Jan 17 2012

Flyertalk really needs a “Like” button…

Tag: General Weirdness,TravelNate @ 9:45 pm

In reply to: Does the $20 or $50 trick (bribe) work for upgrades

Hello MR CUSO
I represent certain AMERICAN AIRLINES INTEREST IN AFRICA. As a SENIOR ASSISTANT CHAIRMAN to CHIEF ELECTED OFFICIAL GERARD ARPEY I have recently been promoted to start NEW ROUTES TO LAGOS NIGERIA. Due to systems malfunctions during computer installation, I am able to UPGRADE YOU TO LIFETIME EXECUTIVE PLATINUM STATUS. We will require ENGINEERS to manipulate the new mainframe requiring an initial deposit to defray costs. in the future, you can purchase the status for anyone at the low price of $2500 UNITED STATES DOLLARS. Please do not let this opportunity be lost..


Jul 24 2011

That’s one hung duck (slightly NSFW.)

Tag: Animals are weirdNate @ 11:36 pm

North American scientists have discovered the longest bird penis ever – a 42.5cm organ belonging to a duck.
Dr Kevin McCracken of the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, and colleagues, report in this week’s Nature that they have found a specimen of the Argentine lake duck (Oxyura vittata) that has a penis as long as its body – nearly half a metre long.

Very old news, but too funny not to share.


Nov 11 2010

Porpoises rescue Dick Van Dyke

Tag: Animals are weird,News of the WeirdNate @ 3:35 pm

Since it’s been a while since I posted a good “News of the Weird” link…

Porpoises rescue Dick Van Dyke

On screen, Dick Van Dyke has been rescued from untimely death by flying cars and magical nannies. Off screen, the veteran star of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Mary Poppins had to rely on the help of a pod of porpoises after apparently dozing off aboard his surfboard. “I’m not kidding,” he said afterwards.

{Checks if it’s April 1}
{Nope}

Sparing my Facebook friends, it goes here instead.

(via AmericaBlog)


Jun 11 2010

Dark Lord of the Petulant?

Tag: General WeirdnessNate @ 4:38 pm

What is Darth Vader’s diagnosis?

The manipulations of Anakin Skywalker, also known as Darth Vader in the “Star Wars” saga, have long been ascribed to the Dark Side of the Force. Now, psychiatrists suggests that the actions of the Jedi Knight could be used in teaching about a real-life mental illness.

A letter to the editor in the journal Psychiatry Research explores just what is wrong with Vader. French researchers posit that Vader exhibits six out of the nine criteria for borderline personality disorder. Unstable moods, interpersonal relationships, and behaviors are all characteristics of this condition, according to the National Institutes of Mental Health. It affects 2 percent of adults, mostly young women.

via Yahoo Movies


Addendum: I’m clearly not blogging enough when I wrote it as [blockquote] on the first pass…


Jun 09 2010

Spain, not Japan? Seriously?

Tag: General Weirdness,MiscellaneaNate @ 1:37 pm

Apparently There Is A Meat Vending Machine In Spain

Spain is a magical place. How do we know this? Because they apparently have a meat vending machine.

Said vending machine is located outside a 100-year-old butcher shop and allows customers to buy meat around the clock. The vending machine features meats, sausages, sandwiches and other goods on a seasonally rotating basis.


Jun 07 2010

3 Men In A Boat, sort of…

Tag: General WeirdnessNate @ 7:47 pm

Via Slashdot

Jack Watkins, 25, and engineers Chris Hayes, 24, and Dave Sibley, 25, have succeeded in crossing Italy’s Lake Garda in a huge, inflated bouncy castle. “Great Britain has such a great tradition as a seafaring nation and we really feel we have played no role at all in adding to this,” admitted intrepid waterman Hayes. “That said, it was possibly the most fun we have ever had and we really never believed this most frivolous of dreams would ever be realized.”

This demands an American attempt to do the same. Lake Mead, anyone?


Jan 30 2010

Rip Torn: Bank Robber???

Tag: News of the WeirdNate @ 6:32 pm

Actor Rip Torn charged with breaking into Conn. bank while drunk and carrying a loaded gun

SALISBURY, Conn. (AP) — Actor Elmore “Rip” Torn has been charged with breaking into a Connecticut bank and carrying a loaded handgun while intoxicated.

State police say the 78-year-old Salisbury resident was arrested Friday night after police found him inside the Litchfield Bancorp with a loaded revolver.

The “Men in Black” actor has been taken into custody and booked on charges including burglary and possession of firearm without a permit. He is being held on $100,000 bond and is scheduled for a Monday appearance in Bantam Superior Court.

Forget men in black, his SF great role was Centauri in The Last Starfighter.


Jan 28 2010

Cat vs. Bear

Tag: Animals are weirdNate @ 5:48 pm

Couldn’t figure out how to embed this, sorry.

Cat vs. Bear

Cat wins. Too funny!


Aug 28 2009

I resemble that remark…

Tag: HumorNate @ 3:27 pm

I (heart) XKCD, but this one made me really sad at the same time getting a laugh. “The least interesting man in the world,” indeed.


May 06 2009

I’ve GOT to visit Estonia…

Tag: General WeirdnessNate @ 3:29 pm

Kidding, although it does sound like an interesting place to visit for other reasons than the translation of “twelve months.”

In other news, I’ve been super-lax about updating this (even ignoring the 3+ weeks when there was no server running at all.) We’re finally sorta-kinda moved in. Some house-related posts coming up one of these


Feb 02 2009

Meta-phishing.

Tag: General WeirdnessNate @ 3:41 pm

Here’s a phishing email I received:

Important:
You’re getting this letter in connection with new directions issued by U.S. Treasury Department. The directions concern U.S. Federal Wire online payments.

On January 26, 2009 a large-scaled phishing attack started and has been still lasting. A great number of banks and credit unions is affected by this attack and quantity of illegal wire transfers has reached an extremely high level.

U.S. Treasury Department, Federal Reserve and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) in common worked out a complex of immediate actions for the highest possible reduction of fraudulent operations. We regret to inform you that definite restrictions will be applied to all Federal Wire transfers from February 6 till February 13.

Here you can get more detailed information regarding the affected banks and U.S. Treasury Department restrictions:
(URL Redacted, for obvious reasons)

Yes, it’s a phishing email pretending to be a warning about phishing. Good grief!


Jan 26 2009

XKCD gets it.

Tag: General WeirdnessNate @ 2:46 pm

Genetic Algorithms

Hello Skynet!


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