First Ever Monster Truck Backflip

The USA cannot pass any useful laws or put its citizens to work. But we can spin giant polluting machinery in the air.

Posted By: Paul - Sat Mar 06, 2010 - Comments (1)
Category: Contests, Races and Other Competitions, Stupidity, Subcultures, Trucks

World’s Biggest Omelette—1932 Version

Posted By: Paul - Tue Mar 02, 2010 - Comments (5)
Category: Contests, Races and Other Competitions, Food, 1930s

Gay News Today

Was Jesus Gay? Elton John seems to think so. He stated as much in a recent Parade magazine interview. Of course the mere idea struck terror into the hearts of all homophobic Christians and those who choose to interpret the bible as saying "discriminate openly" rather than "love thy fellow man".

And what about those silly gay people who want to serve in the military? Surprisingly, a recent CBS News poll asking about Obama's wish to repeal the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, finds that a majority of the public support allowing openly gay men and women to serve. But what's even more surprising is that the same poll doesn't want homosexuals to serve. I suppose the poll was worded badly. Or maybe the people who answered that poll still think gay means 'having or showing a merry, lively mood'. In that case, who wouldn't want a bunch of merry old souls in the military?



More in extended >>

Posted By: Nethie - Fri Feb 19, 2010 - Comments (11)
Category: Body, Contests, Races and Other Competitions, Crime, Domestic, Government, Law, Politics, Religion, Sexuality, Africa, Europe

Women Can’t Jump

When I think of the Olympics, I rarely consider that each event has both a mens and a womens division. I tend to focus more on the sport itself regardless of who is competing. After all, the Olympics is supposed to encourage the spirit of friendly competition, and not highlight major flaws, such as gender bias. Unfortunately this year's winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada, is doing just that. Women ski jumpers have petitioned to join every Winter Olympics since Nagano in 1998, and each time they have been denied by the International Olympics Committee (IOC). So what's the deal? Well, the IOC is sidestepping the issue. They've issued a written statement that reads "Women's Ski Jumping does not reach the necessary technical criteria and as such does not yet warrant a place alongside other Olympic events." Yet female ski jumpers argue the point (read about it here). Lindsey Van, current world record holder for the longest jump, is quick to point out that they meet the necessary criteria. But it may be a long time before we see women flying off the end of a ski jump in front of Olympic judges. IOC member Dick Pound is quoted as saying "If in the meantime you're making all kinds of allegations about the IOC and how it's discriminating on the basis of gender," he warned, "the IOC may say, 'Oh yeah, I remember them. They're the ones that embarrassed us and caused us a lot of trouble in Vancouver, maybe they should wait another four years or eight years.'" Yes, you read that right. He is publicly threatening female ski jumpers to keep them out of the Olympics for years if they persist. So much for the spirit of friendly competition.

Posted By: Nethie - Fri Feb 12, 2010 - Comments (4)
Category: Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, Ceremonies, Contests, Races and Other Competitions, Daredevils, Stuntpeople and Thrillseekers, Games, Sports, World Records

Eurovision 1965

Time to make fun of the Eurovision contest again. Here's the winner from 1965.

Posted By: Paul - Fri Feb 12, 2010 - Comments (3)
Category: Contests, Races and Other Competitions, Music, 1960s, Europe

Another Optical Illusion

These kind of optical illusions fascinate me, and I have no clue how they work. Some of the speculation on YouTube is quite funny.



I like the explanations offered here at WU. At least they seem plausible -- who can make up the best sounding explanation?

Posted By: gdanea - Mon Dec 07, 2009 - Comments (6)
Category: Contests, Races and Other Competitions

Sumo Suit Olympics

The good news is now anyone can be a Sumo, and maybe you could compete in the Sumo Suit Olympics.



I think the skinny legs really compliment the look.

Posted By: gdanea - Tue Sep 29, 2009 - Comments (6)
Category: Contests, Races and Other Competitions

A Little Light Weirdness - 5

They say news travels fast, but in the speed stakes it can’t hold a candle to dumb. Circling the blogosphere like an angry Superman is news that security guard Jason Cooke has managed to sight the Loch Ness monster on Google Earth. The object, which Cooke claims exactly matches the descriptions of Nessie, is clearly visible as a quadrupedal, long-necked plesiosaur-like creature, and in no way could be the wake behind a boat or anything mundane like that. This latest find comes as a relief to many cryptozoologists, who had expressed concerns that the dearth of recent sightings might mean Nessie had fallen victim to Global Warming (Telegraph).

Or perhaps this is simply proof that Scottish universities have got the jump on their transatlantic counterparts? In a move nearly, but not quite, totally unlike Jurassic Park, Professor Hans Larsson of McGill University in Montreal has announced that he hopes to de-evolve chickens back into their dinosaur ancestors. Larsson stressed that he is not aiming to recreate whole dinosaurs at this time, but by switching on or off certain genes in chick embryos he hopes to induce atavistic dinosaur anatomy in the full grown animals (AFP).



More in extended >>

Posted By: Dumbfounded - Wed Aug 26, 2009 - Comments (12)
Category: Animals, Ceremonies, Weddings, Contests, Races and Other Competitions, Cryptozoology, Fictional Monsters, Fairs, Amusement Parks, and Resorts, Geography and Maps, Inebriation and Intoxicants, Nature, Science, Experiments, Surrealism

Irony

While a 53-year-old man was competing successfully in the swimming section of the National Senior Games in Palo Alto, California, his 61-year-old brother was back home in Madison, Indiana, at the Yacht Club. When the brother called home to his mother to tell her he had just won a 500-yard freestyle, she told him his older brother had just been swept away in the rain-swollen Ohio River and could not be located. The Madison Courier. His body was later found.

Posted By: qualityleashdog - Mon Aug 10, 2009 - Comments (4)
Category: Accidents, Boats, Contests, Races and Other Competitions, Death, Exercise and Fitness, Oceans and Maritime Pursuits, Synchronicity and Coincidence

Motorhome Demo derby

Posted By: Paul - Thu Jul 30, 2009 - Comments (3)
Category: Contests, Races and Other Competitions, Destruction, Motor Vehicles