I now pronounce you husband and pillow

Last December, my pointless posted a story about a man who married a Nintendo anime character that he fell in love with. This week, we have the true the story of a man in Korea who recently married his pillow.

Lee Jin-gyu has fallen in love with his "dakimakura" which is a large body-sized hugging pillow. The pillow bears the image of his favorite anime character, Fate Testarossa.

For Lee, this is no joke. One of his friends says, “He is completely obsessed with this pillow and takes it everywhere.”'

The 28-year-old Lee takes his pillow-friend with him everywhere. They go to the park and stroll together. They ride amusement park rides together. They even go out to eat at restaurants. Pillow-Testarossa doesn't each much, but she sits patiently in her own chair and enjoys spending time with her pathetic fiancée.

Last week, Lee dressed up his pillow-love in a wedding dress and married her in a special ceremony in front of a local priest.

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/816601-man-marries-pillow

previous post: man takes his anime girlfriend to be his wife
previous post: found the perfect mate (another man married his pillow)
for more stories about weird marriage, click the "marriage" label below

top picture- the happy couple at the wedding
bottom- Fate Testarossa, the image on the pillow

kids' advice on love and marriage

In honor of Valentine's Day, here are some insights on love and marriage from kids...

How do you decide who to marry?
Alan, age 10—You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming.

Kirsten, age 10—No person really decides before they grow up who they’re going to marry. God decides for you, and then you get to find out later who you’re stuck with.

What is the right age to get married?
Camille, age 10—Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then.

Freddie, age 6—No age is good to get married at. You got to be a fool to get married.

How can a stranger tell if two people are married?
Derrick, age 8—You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids.

Sally, age 9—If they look mad at each other, they are probably married.

What do your mom and dad have in common?
Lori, age 8—Both don’t want any more kids.

Billy age 7—They both want me to go to bed at 8 o’clock so mommy doesn’t get a headache.

When is it okay to kiss someone?
Pam, age 7—When they’re rich.

Curt, age 7—The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn’t want to mess with that.

Howard, age 8—The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It’s the right thing to do.

Is it better to be single or married?
Anita, age 9—It’s better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them.

David, age 7— If you like each other then it is better to be married especially if you want to kiss her.

What do most people do on a date?
Lynnette, age 8- Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough.

Martin, age 10- On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date.

What would you do on a first date that was turning sour?
Craig, age 9- I'd run home and play dead. The next day I would call all the newspapers and make sure they wrote about me in all the dead columns.

How would you make your marriage work?
Ricky, age 10- Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a truck.

via http://snipr.com/ucdyi [www_thesun_co_uk]

man takes his anime girlfriend to be his wife.

The girl in this picture is adorable, isn't she? Her name is Nene Anegasaki. She an Anime character who is part of an online dating simulation game called "Love Plus."

Earlier this year, a real Japanese man known only as SAL9000 took Nene (on his Nintendo DS) to the island of Guam. There, he visited a church with Nene and officially married her in the presence of a priest.

Love Plus is a game that simulates "real" relationships. Players can date, play games, buy virtual flowers and take moonlight walks with a virtual girlfriend. SAL just took his "relationship" to the next step. Said SAL, "If more people were to find ways of expressing themselves like this, I think it would make society a bit more interesting."

The loving couple honeymooned on Guam. They had a ceremony and reception that was broadcast over the Internet. These days, they date around Tokyo (he carries his Nintendo DS with him). Says SAL, "I think I'll probably continue playing Love Plus. I won't cheat."

I envision lawyers getting involved in this -- taking steps to protect the rights of this poor Anime character who is now married to a very odd man.

http://snipr.com/tsnn2 [Reuters News]
http://snipr.com/tsnmu [Guam newsfactor]
http://snipr.com/tsnmp [gizmodo_com]
http://snipr.com/tsnlq [kotaku_com]

17 year marriage ends over a nickname

I looked. There is actually a web site that has a list of nicknames that husbands give their wives. They range from the sicky-sappy (Pumpkin Sparkle, Sugar Muffin, Cuddle Bunnie) to the less-flattering variety (Broccoli Thighs, Aardvark, Big Booty Judy).

This week, Ananova reported the story of a woman in Saudi Arabia who is seeking a divorce because of the nickname that her husband used for her. The woman stumbled upon the nickname when she looked at her husband's cell phone address book... and noticed how she was listed.

The name he gave her? Guantanamo. As in, the US hi-security war-prison in Cuba.

Strangely, the woman was not flattered by being likened to a hot place of sheer misery where men wear chains all day.

The Riyadh newspaper did not give the names of the unhappy couple, but reported that the woman is planning to end the 17-year marriage... unless she is paid a "substantial" financial compensation from her nearly ex-husband.

http://snipr.com/so9du [www_ananova_com]
backup url

list of nicknames

her 22nd husband is 70 years her junior. who's next?

Wook Kundor of Malasia believes that her 22nd marriage is on the rocks. She is seriously considering a divorce and is looking for her 23rd husband.

Why? Wook is very lonely these days because her husband is undergoing treatment for drug addiction in Kuala Lampur. The husband, Muhammad Noor Che Musa, does not want a divorce because he believes it is "God's will" that they fell in love.

What makes Wook's story unusual is not simply she is looking for her 23rd husband. It is not even that her current husband is 70 years younger than her. What makes it noteworthy is that Wook is 107 years old.

Wook told reporters, "Lately, there is this kind of insecurity in me... I realize I am an aged woman... My intention to re-marry is to fill my forlornness, and nothing more than that."

http://snipr.com/ryfik [www_ananova_com]

just guessing that husband 23 isn't going to have to worry about children.

he found the perfect wife

Okeke Ikechukwu of Lagos, Nigeria has found a wife who suits him perfectly. He recently announced to the Daily Metro that he plans to marry her very soon.

Okeke started falling in love with her when he was 16 years old. Although they haven't been married, she has spent every night in his arms.

She is warm, soft and never argues with him. She is totally faithful and never looks at other men. According to Ikechukwu, the relationship has been very inexpensive and will cost him little or nothing for the rest of his life.

Ikechuku's perfect wife is his pillow, who he intends to formally marry.

He explains, "Since I am a stutterer, ladies have always laughed at me whenever I try to talk to them...

"I have needs, and so I have taken to sleeping with my pillow in my arms ever since I was 16. I have grown to fall in love with it, and I intend to spend the rest of my life with it... I think it will make the ideal mate for me,"

No word on whether or not Pillow has said "yes."

http://snipr.com/pusuf [www_ananova_com]

wanted: wife who will love me and launder my money

Lonely Thomas Wolf placed an ad in the "Marriage Wanted" section of a local newspaper in Germany.

In the ad, the 56-year-old Wolf said that he was "cultivated but seldom boring" and "financially independent." Fortunately, a woman responded to Wolf's ad and they met in Hamburg for a date.

However, the woman became suspicious that Wolf wasn't really "financially independent" when, during the date, he asked her to launder a large amount of money for him.

The woman contacted police who arrested Wolf. It seems that Thomas is wanted for a kidnapping where he collected £2,000,000.

(Poor Thomas is a lonely soul. First, he kidnapped someone for companionship and now, he just wants someone to help him with his banking.)

http://snipr.com/jbprr [www_metro_co_uk]
broken link? backup url

got a tooth? marry a dog.

What would you do if your two-year-old son grew a tooth that seemed premature?

The answer: have him marry the neighbor's dog immediately.

This week, Sagula, a 2-year-old boy from the state of Orissa in India, was married to Jyoti, his neighbor's dog, in a ritual ceremony. The ceremony was attended and performed by nearly 150 townspeople.

The townspeople see the growth of a tooth as a bad omen. They believe that such a tooth will make the child and other townspeople subject to being killed by wild animals, particularly tigers.

"We performed the marriage because it will overcome any curse that might fall on the child as well on us," said the boy's father.

Not to worry. Sagula will be able to remarry a human later and won't need to get a divorce. Jyoti, however, appears to be stuck.

via Reuters

note: the picture above is not connected with this story except that it reflects a similar ceremony

married for the first time, three times

He was married for 30 years and didn't know it.

Earlier this year, an unnamed man married his long-time girlfriend. They had been together off-and-on for nearly 20 years and felt it was time to settle down. The man, now 67, thought it would be nice if they moved to Sydney, Australia because that is where his wife had been born.

Unfortunately, their application to move was rejected-- because records showed that the man was married. He had married a woman from Arizona 30 years ago -- and didn't remember.

The man confessed that back in 1978, he was on vacation from his job as a cook on an oil rig. He was pretty much drunk for the whole 28-day vacation. He remembers that he met a "nice blonde woman" but had no recollection of marrying her. The two parted company after the 28 days, and had not seen each other since.

The man said that the "sky fell in" when he saw the marriage certificate complete with his signature.

This new revelation, of course, caused the man's most recent marriage to become annulled-- making his wife his girlfriend again. However, since authorities cannot locate the Arizona wife, the 1978 marriage has now been annulled, making his first wife not-a-wife.

Now, he is planning to marry his second wife- again.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/2197761/Bigamist-%27forgot%27-drunken-1978-wedding.html

Now we are waiting to hear from the first wife's lawyer, demanding delinquent support payments and alimony.

marital rating scale

This chart was developed by Dr. George W. Crane back in 1939. Dr. Crane was a marriage counselor and wrote a nationally syndicated newspaper column entitled "The Worry Clinic."
(clicking on the image should make a little clearer)



Dr. Crane tried to be "scientific" when he created this test. He interviewed 600 husbands about their wives positive and negative qualities. He then listed the most frequently mentioned merits or demerits. (really?? red nail polish was one??)

However, Dr. Crane admittedly used his own personal bias in creating the order of the test. This is only the first page of the test. Since there were 50 items on the test, I am looking for the next four pages... and for the Husband's Chart.

I gave this test to my wife a minute ago and she --OUCH. Hey! put that DOWN! dang. what's the matter with you??? Geezzzzzzzz-that just missed my HEAD. STOP IT!!! ...that stinking HURTS

http://www.boingboing.net/2008/05/13/1939-marital-rating.html
http://www.apa.org/monitor/2008/05/marriage.html

toddlers can no longer get married in Arkansas

Lawmakers in Arkansas were embarrassed recently when they inadvertently passed a law that made it legal for toddlers to get married.

The law was intended to set the minimum age for marriage at 18.

Unfortunately, the bill had an extraneous "not" in it that actually made it possible for anyone--- even a toddler-- to get married with permission, (unless they are pregnant).

The bill that was passed read: "In order for a person who is younger than eighteen (18) years of age and who is not pregnant to obtain a marriage license, the person must provide the county clerk with evidence of parental consent to the marriage."

The law has been repealed. whew.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/offbeat/2008-04-03-arkansas-marriage-law_N.htm?csp=34

note: if every state required its lawmakers to be literate, this problem might have been averted.

the husband she bought was a major pain

Liu Lian of Datong city in China found the perfect man to date her daughter. His name was Li Zhanyu. He was university educated and a major in the Chinese army. He also had ties that could give her daughter a good job.

Maj. Li Zhanyu said he wanted to date Liu's daughter (and eventually marry her), but unfortunately, he was committed to another woman. To satisfy the commitments he made to the other woman, he needed approximately $22,000.

For Liu Lain, it seemed like a good deal. For $22,000, her daughter would get a respected husband and a good job. So, she sent Li Zhanyu the money he needed to satisfy his commitment.

Unfortunately, after Liu sent the money, Major Zhanyu disappeared.

Realizing she had been probably been cheated, Liu reported the situation to the authorities.

The police caught up with Li Zahnyu at an internet cafe and arrested him for fraud. When he was arrested, Zahnyu was incensed. He said, "You'll regret this. You'll pay for this. I'll call the leaders of the National Public Security Department."

hmmmm..... The police noticed that Li had a rather high voice for a man.

It was at that point that they learned that the conman was actually a conwoman. Major Li Zahnyu's real name is Li Xu... a woman who had been disguising herself as a male army officer for the past two years.

She has confessed for cheating at least two others out of money by using the same marriage ruse. She is facing charges.

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_2775490.html?menu=news.quirkies

seperated-at-birth twins get married

What would you do if you got married and found out that your wife was actually your twin?

That is the case of an unnamed couple in Britain.

The dizygotic twins were born normally and separated at birth. They were adopted by separate families and never told by their new families that they had a twin.

Later in life, they met and felt a compelling attraction to one another. They fell in love and got married. It was only after they were married that they learned that they were twins.

Accordingly, a British court annulled their marriage after the situation became known.

The names of the couple (who are now around 30 years old) and the details of how they learned they were twins is being kept private.

The story was brought forward in Britain as part a debate in the House of Lords over issues of fertility and the rights of people to know their biological parents.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7182817.stm
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSEIC17037920080114?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews

...and some rednecks say, "So, what was the problem??"
the picture of the twins (above) is not them. :)

a marriage made in heaven.... errrr.... maybe not

same paper, same day, notice the headings for each section.

my groom, my brother-in-law -- my bride, my pet.

Weddings in India were an adventure in odd news last week. Two weddings were particularly noteworthy:

In the Bihar Arwal district, a man showed up to his wedding drunk. In addition to being inebriated, he was behaving badly and, according to friends, wasn't in any condition to get married.

What to do? The bride's family had an interesting solution. They invited the groom's brother to take the job of being the groom/husband. He immediately accepted and was married to his brother's bride at what should have been his brother's wedding.

Madho Singh, a local police officer said, "The groom apologized for his behavior, but has been crying that word will spread and he will never get a bride again."

Hmmmm.... if he is afraid of never finding a bride, maybe he should discuss potential brides with P. Selvakumar.

In southern India, P. Selvakumar married a female named Selvi. Nothing odd about that, except that Selvi was a stray female dog (as in, a canine).

The 33-year old man believes that he has had bad luck ever since he killed two dogs 15 years ago. His astrologer told him that the only way he could be relieved of the curse was if he married a dog.

The wedding was a traditional Hindu ceremony. The bride was bathed by the groom's family and wore an orange sari. For the reception, she ate a bun.

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/article.html?in_article_id=75330&in_page_id=2
http://www.usatoday.com/news/offbeat/2007-11-13-man-best-friend_N.htm?csp=34

I am feeling sorry for both brides.