not for the squeamish: the world's first eyeball tattoo

We have seen people with tattoos on arms, hands, stomach, back, knees feet... virtually any and every part of the body.

But finally, we have something completely new: an eyeball tattoo.

That's right. A man from Canada volunteered to be the first to try out the new procedure. He had the white of his eye colored blue.

The procedure required a needle to be inserted into his eyeball forty times.

After the procedure was finished, the volunteer (named only as Pauly) had some sage advice: don't try this at home. The Sun quotes Pauly as saying: "The procedure was extensively researched and done by people who were aware of the risks and possible complications and that it should not be casually attempted."

Thanks for the warning, Pauly, I was thinking about trying this in my kitchen.

For the strong of stomach who wish to see more photos, click the first link below.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/article853274.ece
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/posted/archive/2008/02/28/canadian-man-grosses-out-world-with-first-eyeball-tattoo.aspx

illusion: more than sawed in half

Originally from NBC's America's Got Talent. This guy does have talent. One of the best tricks I've seen.

ponder the logic of this self-service terminal

allergic to water.

I didn't think that this was possible. In fact, when I read her story, I felt I should do some extra research. I learned that the situation is extraordinarily rare... and that this story is true.

Ashleigh Morris, 19, of Melbourne, Australia is allergic to water. As in H2O. As in the stuff that makes up most of our body weight.

Ashleigh can't enjoy a warm bath or a hot shower. She can't go swimming in the summer. She can't hug her sweaty boyfriend. She can't stand outside in the rain or snow. She has to stay away from any sport that would make her perspire. She has to avoid touching water of any kind... including her own sweat.

Ashleigh can drink water. The problem is that if any water touches Ashleigh's skin, she breaks out in very painful red rash. The rash subsides after a few hours, but the pain sometimes reduces her to tears.

She takes minute-showers to stay clean -- but after a shower, she often will not go out for a couple hours because her skin is so splotchy and painful. In the summer, she pretty much stays where it is air-conditioned. If there is a threat of rain, she stays home.

The disorder is known as Aquagenic Urticaria. It is so rare that there are only a handful of cases in the world. Ashleigh contracted it a few years ago when she had tonsillitis. The doctors prescribed penicillin. The penicillin cured the tonsils, but left her with this disorder.

In every other way, Ashleigh appears to be... and is... very normal.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=520329&in_page_id=1811&ito=1490
http://www.emedicine.com/EMERG/topic628.htm

frozen people prank. very nice.

via cool site of the day

reduce, reuse, recycle... but not the cat

The British town of Norwich encourages recycling. However, some of the town residents don't quite seem to grasp the concept. One city councilman, Brian Morrey said, "It is shocking what people put in their recycling bins."

Some of the more bizarre things that people have put in their recycle bins: dead cats and dogs, a Samurai sword, car wheels complete with tires, live ammunition, and smoke grenades.

On the other hand, there are other things that can be recycled in ways you might not imagine. For example, Nike recycles old sneakers to make "Nike Grind," a playing surface for basketball courts.

Recline is a company that uses discarded yogurt containers to make toothbrushes and razors. Then they recycle them again to make plastic lumber.

Yet another company has used discarded steel cans to make bathing suits. (Those have to be comfortable...)

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/article.html?in_article_id=100113&in_page_id=2
http://blogs.moneycentral.msn.com/smartspending/archive/2008/02/25/things-you-didn-t-know-you-can-recycle.aspx
http://www.packagingnews.co.uk/news/663252/Weird-wonderful-uses-packaging-Recycle-Week/

For a list of 21 things you didn't know you can recycle, visit http://www.coopamerica.org/pubs/caq/articles/21Things.cfm

another unfortunate ad placement

glad I wasn't standing under it.

In Denmark, a 200-foot tall wind turbine experiences brake failure... and is shred to pieces.

10,000 hits and a nice review

some personal words:

First, I want to thank those of you who drop by this blog. A couple days ago, my pointless got its 10,000th hit! That is way better than I ever anticipated back when I started this thing. So, thanks!

Second, I want to say thanks to Amy at BlogsWeLuv and You are a Fly on my wall for giving me such a wonderfully kind review. Even apart from the good review, Amy has become one of my favorite internet friends. Thanks, Amy.)

(Third, to my mother: thanks for sitting at your computer for so many hours and giving my site 9,917 hits, now I will pay for that wheelchair.... and Amy: what did you say your price was?? ;) )

thief finds the love of his life

It was love at first sight. Too bad "first sight" happened during a robbery.

Bruno Perez, 31, robbed a post office in Genoa, Italy. During the robbery, he pointed his gun at Lucia Marcelo, 21, and demanded that she give him the money that was in her drawer. She complied and handed over the money.

Bruno escaped with the money but apparently he left his heart behind. He just couldn't get Lucia out of his mind.

So, the next day, Bruno revisited the post office with a bouquet of flowers for Lucia, some of the money he had stolen, and an apology.

He gave the flowers to Lucia and asked his love out for a date. Lucia took the flowers and engaged Bruno in conversation. Meanwhile, Lucia hit the silent alarm.

The police came. Bruno was arrested within minutes. It looks like the date isn't going to happen.

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_2741933.html?menu=news.quirkies

Guess she wasn't a sucker for a guy with money.

proof that not all teachers are smart

left or right brain test

This is a great optical illusion that is also a test of whether you are "right brained" or "left brained." If you see the dancer as spinning clockwise, then you use more of the right side of the brain. If you see her turning counter-clockwise, then you are left-brained.

Most people see her turning counter clockwise. If you concentrate or look away a few times, you may see her change direction.

Left-brained people are characterized as: logical, detail oriented, fact oriented, practical, safe, strategic. They are more inclined to math and science.

Right-brained people are characterized as: feeling oriented, good imaginations, "big picture" oriented, impetuous, risk takers. They are inclined toward philosophy and religion.

If you would like to know more about what it means to be left or right brained, and take a multiple choice test for it, here is the link: http://www.testcafe.com/lbrb/?affil=

I originally found this story at http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,22492511-5005375,00.html?from=mostpop

an improvement? Garfield minus Garfield

The Garfield minus Garfield website does what you might expect -- it removes Garfield from his own strip. (Done with the consent of Garfield creator Jim Davis). Sometimes, the absence of the character makes a weirdly funny improvement--








visit the site

cockroach on TV news makes news

This week a cockroach made an appearance on the news. Literally.

During a live broadcast seen on Turkmenistan's national station, a cockroach was seen scurrying across the news reader's desk.

In most countries, that would be on a blooper reel. (see today's post below)

In Turkmenistan the reaction was, well, a little overdone-- Calls poured in from disgusted viewers. The Culture Minister has ordered an internal investigation. Thirty station employees, including editors, directors and technicians have been fired... all because of a cockroach.

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_2736726.html?menu=news.quirkies

Forget the Culture Minister. Call the Orkin man.

this is how a cockroach oughta be handled

In contrast to the over-reaction to a cockroach in Turkmenistan (see my post above) we have, well another over-reaction....

doc, I got this pain in my leg.

and his head was okay??

going from bad to worse

Charles Noah Chambers isn't the brightest bulb on the tree. Yesterday, Charles drove to the Anderson County Sheriff's office (Anderson County, North Carolina) and demanded that they return $1,991 dollars that belongs to him.

The money was seized by the Sheriff's Department last September when Mr. Chambers was caught riding a stolen motorcycle. After a foot-chase with police, Mr. Chambers was also found to be in possession of two bags of methamphetamine.

That was old history. Chambers wanted the money back.

Unfortunately, Mr. Chambers' request fell on deaf ears. So, he left the police station and drove away in a 1996 Saab convertible. As he pulled out of the parking lot, someone at the station noticed that the car Chambers was driving fit the description of a car that had been reported stolen on Monday.

The police caught up with Mr. Chambers, who wanted police to believe that the Saab was his. When instructed to turn off the car, Mr. Chambers did so with a screwdriver-- not a good way to show that you own a car.

Mr. Chambers, 36, and his passenger, Susan Peace, 52, were arrested for possession of stolen property. When searched, she was also found to be in possession of drugs and a $2000 bond refund from a previous drug arrest.

http://www.independentmail.com/news/2008/feb/20/after-failing-his-assertion-seized-drug-money-ande/

Next time, Charles, just let them keep the money.

giving a new meaning to "soda fountain"

oblivious

thousands of fish die in barn fire

Here is a headline that you would never expect to see:

150,000 fish killed in blaze.

Dr. Dave Smith owns Freshwater Farms near Urbana, Ohio. His farm raises fish for restaurants and other, well, fishy things.

Last November, Ohio was facing a cold week, so Dave decided that the fish would survive better indoors. Dave moved the fish into tanks in his barn and fired up the stove to keep them warm.

Unfortunately, sometime after Dave left the barn, the flue failed and caused the barn to burn down. The fish, unable to run out of the barn, died in the blaze. 150,000 died but 350,000 were saved.

Fortunately, Dave's 10 best breeding sturgeon were among those rescued.

If those fish ever pondered their own deaths, they probably never guessed they would die in a fire -- in a barn -- in Ohio.

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2007/11/09/~mbrf09_ART_11-09-07_B3_PV8E0BI.html?sid=101 http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/article.html?in_article_id=75116&in_page_id=2

don't forget to pick up these items at the grocery store

octopus implants

from the creepy or cool department:

a company in Sao Paulo, Brazil has implanted suction cups into the arm of a man so that he will resemble an octopus.

what do you think?

http://modblog.bmezine.com/2008/02/13/tentacle-implants/
via metro.co.uk http://www.metro.co.uk/imetro/blogs/article.html?in_article_id=99124&in_page_id=16

odd vandals in Ross County

starlings swarm Gretna Green, Scotland

the whole story: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=515575&in_page_id=1770
the video is particularly impressive toward the end

nothing says love like a prison sentence

On Valentine's Day, Kevin Felder and Misty Johnson were married at the Ohio County Circuit Court in West Virginia. The groom wore an orange jumpsuit and bracelets because a few minutes later, he was taken away to serve a prison sentence of 5 to 18 years.

In September 2007, Felder was arrested for robbing a convenience store and threatening the cashier. He got away with $340 in cash but was later apprehended. To complicate matters, at the time of the robbery he was on probation for a domestic violence charge that involved Misty (his then-girlfriend).

Felder also has had other felony convictions and could have been put-away for a very long time. His present sentence was the result of a plea-bargain arrangement with the State.

When asked why she married a man who was about to spend time in prison, Misty replied, "“I love him that much, That’s all I can say.”


In an related but unrelated story, police officers in Northglenn, Colorado spent this Valentine's Day rounding up 23 people with outstanding warrants.

A Northglenn police officer posed as a flower deliveryman. He drove to homes in a van marked "flower delivery" and went to the door with a box of a dozen long stemmed roses.

When the wanted person opened the door to sign for the flowers, they received a pair of handcuffs instead.

Ronald Madden was one who was wanted for failing to appear in court on a marijuana possession charge. After his arrest, Madden was quoted as saying, "Honestly it didn't click with me until I heard, 'Northglenn police' and then he pulled out the badge and I thought, '#%&*@ you guys are good!'"

http://www.theintelligencer.net/page/content.detail/id/505805.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/15/ap/strange/main3839307.shtml

nuts: swimming at Victoria Falls pool

a word of encouragement: adversity

from despair.com

Science on the Cutting Edge

Did you ever wonder where research money goes? These scholarly findings appeared in psychological journals and were reduced to their essence in a Wall Street Journal column:

* It's much easier to identify someone if he is physically near you than if he is up to 450 feet away (Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, February).

* People who choose their careers carefully, rather than on a whim, experience greater job satisfaction (Journal of Economic Psychology, vol. 26, no.3).

* College students tend to drink more alcoholic beverages than they realize (Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, April).

* If patients voluntarily tell a doctor about a bad side effect of a medicine, they are more likely to be switched to a safer one than if they don't (Archives of Internal Medicine, January). [Wall Street Journal, 5-27-05]

from News of the Weird

maybe he should have worn boxers instead of briefs

We read about the man who disguised himself as a tree. We heard about the man who disguised himself with drywall compound. We have seen pictures of a man who disguised himself as a, well, we don't know.

But yesterday, in English, West Virginia, Jerry Keene, 40, and Elizabeth Blankenship, 48, tried a new disguise: underwear.

According to Chief Deputy sheriff Mark Shelton, Elizabeth first entered Hillbilly Market to check it out. Shortly after she left, Keene entered the convenience store with underwear over his head and a gun in his hand.

Keene waved his gun and demanded money. The clerk gave him what was in the drawer and Keene made his get away. Unfortunately for Keene, his disguise didn't work. Witnesses were able to identify him even with underwear over his head.

Blankenship and Keene were both arrested for armed robbery.

http://www.bdtonline.com/local/local_story_044210101.html

slideshow: photos of the year

| View | Upload your own

things you didn't know about Valentine's Day

We all know that Valentine's Day is on February 14 and is all about love. But here are some things about Valentine's Day that you probably didn't know. These are excerpts from the WiseBread website:

-- The average American will spend $119.67 on Valentine’s Day this year, up from $100.89 last year.

-- Men spend almost twice as much on Valentine’s Day as women do. This year, the average man will spend $156, while the average woman will only spend $85.

-- More than nine million pet owners are expected to buy gifts for their pets this Valentine's Day.

-- 15 percent of U.S. women send themselves flowers on Valentine's Day.

-- Today, Hallmark employs an 80-person research staff to analyze the sales pattern of previous valentines. That analysis, combined with more than 100,000 annual customer interviews, focus groups and in-store observations, will help create roughly 2,000 cards in Hallmark's core Valentine's Day line.

-- BBC reports that Shiv Sena, a nationalist political party in India, has spoken out against Valentine's day, calling it "nothing but a Western onslaught on India's culture to attract youth for commercial purposes."

-- "I love you" in German is "Ich liebe dich."

-- In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who their valentines would be. They would wear these names on their sleeves for one week. Today, "to wear your heart on your sleeve" means being transparent with your affections.

http://www.wisebread.com/weird-things-you-didnt-know-about-valentines-day

In honor of Valentine's Day - The Wedding Flowers

Romeo oh Romeo... world's smallest bodybuilder

To tell you the truth, when my daughter and I first saw the pictures, we thought they were "Photo-Shopped." It is such a peculiar sight, that it almost seems like fiction. But it is not.

At just 33 inches tall and weighing in at 19 pounds, Aditya 'Romeo' Dev is the world's smallest body builder.

He works out every day at a gym in his hometown of Phagwra, India where he has become a celebrity. His hope is to travel the world and perform.

The Daily Mail quotes Romeo as saying, Romeo said: "I've been training as a bodybuilder for the last two years and by now I think I must be the strongest dwarf in the world.

"I have always been fit but since I started working out, I have become famous for my strength.

"My size has never stopped me. I train with dumbbells and do aerobics and dance. People are always pleased to see me. I have been invited on TV shows and dance on stage."

It may be an unusual sight, but Romeo ought to be admired for his determination and drive. Good for you, Romeo.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=513820&in_page_id=1811
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,330460,00.html

body-building bloopers

Wanted: have you seen this man?

e-fit - a sophisticated computer program for reconstructing a facial appearance from composite pictures; a picture so produced
from Dictionary.com

Last week, the Royal Thai Police released this computer-generated sketch of a bank robber. The e-fit (left) is the result of shrewd police work, eye-witness descriptions and modern technology.

Police have asked that anyone who has seen this person should call them immediately.

The thief (a.k.a Mr. Helmethead) was seen stealing 200,000 baht (approx. $6,389) from the Government Savings Bank of Bangkok in Ladprao,Thailand.

With those smooth features, he might be confused with the man who disguised himself with dry wall compound.

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/world/article.html?in_article_id=96246&in_page_id=64

Hello, police? That man in the e-fit looks just like one of my neighbors.
Do you think you can you pick him out of a line-up.??

very cool pictures

These transparent-screen illusions were created by taking a digital photograph of the location... and then setting the photograph as the computer "wallpaper" and then, taking a second picture.

Great illusion.

http://visualfunhouse.com/altered_reality/transparent-screen-optical-illusion.html

just in time for Valentine's Day: garlic chocloate

Tired of buying chocolates in that big red cellophane covered heart?
Bored by the looks of the Whitman Sampler?

Here is a sure thing to capture the affection of your loved one on Valentine's Day: black garlic chocolate.

The new confection is being offered by a chocolate company in Takko, Japan. Takko is in a top garlic-producing region, so, they have tried to incorporate their home-grown product into the new candy.

The candy contains black garlic (which, we are told, has a sweet-and-sour prune-like taste), covered with chocolate and sprinkled with cocoa powder.

But what about the nasty garlic-smell the candy will leave on your loved-one's breath? One company spokesman observed, "If both people eat them, there will be no problem!"

The chocolates are available on the Internet (if you read Japanese) directly from the Takko-Shoji.jp homepage. Make sure you buy at least two so that you don't notice each other's peculiar odor.

http://www.asianoffbeat.com/default.asp?display=1497

memo to marketing strategists for this product: you might not want to describe the taste of black garlic as "sweet-and-sour prunes." I can't think of too many flavors nastier than garlic with a hint of prune.

here honey, I thought of you -- and bought you these.

If you don't think you want to go with the garlic chocoloate (above), you might consider these grub shaped chocolates, sold by Komatuya in Japan. They look pretty disgusting, but they are sweet tasting (in theory).


Seems to me that a box of these would give a confusing message on Valentine's Day.

http://www.asianoffbeat.com/default.asp?display=1420

Tom Jones' $7 million chest hair

Mary Hart insured her legs.
Keith Richards insured his fingers.
Jennifer Lopez has insured her bum.

and now...

Tom Jones (singer of "It's Not Unusual" and "She's a Lady") has taken out insurance on his chest hair with Lloyd's of London.

Yes, that is right. The policy for Tom's pectoral-pelt is worth nearly $7 million. If Tom's chest hair falls out, he is still covered.

John Thomas, an underwriter with Lloyd's was quoted as saying, "Admittedly, this is one of the most obscure requests I've had -- but I still came up with a wording that addressed the need,"

Why would someone (especially someone who turns 68 this year) want to insure chest hair? Good question. The bigger question is, why would anyone want to see it???

http://www.asylum.com/2008/02/07/its-not-unusual-to-insure-your-chest-hair/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Jones

I don't know about you, but I, for one, rest easier tonight.

why do I like seeing people trip and fall?? :)

find chuck norris

Want to find Chuck?

go to google.com
in the search box, type "find Chuck Norris"
hit the "I feel lucky" button.

really. try it. (but remember to come back here!) :)

a word of encouragment: consistency

I love the demotivator posters at despair.com

http://www.despair.com/consistency.html

hey doc, watch where you put that needle

Acupuncture is a science that requires very precise placement of needles in specific parts of the body.

How would you feel about a blind acupuncture practitioner?

Juliana Cumbo is a 31 year old graduate intern at the Academy of Oriental Medicine in Austin, Texas. She holds a master's degree in acupuncture and has passed the national board exams.

However, her first application for a license to practice acupuncture in Texas was turned down by the licensure committee. Cumbo has recently applied a second time.

The committee chairwoman, Meng-sheng Lin, said that she would probably vote against granting Cumbo a license. She noted that sometimes acupuncture causes bleeding that can cause a contamination risk.

Cumbo's attorney, David Cohen, says that failing to license Cumbo on the basis of her blindness is a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

http://www.theindychannel.com/health/15195876/detail.html

anyone feel like a game of "pin the tail on the donkey?"

please give your opinion about this in the next post...

poll: would you visit Dr. Cumbo??

acupuncture commercial

if that was false labor, why is there a baby in my pants?

Charryse Brooks of Norwood, Ohio was pregnant and due on February 22. Late last week (Jan 31), she believed that felt labor contractions and went to the hospital.

Hospital workers briefly looked at Charryse and assured her that she was having "false labor." They sent her home.

Once home, the false labor pains continued and seemed to be getting stronger. Finally, Charryse told her husband, Tim, that they needed to return to the hospital.

Tim and Carryse got to the car but Carryse was unable to open the door-- for good reason. She looked at her husband and said, "Tim, the baby's here."

There in the driveway, Tim reached down in time to catch his new baby daughter in the leg of Charryse's sweat pants. Mackenzie Nichole Brooks was born at 4lbs. 3oz..

They drove to the hospital with the umbilical cord still attached. This time, they weren't sent home.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22927903/

what do you bet they still had to pay the doctor?

what's the matter with Finnegan??

nice gesture
unfortunate wording.

brilliance demonstrated: twelve amazing answers given on Family Feud

Have you ever answered a question and then felt like an idiot for your answer?? How about doing that in front of millions of people??

Here are some of my favorite answers given on Family Feud.

Q: Besides San Francisco, name a city that begins with the word San.
A: Seattle

Q: Something that comes with a summer storm
A: Snow

Q: Something worn only by children
A: Clothes

Q: Something you might buy that could turn out to be phony
A: Horse

Q: A city in the state of Georgia
A: Alabama

Q: Something that kills a lively party
A: Guns

Q: A man's name beginning with the letter K
A: Kentucky Fried Chicken

Q: Something made of leather that a cowboy uses
A: Purse

Q: The first thing you take off after work
A: Underwear

Q: A department in a supermarket
A: Lingerie

Q: Name a yellow fruit:
A: Orange

Q: The most lovable breed of dog
A: Kitten

http://brandon.ikevin.net/feud/
http://www.strangecosmos.com/content/item/118566.html

grown up men