Monkeys Steal Covid-19 Samples from Lab Worker in India

May 19, 2020

Reminiscent of the beginnings of an apocalyptic science fiction film, a troop of monkeys in India attacked a lab worker and made off with blood samples from COVID-19 patients. The very strange incident reportedly occurred at a medical college in the city of Meerut on Thursday when a lab technician was walking outside the facility and encountered the troublesome creatures. Presumably suspecting that he was carrying something that they could eat, the monkeys descended upon the unfortunate individual and snatched three samples containing the virus.

The fantastic nature of the caper captured the imagination of people online, many of whom likened it to the eerily similar opening scene of the zombie film 28 Days Later. However, not everyone found the monkey’s antics amusing as residents of the area were understandably concerned about the prospect of the creatures spreading the virus in their community. In response to those fears, an official with the college assured the public that, to date, no evidence has emerged to indicate that monkeys can get the coronavirus.

Fortunately this became something of a moot point when the samples were recovered shortly after the animals had stolen them. It would appear that the monkeys, who had scrambled up trees to examine the pilfered material, eventually tossed the blood samples to the ground once they realized that the packets could not be eaten. Nonetheless, authorities have pledged to investigate the incident and take steps to prevent any similar incidents in the future.

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‘Wish-Granting’ Cat for Sale in Russia

An odd online classified ad in Russia is selling what is described as a wish-granting cat and, by virtue of its purported ability, the feline’s owner is asking for big bucks in return for the allegedly magical animal. The strange posting reportedly appeared on the Russian equivalent of Craigslist late last month and showcased a Scottish Fold, dubbed Visik. In the listing, the seller asserts that the cat can grant wishes and names the selling price at a whopping 10 million rubles, which translates to roughly $127,000.

As one might imagine, the curious ad caught the attention of a Russian media outlet, who managed to track down Visik’s owner, a woman named Elena, in the city of Novosibirsk to get to the bottom of the very weird claim. According to her, the cat’s ability to grant wishes was discovered accidentally when she was in need of an apartment. Turning to Visik, Elena lamented her plight and asked for the animal to “fulfill my wish” for a new place to live.

“Literally the next day I realized that everything would come true,” she marveled, “you immediately feel that events are starting to take shape as they should. And a month later, I already had an apartment.” Elena says that she subsequently put Visik’s wish-granting abilities to the test and her family members received a new apartment and a new car. Alas, in a tale as old as time, it would seem that the feline’s magical powers were limited to only three instances, presumably per owner, which is why Elena has now decided to sell the cat.

In light of the untold riches that the wish-granting creature can presumably bestow upon its future owners, Elena is asking for the relatively meager sum of $127,000 for the fantastic animal. Strangely enough, Visik is not the first magical feline to go up for sale in Russia as an allegedly psychic cat appeared in a similar ad last year asking for $75,000 and, in what was undoubtedly the inspiration for the two listings, another clairvoyant tabby actually sold for $83,000 back in 2017.

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 ‘Giant Rat’ Pulled from Mexico City Drainage System

A drainage cleaning project in Mexico City took a bizarre turn when workers unearthed a giant rat costume that was unsettlingly similar to a real rodent. The nightmarish piece of debris was reportedly part of a massive haul of 22 tons of garbage that had been fished out of the city’s drainage system in an effort to alleviate a flooding problem which has plagued the community over the last few weeks due to heavy rain. As one might imagine, the enormous ‘rat’ constituted quite the clog and spawned something of a mystery as far as where it came from and how it got in the drain.

A resident named Evelin Lopez eventually came forward to claim ownership of the oddity and explained that it is a human-sized rat costume that she acquired as a Halloween decoration but subsequently lost when it was swept away by floodwaters long ago. How such a huge object could wind up in Mexico City’s drainage system remains unanswered as does what Lopez plans to do with the ‘rodent’ now that it’s back in her possession. Alas, given its current condition after sitting in the drain for so long, one assumes that she does not plan to don the costume anytime soon.

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Detroit Driver Arrested After Successfully Jumping Over Drawbridge

A foolhardy motorist in Detroit is in hot water with the law after he channeled his inner action hero and jumped over a drawbridge in his car. According to a local media report, the jaw-dropping incident occurred on Wednesday evening when the unnamed man was cruising along a bridge that spans the Rouge River. At the moment he arrived, the bridge had begun raising which, under normal circumstances, would be a cue for him to stop. The driver, however, had a rather ill-conceived alternative approach and opted to floor it towards the growing opening.

Drawbridge operator Andre Locke, who watched the wild scene unfold, recalled that “I looked, I said, ‘no, he ain’t.'” His disbelief quickly giving way to the realization that the man was, indeed, trying to jump the bridge, the worker hit an emergency stop button, but it was too late. “Over he went, blew out all four of his tires,” Locke said, “and then he crashed into the other gate.” While successfully completing such a jump may be cause for celebration in the movies, in this instance it led to the man being arrested since, with his car badly damaged, he was unable to flee the scene.

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Fox found with impressive shoe collection in Berlin

Jimmy Carter Confirms Willie Nelson Smoked Out His Son on the White House Roof

“We leaned against the flagpole at the top of the place and lit one up”

It’s one of the most enduring legends in music history — and it turns out it’s all true. In his 1988 autobiography, Willie Nelson wrote that he once smoked a joint on the roof of the White House with one of President Jimmy Carter’s sons. Now, the former president himself has confirmed the country icon’s story.

Carter shares the anecdote in the newly released documentary Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President. Directed and produced by Mary Wharton, the film examines how Carter embraced music alongside his politics. (Gosh, remember when that was something fun and not cause for legal action?). It highlights his friendships with the likes of Bob Dylan and Nelson, and when asked about the latter, Carter admits Nelson’s tale is true.

“[Nelson] says that his companion was one of the servants at the White House,” Carter says in the doc. “Actually, it was one of my sons.”

Chip Carter, the accomplice in question, also confirmed the story to the Los Angeles Times, saying he went to the roof with Nelson on September 13th, 1980. During a break in Nelson’s performance at the White House that day, Chip offered to take the singer upstairs:

“We just kept going up ’til we got to the roof, where we leaned against the flagpole at the top of the place and lit one up.’ If you know Washington, the White House is the hub of the spokes — the way it was designed. Most of the avenues run into the White House. You could sit up and could see all the traffic coming right at you. It’s a nice place up there.”

Roof of the White House

About 20% of the Reykjavík Metropolitan Police’s force are women – almost twice the percentage of U.S. police, and a higher percentage than in many EU countries.

I wonder what percentage are blonde? Some statistics report that 70% of Icelanders are blonde and 90% have blue eyes. Pic above seems to confirm the blonde stats.