WEIRD NEWS

Dating By DNA!

Lord knows there's a ton of dating apps out there - but here's something new: Dating by DNA! It's called Pheramor and it matches people's chemical compatibility by analyzing and comparing their DNA. For $29.99, the company will ship you a DNA kit containing a buccal swab that you return for analysis after swabbing the inside of our cheeks - your mouth cheeks! Pheramor will then analyze the samples and sequence 11 genes allegedly linked to attraction and compare the results with others in its database to determine chemical compatibility. The company then sends the user three potential matches in their area (with their photos blurred) every day, each graded from 0 to 100, based on estimated compatibility. Pheramor CEO and founder Dr. Brittany Barreto said, "From the DNA, we sequence your human leukocyte antigen genes, or HLA genes. This is what predicts attraction." Pheramor sends blurred profile photos of potential matches to its users in order to discourage mindless swiping based on physical appearance, and while that may be a deal-breaker for a lot of people, the company claims that its system actually works better. Its data allegedly shows that users have more second dates than people using traditional dating apps. Founded in Houston, Pheramor is currently expanding its DNA-dating services nationwide. (Oddity Central)

Gimmie Your Money... or Your Fried Chicken!

Talk about your lame petty criminals. In New Orleans, one would-be robber tried to get the cash register open at a Popeyes Fried Chicken restaurant, but just couldn't figure it out. Police say with no money to be had, he grabbed some fried chicken instead and then fled the business. He turned out to be 27-year-old Phillip Lee and police later found and arrested him on allegations of simple robbery and simple battery. He appeared in court later that day where Magistrate Judge Brigid Collins set his bond at $13,500. Going to jail for stealing fried chicken. Dude you are pathetic! (NOLA.com)

Just in Time for Valentine's Day... 

Avid backyard bird-watchers Jeffrey and Shirley Caldwell told National Geographic that in 25 years of tending a bird feeder, they've never seen anything like the half-male, half-female cardinal that now resides on their Erie, Pa., property. The bird's coloring splits down the middle of its body- with the left side corresponding with the female cardinal color, taupe, and its right-side corresponds with the male cardinal color, crimson. It's rare, but not unheard of. Animals that are half-male and half-female are a phenomenon known as bilateral gynandromorphs. Anyway, the unusual bird has taken a male cardinal mate and according to National Geographic, that may hint at a potential future family. Ain't Mother Nature grand? (National Geographic)

Never Go Back Into a Burning Building

There is one strict rule about burning buildings - if you get out, never go back in. No matter what. In Orland, Maine, not following that rule cost 40-year-old Sam Crawford his life. Maine Public Safety Department spokesman Steve McCausland says Crawford escaped with his family from their burning home before going back inside to look for the family dog. Two other adults and two children escaped the fire uninjured. Investigators say the fire was caused by a space heater in the garage. Reportedly Crawford moved a skidder, a vehicle used in logging, to safety before telling others he was going back to look for his dog. The home was fully engulfed by the time firefighters arrived. They recovered Crawford's body hours later, after the fire was extinguished. (Newser)

Wish I Would Have "Thought" of That!

There are so many distractions in the world today that it can be hard just to find a quiet place to sit and think. Well not anymore my friend. Let me introduce you to the "Thought Box!" It's a cardboard and fabric box that you put over your head, so you can enjoy some personal place anywhere. And it'll only set you back $650 bucks! If that sounds like the kind of thing you need in your hectic life, head on over to The Form Emporium online store and order one today. The Thought Box kit is proudly made in Great Britain and consists of a cardboard and fabric (lycra) box, an internal plastic helmet that can be adjusted to fit the user's head, ear plugs, and 5 interchangeable colored fabric filters to suit your mood. It also comes with a Thought Stool made from solid beech wood. So yeah, you're definitely getting your money's worth with this one. But better hurry - the Form Emporium has a very limited stock of only 10 units. (Oddity Central)

Shortest Marriage Ever?

A newlywed couple in Kuwait recently made history for having the shortest marriage in the country's existence. They called it quits literally three minutes after getting hitched. Apparently the couple had just signed their marriage contract in front of a judge and was walking out of the courthouse when the bride accidentally tripped. Instead of helping her up, the groom reportedly just stood there and called her "stupid" for slipping. That was apparently too much for the woman who turned around and asked the judge to dissolve their marriage on the spot. The news quickly went viral on Twitter, with most commenters joking and ridiculing the couple for wasting the judge's time. Some, however, took the bride's side, saying that she made the right call. If the groom insulted her so early into their marriage, who knows what he would have done later on, one person wrote. "A marriage with no respect, is a failed one right from the beginning," another one added. (Q8 News)

What the What?

Talk about your ironic situations! The Sierra Mountains have been walloped with so much snow, some ski resorts are actually having to close! Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, which has received more than six feet of snow in this latest winter storm, had to close all lifts Monday because of whiteout conditions, high winds and avalanche dangers. Other resorts in the Lake Tahoe area also got hit hard by the blizzard. Heavenly Mountain Resort reported a 24-hour snowfall total of 36 inches Tuesday morning. Kirkwood reported 88 inches over the past week - that's more than 7 feet of snow. Sugar Bowl closed early Monday, around 2 p.m., as winds gusted to 60 miles per hour. Plus it doesn't help that Interstate 80 was closed in both directions. (SFGate)

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