World’s Strangest

While it’s not as easy for authors to become famous at a young age as it is for pop singers, it’s still not unheard of for barely legal authors to find fame, success, and even fortune. Here are 23 authors who manager to achieve fame—though not always positive—by age 23. 1-2. Guptara Twins Date of Birth: November [...]

We’ve been taking a look back at the fine art competitions that originated in ancient Greece and were revived as part of the modern Olympics from 1912 to 1948. Here are a few of the more notable medalists over the years. 1. Baron Pierre de Coubertin The founder of the International Olympic Committee and the man [...]

Over the next two weeks, we’ll take a look back at the fine art competitions that originated in ancient Greece and were revived as part of the modern Olympics from 1912-1948. International Olympic Committee, 1896/Getty Images French aristocrat and educationalist Pierre de Frédy, Baron de Coubertin (seated, at left) was the man primarily responsible for reviving [...]

In Japan, it’s an end-of-year tradition to sing “Ode to Joy,” the final movement of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. The song is so well-known in Japan that it’s known simply as daiku, literally “number nine.” In Osaka, a 10,000-person-strong “Number Nine Chorus” of amateur singers performs daiku every December, to thundering effect. While [...]

After posting yesterday’s laugh-a-minute-for-fifteen-minutes hit Worf is Always Wrong, I thought I’d round up a few more wacky Star Trek videos. Make it so, Number One! TNG: Worf is a Punching Bag Nearly seven minutes of Worf being attacked, shot, and otherwise suffering trauma. TNG(ish): Wil Wheaton’s Voice in 2009 Trek Movie Did you know Wil Wheaton did [...]

Who is your favorite Muppet? I am partial to Dr. Bunsen Honeydew’s long-suffering assistant, Beaker. Here are some of his finer moments. Ode to Joy Ten-part, or whatever harmony! For a lab assistant, he’s not bad! * Beaker Gets Multiplied Beaker falls into a multiplier machine. From The Muppet Show. * Coffee How much caffeine can you get into a Beaker? * Beaker’s Interview A red [...]

Some writers can just sit at their desks and bang the keys. Others need to get naked and climb a mulberry tree before they’re sufficiently inspired. Right now, we’re only interested in the latter. 1. Take Orders from a Dog Sometimes the only thing standing between an artist and true greatness is the lack of a good [...]

What? You don’t have a frat boy in you? Well, you might get a kick out of Brian McGackin’s (AKA the “Broet Laureate’s”) slender-but-fun volume of poems anyway. They include gems like this, a bro-tastic send-up of William Carlos Williams’ “This is Just to Say” — I have finished the beer that was in the icebox and which you were [...]

Ron Gordon, the teacher who brought us Square Root Day, wants everyone to celebrate another calendar event, Odd Day, which is tomorrow (7/9/11). Odd Day is coming Saturday, 7/9/11. Three consecutive odd numbers make up the date only six times in a century. After 7/9/11, only two days remain in this parade of Odd Days which [...]

Instructables user rabidiga made this pan flute. It was his entry in a contest to build a post-apocalyptic musical instrument for under $30. He didn’t spent a penny, but only used materials that he already owned: Super easy to make. Took me about an hour even though I am clumsy as hell when it comes to [...]