We all like to try and guess what the future will look like. It’s human nature to dream of the future, after all. So it shouldn’t be surprising that throughout the 20th century people were already looking to the 2000s and dreaming of what life would be like in the next millennium.

We’ve collected together ten of the most interesting—and funny—predictions of what modern life would look like. Sometimes they were surprisingly close to the mark, even scarily so. Most of the time, though, they were hilariously wrong.

See Also: 10 Ancient Predictions That Came True

10 A Woman May Even Be US President

In the 1950s, a group of experts took to the papers to tell people what life would look like in the year 2000. Some of their guesses were surprisingly accurate, such as the rise of the US as the world’s dominant power and the creation of the International Space Station. On the subject of women, though, they missed the mark somewhat.

According to them, the woman of the year 2000 would be six feet tall and wear a size 11 shoe, with “shoulders like a wrestler and muscles like a truck driver.” She would be doing the same work as men, so she would naturally have to conform to the same standards. She would have short, cropped hair and would wear practical clothing—only ‘going frilly’ after dark, as they put it.

Because science would have perfected a balanced ration of vitamins, proteins and minerals by the year 2000, her proportions would be “perfect, though Amazonian.” She would play the same sports that men do and would probably compete against them in football, baseball and wrestling.

They even thought she might be presidential material!^[1]

9 Schools Would Be Run By Robots

A series of pictures recently surfaced on a Japanese forum. Taken from a Showa-era newspaper, they were an attempt to predict what Japan would look like in 2011. Many of the scenes look like they’ve come straight out of 1950s science fiction comics.

In one of the images, a camera and some water jets create an automated fire extinguisher system, technology that is widespread today. In another, people stand around in spacesuits staring at screens that seem to show in-progress space exploration. In the distance is an elevated stadium which looks like a science fiction habitation biome, all things which are not common in the modern world. Beside it, however, aircraft are taking off vertically and the roofs of skyscrapers are covered in vegetation: these technologies have existed for years.

Perhaps the most disturbing scenes, though, are to be found in the picture of a 2011 classroom. In it, the teacher has been replaced by a slideshow showing a math question. The children have computers on their desks to input the correct answer: if they don’t, they are beaten by a robot, which is effectively a big club on wheels. In the corner, a child grins as it is restrained by some kind of time-out robot. Everything looks very clean though, so at least there’s that.^[2]

8Everything Would Be Plastic

Here is an 8-minute video from 1957 which explores a house of the future. Fortunately for us, our modern homes look nothing like it. For starters, everything is plastic. Yes, everything. The floors, the walls, the ceilings, the countertops and the windows—all plastic, as are the cups and plates.

In the kitchen, the dishes are cleaned by a retractable dishwasher which uses ultra-sonic waves while doubling as storage space. The cooking range, meanwhile, isn’t gas. It isn’t even electric: it uses radiation waves, though it doesn’t look like there’s a protective screen. Tasty.

The narrator claims the bathroom contains objects of ‘pure fantasy’. These turn out to be an electric toothbrush and an electric razor, which we’d hardly bat an eyelid at today. The main entertainment in the living room is a built-in stereo system, something so phenomenally outdated that it’s almost laughable.

There is a scene, however, where one of the actors is speaking to her friend over the phone while getting ready to go out, without having to hold the telephone to her ear—so they were right about loudspeaker at least.^[3]

7 We Would Have Pocket Computers

In 1977, a group of middle schoolers wrote to their local newspaper with their predictions of what life would be like in the year 2000. Most of their answers were surprisingly sensible, predicting the rise of things like electric cars and environmental issues while hoping for lower taxes and a better crime rate. They were clearly a product of their age: many expressed fears of a fuel shortage or another Great Depression.

A couple of their guesses, though, were much wilder. Marty Bohen said that by 2000 we’d all be living in round buildings. All workers would be robots and everyone would have a robot maid, and a button which would bring them anything they wanted. It all seems rather far-fetched until he casually slips in a prediction that we will have pocket computers containing everything we can name. With the rise of smartphones since 2007, he seems to have guessed that one perfectly.

John Vecchione thought that the year 2000 would look much better than 1977, predicting that the pollution problem would be solved and that cars would float on air. He himself would have a job designing ‘modern’ houses run entirely by solar power, with furniture that folded out from the walls and button-operated controls.^[4]

6 There Would Be Flying Firemen and Robot Maids

Between 1899 and 1910, a series of French artists produced a series of pictures showing what they thought life would be like in the year 2000, some of which were displayed at the World Exhibition in Paris. The idea was to predict what the 20th century would bring: none of them predicted the horrors of the first and second world wars or the rise of communism, but they did predict that automation would become a big issue—just not in the way they thought it would.

From the pictures, they clearly saw the robots of the future taking the place of the domestic staff they saw in the homes of the upper classes in their day. In one image a robot cuts customers’ hair in a barber shop, while in another a maid pilots a cleaning robot with a stick and a wire.

Every science fiction fan likes to dream of flying, though, and these artists were no exceptions. Another image shows an ‘aero-cabs’ port, where some well-dressed Victorian people are boarding a flying taxi—which looks like a yellow train with wings stuck on the sides. A flying car, complete with propeller, hurtles into view from the other side, just in case we didn’t get the message the first time.

In another picture, firemen with shoulder-mounted wings circle a burning building, removing people from the blaze. A steam train trundles by below, completely oblivious to the century of change that is supposed to have happened around it.^[5]

5Fashion Would Be Scientifically Practical

A short clip made in 1939 tried to predict what clothing would look like in the year 2000. Unsurprisingly, it is often wildly inaccurate—but in some ways it predicted the future bang on.

It says the skirt will disappear entirely, with women going on to wear trousers. While dresses are still popular, the vast majority of women today tend to wear jeans as their main choice of casual wear. In the clip, though, this new outfit for women is also accompanied by an electric belt, which would supposedly adapt the body to climatic changes. No, we have no idea, either. Elsewhere, it predicts that women will wear dresses made out of net—and while their version, with weird coils of metal over the breast, never became fashionable, shirts made out of fabric mesh are a fashionable part of the modern wardrobe. Aluminum dresses and flashlights as hair accessories never caught on (un)fortunately.

Men’s fashion in the year 2000 is concluded in just over ten seconds. Men’s clothes won’t have any collars, ties or pockets: he will instead wear a strange set of overalls. He will carry a radio, telephone, and a set of small containers at all times, along with “candy for cuties”, something that might get you arrested today.^[6]

4Barcoded Money and Futura-Rock

In 1988, the Los Angeles Times magazine published a special issue predicting what life would be like in 25 years’ time. Their visions of the distant year of 2013 are surprisingly accurate in some areas: they even correctly predicted the internet when they said the world’s computers and electronic devices would all be connected to the Integrated Services Digital Network.

In other ways, though, they missed the mark completely. For instance, the article also predicts that bills would have barcodes on them, to avoid corruption and crime. The city of LA would have to make businesses stagger their working times to cut down traffic (though they were right when they said traffic in LA would still be a problem). And, no, most of us haven’t replaced our pets with robotic versions and robot butlers still aren’t a thing, even though they’ve been predicted by science fiction fans for decades.

In their view of 2013 LA, multiple families would have to cram into single homes because of a housing shortage. Drivers are taxed for using their cars in the city, and none of us have to brush our teeth because we’ll all use ‘denturinse’. Oh, and all the kids will listen to a new genre of music known as ‘futura-rock’. Of course, none of these things actually happened, though they were very plausible at the time.^[7]

3 Back To The Future 2 Was Plausible

This one is a little different: in 2014, Business Insider asked people over the age of 40 what they used to think the future would look like when they were young. The conclusion? Most people thought the 2000s would look a lot more like ‘Back to The Future 2’ than it actually does.

One respondent wrote that, when the film first came out, it seemed like a fairly reasonable—if slightly optimistic—view of what like in the 2000s would be like. They genuinely thought that by now we’d have discovered a way to feed ourselves with just nutritional pills, and that flying cars and fusion power would be a common sight. Another user said they thought the hoverboards in the film would certainly exist as a toy by now, and that they had expected jetpacks to exist as a form of transportation.

It seems rather funny to us, but when you consider that the film was released a quarter of a century ago, it’s reasonable for someone then to assume that we’d have a manned base on the moon by now, or that we’d all be riding in self-driving cars. After all, wouldn’t we in the present expect those things to exist 25 years from now?^[8]

2 Cities Suspended By Balloons

A report by the UK’s Office for Science, prepared for the British government, has recently revealed what people in the past thought the cities of now could look like. Titled ‘A Visual History of the Future’, it reveals some of the innovative plans put forward in the past for dealing with the problems of the modern city. Some are crazier than others.

Coastal problems are a legitimate issue in the modern world, but so far we haven’t found an ambitious solution. For the most part, our answer is to use hard engineering techniques like flood walls to protect our cities from coastal damage.

In the past much more ambitious ideas were put forward, such as this plan for a so-called sky city. In this plan, chosen communities would be hoisted into the air with huge helium balloons to protect them from damage. These contraptions would make use of cloud skippers, which would float on the jet stream, allowing them to be maintained in the air with minimal resources. The idea was a competition entry, designed as a housing solution to be used in the aftermath of a coastal disaster.^[9]

1 Multi-Level Traffic

Another unusual solution from the same report was drawn up by Colin Buchanan in 1963. At the time, car ownership was growing in the UK, and was only expected to grow quicker. The Ministry of Transport was worried about the effect this would have on roads, so they began thinking of potential solutions.

They came up with a plan that would fundamentally alter the look of cities in the UK. Alongside more conventional solutions, such as using speed bumps to encourage slower driving, they came up with a plan to separate pedestrian and vehicle traffic by building raised walkways for pedestrians. Multi-level traffic would allow the city to handle a much higher volume of traffic without having to tackle high levels of congestion or using too much space. The sheer cost of building these new concrete tiers probably meant the plan was never truly possible, but it’s an interesting vision of what the UK’s cities could have looked like. It would almost certainly have improved things, too—unless you were a cyclist.

It is becoming increasingly difficult to promote new movies in such a way that it increases interest and ensures backsides on cinema seats. At one point, a few years ago, producers went all out in their efforts to promote their film offerings and this culminated in a spate of pranks to spark interest among the general public. On this list are just 10 of several funny, if sometimes dark, pranks that have scared people witless.

10 Great Pranks Pulled Off By Famous People

10 It’s all in the eyes

While the first Ouija movie did not exactly set the world of horror on fire, scoring a sad 6% on Rotten Tomatoes, a terrific prank to promote the movie garnered more than 2 million views on YouTube after it was uploaded to the platform in 2014. Dreamed up by a viral marketing agency, the prank uses people’s belief in Ouija boards against them.

This practical joke is centered around a woman with eye proptosis who sets up a fortune-telling booth and entices people to come inside for a ‘free reading’. She makes use of a Ouija board to tell the ‘victim’s’ fortune and finally makes them almost wet themselves or run out screaming when her eyes suddenly protrude grotesquely from their sockets. At the same time a ‘corpse’ bursts through the wooden floor, adding to the hysteria.

Fair warning: the eye-popping thing is gross so if you are easily disturbed, maybe give this one a skip.

9 Turn off the TV!

Shopping for a first or new TV set is fairly exciting. Deciding which resolution is best and what screen size best fits the room you want to put it in, takes time, discussion, and concentration. The last thing you expect is for a trailer of the movie Rings playing on the TV’s you’re studying to end in a real-life Samara crawling out of one!

This is exactly what happened when shoppers, unaware of the hidden cameras surrounding them, found themselves face to face with Samara while they were in a TV store.

First you watch it, then you die.

8 Baby, it’s cold outside

Reviewers and movie goers weren’t gaga about the disaster flick Geostorm, but a few scenes in the film were truly jaw dropping. These include boulder-sized hailstones and skyscrapers toppling over like dominoes. And who can forget the chilling image of a tsunami bearing down on Dubai. Some of the best scenes also include people frozen to the spot in the desert and sunbathers on a beach running away from what looks like the world’s worst cold front only to be overtaken and freeze instantly.

An over-the-top prank to promote this film saw a taxi being rigged to broadcast a fake breaking news report. And, in the middle of summer, transforming an entire city block into an ice block, so to speak. Those who got into the taxi were confronted by frozen ‘corpses’ and dead birds falling onto the windscreen. Watch the video for the facial expressions when it dawns on commuters that everyone outside the window is frozen.

7 It’s a bloodbath

The remake of Carrie in 2013 saw more than one prank pulled on the unsuspecting public in an effort to raise interest in the film. One of the pranks took place in a coffee shop and saw a man lifted and plastered against the wall after a ‘customer’ lost her cool and used her ‘telekinetic’ powers.

Another practical joke was set up in a nightclub in Russia to scare people who used the bathroom. As they washed their hands, foamy ‘blood’ appeared while they were rubbing the soap between their fingers. As they inevitably grab a paper towel, they are greeted with the reason for the blood.

6 Mirror, mirror on the wall

A common scene in several scary movies is where the protagonist, to “wake themselves from a nightmare” stares in the mirror after splashing water on their face. Sometimes they open a bathroom cabinet and when it swings closed again, another face appears either inside the mirror on the door or they see a figure lurking behind them.

For the Conjuring 2, a prank was devised in which a two-way mirror was used to display Valak, the creepy nun, to unsuspecting bathroom users. As they look into the mirror, the lights flickered off and on and then Valak seemingly jumps out at them from the mirror. That is not all though, as the video below will reveal. Watch to the end for the last guy’s hilarious reaction.

10 Seemingly Innocent Pranks That Ended In Tragedy

5 Jaws, is that you?

Sharknado is 5-movie franchise that everyone loves to hate because of the terrible special effects, worse dialogue, and weird-looking sharks inside an incredibly fake tornado. Very obviously a B-movie, no one thought that the first film would ever get a sequel, and yet here we are. With taglines ranging from ‘Enough Said!’ to ‘Make America Bait Again’, one can’t help but sigh.

Luckily, there is an great prank to make up for the extreme lameness of these movies. For Sharknado 2: The Second One, Syfy decided to place an animatronic shark in a London fishmonger. Hidden cameras captured shoppers’ reactions as the shark comes to life when they walk past it. Do check out the elderly lady’s non-reaction to the commotion.

4 Annabelle comes to life

To promote the spinoff of The Conjuring, Annabelle, producers used the Toronto Fan Expo in 2014 to play a delightfully creepy prank on visitors. They dressed a woman up as Annabelle and set her up to look like a mannequin next to which people could pose for photographs.

As they look at the camera for the perfect shot, ‘Annabelle’ comes to life next to them and tries to grab hold of them.
See how they run.

3 Open house with a difference

The success of the first Paranormal Activity movie spawned a host of sequels, including Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension released in 2015. To create hype over the release, a prank was set up in the original house used for the first movie. The house was made available by real estate agents for viewing during an ‘open house’ session and potential (totally unaware) buyers, got a lot more than they bargained for. Let’s just say: Welcome to the Ghost Dimension, people!

2 Not your average infant

The horror movie Devil’s Due was released in 2014 and to promote it, a pram was set loose in New York. The pram moved about on its own and when people went to investigate, an animatronic devil baby straight from their worst nightmares jumped out at them. The baby ‘lured’ people by crying and then scared the crap out of them after they got a glimpse of what he looked like. What’s more, the baby had a penchant for projectile vomiting and giving people the finger.

1 Skip the bus stop

Many people profess that they are not now, nor will they ever be scared of any of the Child’s Play movies. And they shouldn’t be, considering that the villain is but a tiny, freaky-looking doll. However, hearing strange sounds coming from a bus stop with a life-sized Chucky doll jumping out at you is a whole different story. Check out this hilarious promotional video for the Curse of Chucky movie during which exactly that happens.

+ It’s Ronald McDonald! No wait…

As much as IT is not nearly the scariest movie you will ever see, it is doubtful that anyone wants to go into a cinema to watch the movie and walk into an IT replica as they round a corner. When IT was released in Prime Cinemas in Bolivia, management thought it would be hilarious to promote the film by having a staff member dress up as the creepy clown and scare the daylight out of people entering the theatre. While the clown’s makeup is questionable and he looks more like Michael Myers gone wrong, he does get the scaring done. Some people, however, just don’t scare that easily.

++ Food hits back

To promote R-rated animated comedy, Sausage Party, Seth Rogen decided to freak some people out by placing animatronic food items inside a supermarket. Rogen then spoke via a microphone behind-the-scenes to make the items come to life. Some of the food items felt the need to let off some steam by utter a few profanities while other items laid a guilt trip on customers by asking them if they were there to eat their friends and family. Not everyone was afraid of the food though, which included a loaf of bread, a cantaloupe and of course a smoked sausage. Check out the video to see one guy’s reaction to the bread speaking to him.

10 April Fools’ Pranks That Completely Backfired

Psychologists and psychiatrists have long been fascinated with the penis. As a result, they have come up with all sorts of (wrong) theories about it that come off amusingly ridiculous when examined today.

SEE ALSO: Top 10 Most Famous Penises

One scientist who was very interested in the penis was Sigmund Freud. However, Freud’s theories were so nuts that he would be considered a misogynist if he was alive today. He often belittled women and female sexuality, which ended up pitting him against female psychologists, who sometimes proposed weirder theories in return.

10 Penis Envy

During the early 20th century, Sigmund Freud discussed what he called penis envy. Freud said that penis envy is a syndrome that exclusively affects women. As you probably guessed, it’s all about women becoming jealous of men’s penises and wishing they had penises of their own.

Freud claimed that penis envy first appears during childhood, right at the moment girls realize they don’t have penises. At the same time, they also notice that boys derive more pleasure from their penises than they do from their vaginas. So they get jealous of the boys and wish they had their own penises.

However, the girls understand that they will never own penises. So they forge closer ties with their fathers and prefer to birth sons to make up for their lack of penises. The theory was very controversial at the time and led to several other weird theories we will mention below. Modern psychologists say penis envy does not exist.^[1]

9 Womb Envy

Sigmund Freud’s theory of penis envy drew the ire of several female psychologists of the day. One was Karen Horney, who responded by proposing the theory of womb envy, which she considered the opposite of penis envy.

Horney argued that women do not suffer from penis envy because they are never jealous of the man’s penis. Instead, it is the men who suffer from womb envy and are jealous of the woman’s uterus. Horney claimed that males develop womb envy the moment they realize a womb is needed to produce children. So they become jealous because they need to depend on women to have babies.

Interestingly, Horney still ascribed to Freudian schools of thought and agreed with a number of Freud’s other theories. However, it seemed Freud took his penis envy too far. Horney opposed several of Freud’s theories on female sexuality. She believed men and women have different roles in society, which Freud did not seem to believe.^[2]

8 Masculine Protest

The concept of masculine protest was explained by psychiatrist Alfred Adler in his book, Social Interest: A Challenge to Mankind. Adler wrote that women often feel inferior when they perform feminine tasks like cooking and taking care of the home.

Adler added that women believe that so-called “feminine roles” prove they are the weaker sex and second fiddle to men. So the women protest against their de facto roles by performing manly ones. This takeover of masculine roles is what Alder considered the masculine protest. Adler claimed women do this to feel more dominant and powerful.

The roles vary but could include taking on dangerous jobs like joining the military or becoming a firefighter. Or they could learn martial arts. The masculine protest also supposedly makes women prefer their sons to their daughters.^[3]

7 The Conceptual Penis As A Social Construct

On May 19, 2017, the journal Cogent Social Sciences published a gender studies essay titled “The Conceptual Penis as a Social Construct.” The essay, written by researchers Jamie Lindsay and Peter Boyle, was filled with meaningless gibberish. For instance, the authors claimed that the human penis was not a reproductive organ but a “damaging social construction,” one that is “isomorphic to performative toxic masculinity.” The essay got weirder as the authors tried to link the penis with climate change.

The authors later revealed the essay to be a hoax. Even their names were fake. They were actually Peter Boghossian and James A. Lindsay. The men claimed they deliberately wrote the essay to be humorous and meaningless. In fact, they read it several times over to ensure that it made no sense.

Lindsay and Boghossian said they wrote the essay to prove that writings on gender studies are often biased. However, the men also unwittingly proved that paid-to-publish journals like Cogent Social Sciences will publish anything for money. The journal tried to save face by retracting the essay after the men revealed the hoax.^[4]

6 Castration Anxiety

Castration anxiety is another syndrome proposed by Sigmund Freud. Freud believed that boys suffer castration anxiety the moment they realize girls do not have penises. The boys are startled by the discovery and somehow deduce that the girls lost their penises as punishment for some misbehavior.^[5]

This causes boys to fear that their own penises could also be cut off as punishment. Freud called this castration anxiety and claimed that it often occurs during the phallic stage, one of the five stages of psychosexual development proposed by Freud.

The five stages are the oral, anal, phallic, latency, and genital stages, in that order. A part of the body is considered the most important (and therefore the highest priority to satisfy the needs of) during each stage of development except during the latency stage, when sex becomes secondary. For the other four, they are the mouth for the oral stage, the anus for the anal stage, and the genitals for the phallic and genital stages.

Freud believed castration anxiety was usually a result of the Oedipus and Electra complexes, which we will address in the next two entries.

5 Oedipus Complex

Freud claimed the Oedipus complex manifests during the phallic stage—just like castration anxiety. However, the Oedipus complex comes first and leads to castration anxiety. Freud claimed that boys develop their first sexual feelings during the phallic stage. Curiously, they (unconsciously) direct those feelings toward their mothers. This was what Freud called the Oedipus complex: the sexual feelings a child directs to his mother.

Fortunately for human evolution, the boys quickly realize that their fathers have already taken their mothers. So they start to consider their fathers as competitors for their mother’s love. Then the boys figure out that women do not have penises. As we mentioned in the previous entry, the boys assume that women lost their penises after they were cut off as punishment.

The boys fear their fathers could cut off their penises, too, if the father should learn of the son’s feelings for the mother. So they suppress the sexual feelings they have for their mothers and ally with their fathers to save their penises. This marks the end of the phallic stage and the beginning of the latency stage, when the child has no sexual feelings.^[6]

4 Electra Complex

Freud developed the theory of what he called the “negative Oedipus complex” or “feminine Oedipus attitude” at the same time he came up with the Oedipus complex. The negative Oedipus complex is the opposite and feminine version of the male Oedipus complex. Like the Oedipus complex, it supposedly occurs in the phallic stage.

Freud claimed girls are often closer to their mothers than their fathers at birth. However, that changes when they reach the phallic stage. Like boys, girls notice their lack of penises during the phallic stage. For some reason, they, too, believe that they used to have penises but lost them after they were castrated.

Instead of developing castration anxiety like boys, the girls develop the Electra complex. This causes them to dislike their mother, who they blame for their castration. At the same time, they forge closer ties with their father over his possession of a penis. However, the girl reignites her relationship with her mother as she enters the latency stage.

As mentioned, Freud called this syndrome the negative Oedipus complex or the feminine Oedipus attitude. That changed in 1913, when Carl Jung, a one-time associate of Freud, renamed it the Electra complex. Freud rejected the name.^[7]

3 Medusa’s Head

The fabled Medusa is a major character in Greek mythology. She is depicted as a woman with poisonous snakes on her head. Any human unfortunate enough to stare at her face immediately turns into stone. So what has Medusa got to do with penises? A lot, obviously.

At this point, you’ve probably noticed that Sigmund Freud had a thing for penises. Well, he also managed to connect his theory of castration anxiety with the myth of Medusa. Freud wrote about the link between castration anxiety and Medusa’s head in 1922. However, the writing was only published in 1940, after his death.

Freud believed the feelings boys experience upon seeing that girls have no penises are similar to the feelings experienced by people staring at Medusa’s face.^[8] He added that Medusa and castration anxiety were comparable because they involved the forces of attraction and repulsion at the same time.

The boy experiencing castration anxiety becomes curious about girls when he discovers they do not have penises. At the same time, their apparently missing penises are a source of fear. Likewise, a man becomes scared when he sees Medusa with snakes on her head. At the same time, he feels a sexual desire for Medusa.

2 Big Shoes Equal Big Penises

Some people believe you can tell the size of a man’s penis by looking at his shoes. Larger shoes (and therefore feet) indicate larger penises and vice versa. Several studies have proven that this is false. Penis size has no correlation with shoe size.

A 1999 study of several hundred Korean men indicated there is no correlation between shoe and penis sizes. The researchers measured several body parts, including the mouths, hands, and feet, of 655 men to determine if there was any association between the sizes of their penises and said body parts. The researchers found no correlation. However, they observed that there was some relationship between the length and circumference of the penis.

The result of this study is backed by the results of several others, including one that involved 104 men. All showed that shoe size cannot be used to determine the size of the penis. Interestingly, a 1993 study of 63 Canadian men indicated that men with larger feet could be slightly more likely to have longer penises. However, that study is considered inconclusive.^[9]

1 Phallic Monism

Phallic monism refers to the idea that psychosexual development is defined by the possession (or lack thereof) of a penis. Having a penis is the norm, and lacking one is a deviation from that norm.

Remember the five stages of psychosexual development we mentioned earlier? Freud initially proposed four stages. They were the oral, anal, latency, and genital stages. However, he later revised it to include the phallic stage in between the anal and latency stages.

We already mentioned that children generally realize the differences in each others’ genitals during the phallic stage. This is the major difference between the phallic and genital stages. While both involve the sexual organs as the peak source of pleasure and could erroneously be considered the same, the phallic stage involves dealing with the possession or lack of a penis. The genital stage focuses on sexual relations.

Nevertheless, phallic monism was controversial among female psychologists, who offered heavy criticism and pro-female theories in return. Some wrote that males’ desire to have sex with females gives the latter the upper hand despite their lack of penises and supposed suffering from penis envy.^[10]

Everyone has a funny wildlife story or two to tell, and the Internet and social media are always full of “cute” animal posts. After all, animals have always played an important role in our daily lives. There are the domesticated animals which provide us with food, clothing, and companionship; then there’s the wildlife most of us will only encounter in zoos, sanctuaries, or on safaris.

It’s not uncommon to read usually unfortunate stories of man’s encounters with wildlife. Sometimes our paths cross quite unintentionally, often with hilarious results. However, some stories are so bizarre that they prompt not only a good laugh but many social media shares. From rampaging seagulls to bears from above, sushi-stealing penguins, and a snakebite victim’s ultimate revenge, here are some of the funniest wildlife stories which have recently made the news.

10 Man Bites Snake

Being bitten by a snake is not particularly unusual. However, one Indian man didn’t quite follow typical first aid procedures and exacted a bizarre revenge on the rat snake which bit him one Sunday afternoon in July 2019. When his quiet drink was interrupted by an unexpected snakebite, the victim bit back. He literally grabbed the snake and chewed it to pieces.^[1]

Hospital staff were astounded when the man’s family brought not only the snakebite victim but also the remains of the chewed-up snake. Fortunately, the snake involved was not considered venomous.

9 Disorderly Seabirds

Seagulls are often the scourge of any seaside town as they flock in droves to scavenge food, leaving droppings everywhere. A picnic of fish and chips can quickly turn into a feeding frenzy as flocks of seabirds descend upon unsuspecting holidaymakers. It’s also not uncommon to have an “unwelcome deposit” dropped on you from above.

However, seaside towns in Southern England have been battling drunken behavior, not from their human pub patrons but the native seagulls, who seem to be developing a taste for alcohol. Seagulls in Bournemouth and Devon have been enjoying a tipple from leftover drinks from pubs, breweries, and even from drink containers left at the beach, basically anywhere they can scavenge alcohol.

The inebriated birds have been seen staggering along the beach as well as vomiting on passersby. Wildlife officers called in to treat the ill gulls have reported that they “stink of alcohol” after partying on the booze dregs. The drunken birds are collected and taken to a nearby sanctuary for treatment.^[2]

8 Chihuahua Snatched By Seagull

When they aren’t scavenging food from seaside picnickers, seagulls are generally predators, dining on crabs and small fish within close proximity of their rookeries. The seemingly fearless birds have even been known to attack passing whales, diving for a bite of live whale meat.

In July 2019, a family from Devon was distraught when a swooping seagull carried off their pet. Gizmo the Chihauhua was watching his owner hang out the laundry in the backyard when a seagull suddenly descended and carried off the small dog.^[3] Despite hopes that their pet may have been dropped when the gull realized it had snatched a dog, Gizmo has not been located.

Wildlife officers confirmed that this was bizarre behavior, even for seagulls.

7 Sushi-Stealing Penguins

Little Penguins, native to New Zealand and parts of Southeast Australia, tend to be shy creatures. Tourists and locals enjoy the sunset “penguin parades,” when the little birds waddle back into their beachside rookeries after a day’s fishing. Very rarely do they welcome human interaction.

However, in July 2019, a couple of little penguins in Wellington, New Zealand, apparently decided to save themselves the trouble of fishing. The pair set up nest under the fridge in a harborside sushi bar, where they were helping themselves to the fish. Wildlife officers apprehended the pair, returning them to Wellington Harbour and its abundant fish.

Obviously not happy to be back in the wild, the pair once again swam back to shore, waddling back up the street to resume their free feeding. Officers then relocated the birds a little farther offshore in the hope that they would resume more traditional fishing methods.^[4]

6 Australian Steer Reporting For ‘Bale’

In June 2019, a police station on Australia’s east coast was forced into lockdown, not over a violent criminal but a rampaging steer.

The Belted Galloway was one of two steers being transported on a livestock trailer through the coastal town of Batemans Bay. When the vehicle stopped at a traffic light, one of the steers managed to escape from the trailer, causing havoc as it ran up and down the busy street.

Local police were astounded when the steer eventually barged through the door of the police station, rampaging through the front area. Unlike some parts of Australia, Batemans Bay is not a place where you would expect to find cattle in the middle of town.

Humorous reports of the incident told of the offender being given a “Moooooooove-on direction” and stated that it was looking for “bale.” Livestock officers were eventually able to impound the runaway before reuniting him with his owner.^[5]

5 Alligator In Florida Pool

When you live near waterways that are home to potentially dangerous reptiles such as alligators and crocodiles, you are well-aware of the safety precautions to avoid unwelcome encounters. But you would expect your backyard swimming pool would be a relatively safe place to cool off. Not so for one family in Fernandina Beach, Florida, who found that an alligator had made itself quite at home in their pool in August 2019.

When Wendy Langley heard splashing in the pool during the middle of the night, an alligator was the last thing she expected to find swimming around when she turned on the floodlights.

Wendy didn’t want to risk her small children or pet dog coming into contact with the alligator in the morning, so a late-night rescue mission began to remove the unwelcome swimmer. Local authorities took several hours to trap the reptile, transporting it to a more suitable swimming spot.^[6]

4 ‘Drop Bear’

Wandering wildlife are a known road hazard. Around the world, deer, elk, kangaroos, livestock, and more are frequent causes of accidents when they wander onto busy highways. But bears? In August 2019, a California police car was reduced to burned-out wreckage after being hit by a surprise falling bear.^[7]

A sheriff’s deputy was driving along State Route 96 when a bear suddenly landed on the vehicle’s hood, smashing the windshield. The impact caused the vehicle to roll onto an embankment, bursting into flames.

The driver miraculously escaped injury in the bizarre encounter, and the bear decamped from the scene before emergency crews arrived. It isn’t known whether the bear simply fell on the car from the nearby steep embankment or jumped onto it.

3 A Silent Travel Companion

Many of us enjoy traveling with our dogs. Be it a short trip to the shops or a long road trip, our canine friends make excellent travel companions. It is always sad when we inevitably have to say goodbye. Not so for one Oregon dog owner, however.

When his loyal Jack Russell Terrier, Phoebe, died in 2013, Mitch Byer had her stuffed so that she could continue to be an everyday part of his life. He even continues to take her on road trips. However, he has run into issues involving people concerned about the dog left in his car. This has happened frequently enough that Mitch now places a sign in his window that reads, “Don’t worry, the dog is already dead. She’s taxidermied. Please don’t break my window.”

Phoebe even has her own social media accounts, which have attracted a following.^[8]

2 Raccoon Stuck In Vending Machine

The raccoon’s masked facial features tend to mark it as a bit of a bandit. However, one furry thief in Florida was caught red-pawed in August 2019. Not content with foraging for fruit, or even scavenging from a garbage bin, this unfortunate raccoon managed to break into a high school vending machine, where he proceeded to feast on fruit snacks.

Unfortunately, he became trapped in the machine, from which he was later apprehended. Local wildlife authorities attended the scene, wheeling the vending machine outside before dismantling it and letting the four-legged thief make his escape.^[9]

1 Fox Cubs Bouncing On Trampoline

All kids love a bit of fun in the backyard, and even baby animals enjoy a frolic in the wild. Childhood stories abound with tales of woodland creatures coming out at night to play. However, these midnight frolics actually do happen, as a homeowner in Cardiff, Wales, discovered in August 2019.

His motion-sensor cameras alerted him to movement in the yard very early one morning. He was astonished to find the culprits were a family of fox cubs happily playing on the trampoline. The man filmed the wildlife antics for some time, as the baby foxes happily bounced and played.

It isn’t unusual to see the odd fox passing through the backyard early in the evening, but taking over the play equipment in the middle of the night was certainly something out of the ordinary.^[10]

Lesley Connor is a retired Australian newspaper editor who enjoys researching bizarre, unusual, and entertaining news stories from around the world.

The credit crunch is hitting hard – so why not take some time out to enjoy a bit of a laugh at the expense of all of those people who caused it! This is a selection of humorous jokes relating to finance and specifically the credit crunch. Please feel free to contribute your own in the comments – but remember: keep it clean!

Joke 1

Q: With the current market turmoil, what’s the easiest way to make a small fortune?
A: Start off with a large one.

Joke 2

Q: What’s the difference between an investment banker and a large pizza?
A: A large pizza can feed a family of four.

Joke 3

A rich, dying man, laid on his deathbed, requested to be joined at his bedside by his vicar, his bank manager and his lawyer.

He instructed them that he wished to be buried, when he finally passed away, along with all his money. He gave each of them fifty thousand pounds and asked them to throw the money on top of his coffin, in the burial plot, when he died.

A couple of days later the old man passed away and was buried within the week. At the wake, the three men were chatting and the vicar was suddenly overcome with guilt. He confessed to the other two that he had only thrown only half of the money onto the coffin, as the church needed urgent repairs to the roof. The bank manager thought, ‘What the heck if we are having a confession,’ and told the other two men that he had also only thrown half the money in, as the ‘Credit Crunch’ was hitting hard and he needed some money for the bank to stop it going bust. The lawyer jumped up and said to the other two, ‘I think that is a shameful act on both of you. I threw a cheque in for the full amount!”

Joke 4

Record unemployment levels have been announced today as the Credit Crunch tightens it’s grip.

Worst hit sectors are the construction trade and Icelandic bank robbers.

Joke 5

Q: What’s the definition of optimism?
A: An Investment Banker ironing five shirts on a Sunday evening.

Joke 6

I went to the ATM this morning and it said “insufficient funds”.

I’m wondering is it them or me.

Joke 7

The credit crunch is getting bad isn’t it? I mean, I let my brother borrow $10 a couple of weeks back, it turns out I’m now America’s third biggest lender.

Joke 8

Talked to my bank manager the other day and he said he was going to concentrate on the big issues from now on.

He sold me one outside KFC yesterday.

[NOTE: The big issue is a UK magazine sold by homeless people to make some money]

Joke 9

Resolving to surprise her husband, an investment banker’s wife pops by his office. She finds him in an unorthodox position, with his secretary sitting in his lap. Without hesitation, he starts dictating, “…and in conclusion, gentlemen, credit crunch or no credit crunch, I cannot continue to operate this office with just one chair!”

Joke 10

Q: What’s the difference between Investment Bankers and London Pigeons?
A: The Pigeons are still capable of making deposits on new BMW’s.

Joke 11

Q: What have Icelandic banks and an Icelandic streaker got in common?
A: They both have frozen assets.

Joke 12

Quote of the day (from a trader): “This is worse than a divorce. I’ve lost half my net worth and I still have a wife.”

Joke 13

Q: How do you successfully freeze your financial assets?
A: Invest in an Icelandic bank

Joke 14

A lobbyist on his way home from Parliament is stuck in traffic. Noticing a police officer, he winds down his window and asks: ‘What’s the hold-up?’ The policeman replies: ‘The Prime Minister is so depressed he’s stopped his motorcade and is threatening to douse himself with petrol and set himself on fire. He says no one believes he can get us through the credit crunch. So we’re taking up a collection for him.’ The lobbyist asks: ‘How much have you got so far?’ The officer replies: ‘About 40 gallons, but a lot of people are still siphoning.’

Joke 15

You know it’s a credit crunch when…

1. The cashpoint asks if you can spare any change.
2. There’s a ‘buy one, get one free’ offer – on banks.
3. The IRS is offering a 25 per cent discount for cash-payers.
4. UK Prime minister Gordon Brown has stopped chewing his nails and started sucking his thumb.
5. Your builder asks to be paid in Zimbabwean dollars rather than US dollars.

Joke 16

Q: What’s the capital of Iceland?
A: About $3.50.

Joke 17

Uncertainty has now hit Japan. In the last seven days, Origami bank has folded, Sumo Bank has gone belly up and Bonsai Bank has announced plans to cut some of its branches. Yesterday, it was also announced that Karaoke Bank will go up for sale and will likely go for a song, while shares in Kamikaze Bank were suspended today after they nose-dived. While Samurai Bank is soldiering on after sharp cutbacks, 500 staff at Karate Bank got the chop and analysts report that there is something fishy going on at Sushi Bank, where it is feared that staff may get a raw deal.

Joke 18

Why have real estate agents stopped looking out of the window in the morning? Because otherwise they’d have nothing to do in the afternoon.

Joke 19

Q: What’s the difference between an American and a Zimbabwean?
A: In a few weeks, nothing.

Joke 20

Q: George Bush was asked today “what did he think of the Credit Crunch?”
A: He replied: “It was his favorite Candy Bar.”

Jokes sourced from: BBC News, Sickipedia, and The Daily Mail

When it comes to fundraising, most people think of bake sales, car washes, or charity auctions. But what if I told you that some fundraisers out there are so bizarre and off the wall that they might make you do a double take? These events prove that creativity knows no bounds when raising money for a good cause. From cow pies to polar plunges, let’s dive into the top ten weirdest fundraisers that will entertain and inspire you—and they may just help raise some serious dough!

Related: Top 10 Ridiculous Celebrity Items People Have Paid Money For

10 Cow Pie Bingo: A “Moo”-ving Experience

Imagine a sprawling field transformed into a giant numbered grid. The usual bingo balls? They’ve been swapped out for something far more unconventional—cow pies. Yes, you read that correctly. This bizarre fundraiser, aptly known as “Cow Pie Bingo,” has taken the world of charitable events by storm.

The premise is both simple and “udderly” unpredictable. Enthusiastic participants purchase squares on the field, each holding their breath as they hope to be chosen by a bovine participant. That’s right, a cow takes center stage in this game of chance. When the cow makes its… shall we say, “contribution” to a particular square, that lucky square’s owner emerges victorious. Winners claim a prize that ranges from quirky to downright hilarious.

9 Underwear Runs: No Pants for a Good Cause

Who said fundraising can’t be a little cheeky? In underwear runs, participants strip down to their skivvies and hit the pavement. Each is running for a charitable cause. These events, often held in support of various health and awareness campaigns, embrace the idea that sometimes you have to “bare” it all to make a difference.

It’s also a unique way to show off your favorite undies!

Underwear runs originated as a light-hearted, attention-grabbing approach to fundraising. It’s all about breaking free from inhibitions and letting loose for a good cause. Participants revel in the liberating feeling of running in their underwear. They love transcending the norm to raise funds and awareness. These runs often draw a diverse crowd, from the bold and body-positive to the just plain curious. The atmosphere is charged with positivity, camaraderie, and a shared sense of purpose.

8 Rubber Duck Races: Quacktastic Fundraising

Rubber ducks have transcended their humble bathtub origins. They’ve taken center stage in a quirky fundraising phenomenon known as rubber duck races. These peculiar events transform serene rivers and streams into racecourses. Truckloads of thousands of these cute, squeaky creatures are unleashed onto the water’s surface. What’s even more intriguing is how funds are raised: duck “adoptions.”

Supporters “adopt” rubber ducks, each bearing a unique number. The anticipation builds as participants anxiously await the race and their adopted duck takes to the water. The excitement is palpable as the rubber ducks bob and weave downstream, vying for the title of first place. If your duck wins, you earn a prize ranging from cash to quirky trophies.

7 Beard-a-Thon: Grow for Charity

The bBeard-a-Thon is an unconventional yet wildly entertaining fundraiser. It allows you to witness your friends, family, or coworkers’ transformation into bona fide lumberjacks, all in the name of charity. This eccentric event invites participants to take a solemn pledge: they must refrain from shaving for a specific period.

What sets the Beard-a-Thon apart is the sponsorship system. Friends and family members can join to support the participants in their hairy journey. Participants can raise more funds the longer and wilder the beard grows. Turning facial hair into a powerful tool for giving. Participants proudly sport their bushy beards, and supporters eagerly follow their hairy progress. The Beard-aA-Thon creates a sense of camaraderie and unity in the name of a good cause.

6 Goat Yoga: Namaste with a Side of Bleat

Yoga is a centuries-old practice that focuses on inner peace and harmony. It has taken an unexpectedly charming twist in recent years through the phenomenon known as “goat yoga.” This unique fusion of ancient mindfulness and the playful antics of goats has captivated the hearts of many. Such events offer participants an extraordinary experience that transcends the traditional yoga studio.

Imagine striking a perfect downward dog pose and then feeling the soft nudge of a curious goat. Goat yoga is not just about contorting your body into poses. It’s about connecting with the natural world and rediscovering the joy of simple, spontaneous moments.

The magic of goat yoga goes beyond personal enjoyment; it serves as a heartwarming fundraiser for charitable causes. Participants in these sessions get to de-stress, find inner peace, and improve their communities. The proceeds from goat yoga events are often channeled into charitable initiatives, making every stretch even more meaningful.

5 Condom Couture Show: Fashion Meets Protection

Fashion shows have long been a tried-and-true method for raising funds. But this fundraiser takes the concept to the next level. One such event that’s gaining attention is the condom couture show. Unlike your typical fashion show, this unique fundraiser takes a bold and unconventional approach. It features outfits crafted entirely from condoms.

At first glance, the idea might raise eyebrows, but there’s more to it than meets the eye. The condom couture show is not just a display of artistic creativity. It also serves to promote safe sex and raise awareness about sexual health. This event challenges societal norms by transforming a traditionally taboo subject into a visually striking production. It also opens up conversations about the importance of responsible sexual behavior.

Each garment in the show is a testament to the power of innovation and resourcefulness. Designers push the boundaries of their imagination to turn these essential contraceptives into wearable art.

4 Teeter-Totter 24-Hour Marathon: Up and Down for Charity

Remember the simple joy of teeter-totters from your childhood? Well, imagine riding one for a full 24 hours! In this fundraiser, teams see-saw up and down to raise money. It’s not only a physical challenge but also a test of endurance.

Participants in this fundraiser tap into their inner child while showcasing their commitment to a worthy cause. As they teeter-totter through a full day, the event becomes a testament to physical stamina and unwavering dedication to making a difference.

The see-saw marathon transcends nostalgia. It symbolizes the power of collaboration and determination. Watching teams of adults engage in this nostalgic pastime for charity’s sake is heartwarming and humorous. It often attracts attention and donations from curious onlookers.

3 Polar Bear Plunge: Freezing for a Reason

The polar bear plunge is an annual event where brave individuals willingly immerse themselves in icy waters during the dead of winter. You might see it as self-inflicted torture, but for many, it’s a unique way to raise funds and awareness for various causes.

The concept behind the polar bear plunge is simple yet captivating. Individuals gather at a frozen body of water, often lakes or oceans, and take an icy leap of faith. What sets this event apart is the creativity and enthusiasm participants bring to the table, often donning bizarre and outlandish costumes. From penguin suits to superhero outfits, participants embrace the situation’s absurdity. They create a light-hearted and joyful atmosphere that draws crowds and media attention.

Beyond the adrenaline rush, the polar bear plunge is a reminder that, sometimes, stepping out of your comfort zone can lead to great things. This shared experience fosters bonds and a collective determination to make a positive impact. The funds raised through this unusual fundraiser support charitable causes, making the chilling experience heartwarming and fulfilling for all.

2 Fire Walk: Turning Up the Heat on Fundraising

Walking on fire might seem like a feat reserved for superheroes or daredevils. But it’s also a fundraising activity that has captivated the imagination of many. This extraordinary endeavor, known as firewalking, entails participants walking barefoot across a bed of scorching hot coals. Don’t worry; they can only participate after thorough training and, I’m sure, some hefty liability waivers.

Firewalking is not just about conquering the physical challenge of traversing a bed of fiery embers. It’s also a powerful metaphor for overcoming fears and obstacles in life. The sizzling coals symbolize the obstacles that we encounter daily, be it personal or professional. Walking across them barefoot signifies the determination to overcome these challenges.

1 Dog Kissing Booth: Pucker Up for Charity

Last but certainly not least, we have the dog kissing booth. This delightfully unconventional fundraiser adds a new meaning to “puppy love.” While traditional fundraisers often involve bake sales or charity runs, this unique event invites participants to pucker up for a pooch instead.

Picture a charming booth adorned with playful decorations and an array of friendly, wagging tails eagerly waiting for a peck. With contribution in hand, donors eagerly step up and share a kiss with adorable four-legged companions. The joy is not limited to the participants alone. Many dog booths, such as this fundraiser, give back to our furry friends.

Pack that mistletoe away. At the dog kissing booth, you can kiss a pup while making a meaningful contribution to the well-being of needy animals.

History can be a hard sell. There are a lot of dates to memorize, and it wasn’t all as edge-of-your-seat exciting as Hollywood has led us to believe. But amid the dusty old books and droning historians, a few gems are waiting to turn the black-and-white world of the past into a Saturday morning cartoon.

Freaky funerals, Tootsie Rolls on the battlefield, and even a prank from outer space; I challenge you to tell me history is dull after checking out these forgotten tales of bygone silliness.

10George Washington’s Insult Comedy

The painting of General George Washington crossing the Delaware River with his men is right up there with the Statue of Liberty as a symbol of freedom, dignity, etc. However, as is usually the case, the story behind the piece is considerably less noble. It’s funny, though.

Having planned a surprise attack on the enemy-controlled city of Trenton, Washington watched as his plan fell apart. The frigid temperatures were made worse when sleet began pelting his starving, battle-worn troops. Morale was at an all-time low as the army began crossing the icy river. Then, as he boarded his boat, Washington turned to the overweight artillery chief Harry Knox and delivered an inspirational gem for the ages: “Shift your fat ass, Harry, but don’t swamp the damned boat!”^[1]

Shock and disbelief rippled through the gathered men, followed by contagious laughter. Their spirits lifted, the troops went on to capture Trenton without losing a single man.

9Santa Anna’s Freaky Funeral

General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, the self-proclaimed “Napoleon of the West,” is widely known as the villain in the legend of The Alamo. His story extends a bit farther than that though, and it gets much weirder.

Just a few short years after wiping out the defenders of the Texas mission, Santa Anna led a force against the invading French at Veracruz, Mexico. During the battle, he took cannon fire to his leg, leaving him seriously wounded. Eventually, doctors were forced to amputate the mangled limb, which Santa Anna buried on his estate.

There it remained for several years until the General assumed the Mexican presidency in 1842, after apparently developing Mad Hatter-level dementia. Not content with the pedestrian burial it had received, Santa Anna had his decomposed leg exhumed and laid to rest beneath a huge, ornate monument. Of course, this only happened after a lavish parade through Mexico City complete with military honors, poetry readings, and cannon fire.^[2]

8The Korean Candy Crisis

In November of 1950, the Korean War was in full swing, and US troops found themselves horribly outnumbered during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. Frigid temperatures made a bad situation worse, and running out of mortar shells was just the icing on the cake. Luckily, that last problem was easily fixed.

After radioing for a supply drop, the eager troops ran to collect their munitions and get back to the fight. They wrenched open the crates, looked inside, and immediately questioned their sanity. Thousands of Tootsie Rolls stared back at them, a picture of innocence sorely out of place on a battlefield.^[3] Apparently, one piece of military code worked a little too well: “Tootsie Rolls” was the nickname given to mortar shells.

Ever resourceful, the soldiers did what they could with what they had. They warmed the candies with body heat and used them to patch bullet holes in vehicles and hoses. The extreme cold then froze them into a surprisingly reliable weld.

7The Unlikely Fate of the Lonely Tree

For roughly three centuries Niger’s Sahara Desert sported what was widely believed to be the most isolated tree on the planet. This lonely acacia, the “Tree of Tenere,” was the only tree for 250 miles (402 km). It was used as a much-needed landmark by countless desert caravans for generations.

Then it got hit by a truck. In 1973 a—likely drunk—driver managed to plow into the only object for hundreds of miles while following an old caravan route. The spindly tree was snapped in half, a bizarrely unlikely victim of drunk driving.

The acacia’s dried trunk is now on display in the Niger National Museum, and a statue memorializing the natural wonder has taken its place in the remote desert.^[4] There is a silver lining though; it is now officially impossible to be accused of bad driving because, hey, at least I didn’t kill that tree.

6Ecuador’s Medicated Mayor

After a long election season, having run the gauntlet of childish attack ads and petty bickering, most of us are ready to vote for literally anything other than the talking heads that have filled our TV screens for months. For instance, we may joke about writing in our dog’s name. Or a dead celebrity. Or, in the case of the Ecuadorian village of Picoaza, a medicated foot powder.

The manufacturers of Pulvapies saw a unique marketing opportunity during the election season of 1967. Their new slogan—“Vote for any candidate, but if you want well-being and hygiene for your feet, vote for Pulvapies”—was slapped on every available surface prior to the election. Then, in a final burst of creativity, pamphlets resembling election papers and reading “For mayor, honorable Pulvapies” were distributed to voters.

Pulvapies won a landslide victory, officially becoming mayor of Picoaza, Ecuador.^[5]

5The Dreadnought Hoax

In February of 1910, the crew of the English warship HMS Dreadnought received a telegram announcing that they would soon be hosting the Emperor of Abyssinia—modern-day Ethiopia. Unwilling to offend the visiting dignitary, the sailors aboard the pride of the English fleet pulled out all the stops to roll out a royal welcome. Upon his arrival, he and his entourage were greeted with full military honors and given a lengthy tour of the vessel. It was a diplomatic home run for the British Royal Navy.

At least, it would have been had any foreign leaders actually been there. It turns out the Emperor and his companions were really a group of ambitious pranksters, including novelist Virginia Woolf.^[6] They had painted their faces, donned ridiculous costumes, and spoke in a combination of Latin and complete gibberish; the telegram had also been a forgery. The following day they sent an anonymous confession to the newspapers, making the Navy the national laughingstock for months.

4A Close Encounter of the Jolly Kind

It’s December of 1965. Cold War tensions are intensifying and the Space Race is in full swing. Two US astronauts, Walter M. “Wally” Schirra Jr. and Thomas P. Stafford, are performing a routine operation aboard the Gemini 6 space capsule when they report an unknown object orbiting Earth.

A shaken Stafford’s voice crackled through the radio to Mission Control, describing a bizarre craft traveling southward over the Arctic Circle. Most disturbingly, it seemed the ominous object would be entering the atmosphere any moment. Could this be a secret Russian space project? An alien vessel? Something else entirely?

Stafford further described the UFO to increasingly panicked NASA staff, reporting that what he assumed was one, were actually nine craft flying in close formation; he even caught a glimpse of a red-clad humanoid within the largest module. Technicians frantically scrambled to crack this unsettling anomaly until Stafford and Schirra broke into a rendition of Jingle Bells with a harmonica and a set of sleigh bells.^[7] These instruments, the first ever played in space, are now on display in the Smithsonian.

3The Kettle War

This one-battle war took place on October 8, 1784, between the Holy Roman Empire and the laughably outmatched Northern Netherlands. After a series of political upheavals and rebellions, the Northern Netherlands seceded from the Empire and cut them off from some pretty important trading harbors. None too pleased, Emperor Joseph II sent three warships to remove the blockade.

The Northern Netherlands sent only one ship, the Dolfijn. Silly, perhaps, but nothing compared to what was to follow. After a standoff, the Dolfijn fired a single shot, which hit no one. It did, however, hit a kettle of soup on the deck of enemy ship Le Louis, spraying its passengers with the thick liquid. Whether astounded by the accuracy of the shot or terrified of their apparently insane enemies, the sticky Empire forces immediately surrendered.^[8]

2The Almost Really Clever Vikings

The Vikings were a pretty nasty bunch. Making their living by stealing yours, these thugs were the scourge of the ancient world. They preyed primarily on smaller settlements, but an ambitious group of seafaring scoundrels set their sights on an all but impossible target: Rome.

Viking brothers Bjorn and Hastein sailed their fleet to the massive city, but rather than storm the walls, they sent a messenger. He explained to the terrified residents that they had not come to fight, but rather that their leader had converted on his deathbed and wished to receive a Christian burial. Suspicious but determined to do their Christian duty, the Romans allowed the “dead” Hastein and a few of his men into the city.

During the ceremony, Hastein erupted from his coffin, his men pulled concealed weapons, and the Vikings easily took the city. After demanding the residents bow and proclaim him the new ruler of Rome, a single voice offered up a vital bit of info: he was actually in the city of Luna, just north of Rome.^[9]

1The Tomb of the Unknown “Soldier”

In 1917, during WWI, Colonel George S. Patton found himself in the French village of Bourg. One day the mayor approached him, teary-eyed and distraught over the discovery of an American soldier’s grave. He asked why he had not been informed of the death so that he could pay his respects. Having no knowledge of any buried US dead in the village, a baffled Patton asked to be led to the site.

The colonel soon found himself standing before the “grave.” Apparently, some of his men had filled in an old latrine pit—that is, improvised toilet—and had placed a sign to warn others from the putrid mound. “Abandoned Rear” was scrawled on a few rough bits of wood that resembled a crucifix, leading the villagers to assume it had been placed to mark a grave. Patton was relieved but never corrected the confused mayor.

Returning to Bourg during World War II, General Patton once again discovered the final resting place of Abandoned Rear, which had been reverently maintained by the townsfolk for nearly 30 years.

Did you ever get an action figure that, at first glance, seemed like He-Man but was actually called ‘Man-man’, rode a dragon instead of Battle Cat, had a fully cross-guarded sword like William Wallace and his banana hammock was a particularly toxic lime green hue instead of the majestic brown fur loincloth your beloved hero sported so wonderfully? Kids have a very well calibrated inbuilt bullcrap-detector, but what about us over-10s? Why do so many parents buy knock off toys in lieu of the real deal? Laziness? It could be that branded toys are too expensive. Well, if money is the barrier, why not rely on other means to entertain their kids? Nobody wants a ‘Man-man’. Maybe these lovers of ‘not-quite-the-real-deal’ stuff are the target audience for the entries in this list. One or two entries, however, are undeniably awesome; intended as parodies or just inadvertently entertaining. So let’s take a short hop into the rabbit hole of this fringe genre. Caution: There is no rope ladder.

10 Fake Artworks And Artifacts Exhibited In Museums

10 The Turkish Superman

‘Süpermen Dönüyor’ is a Turkish movie released in 1979 which takes the ‘Man of Steel’ and reframes him through a very different lens. The story is very close to the original Christopher Reeve film, just set in Turkey rather than the States. They even use some of the score lifted from the US version. And the James Bond theme.

This entry isn’t a simple appeal to get some ‘silly foreigner’ laughs—place yourself in 1970s Turkey; stuck in the middle between a crumbling, dangerous Soviet Russia and the untrusting, cynical West, all whilst trying to resist the emergent Islamism being fostered in the Middle East and Central Asia. Would you put to death the man who steals a loaf of bread for his starving family? Oh, and the director’s name? Kunt Tulgar. This film, much like the era, is a veritable ‘Tayfun’ of disbelief… that’s the main character’s name, by the way.^[1]

9 Batman, Spiderman and Godzilla… in a Video Game About a Ninja

And don’t forget a Terminator and a Rambo rip-off to boot! God, I loved this totally crazy, beautifully designed and utterly impossible to complete Sega Megadrive game. Along with iconic titles like ‘Altered Beast’, ‘Toejam & Earl’ and ‘Streets of Rage’, ‘Revenge of Shinobi’ gave Sega the ability to chug along as a cool alternative to Nintendo’s domination of the video gaming world in the late 80s and 90s. Despite the clear merits of having great graphics, innovative level design and a killer soundtrack, it was the bizarre choice of Batman, Godzilla, Spiderman, the Terminator and Rambo as antagonists that really cements this game’s place in the player’s memory.

The ultimate brain strain comes about when, after a solid couple of hours navigating the ingeniously tough levels, you face-off against a clear Rambo rip-off whose name is (seriously, this is no joke) ‘Rocky’. Game director Noriyoshi Ohba apparently admitted that the presence of such clearly stolen characters were testament to his “lack of creativity”. Well Mr. Ohba, anyone who designs an antagonist who morphs from Spider-Man into Batman is not lacking in creativity…sanity, maybe.^[2]

8 James Batman

This movie is a crossover special that takes place within the central character himself, a concept that is far more compelling after a healthy dose of DMT… which is, incidentally the only way one could enjoy this movie based on its own merits. A Filipino version of James Bond, named James Hika, teams up with Batman and Robin to take down an evil communist organisation that threatens nuclear Armageddon unless all nations accept them as their overlords. So far, so 60s. Is it weird that the same actor plays both James Hika and Batman? Yup. Is it weird that this feels like a slightly longer, slightly more Asian episode of Adam West’s version of Batman? You bet. Is it weird that the most humorous moment in the film is when James gets bitten on the butt by a giant centipede? Uh-huh. Is this just weird? Pass the DMT.^[3]

7 A lot of Games made by Gameloft

Many of the entries in this list are lo-fi, cheap, clearly cynical attempts at cashing in on the name recognition and relative success of larger properties or, arguably, works of homage and parody. What happens when the clearly derivative property is actually really good? Zelda games are great. The Gameloft rip-off of Zelda is good. You can see the issue here.

Gameloft, a company founded by former Ubisoft bigwig Michel Guillemont, has a host of games, all pretty high quality, that bare more than a slight resemblance to pre-existing properties. From Halo to Call of Duty, you can find a damned good version made by these Gallic gamesmiths. They have a pretty decent following too; lots of detractors but just as many supporters. This seems to be a case of Icarus flying just close enough to the sun to get his wings singed, but not quite melted. Careful now Gameloft, heed the warnings…bet they’ll release a text-based adventure game starring Icarus now I’ve said that.^[4]

6 Jaws 5: Cruel Jaws—The ‘Jaws’ film that’s not a ‘Jaws’ film

Who thought the shark in ‘Jaws’ was kind? Can a shark be kind, or cruel? The fifth (or first unofficial) incarnation of the iconic ‘Jaws’ shark can, it seems.

The plot is basically the same as the first Jaws movie: shark threatens small coastal town, local guys and a scientist go to kill it, they save the town from economic ruin with a few lost limbs along the way. It’s so close to the original Jaws films that it uses footage from the originals, (plus footage from two other Italian Jaws clones, ripping off the rip-offs, how meta). The film was released straight to DVD with a planned Blu-ray release, packaged as a double feature with the masterfully named 1983 Spanish/Italian sci-fi crapfest ‘Exterminators of the Year 3000′, but was scrapped due to Cruel Jaws’ use of copyrighted footage. That’s the real cruelty here. Sad Jaws.^[5]

10 People Stranger Than The Fictional Characters They Inspired

5 Snakes on a…

Train? Is that right? Wait, let me IMDB it. Damn it, tricked again! There’s something weird about the notion of a movie that rips off another movie that itself feels like a joke. It leaves a sour taste, leaves me feeling grubby. Moreover, Snakes on a Plane is funny, over the top and schlocky in that ‘so bad it’s good’ way that makes it an idiosyncratic, totally bizarre, self-deprecating work of genius. You’d think that these qualities would be what the stealy-stealersons over at production company ‘The Asylum’ would aim to copy.

Nope. ‘Snakes on a Train’ is just a bad, low-budget creature feature. Samuel L Jackson must be spinning in his Beverly Hills mansion.^[6]

4 Smelling a CG Rat

Many of us, on the more nationally fragmented side of the Atlantic, can remember the really low-grade, blocky, poorly rendered animated cartoons for kids, seemingly all made in France, that were sold to TV firms across the continent and broadcast to a generation of bemused children who just wanted to watch Scooby-Do. ‘Ratatoing’ is Brazil’s version of this trend. ‘Ratatoing’, which sounds a little like a verb to describe rat torture, is an animated series that follows on the coat tails of Pixar’s smash hit ‘Ratatouille’. The central character is a French rat that lives in Rio de Janeiro who just so happens to be an amazing chef. The uncanny animation is enough to haunt your dreams for years to come. The premise, which was enough to sustain the film, is stretched out for a whole series in this train-wreck. What’s worse is that the studio responsible for this crime against children’s entertainment seem to only pump out Pixar rip-offs. ‘Cars’, ‘Up’ and ‘Wall-E’ all get a degenerative makeover from Video Brinquedo, making ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’s’ Child Catcher seem like a rank amateur in the domain of ruining kids’ lives. Now who’s up for watching some masked men engage in a quick ratatoing session? Just me, then? Ok, but it beats watching an episode of this awful series.^[7]

3 The Italian Spiderman

“Salvami, l’Uomo Ragno” cried Maria Gianetta as she fled from the evil Folletto Verde. Remember that famous scene? Neither do I, and you won’t find that scene anywhere. Nor do I remember Spider-Man having a pump-action shotgun. That, you will find. You lucky devils.

This entry is an intentional parody, an Australian-made homage to 60s and 70s Italian action films like ‘The Three Fantastic Supermen’, which itself was a part of the brief spate of movies that glorified older, fringe cinematic sub-genres (Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Death Proof’ and Jason Eisner’s ‘Hobo with a Shotgun’ are two prominent examples). Being the only entry in this list that is intentionally funny, there’s no point in picking at inconsistencies or highlighting the infringements and liberties taken. This entry has been lodged for one reason; this is how big this sub-culture/fringe interest is. Check out the film on YouTube and the great comedy series, ‘Danger 5’, made by the same guys.^[8]

2 The Amazing Bulk

More often than not, makers of copycat movies and other intellectual properties tend to rely on one sneaky renaming technique. Like ‘Superguy’ instead of Superman, ‘Catman’ instead of Batman. But, a veritable double tap of ‘rip-offitude’ in the title is rare. A synonym and a rhyming cognate? These guys are good. These guys, with their amazing re-titling, hit a double, loading the bases and may just win the ‘Cashing in on Name Recognition World Series’. Plus, the eponymous character is purple. They won.

With liberal (nearly total) use of stock footage and video files purchased from the internet, this movie feels more like a film by famed schlock, low-budget impresario Roger Corman than any film actually directed by Corman himself. This is the type of film that, depending on one’s mood and blood-alcohol level, you’ll either laugh yourself into a herniated heap or throw the nearest hard object (the remote control, a work boot, a loved one) square through the TV screen.^[9]

1 A Whole Ton of Books that Ripped-off ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’

Of course there was going to be a whole slew of unsanctioned parodies, rip-offs and questionable fanfics relating to this record-smashing franchise, it was bound to happen. The Fifty Shades series of books and films are the Harry Potter of the erotic fiction world. But you know you’ve made it, I mean, really made it, when the evangelical, biblical literalist Christians get a hold of your stuff and make it their own. Congratulations EL James, you won fiction!

Be it ‘Fifty Shades of Grace’ (there’s about 10 of these, all by different people), ‘Fifty Shades of Pray’ or ‘Fifty Shades of Christ’, the evangelical crew really love to take on this title and just run wild.

There is nothing wrong with fan fiction, genre-bending parodies and the like. Hey, more power to motivated Christian authors who want to capitalize on a franchise’s success; it can be done well. But don’t be too judgy (I’m sure it mentions something like that in the Bible), people like the original Fifty Shades franchise. Mock it, that’s great. Make something with a fun parody of the name but make your book unrelated to the original, that’s fine. But, much as we get po-faced, snarky reviews from publications like The Atlantic, illogically pitting the clearly ‘guilty pleasure’ book against Booker prize nominated tomes for comparison, we also get Christian parodies that decry the ‘sin’ of the original characters and turn them into born-again bores (with worse prose than the original books, which is a feat). Do you not believe in ‘live and let live’, or do you just have a guilty conscience?^[10]

Top 10 Unofficial Sequels And Copycats Of Famous Movies

About The Author: C.J. Phillips is a storyteller, actor and writer living in rural West Wales. He is a little obsessed with lists.

Science is a serious business. The search for knowledge requires dedication, patience, and rigorous analysis of the facts. When the hard work is over and a new entity has been discovered, a scientist gets to celebrate the crowning moment of his achievement by putting a name on what he has found.

For most scientists, this means thinking up a profound or descriptive name that will be recognized across the world. For some, though, it is a chance to be playful after years of serious study. Sometimes, a name just happens to be hilarious.

Here are 10 of the funniest names you’ll find in the annals of science.

10 Scientific Names With Ridiculous Backstories

10 Turdus maximus

The thrush family of birds never really had a chance when it came to their names. For starters, thrush is the common name for a yeast infection in the genitals. But long before the English language played a dirty trick on the thrushes, the Romans had labeled them with another. To a Latin speaker, a thrush was called a turdus.^[1]

When Latin-loving scientists decided to create the binomial method of naming animals, they stuck the name Turdus on all thrush birds. This has led to some now-amusing names like Turdus ignobilis, but there is one bird that got the worst label of all. The Tibetan blackbird is rather large, so what would you call it but Turdus maximus?

9 Scaptia beyonceae

Taxonomy, the naming and classification of species based on their supposed relationships, is usually considered a dry and arcane subject. However, those who spend their time studying species can use their power of naming to raise public interest in their work. Naming a species after a famous person is usually good for a few articles in the press—even if the associated person is not always thrilled by the animal named after him or her.

In 2011, when researchers described a rare fly discovered in 1981, they took note of its most notable feature and worked out the perfect name. This fly has a glorious set of golden hairs on its rear end. You could say it was “Bootylicious.” Taking this as a sign, the researchers named the fly after Beyonce, who also shares a birth year with the discovery of the fly.^[2]

8 Tiny Frogs

The smallest vertebrate in the world is a frog called Paedophryne amauensis. When fully grown, it is a minuscule 7.7 millimeters (0.3 in) long and could comfortably fit on your little fingernail. Faced with this tough competition, the three species of frog named in 2019 had to set themselves apart in the world of small frogs somehow.^[3]

Searching through the vast Madagascan jungles for such tiny frogs was just one difficulty. Once they had been tracked down by listening for their calls, the frogs had to be studied.

Given that the three new species ranged in size from 8 millimeters (0.31 in) to 15 millimeters (0.59 in), this proved a fiddly job. But eventually, the scientists were sure that they were all new species belonging to a brand-new genus—Mini. So, of course, the researchers named the frogs Mini mum, Mini scule, and Mini ature.

7 Spermidine

Chemistry is known as the smelly science—and for good reason. Working in a lab can be an assault on your senses, ranging from the subtly pleasant to the downright noxious. In earlier centuries, the sense of smell, and sometimes taste, was the best way to distinguish different compounds—though licking chemicals today is frowned on. But some chemicals still bear the names of their smells.

The polyamine group of chemicals have strong odors, and their names match this trait. As their names suggest, putrescine and cadaverine are some of the chemicals that give rotting meat its smell. As for spermidine? It smells as you might imagine.

Spermidine is not only found in male ejaculate, however. It is found in foods like aged cheese, and some studies have shown that it can help fight liver cancer. Swallowing this may be good for your health.^[4]

6 Arsole

If you name a chemical using the agreed international standard, you will be able to picture it precisely from its descriptive moniker. However, these names can be so long that they are unwieldy. So scientists give the substances nicknames.

When one group of researchers synthesized a new chemical, they must have celebrated and forgotten to close the window. During the night, a pigeon flew into the lab and left droppings everywhere. They took this as a sign and nicknamed the chemical “cristane” after “crissum,” the anus of a bird.

Arsole has a more prosaic etymology. A chemical known as phosphole contains a phosphorus atom. After that atom was replaced with one of arsenic, the researchers simply added that to the name instead.

Although arsole has not been purified, scientists have created a group of similar molecules, all of which are arsoles. There is no reliable report describing the smell of an arsole.^[5]

10 Bizarre Scientific Photographs from the 19th Century

5 Penguinone

3,4,4,5-tetramethylcyclohexa-2,5-dien-1-one does not really roll off the tongue. For a chemist, this name conjures up an image of a ring molecule with various appendages. For the nonscientist, however, the name probably doesn’t mean much. But give the compound the name penguinone, and you can probably guess what it looks like.^[6]

There is no known use for penguinone yet, but it does at least give chemists something to put on their Christmas cards.

4 Sonic Hedgehog

The SHH gene is one of the most important genes in the development of animals. In everything from insects to humans, the product of this gene plays a vital role in embryo growth. It is involved in everything from brain growth to the development of the eyes.

What does SHH make? Sonic hedgehog.

Sonic hedgehog is the name given to the protein made by SHH. When researchers knocked out several related genes in fruit flies, they noticed that the animals developed short, spiky hairs—a bit like a hedgehog’s bristles. So the genes were named after hedgehogs—like the Indian or desert hedgehog. One researcher decided not to name his gene after a real animal and went with Sonic the Hedgehog.

Not every scientist was pleased by this name. “It’s the kind of idea that you talk about in a pub and say, ‘Wouldn’t it be funny if we named it Sonic?’ ” said one researcher. “But then you don’t do it.”^[7]

3 Moronic Acid

Naming a chemical from its source is a common way of distinguishing compounds—as spermidine showed. What else would you call an acid derived from a tree called Mora except moronic acid?

Moronic acid is not as stupid as its name may suggest. Studies of the compound have found that it may be a powerful agent against HIV and herpes.^[8]

Moronic acid is not the only humorously named chemical derived from a plant. When naming a compound purified from the plant Vinca pubescens, researchers decided that pubescine was a perfectly normal name.

2 Tuojiangosaurus

Tuojiangosaurus is a genus of herbivorous dinosaur that looked like the North American Stegosaurus. Living around 155 million years ago in China, Tuojiangosaurus was an early relative of the stegosaurs that would later evolve. Despite being an early ancestor, it had already developed a four-spiked tail used for defense against predators. Let’s hope it also had a well-developed sense of humor.

Tuojiangosaurus may not strike you as a funny name at first. However, next to a near-perfectly preserved skeleton, the Natural History Museum in London gave the pronunciation of its name as “Two-wang-oh-sore-us.” Little is known about the dinosaur’s genitalia, but it is unlikely to have had two wangs or to have been sore about it.^[9]

Since then, the scientific community seems to have realized its mistake and changed the pronunciation guide on most websites to “too-YANG-oh-sore-us.” The physical sign in the Natural History Museum remains unchanged.

1 Cummingtonite

There is no higher honor for a mineralogist than to have a mineral named after him. Each year, the Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names at the International Mineralogical Society grants the names of around 40 new minerals as they are discovered.

This process ensures that new minerals are not given the same name as one already discovered. When colleagues wanted to name a mineral after the mineralogist Paul Moore, it was discovered there was a mooreite already on the books. So paulmoorite was born.

Most minerals will end up with the names of their discoverers. That’s how you end up with jimthompsonite, but that’s not how cummingtonite got its name. Discovered in Cummington, Massachusetts, this mineral is usually found in the form of slender crystals. It has also become a favorite chat-up line for geology students the world over.^[10]

10 Goofy Pranks Involving Serious Scientists

Lots of planning and research goes into arranging the perfect holiday. Itineraries are mapped, flights and accommodations are booked, and we wait patiently to arrive at our dream destination. Finally, the big day arrives and we excitedly head off on our much anticipated trip.

However, despite the best-laid plans, things sometimes go wrong. Often, we make simple mistakes like leaving something at home, booking the wrong hotel, or missing transportation connections. Occasionally, mishaps occur that are beyond our control, and we often see tourists taking silly risks to get the perfect Instagram photo.

But a few travelers have recently had holiday mishaps that were so funny that they not only made the news but also went viral on social media. Many of these would be unbelievable if we didn’t have the photos, Youtube videos, and social media shares to prove them.

10 Long-Distance Water Taxi, Anyone?

Organizing transportation connections is a vital part of planning any overseas holiday. When arranging a visit to a foreign country, the local geography can understandably become a little confusing. However, simply looking at a map or using one of the many online tools available can usually help to clarify things.

Not so for one tourist from India. His question on an online travel forum would have to be one of the funniest “dumb tourist” questions the site has ever seen, going in the news and on social media. The responses must have been plain embarrassing.

The tourist was finalizing his itinerary for a planned road trip in Australia and New Zealand. “What’s the best way to drive from Sydney to Auckland?” he asked bemused fellow travelers.

Evidently, he had failed to consult an atlas before posting his query. It is 2,155 kilometers (1,339 mi) and a three-hour plane journey across the Tasman Sea between the two cities.

Submarine or water taxi were cited as his best travel options if he didn’t want to fly.^[1]

9 An Unexpected Stowaway

Many of us have packed things in our suitcases by mistake for the trip home. The odd bath towel, book, or article of clothing can find its way into our luggage.

Imagine the shock one Scotswoman received when she was unpacking her cases to find that a large Australian reptile had stowed away in her luggage. The woman had been visiting family in Queensland, Australia, when a 60-centimeter (24 in) spotted python had appeared in her bedroom during a storm. A snake catcher was called, who searched for the reptile to no avail. It was assumed that the snake had slithered outside.

A few days later, the woman packed up and returned home to Scotland. After a 40-hour flight from Brisbane to Glasgow, imagine her surprise when she unpacked her luggage and found the snake curled safely in one of her shoes.^[2]

The snake had survived the 18,000-kilometer (11,200 mi) journey unharmed and had shed its skin during the hibernation. Fortunately, the Glasgow snake catcher was more successful in catching the python. He removed it to a wildlife sanctuary.

8 Pretty Venomous Sea Life

Anyone who plans a trip to Australia is aware that they have some seriously dangerous wildlife. In fact, the fear of being attacked by some of their killer critters is often the number one concern for many potential tourists.

Really, though, as long as you take a few sensible precautions and take heed of the warning signs, you are usually fairly safe. Which is why an Asian tourist’s holiday snap holding “a pretty octopus” went viral. Not for the insta-worthy shot but for her breathtaking ignorance of how much danger she had put herself in.^[3]

The woman posted photos on social media holding a “pretty orange-and-blue octopus” she had found in a rock pool. The unsuspecting tourist was actually handling one of the Pacific region’s most venomous creatures, the blue-ringed octopus. A bite from this creature can cause paralysis and death within an hour. The octopus carries enough venom to kill 26 adults within minutes.

Amazingly, the tourist was able to shake the octopus from her hand before it had a chance to sting her.

7 How Much Can A Koala Bear?

It isn’t just tourists who have funny interactions with the local wildlife. A South Australian winegrower recently had his car hijacked by a koala bear that seemed to have become a little hot under the collar.

It was a scorching day when the man drove out to inspect his vineyards. He left his dog in the car with the door open so that his pet didn’t get too hot. When the man returned, he was astounded to find that a koala had jumped into the car to take advantage of the air conditioning.

Even the loud howls of protest from the dog were not enough to persuade the koala to move on. The marsupial ensconced himself firmly in the front seat, taking full advantage of the air conditioning vents.^[4]

The driver eventually gave up trying to remove the cool koala and drove the hijacker to nearby bushland. There, the intoxicating lure of delicious eucalyptus leaves eventually saw the koala take off into the bush.

6 Boxing Kangaroo

Soaring with the eagles gives paragliders a bird’s-eye view of the world, often captured on the GoPro cameras attached to their helmets. Most experienced paragliders are aware of the risks associated with changes in weather conditions, inappropriate landings, and unfortunate encounters with birdlife.

However, one Australian paraglider’s GoPro film went viral as he captured an unexpected encounter when touching down. After a morning paragliding near Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory, the man floated into a nearby national park to land. He was initially delighted to see a couple of kangaroos hopping over to say hello. Or so he thought.

Unfortunately, the ‘roos weren’t as pleased to see the man invading their territory. One of them came over to deliver a few well-timed punches to the unsuspecting paraglider before retreating into the bush.^[5]

A good example of where the term “boxing kangaroo” came from.

5 Have I Forgotten Something?

We’ve all left something behind in the airport when traveling. The umbrella, the duty-free bags, maybe even a suitcase.

In early 2019, flight controllers in Saudi Arabia initially thought the cabin crew was joking when they made a request to turn back. The flight from Saudi Arabia to Malaysia was forced to turn around when a passenger realized she had left her baby in the boarding terminal.

Imagine going through the check-in, settling into your seat, listening to the safety procedures, and taking off before it occurred to you that you may be missing something?^[6]

Reportedly, the flight was in midair when the mother realized she had forgotten to bring her baby with her and requested that the flight be turned back. The child was still sitting safely in the boarding area when the flight landed. Fortunately, the child was unharmed and mother and baby were reunited.

4 Landing In Hot Water

Many major tourist attractions around the world do pose potential safety risks. These usually have prominent warning signs, and protective barricades are often put in place as an additional safety measure.

However, a tourist in Yellowstone National Park stunned onlookers when he crossed the barricades and strolled up to a steaming geyser to use it as a foot spa. Apparently oblivious to the fact that the boiling waters can cause serious or fatal burns, the man proceeded to remove his shoes and socks and attempted to wash his feet in the geyser.

Fortunately, the man was relatively unharmed. He put his shoes and socks back on before heading on his way.^[7]

3 Modern-Day Jonah

We’ve all heard the biblical story of the prophet Jonah who was eaten by a whale after being cast overboard from a ship during a storm. Jonah spent three days in the whale’s belly before being regurgitated onto the shore unharmed.

In early 2019, an experienced South African diver snorkeling off the coast of Port Elizabeth had a closer encounter with the marine life than he was expecting. Rainer Schimpf was well aware of the need to be vigilant for sharks chasing schools of fish.^[8]

However, when he was suddenly engulfed in darkness, he suspected that he had just been mistaken for a small fish that was part of a large bait ball. A huge Bryde’s whale had taken Schimpf headfirst into its massive jaws.

Unlike Jonah, Schimpf was fortunately too large for the whale to swallow whole and apparently not to the creature’s taste that day. The whale spat out its victim, who swam away unharmed.

2 Ice Queen

When we are on holiday, we are always on the lookout for that spectacular photo opportunity. One Texas grandma’s great holiday snap recently turned into a major rescue operation which went viral on social media.

While vacationing in Iceland, she and her son were strolling along the beach when they came across a large chunk of ice shaped like a throne. This looked like an ideal photo opportunity.

The woman perched herself regally on the ice chunk to pose for the shot. A freak wave suddenly broke around her, sweeping the iceberg out to sea with the grandma clinging precariously to her perch.^[9]

Her family initially thought it was a prank when her son posted photos of granny floating out to sea on her ice throne and the rescue attempt which followed.

Mounting an operation to save the woman from the sea, the coast guard returned her safely to shore.

1 We’ve Reached Our Destination?

We’ve all made travel mistakes—getting on the wrong train or bus, missing our stop, or missing the plane altogether. But at least we expect our aircraft crew to get it right, don’t we?

Not so in the case of a planeload of surprised Londoners headed for Dusseldorf in Germany.

Many of the passengers aboard the British Airlines flight noted the unusual scenery below. Some took to Google Maps and were confused to see that they were headed north toward Scotland.

It wasn’t until the plane landed in Edinburgh that the mistake became apparent. Incorrect flight details had been provided, and the crew had believed they were headed to Edinburgh.

A show of hands indicated that everyone aboard had expected to land at Dusseldorf. After several hours delay, the flight was redirected to the correct destination.^[10]

Lesley Connor is a retired Australian newspaper journalist now providing travel stories for online publications and her travel blog Empty Nesters’ Travel Insights.