Unusual Stuff

One of the most important things about any super-hero movie is landing the look of the characters.  Whether you’re reinventing old outfits or coming up with something completely new, a superhero has to look the part before anything else can be decided.  When you’re dealing with iconic characters like Superman and Catwoman, well… if you […]

When NASA launches its Atlas V rocket on Friday, there will be two special pieces of cargo aboard.  One of these is Juno, a space probe that will be dedicated to the study of the planet Jupiter.  The other is Juno, a Lego minifig who is one of three Lego figures who’ll be taking a […]

There aren’t many people who can go from starring on the football field to starring in movies, on television, and in commercials, but Bubba Smith was a rarity in every field he was involved in.  As a Spartan at Michigan State, the 6’8 defensive lineman from Beaumont, Texas, inspired the fans to chant “Kill Bubba […]

There comes a time in a comic book’s life when you kind of… run out of stories to tell.  For example, Brian Michael Bendis has been writing Ultimate Spider-Man since the title debuted in 2000, and he’s got 160 or so issues under his belt of that title alone.  Surely he’s got to be a […]

I’ll avoid the obvious jokes about Samuel L. Jackson’s movie Snakes on A Plane, but for a family from the Memphis, Tennessee area a drive turned into an adventure worthy of an episode on Animal Planet. Cruising down the road at 65 mph, Rachel and Tony Fisher and their three children were surprised by an […]

It’s one of the most dramatic comeback stories ever.  Once upon a time, no one thought Representative Gabrielle Giffords, a Democrat from Arizona, would ever open her eyes again.  Gabrielle opened her eyes.  They thought she’d never be able to leave the hospital.  Giffords walked out of rehab.  Now, Rep. Giffords has returned to the […]

No one ever went broke underestimating the public, and as the old saying goes, Mitch Mortaza probably isn’t going broke.  Mortaza is the founder of what is probably the best idea ever.  Capitalizing on the success of the Lingerie Football League, Mortaza started the Lingerie Basketball League in 2009; since then, lingerie basketball has spread […]

Activision bought a gold mine when it bought up Blizzard.  Not just any old goldmine, but a working goldmine.  Yes, Activision had hits like Guitar Hero and whatnot in their lineup, but none of those things are as world-shakingly popular as Blizzard’s properties:  Warcraft, Starcraft, and Diablo.  After World of Warcraft got its expansion, and […]

I know most of the world is anxious for the start of the Discovery Channel’s annual Shark Week tomorrow. But let’s not neglect some of the other beasts in the sea. And in this case, unlike most shark stories, it has a happy ending. Michael Fishbach, one of the co-founders of the Great Whale Conservancy, […]

Time and time again, most of society is both appalled and entertained by the bumbling efforts of stupid criminals. Whether it’s sugar-craving idiots who robbed a candy store getting caught because they left a trail of empty wrappers like Hansel and Gretel or the dunces who had to leave their loot on the curb because […]

There may be only one creative form more vilified than mimes. They’re often derided as creepy or lowbrow, but ventriloquists, or “vents” as they call themselves, are dedicated to their art. Hundreds of ventriloquists gather each year in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky for Vent Haven, a convention dedicated to the one-man comedy duo. Brave Avi Steinberg […]

It’s been 20 years.  You’d think that, long after the band’s lead singer was found dead that Nirvana would be incapable of making waves.  You’d be wrong.  To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the landmark album Nevermind, Nirvana’s record label (Geffen Records) changed the band’s Facebook profile picture to the Nevermind cover.  That caused the […]

Game show hosts are often known to have a secret life, but apparently Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek’s secret life is that of a crime fighter.  When Trebek and his wife woke up to find someone in their hotel room, rummaging through their stuff, Trebek leaped into action.  The 71-year-old Trebek confronted the thief, who promptly ran.  Trebek, […]

From the get-go, AMC’s “The Walking Dead” has been able to do no wrong. It’s set ratings records, been made into a video game, and has inspired a host of other fun things. Last month, we learned that the cast would be picking up new members, including “Supernatural” veteran Lauren Cohan. And with last week’s […]

I love watching Antiques Roadshow. People bring their family treasures handed down for generations or art they bought at a yard sale or a vase they pulled out of a dumpster to let appraisers judge its value. Then they most often get super disappointed that great-great-great-great-great grandma’s tea cup and saucer are worth $2. The […]