimen -- which he classified as being 10 or more meters in length -- found globally. He said it was "a really fantastic discovery" as well as, for him, "a real career highlight."


Dinosaur footprints dating back 200 million years discovered on Wales beach, researchers believe
"This was a top of the food chain, apex predator," he told CNN of the discovery. "So this would have been dining on other ichthyosaurs, it would have been eating large fish, it would have eaten, if could catch them, squids as well."
However, Lomax said the discovery was the "tip of the iceberg," with much left to uncover of the specimen after chunks of rock have been cleared away, with the possibility that the ichthyosaur's last meal may have been preserved or even that the reptile could have been pregnant.
"It was just mind blowing," Regan Harris, a spokeswoman for Anglian Water, told CNN. "I mean, you kind of couldn't really believe your eyes when you were looking at it in front of you. But yeah, incredible."


Perfectly preserved baby dinosaur discovered curled up inside its egg
Harris, who was onsite for the excavation, said smaller ichthyosaurs had previously been found on the Rutland Water site, but the "sheer scale" and "well preserved" nature of this particular discovery made it unique.
Paul Barrett, Merit Researcher in the Earth Sciences Vertebrates and Anthropology Palaeobiology department at the Natural History Museum in London, said the Rutland ichthyosaur was "probably one of the largest fossil reptiles ever found, including dinosaurs." Barrett was not involved in the find.
"It's genuinely a really impressive, spectacular object," Barrett told CNN. "Certainly one of the most impressive marine fossil discoveries from the UK that I can remember at least in the last 20 to 30 years or so."
Barrett, whose work has covered dinosaurs and other extinct reptiles including ichthyosaurs, said the find confirmed the "cosmopolitanism" of the species, which had previously mainly been known in Germany.


Giant marine reptile skull discovery reveals new evolutionary theories
The specimen is currently being treated by a specialist paleontological conservator, a process that will take 12-18 months. Following this, Harris said, the aim will be to put it on public display.
"We're very proud of it, and I know the local community are as well," she told CNN. "We very much want to bring it back home to Rutland and have it on display for people to enjoy."
For Lomax, the lead researcher, one hope is to explore the Rutland Water site further, as six or seven vertebrae from other ichthyosaurs were also uncovered during the excavation.
He said the fact that "serendipitous things have happened to actually make this find" had not been lost on him.
"Honestly, it's incredibly unusual," Lomax told CNN. "Avid fossil hunters or paleontologists, they can search their entire careers and never find anything quite like this, even when you know where you're looking."
 
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Milwaukee Burger King worker, 16, is shot dead in botched drive-thru robbery that SHE set up with her best friend and the girl's father



Niesha Harris Brazell, 16, (left) was working at the drive-thru window of a Milwaukee Burger King on January 2 when she was shot and killed after a robbery that she apparently staged with her best friend, Mariah Edwards, (top right) and her best friend's father, Antoine Edwards, (bottom right) who allegedly acted as the robber. Investigators originally believed a man seen demanding money from Harris-Brazell and waving a gun around was the person who shot her, but a closer look at surveillance footage revealed his gun never went off. Instead, footage from inside the restaurant showed one of Harris-Brazell's coworkers, Derrick Ellis, 34, (inset) shoot and aim for the robber. During the investigation, authorities found that Antoine was the robber seen in surveillance footage, and Mariah reportedly admitted to authorities that she, Harris-Brazell and her father, Antoine, staged the robbery.

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nivek said:
Milwaukee Burger King worker, 16, is shot dead in botched drive-thru robbery that SHE set up with her best friend and the girl's father



Niesha Harris Brazell, 16, (left) was working at the drive-thru window of a Milwaukee Burger King on January 2 when she was shot and killed after a robbery that she apparently staged with her best friend, Mariah Edwards, (top right) and her best friend's father, Antoine Edwards, (bottom right) who allegedly acted as the robber. Investigators originally believed a man seen demanding money from Harris-Brazell and waving a gun around was the person who shot her, but a closer look at surveillance footage revealed his gun never went off. Instead, footage from inside the restaurant showed one of Harris-Brazell's coworkers, Derrick Ellis, 34, (inset) shoot and aim for the robber. During the investigation, authorities found that Antoine was the robber seen in surveillance footage, and Mariah reportedly admitted to authorities that she, Harris-Brazell and her father, Antoine, staged the robbery.

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Well, well, well.
 
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DNA Test Required to Prove 'World's Largest Potato' Contender is Genuine

The tale of an enormous potato, thought to be the largest ever found, has taken a strange turn as the owners of the titanic tuber say their quest to claim the world record is now dependent upon the giant vegetable being DNA tested in order to prove that it is genuine. The jaw-dropping spud (which can be seen in the video below) sparked worldwide headlines last year when it was unearthed from the garden of Colin and Donna Craig-Brown in New Zealand. Weighing a whopping 17 pounds, the giant vegetable appeared poised to take the title of world's largest potato, however its owners now lament that the tuber's road to glory has been fraught with challenges, including demands that it be DNA tested.

Reflecting on the process of trying to obtain the world record from Guinness, Colin lamented to one New Zealand media outlet that "it's just a never-ending case of having to do whatever they ask for next." In the months since the massive potato was plucked from the ground, the Craig-Browns say that they have supplied the famed book of records with photos and a video of the spud, which they've dubbed 'Dug,' and had the huge vegetable examined by an expert as well as publicly weighed in order to confirm its prodigious size. However, that staggering array of steps was apparently not enough for Guinness, who ultimately informed them that a piece of the potato needed to be DNA tested in order for the record to be official.

What began as a fun pursuit centered around the comically large potato found in their garden has turned into something of an ordeal for the Craig-Browns which Colin mused to another media outlet in New Zealand has been "a roller-coaster of emotion." Calling the required DNA test "extremely deflating," the spud's proud owner wondered if the record keepers suspect that the vegetable's size is the result of some kind of shenanigans involving genetic modification, which he insists is not the case. To that end, he declared "I want to prove them wrong. We will do everything they ask of us… so at the end of the day, they can say yes or no."

As such, a small piece of the potato will soon be sent to a university in Scotland where it will be tested in order to prove once and for all that the stupendous spud is, indeed, the world's largest. Sadly, the wait for word from Guinness has understandably taken its toll on poor Dug, as Colin says the tuber began to get "smaller and smaller every day" to the point that the couple decided to freeze the vegetable in order to keep it mostly intact until the moment comes that it is either awarded the record or their peculiar dream is finally dashed. While the Craig-Browns would obviously like to see their spud receive the title, Colin appears to be okay with whatever the final determination might be since "at the end of it all, it's still just a bloody potato."

 
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Terrifying moment Florida man is attacked by a BEAR on his porch as he defends his Dachshund: Home owner first thought predator was the neighbor's dog and went to punch it in the face

Walter Hickox was on the porch of his home in Daytona Beach in Florida on Wednesday night when the black bear ran inside chasing after his pet Dachshund, Pepper. Security camera footage showed how Hickox faced the black bear and pushed the animal out of the door into the back yard. He then grabbed a bench to barricade the door to prevent the bear from returning to the house where his partner Kerry and dogs Pickles, Pepper and Piper were hiding.

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nivek said:
Terrifying moment Florida man is attacked by a BEAR on his porch as he defends his Dachshund: Home owner first thought predator was the neighbor's dog and went to punch it in the face

Walter Hickox was on the porch of his home in Daytona Beach in Florida on Wednesday night when the black bear ran inside chasing after his pet Dachshund, Pepper. Security camera footage showed how Hickox faced the black bear and pushed the animal out of the door into the back yard. He then grabbed a bench to barricade the door to prevent the bear from returning to the house where his partner Kerry and dogs Pickles, Pepper and Piper were hiding.

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This is my favorite dog-bear encounter
 
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Two men take a CORPSE into Irish Post Office 'to claim his pension' in 'Weekend at Bernie's scam': Body 'was dragged to counter and propped up by pair who put a jumper over his face and a hat on his head'



The corpse of a 66-year-old man was carried to a post office by two fraudsters in an alleged bid to claim his pension, in scenes reminiscent of the 1989 film Weekend At Bernie's. In the dark comedy movie, a pair of insurance salesmen lug around the body of their murdered boss - pretending he's still alive - and lose and recover his corpse, which is clothed and wearing tinted glasses, several times. Irish police are investigating whether the elderly man, named locally as Peadar Doyle, may have been dead for up to two days when yesterday morning's incident took place. The fraudsters, one of whom knew the 66-year-old well, had put a jumper over Mr Doyle's face and a hat on his head. Both men, who were in their 30s, went into the post office and tried to get the money but staff told them they needed his next of kin there or Mr Doyle himself. Afterwards, it is alleged they went to Mr Doyle's home and carried him along a public footpath before they again tried to claim his pension. Pictured: Gardai removing the man's body and at Hosey's shop in County Carlow.

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Weber barbecue brand apologises for poorly timed recipe emailed to customers around the world hours after American singer Meat Loaf died

Popular barbeque brand Weber has apologised after sending customers a meatloaf recipe just hours after musician Meat Loaf died. The poorly timed recipe was emailed to recipients around the world as part of the company's weekly Friday newsletter.

But unbeknownst to the grilling giant, Mr Marvin Lee Aday, 74, died on Thursday night in Nashville, Tennessee, after reportedly falling seriously ill with Covid-19.

'In today's email we highlighted a grilled meatloaf recipe. At the time we shared this recipe with you, we were not aware of the unfortunate passing of American singer and actor Mr Marvin Lee Aday, also known as Meat Loaf,' Weber wrote to subscribers on Friday.

'We want to express our deepest apologies for this oversight and for any offense this email may have caused.

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nivek said:
Weber barbecue brand apologises for poorly timed recipe emailed to customers around the world hours after American singer Meat Loaf died

Popular barbeque brand Weber has apologised after sending customers a meatloaf recipe just hours after musician Meat Loaf died. The poorly timed recipe was emailed to recipients around the world as part of the company's weekly Friday newsletter.

But unbeknownst to the grilling giant, Mr Marvin Lee Aday, 74, died on Thursday night in Nashville, Tennessee, after reportedly falling seriously ill with Covid-19.

'In today's email we highlighted a grilled meatloaf recipe. At the time we shared this recipe with you, we were not aware of the unfortunate passing of American singer and actor Mr Marvin Lee Aday, also known as Meat Loaf,' Weber wrote to subscribers on Friday.

'We want to express our deepest apologies for this oversight and for any offense this email may have caused.

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Aahhhh, Meat Loaf would've laughed. Weber makes top notch grills.
 
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State says NYC restaurant can’t offer 25 cent drinks to fight January blues

(Excerpt)

The long arm of the law doesn’t like bargain basement cocktail specials – even if they’re whipped up to help struggling restaurants drum up business during a slow January.

Anton’s, the West Village eatery that drew crowds – and a column in last week’s Side Dish – with its 25 cent martinis and Manhattans – was slapped by the State Liquor Authority last Wednesday with a warning. Turns out, the booze special that packed ‘em in ran afoul of state law that forbids discounts of more than 50% off normal prices.

That meant the deal, which was offered during lunchtime this month on Wednesdays through Fridays and which was packed inside was actually illegal – and it’s no more.

“The place was packed. It broke the internet,” said Marie Assante, a food publicist who dined at Anton’s last Thursday. “I’ve never seen a lunch spot as crowded and vibrant at 2:45 p.m. as I did last Thursday. People were celebrating with friends or working remotely on their computers.”

The SLA didn’t charge Anton’s with an official violation, but let the restaurant off with a warning, an SLA spokesperson told Side Dish. The SLA has issued only 19 charges since 2018 with violating the rule that forbids charging a price for a drink that’s less than half the typical cost. (The regulator also forbids offering unlimited all-you-can-drink specials.)

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Any hunters here?
Italian hunter dies after suffering fatal bite from boar he shot: report

An Italian hunter died last week after he was attacked by a wild boar he had just shot that bit him in the leg and severed his femoral artery, according to reports.

Giulio Burattini, 36, was hunting with his father in the Tuscan woods on Jan. 19, the Daily Star reported, citing Italian media. Burattini shot the animal and it fell. He approached the injured boar and it quickly got up and charged at him, the report said. The father, who was treated for shock at the scene, reportedly let out a "desperate cry for help."
 
pigfarmer

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I've heard too much bacon can be bad for you and I guess it's true

Not since the '90s and not for wild boar. I have seen ads in various magazines, at events and so forth where they'll take you on a guided hunt - a handgun hunt - for wild boar. Noooooo, not for this kid. I'll stick to bowling pins and steel plates for that kind of fun.
 
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