World Beard and Moustache Championships + September Follow-ups

   1. World Beard and Moustache Championships
      < http://www.worldbeardchampionships.com/index.html >


   2. Follow-ups to September Postings

   [Talk Like A Pirate Day - Sep 19]
      < http://www.talklikeapirateday.com/ >
      < http://talklikeapirate.com/ >

   [Unusual Wedding Ceremonies]
   * "French town offers live Internet weddings"
      < http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s949101.htm >
   * "Bride, groom tie double proxy knot"
      < http://www.dailyinterlake.com/NewsEngine/SelectStory_AD.tpl?
          command=search&db=news.db&eqskudata=72-734975-14 >

   [Fads]
   * "Latest party fad: Hiring pretty guests"
      < http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/
          Article_Type1&call_pageid=971358637177&c=Article&cid=1058393419461 >
     "Hired partygoers help beat boredom"
      < http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/news/weird_news/6048426.htm >

   [Some of Life's Great Mysteries]
   * "Big heads 'boost IQ'"
      < http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,7337755%255E13762,00.html >
   * "Book Examines Nose Picking and Buttered Toast"
      < http://news.lycos.com/news/story.asp?section=OddNews&storyId=783025 >

   [Alternative Olympic Events II]
   * "Black pudding games held"
      < http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,7404683%5E13762,00.html >
   * "Conkerers suffer after long, hot summer"
      < http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_823263.html >
   * "Scots lose elephant polo final to Germans"
      < http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_821529.html >
   * "Computer crashing, Ukraine-style"
      < http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3144704.stm >

What Fred Ate

      < http://www.geocities.com/NapaValley/4885/ >

   Find out what Fred the Cockroach ate. A contender for the ugliest and
   most annoying site ever. If you're at work, turn the volume down first.
   Probably not advisable for epileptics.

Alternative Olympic Events II

   Another installment in the Alternative Olympics series ... 

   1. "Athletes limber up for Mobile Phone Olympics"
      < http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_803111.html >

   2. "Former baseball player wins mobile phone throwing comp"
      < http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s931815.htm >

   3. "Swedes triumph at video game World Cup"
      < http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s901242.htm >

   4. "Thousands Attend Redneck Games in Georgia"
      < http://www.abcnews4.com/news/stories/0703/93800.html >

   5. "Silly world championships take over Finnish summer scene"
      < http://quickstart.clari.net/qs_se/webnews/wed/bu/Qlifestyle-finland.R2Ig_Dl9.html >

   6. "Estonians dominate sport of wife-carrying"
      < http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s895841.htm >

   7. "First ever Santa Olympics to be held this Christmas"
      < http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_802156.html >

   8. "Swifter, higher, stronger"
      < http://espn.go.com/page2/s/immerman/030703.html >

Freaks of Nature

   1. "Two-headed snake amazes experts"
      < http://www.itv.com/news/1938859.html >

   2. "Girl finds two-headed turtle"
      < http://www.local6.com/news/2219188/detail.html >

   3. "Healthy lamb born with six legs"
      < http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_750775.html >

   4. "Rare calf with three horns born on Alberta farm"
      < http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/WeirdNews/2003/04/11/62715-cp.html >

   5. "Girl catches fish with horn on head, legs"
      < http://www.local6.com/news/2403030/detail.html >

   6. "Four-legged chicken born in Del."
      < http://www.delawareonline.com/newsjournal/local/2003/07/16fourleggedchick.html >

   7. "Hen lays boomerang-shaped egg"
      < http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_788926.html >

   8. "Girls find frog with no eyes"
      < http://www.local6.com/news/2349034/detail.html >

   9. "533-pound fish caught; May be largest pacific halibut ever"
      < http://www.local6.com/news/2481257/detail.html >

   10. "Super beetle sets up home"
      < http://w3.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/story.asp?StoryID=32306 >

CrazyFads.com

   1. CrazyFads.com
      < http://www.crazyfads.com/ >

   "From 1920 to 1990 we list all of the craziest fads that have come
    and gone. Go back a few decades and read about the silly to serious
    fads that helped change our society and create a pop-culture."

   Examples:
     Silly Putty, Board Games, Pet Rocks, Hair Ironing, Boom Boxes
     and Sea monkeys


   2. B-List Flashback [April 2001]: The Bad Fads Museum
      < http://www.badfads.com/home.html >

   "Browse through the fun and fascinating fashion, collectible, activity
    and event fads of the last 100 years."

Some of Life's Great Mysteries

   1. "Contagious yawning is a real phenomenon"
      < http://www.rednova.com/news/stories/2/2003/07/29/story001.html >

   2. "Why we hiccup"
      < http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2730251.stm >

   3. "Researchers unveil why we can't tickle ourselves"
      < http://in.news.yahoo.com/030711/139/25xxv.html >
      "Brains hardwired to underestimate own strength"
      < http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99993929 >

   4. "Why do humans get 'goosebumps' when they are cold, or under other circumstances?"
      < http://www.sciam.com/askexpert_question.cfm?articleID=
          000A0A06-DD99-1F4C-8D6E80A84189EEDF&catID=3 >

   5. "Pain really is 'all in the mind'"
      < http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99993861 >

   6. "If you drop it, should you eat it? Scientists weigh in on the 5-second Rule"
      < http://web.aces.uiuc.edu/news/list.cfm?NID=2467 >

   7. "Why do people gesture when they speak?"
      < http://www.nature.com/nsu/981126/981126-2.html >

   8. "What a half-smile really means"
      < http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,60232,00.html >

   9. "Sleep position gives personality clue"
      < http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3112170.stm >

   10. "Why some of us are early risers"
      < http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2996364.stm >
       "'Sleepyhead gene' discovered"
      < http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1112458.stm >

Unusual Places for Wedding Ceremonies

   1. "Couple who met by text marry in phone booth"
      < http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_817307.html >

   2. "Wal-Mart employees wed in aisle"
      < http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/WeirdNews/2003/04/07/59972-ap.html >

   3. "Couple get married at town dump"
      < http://www.azcentral.com/offbeat/articles/0902Dump-Marriage-ON.html >

   4. "Couple get married at motorway service station"
      < http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_687391.html >

   5. "Drive-through mochas, matrimony"
      < http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/134684272_drivethru27.html >

   6. "Couple weds with tigers in bridal party"  (at the zoo)
      < http://www.boston.com/news/daily/10/odds_tigers.htm >

   7. "Horror museum hosts couple's Halloween 'wedding'"
      < http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_700649.html >

   8. "Newlyweds blessed in cattle ring"
      < http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_715278.html >

   9. "Stars in space couple's eyes"
      < http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3138941.stm >

   10. "Couple marry while suspended in mid-air"
      < http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_744788.html >

   11. "Indian couple in world record wet wedding"  (under water)
      < http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s886819.htm >
       "Indian couple to take plunge after airy engagement"
      < http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s879703.htm >

   12. "Alcatraz wedding on offer for British couples"
      < http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_792887.html >
      < http://www.kuoni.co.uk/news/brochures/newbrox4WD.html >

Intergalactic Non-Blonde Right-Handers Day

   Not really, but recently it was ...

   A. (Australian) National Blonde Day 2003 - September 10

   1. "Blondes Are A Dying Breed"
      < http://www.clickondetroit.com/sh/health/stories/health-nbc-169118120020927-130904.html >
      "International media caught by dumb blond joke"
      < http://abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s690838.htm >

   2. "PhD roots out blonde myths"
      < http://news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,6637214%5E13762,00.html >
      The story has been "archived at Newstext" - ie available if you subscribe,
      but it can still be read for free at:
      < http://azure.bbboy.net/australianparents-viewthread?forum=9&thread=23 >

   3. US National Blonde Day Site (June 30)
      < http://www.nationalblondeday.com/ >


   B. International Left-Handers Day - August 13

   1. "Out in left field
      < http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/WeirdNews/2003/08/13/159829.html >

   2. "Left-handed facts and trivia
      < http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/WeirdNews/2003/08/13/159828.html >


   C. Find your own special day to celebrate

   1. Yahoo! > Directory > Society and Culture > Holidays and Observances
      < http://dir.yahoo.com/society_and_culture/Holidays_and_Observances/ >

   2. Google > Directory > Society > Holidays
      < http://directory.google.com/Top/Society/Holidays/ >

   3. ButlerWebs.com > Holidays & Observances
      < http://www.butlerwebs.com/holidays/default.htm >

   Examples:
    * System Administrator Appreciation Day (July 30)
      < http://www.sysadminday.com/ >

    * Buy Nothing Day (November 28)
      < http://www.adbusters.org/campaigns/bnd/ >

Living Billboards

   1. "Mum-to-be has bellyful of adverts"
      < http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=74375 
          &command=displayContent&sourceNode=73927&contentPK=6941233 >
   "mum-to-be Zoe Ellis ... pocketed £250 by walking around the capital
    with an advert on her pregnant belly"

   2. "Help wanted: Walking billboards needed"
      < http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/news/070103_bb_humanads.html >

   3. "In-Your-Face Marketing: Ad agency rents foreheads"
      < http://www.commercialalert.org/foreheads.html >

   4. "Man auctions off back of his head for £4,500"
      < http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_768863.html >

   5. "Homeless serving as billboards"
      < http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/134998925_pizza15.html >

   6. "Cow-verts launched at Glastonbury"
      < http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_794370.html >

Consider Yourself Warned

   A. Microsoft - Just Say No

   Bashing Micro$oft is just too easy these days. It seems every week at
   least one new security hole is announced or a new virus is released.
   Today it's five security warnings. Perhaps they subscribe to the view
   that "any publicity is good publicity".

   1. "Microsoft Issues Five New Security Warnings"
      < http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=14200390 >

   2. "Microsoft Windows: Insecure by Design"
      < http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A34978-2003Aug23?language=printer >

   3. "Taking Microsoft to task on spam"
      < http://news.com.com/2008-1082_3-5070492.html?tag=fd_lede2_hed >

   4. "Slammer worm crashed Ohio nuke plant network"
      < http://www.securityfocus.com/news/6767 >


   B. Silly Warning Labels

   1. "101 Dumb Warning Labels"
      < http://msnbc.com/news/922010.asp?v61 >
      Review of book: "Wearing Of This Garment Does Not Enable You To Fly:
      101 Real Dumb Warning Labels."

   2. "Warning: this salmon may contain fish"
      < http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/05/11/nwarn11.xml >
      "Top 10 ludicrous labels"
      < http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/graphics/2003/05/11/nwarn11.gif >

   3. "Stupid Warning Labels"
      < http://astro.bu.edu/~avondale/Humor/MiscellaneousHumor/Warnings.html
>

Robotic Replacements

   1. "How robots will steal your job"
      < http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,59882,00.html >

   2. "Feminists want robots to replace men"
      < http://entertainment.tv.yahoo.com/entnews/wwn/20030813/106078680003.html >

   3. "Robot footballers descend on Italy"
      < http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_796119.html >

   4. "Japanese scientists invent dancing robot"
      < http://www.klikka.net/klikkaweb.nsf/Living/B82A4F766391AE96C1256D680061043E >

   5. "Czech mate"
      < http://smh.com.au/articles/2003/08/26/1061663791544.html >

   6. "Sony's new humanoid robot SDR-4X II"
      < http://www.i4u.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=255&mode=&order=0&thold=0 >

   7. "Robot guard-dragon unveiled in Japan"
      < http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99993061 >
      "tmsuk and SANYO reveals new and improved 'Banryu' home-robot"
      < http://www.sanyo.co.jp/koho/hypertext4-eng/0211news-e/1106-e.html >

   8. "Robotic lawnmower paves way for hi-tech housekeeper"
      < http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_650556.html >

   9. "Roomba the 'robot' ready to clean"
      < http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~33~1603534,00.html >

   10. "Robot pets take off in Asia"
      < http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,7110361%5E15397%5E%5Enbv%5E,00.html >

   11. "Robots rumble at annual expo"
      < http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,59797,00.html >

   12. "Robots without a cause"
      < http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,3604,978873,00.html >

Adrian Lafond's Flash Stuff + August Follow-ups

   1. Adrian Lafond's Flash Stuff
      < http://www.adrianlafond.com/a/flash.html >


   2. Follow-ups to August Postings

   [Not the Nine O'Clock News]
   * "Blair Says Britain Must Back Bush In Order To Become 51st State"
      < http://bbspot.com/News/2003/01/britannia.html >
   * "Dell Patents 'Reboot and See If That Fixes It' Technical Support Process"
      < http://bbspot.com/News/2003/08/dell_tech_support.html >

   [Don't Have A Cow!]
   * "Woman says runaway cows attacked her car"
      < http://www.wmtw.com/Global/story.asp?S=1390869 >
   * "More cow comforts"
      < http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article.jhtml?articleID=603837 >

   [Celebrating Failure]
   * "Failure Is the New Success"
      < http://slate.msn.com/id/2067220/ >
   * "Bombs Away!: The top 10 biggest box office failures"
      < http://entertainment.msn.com/news/article.aspx?news=131054#1 >
   * "German town erects statue to historic gaffe"
      < http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_811202.html >

   [Animals In The Workforce]
   * "Goats do great job of guarding business against burglars"
      < http://www.gomemphis.com/mca/local_news/article/0,1426,MCA_437_2189544,00.html >

   [Action Figures and other Dolls]
   * "'Smart' doll can see and read"
      < http://news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,7010272%255E13762,00.html >

   [Stories from the Dung-Heap]
   * "Railway shelves lion dung experiment"
      < http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_811303.html >