Strange News

Ventriloquist Challenges Gag Order Against His Puppet

8:09am November 12, 2014

Satirist Conrad Koch of South Africa denies that his puppet Chester Missing engaged in hate speech. When asked why someone takes a puppet to court, Chester Missing tweeted "You need to be a dummy."

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Science

In Space, No One Can Hear You Sample

6:33pm November 08, 2014

NASA just released a collection of sound effects from both this world and deep, intergalactic space into the Public Domain. They are now available for all of us to enjoy and perhaps use to make music.

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Danish concertmaster Erik Heide plays "Jalousie" after downing an vividly hot pepper.

Music & Culture

This Is An Orchestra Under The Influence Of Chili Peppers

8:11pm November 07, 2014

by Bill Chappell

Each musician ate one of "the world's hottest chili peppers" whole, before continuing to play a famous tango.

This gladiator tombstone was excavated in a cemetery for these ancient power athletes in what was once Ephesus, in modern-day Turkey.

Gladiator Gatorade? Ancient Athletes Had A Recovery Drink, Too

5:54pm November 04, 2014

by Maria Godoy

Gladiators guzzled a drink made from plant ash to help their bodies recover after a hard day of sword fighting, according to Roman accounts. New tests of old bones back up that idea.

Pilot Should Have Taken A Cab Instead Of Taxiing To A Bar

12:35pm November 04, 2014

An Australian man made a brief layover at a bar — he left the propeller running. Police are charging the man with endangering lives and driving without a pilot's license.

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Former Reading Rainbow host LeVar Burton reads from the 2011 best-seller Go the [bleep] to Sleep.

LeVar Burton Reads 'Go The [Expletive] To Sleep'

8:42am October 27, 2014

by Bill Chappell

To any over-exhausted parents who suspect they're hallucinating, we assure you: Former Reading Rainbow host LeVar Burton gave a reading of the 2011 best-seller this weekend.

Halloween Twitter War Pits Conan O'Brien Against Madeleine Albright

7:03am October 24, 2014

Comedian Conan O'Brien tweeted that for Halloween he'd dress as "Slutty Madeleine Albright." The diplomat replied: "I'm considering going as hunky Conan O'Brien — but that might be too far fetched."

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Glowing tapioca pearls accompanied by spiders (made of chocolate drizzle), just in time for Halloween, by Luma Bites

Arts

Glow-In-The-Dark Treats To Light Up Your Halloween

6:35pm October 22, 2014

by Alison Bruzek

Two entrepreneurs have developed new tricks to make food that's literally illuminating, using ingredients that are as natural and unprocessed as possible. It's just basic food chemistry, folks.

A Sanrio employee displays a Hello Kitty designed toaster celebrating Hello Kitty's 30th birthday in 2004.

Arts

9 Lives And Counting: Hello Kitty Turns 40

11:43am October 20, 2014

by Lisa Napoli

In the time since the first simple coin purse was sold in Japan back in 1974, Hello Kitty has become a multibillion-dollar empire. A retrospective in Los Angeles celebrates the beloved cartoon cat.

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Sports

Don't Sing It: San Francisco Giants Will 'Never Be Royals'

7:21am October 20, 2014

With the World Series starts Tuesday: the Giants vs. the Kansas City Royals. Supporting their Giants, San Francisco radio stations banned the Lorde song, "Royals."

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