In Thailand People Change Their Names to Improve Their Fortunes
You might have heard of people changing their names because they didn’t like the ones their parents gave them. Or in an attempt to change their identity and escape their past. But in Thailand, name changes are common for a different reason altogether – to bring good luck. A case-in-point is 46-year-old Baramee Thammabandan, formerly […]
Bacon-Scented Shaving Cream Makes Men’s Mornings Smell Like Heaven
As if bacon perfume wasn’t enough to help people carry the smell of the tasty treat with them wherever they went, a Seattle-based food company has just launched a ‘high end’ limited-edition Bacon Shaving Cream. Justin Esch and Dave Lefkow, the two man behind J&D Foods, have just released their newest idea – a bacon-scented shaving […]
Aogashima Island – Living inside a Volcano
Can you imagine yourself living in a giant volcanic crater? Well, for starters, you can forget about Starbucks. But it sure would be the ultimate destination to get away from it all. It’s not all that surprising then, that about 200 people actually inhabit the Japanese volcanic island of Aogashima, with only one school and […]
Controversial Riot Training Experience Teaches People How to Cause Havoc
English company Wish.co.uk has sparked controversy for giving people as young as 16 the chance to take part in an actual riot, during a day-long activity called the Riot Training Day Experience. Organizers promise noise, fire, smoke and fear as the main ingredients. If the name Wish.co.uk sounds familiar, it’s probably because they’re the guys behind […]
Prowler – New York City’s Real-Life Female Superhero
It’s not the first time we’ve reported cases of real-life superheroes here on OC. But this sure is a first – a female superhero who has gladly shared her identity. And that’s not all. She’s also probably the first superhero to be concerned about her own safety. So she only patrols the streets of Brooklyn […]
Bald Billboard – Man Uses His Head for Advertising Space for $320 a Day
Last month, 27-year-old entrepreneur Brandon Chicotsky launched a unique service called Bald Logo, turning his bald head into a billboard for businesses willing to pay him $320 per day, and walking around Austin, Texas to get as much exposure as possible. How does the old saying go, “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade”? That’s exactly […]
Meet the Flintstones in Arizona’s Real-Life Bedrock
If you are a loyal Flintstones fan, then you’re going to love this, especially if you live around northern Arizona. Because that’s where the real-life Bedrock city is located. Not an actual city of course, but a place to go to 365 days a year to experience Stone Age with your favorite cartoon characters. Closed […]
Fart By Mail – A Stinky Mail Service for the Adventurous
Fart By Mail, a California-based mail order service started by Zach Friedberg, offers people the chance to send friends or enemies stinky greetings that actually “smell like real poo”. Holidays are just around the corner, and if you’re looking for a really original way to send your season’s greetings, you might want to check out Fart By […]
Russian Company Sells Apocalypse Survival Kits
December 21st is less than a month away, but don’t despair, there’s hope for you yet. A Siberian company has started selling end-of-the-world survival kits containing must-have items like a bottle of vodka and a notepad and a pencil. Just in case you can’t make it to the French town or Bugarach, or buy an apocalypse-proof […]
Man Brings Virtual Girlfriend to His Real-Life Wedding, Bride Retaliates
Talk about pushing your luck, right? As if having his future wife put up with a virtual girlfriend wasn’t enough, a Japanese geek actually had the nerve to invite his video-game lady and two of her friends to their wedding and even reserved seats for them. But the bride had some plans of her own… […]
Strange Wedding Customs – The Crying Ritual of the Tujia People
Throughout history, various cultures have had strange requirements of their women. But none perhaps as strange as the custom of crying before marriage, as followed in Southwest China’s Sichuan Province. According to the custom, it is mandatory for a bride to cry at her own wedding, whether she likes it or not. The crying marriage […]
Fearing a 2012 Apocalypse, Man Tries to Build His Own Ark
No, God didn’t reveal himself to Lu Zhenghai in a vision. The man from Urumqi, China was simply afraid the rumors about the apocalypse happening in December of 2012 might be true, so he decided to follow Noah’s example and build an ark. Scientists and researchers are going out of their way to assure people that […]
The Gulabi Gang – India’s Pink-Wearing Female Vigilantes
The women of Bundelkhand, in Uttar Pradesh, India, do not need superheroes to come to their rescue. They depend on a group of their own clan – The Gulabi Gang – during times of distress. The gang members are vigilantes who go above and beyond the duties of a local neighborhood crime watch. Their chosen […]
Japanese Self-Confessed Geeks Attend Masked Matchmaking Event
Japanese geeks, commonly known as “otaku”, too shy to go out and meet a potential date face to face attended a special matchmaking event where everyone wore anime character masks to conceal their identities. The event called “Ota-konkatsu” took place in Kuki City, north of Tokyo, a “holy place” among anime fans. The city is home […]
Local Council in Serbia Issues Warning That Vampire Is on the Loose
Locals in the Bajina Basta municipality, western Serbia, are freaking out after the local council has issued a warning about the famous vampire Sava Savanovic being on the loose and thirsty for blood. Sava Savanovic is a popular figure of Serbian folklore, known as the first vampire in Serbia. According to legend, he lived in an old […]