Odd Articles ↓

New Limbo-Skating World Record

“Doing the splits while leaning forward and totally blind, this is nine-year-old Rohan Ajit Kokane – the new world champion at limbo-skating under cars. These amazing pictures show how the youngster is incredibly no more than eight inches above the ground, his head and body skimming across the tarmac. Shocked onlookers watch in awe as he vanishes under three vehicles and emerges triumphantly from the other side. Gracefully sliding into the history books with his unparalleled feat, Rohan was presented with a badge and certificate by the World Records Academy. He has now been nominated for the Guinness Book of World Records.” w/ photos

Fat Cat Goes To Pet Fit Club

“His owner apparently hadn’t noticed that Socrates was getting a little pudgy. As you can see from her face however, the vet’s nurse realised straight away. At a whopping 22lb, the black and white heavyweight in Jenny Doig’s arms is more than double the size of a normal cat. Owner Bill Duncan, 52, had taken Socrates to the vet worried by his lack of get-up-and-go. The verdict, not surprisingly, was that he was simply too fat to move, possibly because of his taste for cheese and onion crisps. Twice a day, regular as clockwork, he had managed to stagger to his paws and miaow for his breakfast and tea. Now however, meals are a little disappointing. Five-year-old Socrates has been chosen as one of nine finalists in Pet Fit Club, the PDSA animal charity’s annual diet competition.” w/ photos

Mouse Love Berries

“Not much bigger than the blackberries it is feasting on, this harvest mouse is getting its first taste of freedom. It was one of several released into the wild yesterday following a breeding programme in Somerset. After tasting the blackberries, the mice scampered off into the hedgerows to begin their new life and – hopefully – to produce young of their own. However, being a harvest mouse isn’t getting any easier.” w/ photos

German Shepherd Bites Baby Tiger

“When he reaches his full size this three-month-old tiger will be a force of nature to reckon with. But for now tiger cub Kinwah is prepared to accept a rather nasty nip from his German shepherd Rumble who has taken on the role of protective older brother. The young cat spends his times cuddling up next to the older dog who has taken the him under his wing at a zoo in Australia. Kinwah was born at Mogo Zoo in New South Wales, Australia, and has been hand-reared by zoo owner zoo keeper Sally Padey since he was two weeks old.” w/ photos

Five-Fingered Carrot

“A gardener got his own unique five-a-day in one go after digging up a hand-shaped carrot complete with five fingers. The bizarre ‘carrot claw’ was grown by Peter Jackson, 66, in the garden of his home in Shropshire. But Peter thought nothing more of the wacky-shaped vegetable and merely took a picture before proceeding to cook it, much to surprise of his daughter Lindsay. Lindsay, 42, a chef from Condover, Shropshire, joked whether the hand might count as all of her ‘five a day’ in one go. She said: ‘We couldn’t believe it, it was quite a shock to see a carrot perfectly shaped like a hand. ‘You’d think that with me being a chef and my dad a gardener, we might have come across something this strange before – but we never have.” w/ photos

Mr. Bean’s Wacky Driving Style

“Comic actor Rowan Atkinson amazed fans with his bumbling Mr Bean character by driving a Mini around a race track – while sitting on an armchair strapped to the roof. The car fan, who played the iconic role on TV from 1989 to 1995, was recreating one of the show’s most memorable scenes at the Goodwood Revival festival. In the sketch, Mr Bean buys several items of large furniture and then realises they will not fit in his Mini. He then straps the armchair to the roof and drives home operating the car with a mop and some string. Visitors to the Sussex racetrack were once again rolling with laughter as Mr Atkinson drove the distinctive pea green and black Mini Mr Bean-style around the circuit yesterday. It was part of a huge parade of Minis to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the legendary British car. It also marks the 20th anniversary of the creation of Mr Bean. A well-known motoring enthusiast, Mr Atkinson has been a huge supporter of both the Revival and Festival of Speed over the years, and has been a regular participant.” w/ photos

The Lego House Nobody Wants

“It could be the biggest bargain on the property market: a two-storey house that’s being given away for nothing. The only drawback is that this des res is made entirely out of Lego – and you’ll have to find somewhere to put it. Top Gear presenter James May has just built the world’s first full-size Lego house – including a working toilet, hot shower and a very uncomfortable bed – using 3.3million plastic bricks. About 1,000 volunteers built the 20ft-tall house in Denbies Wine Estate in Dorking, Surrey – but now the vineyard needs the land back to harvest its grapes. If no one collects it by 8am on Tuesday, it will be hacked to bits with chainsaws.” w/ photos

Hawk Protects Toy Village

“Perched ominously on the church tower, the giant hawk stares down on the wedding party below. Evoking memories of a 1960s Twilight Zone episode, or perhaps a 1970s B-movie, the outsized portent of doom looks ready to attack the villagers at the slightest provocation. However, Kai the Hawk is a protector of the people – he’s protecting the model village from angry seagulls and herons looking for a free lunch. The bird of prey – with a wingspan of four feet – is acting as a burly security guard to watch over the miniature world. Seagulls which have been wreaking havoc by frightening visitors and vandalising parts of the attraction – stealing lunch from customers and pecking at the tiny buildings and houses, and perhaps abducting a miniature person or two. But staff at Babbacombe Model Village in Devon – who also run a bird of prey centre – say the pests have stayed away since Kais introduction last week.” w/ photos

Tortoise Wanders Across 5 Lanes Of Traffic

“Perhaps the grass looked greener on the other side of the M25, or maybe he just needed the exercise. For whatever reason, this tortoise decided to take a stroll through the rush-hour traffic. He was spotted plodding along the fast lane, miraculously avoiding the wheels as cars roared over him at 70mph and more. And by the time he was rescued unharmed, he had made it almost all the way across five lanes from the central reservation to the verge.” w/ photos

The Flying Police

“In yet another novel innovation in police transport, a specially-trained Florida force is to take to the skies in motorised, bullet-proof paragliders. The officers of the Palm Bay police force are to fly 400ft up, equipped with radios, cameras and GPS satellite systems as they patrol the ground. The trikes the officers ride in are bullet-proof. Codenamed Operation S.O.A.R, (Search Operations Aerial Response), the four-strong team will provide assistance to officers on the ground as a cheaper alternative to helicopters.” w/ photos