How Very Kaspar

In The Empress's Tomb, Kaspar gets the Irregulars' attention by adding a little something extra to some famous works of art. Now it seems as if another person has had the same idea. Check out the masterpieces here--which are new and improved, with more rubber duckie than ever before!

Soon to Be Everywhere . . . But Who Cares?

It's just too good not to post. I give you . . . Ninja Cat.

Simple Yet Brilliant

Since you're all busy thinking up gadget ideas, I figured I should share a cool invention that I happened across the other day. It's unbelievably simple--yet truly ingenious.

It's called the Anti-Theft Lunch Bag. Simply place your yummy sandwich inside, and your food will appear moldy and disgusting. No matter where you leave it, you can be 100% certain that no one's gonna take it!

Just goes to show you that an invention need not be complicated to be a winner.

Another Installment of "What IS It?"

A large creature was recently spotted taking a dip in the scenic West Hartford reservoir. What the heck was it? Alligator? Gigantic mutant toad? Baby Godzilla?

Check out more photos here.

Gadget Contest Announcement!

The deadline for the latest contest has been pushed back to October 15. Now go do your homework! (Kidding!)

Note to Potential Stalkers

Guess where I'll be tomorrow! The Eighth International Pickle Day on Manhattan's Lower East Side.

As you may or may not know, the best pickles in the world come from New York. A century ago, there were 200 pickle shops in the city. Today, the Lower East Side neighborhood is best known for its cucumber-based varieties. But on Sunday, a wide range of international pickled treats will be available, including, "kimchi (Korean), lemons (Chinese), codfish (Haitian), sauerkraut (German), pomegranate pickled turnips (Middle Eastern), plums (Japanese) and mango (India)."

My mouth is already watering.

For more information, click here!

Birthday Greetings

I'd like to wish a very happy thirteenth birthday to Ashlee from Australia!!!

(And Quarguana and Traveling Gnome!)

In honor of Ashlee, I humbly present my favorite photo of evil, alien deer (shown above) and this story about killer wallabies. Enjoy!

My Own (Tiny) Secret Lair

Many Americans dream of owning a mansion. But MY dream is to own a house no bigger than the average garden shed. I think it would be super cool to have a doll-size dwelling like the one shown above and plunk it down in a field in the middle of nowhere. (I'd keep my New York apartment, of course. There's only so much nature--and squirrel eating--that a girl can take.)

Fortunately, itsy bitsy houses are all the rage these days. Yesterday, the New York Times had a great audio slide show of some of the options that are currently available. My choice? Frankly, I'm torn between the modern wee house and the charming Loring from Tumbleweed Houses. Which one would you choose?

See the slide show here.

Squirrel Melts: Delicious and Nutritious

It's funny that I should come across this video today. Just last night, I was forced to admit that I have eaten squirrel. (My apologies, vegetarians.) No, I wasn't lost in the wilderness or hiding out from the law. I was sitting in a nicely decorated kitchen, surrounded by the family of a well-respected doctor.

How did it taste? Let's just say that my mouth doesn't exactly water when I watch the squirrels scamper around Washington Square Park. But I remain a firm believer in trying new and different foods. And, in my humble opinion, anyone who automatically sticks up their nose at a "squirrel melt" is missing a golden opportunity.

Still, the video (via Boing Boing) is pretty strange. See what you think.

Crop Circles: Who's Responsible?

I can't believe I've been writing this blog for more than two years, and I haven't posted a single thing about crop circles! Several readers (thanks, Kitty!) have sent me some fabulous videos over the past few months. And now it's time to share my new-found knowledge with the masses.

While I'll be the first to argue that Bigfoot is real, I've always been a bit skeptical of crop circles--the complicated, often beautiful, patterns that appear in fields around the world when no one is watching. (More than 12,000 have been discovered to date.) Are they made by fun-loving extraterrestrials? Or sneaky, math-loving hoaxters?

Until recently I would have gone with the hoaxsters. After all, several have confessed in recent years. But after doing a little research, I discovered that the story might be more complicated than I assumed. According to Wikipedia, there are reports of similar phenomena dating back to the seventeenth century! (When people had far less time to pull pranks on their neighbors.) And some modern eyewitnesses claim to have seen flying saucers skipping across fields, leaving crop circles in their wake.

So what do you think? Read the Wikipedia entry, watch a National Geographic video, and a MSNBC video, and write in with your opinion!

Hollywood Goats

If you're a long-time reader of this blog, then you might be aware of my fondness for goats. My family owned three (Bucky, Sophie, and Melissa) when I was growing up, and I found them delightful. Before they all met tragic ends (don't ask), they provided an important service--their insatiable appetites prevented the dreaded kudzu vine from swallowing my house!

Ah, memories. But today I was reading through the LA Times, when I discovered the lovely photo above. It seems one hundred goats have been set loose in downtown Los Angeles, where they act as a cheap, ecologically-friendly landscaping team. If only New York had a herd or two!

Check out more pictures here.

PS: I accidentally deleted some of your comments this morning when I was still half asleep! I'm so sorry! So if you don't see one of your comments, please don't be offended.

For All You Spider Lovers

Hee hee. Via Boing Boing.

When the Walls Come Alive

Street art animation! I love it!

Warning: If you go to the website listed, some of the imagery is pretty gruesome. Visit at your own peril!

50-Foot Spider Attacks Liverpool

The biggest spider on Earth was spotted clinging to a Liverpool skyscraper this week. See it in action here.

In related British arachnid news, a supermarket clerk recently discovered a deadly South American spider hiding in a shipment of bananas. Warning to banana lovers: Spider attacks are more common than you'd think!

Here's a gallery of spiders discovered in British banana shipments in the past four years:

Below: A Brazilian Wandering Spider. Found July 2004 in Walsall, April 2005 in Bridgwater (where one bit a pub chef), and September 2008 in Kent. According to an expert, "the deadly arachnid has the largest venom glands of any spider and a very toxic poison." The Guinness Book of World Records has named it the deadliest spider in the world.




Below: A Giant Crab Spider. In June, 2005, a man was bitten by such a spider when he picked up an innocent-looking bunch of bananas. Though it's not venomous, the spider's bite can be quite painful!




Below: A Huntsman Spider. Found April, 2004 in Newcastle-Under-Lyme. Not poisonous but really, really scary-looking.




Not terrifying enough for you? Then check out this list of Seven Things You Don't Want to Find While Shopping!

Wild Planet

Above: A family of bobcats has taken over a house in Southern California that was abandoned because of the foreclosure crisis.

A part of the Indian Ocean the size of Connecticut has been glowing in the dark for several nights in a row. Though the glow has been described in books such as "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea," this is the first time the phenomenon (known as a "milky sea") has been captured on satellite.

In the great state of North Carolina, a man and his granddaughter recently caught a record-sized catfish using only a pink plastic Barbie rod and reel.

Who needs a compass? All you need to know where you're going is . . . a cow. Studies have shown that 60 to 70% of the time, cows graze in a north/south pattern.

The price of rat meat has skyrocketed in Cambodia.

Planning any home renovations? If so, I recommend installing a "Fish 'n Flush," the world's #1 toilet aquarium (shown below).

Make Your Own Monstrosities

Halloween is (almost) around the corner, but I'm the sort who likes a few canned monstrosities on display in my house all year round. I have a sneaking suspicion that many of you share my feelings on this matter.

So here (via Boing Boing) is a wonderful site that should give you hours upon hours of fiendish fun. (They make excellent birthday and batz mitzvah presents!)

Design the Perfect Gadget Contest

YOUR MISSION:

Design the perfect gadget for a girl spy or detective.

THE RULES:

It must be completely original.
It must be useful.
It must blend in with the contents of an average purse/backpack.
It must be something a girl could use without attracting any suspicion.

THE ENTRY:

Your entries may consist of a written description, blueprints, pictures, drawings, or any combination of the above. They will not be judged based on writing or drawing skills--but rather on the creativity displayed.

Everyone, including former winners, is welcome to enter.

All entries should be sent to kikistrike@gmail.com.

THE TIMING:

Entries are due by 11:59PM, EST, September 30.

THE REWARD:

You'll know soon enough.

PS:

The idea for this contest came from one of our readers. (Thanks, Macy!) It's in honor of the late, great Julia Child.

No Contest Announcement Today

I was planning to announce the latest contest this morning, but I think we would all be better off watching the news. Best wishes to the people of Louisiana and the Gulf Coast!

Mysterious Cave House Discovered in Scotland

In a story somewhat reminiscent of the magnificent Perforating Mexicans, a mysterious dwelling has been discovered in a sea-side cliff near the town of Arbroath, Scotland.

According to the BBC:

"The [Arbroath authorities were] investigating reports of cries for help coming from local caves on Tuesday.

After scouring the area they spotted a rope ladder which led into a cave house built into the rocks.

The dwelling, about half way up the 120ft cliffs, contained a floor, painted walls, seating, tea lights and several beer cans.

No-one was home at the time.

Read more here.

I'm Sensing a Trend Here

Apparently, the quickest way to fame these days is to put nasty stuff on your face/head. The girl shown above is Japanese celebrity Shokotan, who enjoys accessorizing with the dried and discarded shells of cicadas. Ew. Read more at Pink Tentacle. Pictures via the Shokotan blog.

As for the upcoming contest, thanks for the support! I'll be announcing the details tomorrow, so stay tuned!

Contest Time?

(Above: Jedi Squirrels by an unidentified genius.)

I'm thinking of sponsoring a new contest. One that won't necessarily take writing or drawing skills, but will instead require a devious mind and a heap of creativity. What do you think?

Now That's What I Call Talent!

Nine-year-old Tiana Walton has used an unusual skill to break into the Guinness Book of World Records. She now holds the world record for balancing snails on her face. Just how many did it take to shatter the previous record held by Australian Liam Kenny? TWENTY-FIVE!

All I can say is . . . do not try this at home.

(Of course Tiana comes from a talented family. Her mother once held the record for growing the largest lemon in the world.)

Read more and see a video masterpiece here.

My NEXT Vacation: The Mayan Underworld

Yes, I'm back in good old New York, where the streets still smell like summer. (Which is a heavenly mixture of rancid garbage and urine in case you're wondering.)

For the past five days, I've been in the Bahamas--trying to figure out what REALLY makes their sand pink, avoiding sharks and wandering through creepy Caribbean graveyards (see below). What's making some of the graves in the picture rise, I'd like to know? I have a feeling you'll be reading about this cemetery in one of my books someday.

But while I'm all for sunbathing and relaxing, I think I'm ready for some serious adventure. So the next time I have a few days off, I'm heading down to Mexico's Yucatan Penninsula where archaeologists have discovered a real-life portal to Xibalba, the mythical Mayan underworld.

Deep underground lies a complex of caves that the Mayans believed was the route souls took to the underworld. At least eleven stone temples line the way--some underwater and others filled with human bones.

According to one archaeologist, ancient Mayan texts said the dead followed a dog along a path, "filled with obstacles, including rivers filled with scorpions, blood and pus and houses shrouded in darkness or swarming with shrieking bats."

Now THAT sounds like fun to me!

Read more here and here.

China's Winged Cats

I AM SPEECHLESS. (And I'm back!)

Read more here. (Via Boing Boing)

Time for a Little Break

(Art by Sarah Hobbs.)

After working my butt off for months, I've decided to get some sun. I'll be back in New York next Thursday. Until then I may post a little something here and there, but I probably won't do so every single day. (Which means I may not respond to emails, either.)

In the meantime, do something daring. Or at the very least, check out Yoda the four-eared cat. (Thanks, anonymous!)

The Cottingley Fairies

The unfortunate Bigfoot incident which took place earlier this month (don't get me started!) brought to mind another, much more interesting hoax. For two years, I've been meaning to write about the Case of the Cottingley Fairies. Now, the time has finally come.

In 1917, ten-year-old Frances Griffiths and her sixteen-year-old cousin Elsie Wright shocked all of England with five photographs they claimed to have taken near their home in the town of Cottingley. The photos seemed to show the girls posing with a number of tiny woodland fairies.




Now before everyone starts talking about how fake the photos look today, you must remember that back in 1917, photography was relatively new. The public still thought seeing was believing--and they weren't used to questioning evidence provided by their own two eyes. As a result, many people were absolutely convinced that the Cottingley photos were proof of the existence of fairies. Even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (the brilliant creator of Sherlock Holmes) was certain that the photos had not been faked.

(I'm of the opinion that most people were fooled by the photos because they believed two little girls could never have staged such an elaborate hoax.)




Alas, poor Mr. Conan Doyle was wrong. Elsie and Frances had indeed pulled the wool over England's eyes. And they refused to confess until 1981. As one said then, "I never even thought of it as being a fraud - it was just Elsie and I having a bit of fun and I can't understand to this day why they were taken in - they wanted to be taken in."

Find out how they did it here.

Sidewalk Manta Ray

Last week, a Manta Ray mysteriously appeared on a San Francisco sidewalk. (My worst fears have been realized! They're making the move to land!) Read more here.

On the one hand, this is the sort of crazy story that makes life interesting. On the other hand, people must stop messing with manta rays and painting pigeons purple! People who are cruel to helpless. animals are the lowest form of life!

PS: Let's not get too worked up about cheerleaders, OK?

The Mysterious, Maddening Hum

What if your house was plagued by a mysterious noise that never seemed to stop? One that sounded like an 18-wheeler left idling in the driveway? That's what a Green Bay, Wisconsin couple say is driving them slowly insane. Yet whenever the authorities show up to check, the noise mysteriously goes away.

When I received this story from two long-time readers (thanks Hazel & Nellie!), I immediately thought of another, more famous, hum. The Hum, as it's known, (catchy, huh?) has been reported in locations around the world, but most famously in Taos, New Mexico.

Not everyone can hear it, but those who do describe a maddening noise that sounds much like the one the Green Bay couple experienced. It doesn't stop and earplugs won't diminish it.

Is it man-made, mass-hysteria, or a form of alien communication? No one knows. Since it was first reported in the 1990s, the Taos hum has not been explained. It has, however, provided fodder for both the X-Files and Unsolved Mysteries.

Read more here and check out some sound files here. Maybe it's my computer, but I couldn't hear a thing!

The Magnet Mafia

It took me a while to recover from my recent Bigfoot disappointment. (BLAST THOSE SCUM-SUCKING CON MEN!) But I'm okay now. It's time to move on. So today I'm going to profile some people who truly deserve a place on this blog.

Over the past three years, strange works of art have begun showing up on metal surfaces throughout Denver, Colorado (and a few other cities as well). Some are large, others tiny. But all were created by members of a (not so) shadowy organization known as the Magnet Mafia.

The Magnet Mafia are artists who choose to display their work on the streets where everyone can enjoy it. Their medium of choice? Magnets, of course. Which is fabulous. Why? Because it offers all the positives of "graffiti" (it's free, unexpected, and it makes you think) without any of the negatives (vandalism).

It's also really cheap to make, which gives me a few ideas . . .

Visit the Magnet Mafia's website and read more here.

PS: Cheerleaders are people, too!

The Sad Truth

It's becoming clear the the Georgia Gorilla is most likely a hoax staged by a bunch of con men. Too bad! (But I gotta admit that part of me is glad there's still a chance that I could be the first person to prove that Bigfoot exists.)

The Georgia Gorilla: Has the Body of a Bigfoot Finally Been Discovered?

Okay. Calm down. Take a deep breath and write the post, darn it!

The body of an ape-like creature has been discovered in the mountains of North Georgia. (Not far from where I grew up in Western North Carolina!!!!) Although it's still too soon to say, some people are speculating that it may be Bigfoot.

According to a press release sent to Cryptomundo this morning, here are some of the creature's vital stats . . .

1. The creature is seven feet seven inches tall.
2. It weighs over five hundred pounds.
3. The creature looks like it is part human and part ape-like.
4. It is male.
5. It has reddish hair and blackish-grey eyes.
6. It has two arms and two legs, and five fingers on each hand and five toes on each foot.
7. The feet are flat and similar to human feet.
8. Its footprint is sixteen and three-quarters inches long and five and three-quarters inches wide at the heel.
9. From the palm of the hand to the tip of the middle finger, its hands are eleven and three-quarters inches long and six and one-quarter inches wide.
10. The creatures walk upright. (Several of them were sighted on the same day that the body was found.)
11. The teeth are more human-like than ape-like.
12. DNA tests are currently being done and the current DNA and photo evidence will be presented at a press conference on Friday, August 15th.

A picture of the creature can be seen here. WARNING! The picture shows a dead creature and it isn't pretty.

This is the most exciting thing to happen EVER!!!!! Be sure to check in with Cryptomundo (the web's best cryptozoology site) throughout the day!

Chupacabra Caught on Tape!

By a police officer!

A cop in Cuero, Texas spotted the creature shown above while on patrol. He quickly flipped on his video camera and captured some fascinating footage. The beast looks much like an ordinary dog until it turns it's head, displaying a snout that's way too long for your average pet.

Whatever it is, it sure is strange. What's up with all the mutants running around and washing up on our beaches these days?

Chupacabra
by guanabee

Ever Wanted to BE Kiki Strike?

One of our regular readers and comment contributors has started a Kiki Strike role play site! So all of you who think you've got what it takes to be an Irregular, test your skills here!

Your Very Own Anime Eyes

(Above: From Worth 1000)

Ever dreamed of looking just like a cartoon character? Well here's your chance! Scores of Japanese websites now sell "extra wide contact lenses," which will give you the big-eyed gaze of an anime girl (or guy). They come in a wide range of colors and can even correct your vision (if you're into silly things like 20/20 eyesight).

I'm not sure what to think. Part of me says these would be super cool on Halloween. And part of me finds the whole thing really creepy. What about you?

(Below: The lenses in action.)

Future Cat Burglar

Okay, I know I said I wasn't going to post, but this is the GREATEST VIDEO OF ALL TIME! (I know there have been a few of them.) I nearly fell off my chair when I saw it. I love this kid.

(Just in case you're wondering, the machine is one of those games where you use a "claw" to grab a toy.)

Via Boing Boing



http://view.break.com/536276 - Watch more free videos

Dear Readers and Irregulars:

I must take a short break so I can FINALLY finish my latest project. I will return, even weirder and more dangerous than before, on Monday August 11. I wish all of you an adventure-filled weekend.

It's Arts and Crafts Time!

The following video offers instructions for copying a key using only some scissors and an aluminum can. I wonder if it really works. I would think that the aluminum would bend when you try to turn the "key."

So if anyone cares to try it out, the rest of us would be grateful

(I highly recommend wearing some sort of safety gloves. I've cut myself doing stuff like this, and it ain't fun.)

Bullet Proof Undies!

It's a good time to be a German policewoman. Now, in addition to the "I MEAN BUSINESS" uniform, each lady cop gets her own bullet proof brassiere. At least that's what they're being called. I doubt that they actually stop bullets. They're meant as an alternative to regular bras, which contain bits of metal and plastic that can prove dangerous when worn under a standard bullet proof vest.

But they do say "Police" on them, which is pretty durn cool if you ask me. Read more here.

My Kind of Merit Badges

The Boy Scouts are offering some awesome merit badges these days. Once you've perfected your knot-tying and survival skills, you can try your hand at . . .

Shark Fishing
Cat Herding (shown above)
Brain Surgery
Coffee Drinking
Cow Tipping, and more!

See them all here. (I think they'd look pretty good on a Girl Scout sash, too.)

Famous US Astronaut Says Aliens Visit Earth

Dr. Edgar Mitchell is a renowned American astronaut--and one of the few people who've had the chance to walk on the moon. Now, at age 77, he's decided to add world-class bean-spiller to his resume as well.

In a recent interview, Dr. Mitchell claimed that extraterrestrials have made several trips to our planet. And each time they pay us a visit, the government simply covers it up.

But WHY? According to Mitchell, though the aliens boast technology far superior to ours, they pose no threat to humankind. Perhaps officials are worried that the extraterrestrials' creepy looks (small bodies and over-sized eyes) would scare the general public.

Whatever the reason, their secret is OUT. According to Mitchell:

"I happen to have been privileged enough to be in on the fact that we've been visited on this planet and the UFO phenomena is real. It's been well covered up by all our governments for the last 60 years or so, but slowly it's leaked out and some of us have been privileged to have been briefed on some of it.

"I've been in military and intelligence circles, who know that beneath the surface of what has been public knowledge, yes - we have been visited. Reading the papers recently, it's been happening quite a bit."

Read more here. (Thanks, Eternal Espionage!)

The Week in Bizarre

(Above: "Pick out a good one for dinner, son." Photo by Cheryl Gerber for The New York Times.)

A new "Insectarium" recently opened in New Orleans. How many museums let you spend quality time with cockroaches, eat cajun-fried crickets, handle some millipede goop, and watch termites devour a wooden version of the New York skyline? (Why is is ALWAYS New York that gets eaten, stomped, or destroyed?)

Got a spare $100,000? Then next year, you just might be able to purchase your very own jet pack. See a video here.

A twelve-year-old girl (and drummer in a rock band) survived a fifteen-story fall down an old Manhattan chimney. The Irregulars would like to state for the record that we had NOTHING to do with this.

Queen Victoria's enormous, 100-year-old bloomers sold for $9000 to a Canadian woman. I bet they don't even fit. (Thanks, Macy!)




(Above: Who looked at these and thought, "refreshing?")

A beverage called Unagi Nobori (Surging Eel) went on sale in Japan. According to reports, "The fizzy, yellow-colored drink contains extracts from the head and bones of eel and five vitamins." Yum! (Thanks again, Macy!)

CNN reported that girls are just as good at math as boys. What? This is news? Should we be just a teensy bit offended that reporters seem so surprised?

A rare (and extremely cute) pod of snubfin dolphins was filmed off the coast of Australia. The species was completely unknown to science until three years ago! Is it just me or does Australia have more than its fair share of cool animals? (Be sure to check out the video of the guys surfing with whales, too.)

(Below: Awwww!)

The Montauk Monster

I've been sitting on this post for a few days now. 'Cause to be honest, it's pretty gross. But as an amateur cryptozoologist, I feel it's my duty to report the facts. However, out of respect for our more sensitive readers, I won't post a picture. You can choose whether you're up for it or not.

A while back, several people photographed a dead creature that had washed ashore on Montauk beach in New York. Weeks later, no one has figured out what, exactly, it was. Some say the photos show the carcass of a dog. Others say raccoon. But there's a little problem. Pictures of the creature seem to show that it had a muscular body, fur, large fangs . . . and a beak.

Many have speculated that the creature escaped from a nearby animal testing facility. What do YOU think?

See a video here, and read more here. (Consider yourself warned.)