News of the Weird - this just in!

[STEVE G]

^I'm left with a curious desire to visit Uzbekistan!

[pharvey]

Have been close, but can't say it's top of my Bucket List....

[Big Boy]

^I'm left with a curious desire to visit Uzbekistan!

I've had 2 stopovers there. It was soooooo disgusting, I refused to go into the terminal building the second time. There was literally shit on the terminal building walls. I was stood on the apron with 3 big (I always call them Russian, but) Uzbekistani Helgas making sure I didn't go somewhere I shouldn't.

From my limited experience, I can understand their 71st place.

Coincidentally, one of my son's students will be moving there to live next month.

[STEVE G]

Albino Thai buffalo sets records by fetching 18 million baht at a fair

...
Ko Muang Phet, a magnificent albino buffalo owned by Damrongsak Morakot in Phetchaburi province, recently made headlines when it was bought for a whopping 18 million baht.

Renowned for its striking beauty and colossal size, the buffalo is known for its remarkable breeding capability because 90% of its offspring will be born with albino traits. This means, nine of 10 calves produced will be albino, which makes it a significant asset in the buffalo breeding industry.

Adding to its fame, Ko Muang Phet also made a mark in the entertainment world, starring as the character Ai Khlaow’s buffalo in the most recent version of the popular “Mon Rak Luk Thung” TV drama.

Despite being just about five years old and standing at an impressive height of 180 centimetres, Ko Muang Phet has earned the title of Thailand’s top giant breeding buffalo, remaining undefeated in competitions for years.

However, it has been retired from competitions to focus on producing new generations.
https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/th ... l/40036357

[STEVE G]

LAST ORDERS Locals divided after cops seize ‘beer bike’ in busy Scots city

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/1 ... edinburgh/

Police took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to say that enquiries into the incident are ongoing

They wrote: "Officers from the Leith Community Policing Team stopped and seized a beer bike on Leith Walk, around 11.20am on Saturday, 16 March, 2024, following safety concerns and road traffic offences.

"We are aware of ongoing community concerns and further enquiries are ongoing."

Users flocked to the comments as they joked about the situation - with many calling officers "spoil sports" for stopping people from "having fun".

[STEVE G]

Empty beer can sells for record-breaking US$62K

https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2024/ ... ing-us62k/

The Perone Beer quart cone top can, described by the auctioneers at Morean Auctions as “the only known example”, leapt in the bids from a US$25 start and reached US$51,500 (US$62,830 with buyer’s premium).

Antiques reports detailed how Perone was a brand of Otto Erlanger Brewing Co. of Philadelphia, and the can was dated to the 1940s, when the cone top format was in circulation.

Speaking about the sale, auctioneer Dan Morean described the item as “a Grail can for many a quart and Pennsylvania collector.”

[Nereus]

I put this here as it is surely weird!
It is also a long article, so rather than clutter up the space, just read it at the link if you are interested!

The original 'Siamese twins' performed for royalty and travelled the globe — their family says there was much more to their story

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-23/ ... /103586472

"They have been pronounced by ... medical men to be the greatest curiosity of nature ever known."

Chang Eng, captured in this 1836 portrait. (Supplied: Wellcome Collection)

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[Nereus]

Authorities seize Instagram-famous magpie, ending friendship with English staffy

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-26/ ... /103635186

A veteran wildlife carer says authorities endangered the life of a magpie by failing to act on its unlikely pairing with an English staffy.

Hundreds of thousands of online fans followed the relationship between Molly the magpie and Peggy the rescue dog since 2021.

But that came to an end when Molly was voluntarily surrendered to the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) earlier this month.

The department said the magpie was "taken from the wild and kept unlawfully with no permit, licence or authority".

[pharvey]

Far too many areswipes in this world unfortunately....

[Nereus]

Just out for a walk:

South-east Queensland has had a wet couple of days. (ABC News: Steve Keen)

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[Nereus]

508069c54773f0d1ede60391da63691b.jpg

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[dtaai-maai]

^^

[Big Boy]

This should most probably be in the main news section, but I find it VERY weird that a country that has a corrupt police force that rarely goes out in the sunshine, and evening work seems primarily to be toll collection has actually found the resources to create a special monkey unit. Of course it has nothing to do with the up to 100,000฿ you can now claim is attacked by a monkey. BONKERS!

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... onkey-unit

[Big Boy]

It gets better...... they've arrested 23 already https://www.thaipbsworld.com/police-mon ... -macaques/

[buksida]

The Thai police have finally met their match ... or met their macaque!