Boulder Me Over

These dramatic pictures (courtesy of the BBC, lest any one of you may be doubting their authenticity) record the destruction wreaked when a large boulder became dislodged and smashed through a barn, narrowly missing a farmhouse in northern Italy. Another boulder stopped just short of the house. The house was occupied at the time but fortunately, no one was injured.

The larger boulder, in the foreground is one that apparently became dislodged many years before

As this and the previous picture show, the rock not only missed the house, but also a car that was parked nearby

  

BBC News - Boulder smashes through Italian farm:

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A what of starlings?

A 'murmuration' is the name given to starlings when, like, you see a whole bunch of them together. This footage was shot somewhere on the River Shannon, Ireland's longest river. Pretty impressive stuff.

Starlings are known to very gregarious, have complex vocalisations, are able to mimic sounds from their surroundings and are also believed to be able to identify individuals of their species by their calls.

Dishing the Dirt

Story of Amou Haji, an 80-year-old Iranian Man who, apparently, hasn't bathed in 60 years and also smokes animal poop. Luckily, we're not judgemental: we accept all sorts of weirdos on this website, as long as they bring us cheap laughs and keep our tired little minds titillated.

Amou Haji, 80-Year-Old Iranian Man, Smokes Animal Poop, Says He Hasn't Bathed In 60 Years (PHOTOS):

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The Costs (and risks) of Motoring

If reports are to believed, the pictures that follow tell the tale of a motorist in China, who chose to drive across a frozen river for the purpose of avoiding a motorway toll. A little dangerous and over-the-top, we are sure you will agree. Now if he was doing it to avoid traffic gridlock, it would be entirely understandable.

Tight-fisted driver risks his life driving across frozen Yellow river to avoid a 50p toll | Mail Online:

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Breeze your Way to a Degree

The task of writing papers for college is a big demand on the student's time, requiring preparation and planning, which let's be honest the average college student does not possess. Bodies pumping with adrenalin and hormones, minds fuelled with curiosity places him/her at a considerable disadvantage in this regard.

Companies offering paid essay writing services, may offer the way out. These can be found all over the internet, offering services that include custom essays, term papers, research papers, dissertation and many more.

This is a sponsored post

Immaculate Conception? Probably Not

A Catholic nun, who is rushed to hospital complaining of stomach pains, gives birth to a healthy 9 lb baby boy, whom she names Francesco, after the current Pontiff. We kid you not!

"It's not possible, I'm a nun," she told doctors, according to the Italian press.

The mother superior of the convent to which she is attached is reported as saying, "It seems she was not able to resist temptation." Apparently not.

Fellow nuns are said to be 'very surprised', while her local bishop says, "It would be preferable that she now lead a secular life with her baby, away from religious institutions."
Nun gives birth in Italy, names baby Francis: Reports - The Times of India:

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Additional reporting from:
The Telegraph - see Nun gives birth to baby named after Pope

Keep Smiling: it's only a broken dose!

The gentleman pictured here is Andy Eichholz, a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) figther, who suffered this slight facial re-alignment following a knock-out blow that came from his opponent, Wade Sauer, in their recent heavyweight clash in Pendleton, Oregon, USA.

We wish Andy a speedy recovery, though judging by the expression, his face doesn't look too far out of joint.

MMA fighter suffers the worst broken nose you will ever see - Independent.ie:

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Two Heads, Not Always Better than One!

A calf born with two heads in a remote area of Morocco has proved a popular visitor draw with locals flocking to see the new arrival, which has been named Sana Saida (Happy New Year in Arabic).

"The International Business Times said the calf can eat from both mouths and is healthy."

Birth deformities such as these are ascribed to a condition known as polycephaly, a disorder that results in having more than one head. It is different from the condition that causes twins to be born conjoined.

The condition is not related to any one species and has been recorded throughout history. It is believed to occur most commonly in snakes and turtles. In the last year alone, a two-headed shark was reported in Florida, USA around the same time that "a two-headed lamb was born in a remote town in Ghana."

Two-headed calf Sana Saida born in Morocco - Independent.ie
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Additional sources:
It's not just any two-headed shark. It's the rarest two-headed shark ever recorded
Wikipedia - Polycephaly
You Tube - Two-Headed Snakes (Epic Wildlife channel)

Life (and death) is Like a Game of Chess

It has been reported that police in Ireland are investigating a death following a stabbing incident - believed to be have resulted from a dispute over a game of chess - that took place during the early hours of Sunday, 12 January.

There was no sign of a break-in and detectives are working on the theory that the man was attacked following a row over the movement of a piece of a chessboard.

A man has been detained and is being questioned.

More on this story:
Gardaí believe Dublin man killed over chess game - RTÉ News:

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World War 2: Still Killing People after all of these Years

A bomb dropped in the 1940s finally finds a victim.

More on this story:
1 dead as World War II bomb explodes in Germany | Nation & World | The Seattle Times:

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Also reported on The Telegraph:

Chinese Consumers not to be Out-Foxed

Walmart has recalled a donkey meat product sold in some of its stores in China amid reports it was contaminated with fox. ...
... Fox meat sells for about $1 per kilo in Shandong province and is cheaper than donkey, a popular snack in some parts of China. While popular, donkey accounts for a tiny fraction of overall meat consumption. In 2011 China slaughtered 2.4 million donkeys, according to country’s livestock industry yearbook. ...
... Food and product safety scandals remain rampant in China, despite years of government attempts to tackle the problem. There have been countless cases in recent years of adulterated rodent meat being passed off as that of more expensive animals.

More on this story:
Walmart recalls donkey meat - because it contains fox - The Irish Times - Thu, Jan 02, 2014:

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