Ripley Entertainment Inc.'s Blog, page 379
November 7, 2017
Note: Declare Your Moon Germs to Customs
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
The U.S. Customs form filled out by the Apollo 11 astronauts Collins after their return to Earth on July 24, 1969.
Credit: NASA
Moon Germs
A mix of mundane and extraordinary, this planetary paperwork—Buzz Aldrin’s expense report and customs declaration for the moon landing—is out of this world!
Believe it or not, even after returning from the first moon landing, astronauts cannot escape U.S. Customs and Immigration! Upon splashing down in the Pacific, off the coast of Hawaii, the Apollo 11 crew—Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins—declared they brought back moon rocks and dust samples from their 1969 voyage.
Curiously, moon disease was “to be determined.”
With serious concern over what germs the crew may have brought back with them, they were promptly quarantined for three weeks after returning to Earth. These astronauts were viewed as potential threats. The family reunions, food cravings, and warm welcomes from wagging tails at home had to wait.
Astronauts suited up in “biological isolation garments” before transitioning into quarantine to ensure that “the lunar dust we brought back wouldn’t give people on earth our moon germs,” Aldrin said.
Buzz Aldrin’s travel expenses to the moon and back: $33.31
Credit: NASA
“Periodic examinations and blood tests monitored the physiological effects of their flight and recovery, while the doctors kept a close watch for any signs of exotic infection.” -“Status Report, John McLeaish Comments on Crew, 7/28/69
The experience “quickly became oppressive,” according to a NASA history of the mission.
What a welcome! These days, most astronauts returning from space exit their craft almost immediately, although they still go through customs!
Sensing You Want More?
Filled with remarkable photos and over 1,500 all new—all true—stories to immerse yourself in, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Shatter Your Senses! is the newest book in the bestselling series from Ripley Publishing—so incredible you won’t believe your eyes…or ears…or nose!
Spark your senses here, on the blog, weekly for a feature from the 2018 annual, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Shatter Your Senses! and follow us on social media for a chance to win a copy, among other unbelievable prizes!
November 6, 2017
America Planned to Use Glowing Foxes Against Japan in WWII
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
OSS insignia
Can you believe the United States Government almost deployed glowing foxes to scare the Japanese people during World War II?
During the height of the War, the United States had no unified intelligence gathering agency. The branches of the military, along with the State, War, and even the Treasury departments all collected information independently of each other. That is, until June of 1942 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a presidential order creating The Office of Strategic Services (OSS). A precursor to today’s CIA, the OSS was charged with collecting “strategic information” and conducting clandestine, psychological operations. In its three short years of service, it produced some of America’s zaniest war strategies.
Project Fantasia
Among some of the more outlandish psychological attacks planned by the OSS was “Project Fantasia.” In 1943, the OSS devised a strategy to spray-paint live foxes with luminous paint and set them upon the Japanese people.
Why foxes? That answer lies in the Japanese religion known as Shinto. The traditional religion of Japan, Shinto dates as far back as the 8th century. With no central gods or goddess to worship, Shintoists devote themselves to invisible spirits called kami. One such kami is known as Inari, a spirit fox.
While in traditional Japanese folklore, foxes were seen as faithful guardians, they were thought to be “witch animals,” as well, and when Inari was seen illuminated or glowing, bad luck was on the horizon.
For Fox Sake
With Japanese culture still deeply mired in superstitious traditions during World War II, the OSS intended to capitalize on those beliefs by unleashing numerous skulks—groups of foxes—onto the Japanese mainland. Even if the stunt didn’t end the war, it would certainly create chaos amongst the Japanese people.
Initial tests were conducted in New York’s Central Park. The OSS dispatched 30-odd foxes that “were painted with a radiant chemical which glowed in the dark.” The plan had its intended effect. New Yorkers were “horrified” with the sight of the ghostlike foxes seemingly appearing out of nowhere.
With the plan’s success, the OSS moved forward implementing the next phase, “Operation Fantasia.” The agency sent operatives the world over, collecting foxes in mass numbers to invade Japan. The operation didn’t get very far, though. On August 6, 1945, the United States dropped the first atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, effectively ending World War II and “Operation Fantasia,” and the need for glowing foxes along with it.
By Jesse Gormley, guest writer for Ripleys.com
Source: America Planned to Use Glowing Foxes Against Japan in WWII
November 5, 2017
November 4, 2017
November 3, 2017
Baby Frankenstein and an Alien-infested Ranch For Sale
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
[October 29-November 4, 2017] A Frankenstein baby born on Halloween, the Pope falls asleep at prayer, and a stellar real estate opportunity.
5. Baby Frankenstein Born on Halloween
Kyle and Jessica Frankenstein—yes, Frankenstein—welcomed a new baby to the world this past Halloween. Newborn Oskar Gray Frankenstein, born in Winter Park, Florida, held on an extra four days past the due date for an unforgettable and totally spooky birthday. According to grandmother Jennifer Frankenstein, baby Oskar already has an aunt born on Frankenstein author Mary Shelly’s birthday.
Baby named Frankenstein born at Florida hospital on Halloween https://t.co/Yp7TOxpzjG pic.twitter.com/enifcxAqHi
— News 6 WKMG (@news6wkmg) October 31, 2017
4. Zucchini Mistaken for Unexploded Bomb
After finding a mysterious, dark object buried in his garden, an 81-year-old called German police to report an unexploded World War II ordinance. Police were eventually able to identify it as a courgette—a type of zucchini—before the old man decided to throw it away himself. Police agreed that it did kind of look like a bomb and that you can never be too careful, especially after 65,000 people were evacuated in Frankfurt where bomb squads recently defused a newly found WWII-era device.
Via Karlsruhe police
3. Pope Francis Falls Asleep During Prayer
Pope Francis was caught dozing off at a mass event in September, slumping over in his chair, and had to be nudged awake. This week, on an episode of the Catholic TV2000, he admitted that he often falls asleep during prayer. He pointed out that Saint Therese did the same, and that it actually pleased God.
2. Airbags Installed on Lightposts for Texting and Walking
The city of Salzburg in Austria has outfitted its lamp posts with airbags in order to prevent injuries as a result of texting while walking. The city government says tourists and other pedestrians have been hurting themselves in great numbers while staring at their phones. The bags are covered in warning, urging people to remain aware of their surroundings.
City of Salzburg, has wrapped airbags around their lampposts as so many pedestrians distracted by their phones are walking into them. pic.twitter.com/io6RHMrXCc
— Sunita Gordon (@GSunita) November 1, 2017
1. Man Sells Ranch Due to Frequent Alien Attacks
Stardust Ranch in Rainbow Alley, Arizona, is up for sale after owner John Edmond became fed up with the supernatural activity. Edmonds claims his family has been attacked multiple times by extraterrestrial visitors, even going so far as to show evidence in the form of a bloody katana on his Facebook page, which he claims to have used to fend off three gray aliens who attacked him in his carport. Tenants at the alien-infested ranch say that not all of the experiences have been bad. Gail Chasen, who recently moved in, credits her recovery from liver cancer to the desert ranch.
Source: Baby Frankenstein and an Alien-infested Ranch For Sale
The Nightmare Before Christmas By the Numbers
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
We have mixed emotions about this change. Saying goodbye to our favorite holiday, Halloween, is hard, but luckily, with the Tim Burton classic The Nightmare Before Christmas, you can have your candy and eat it too!
“There’s children throwing snowballs, instead of throwing heads, they’re busy building toys and absolutely no one’s dead.” – Jack Skellington
Believe it or not, one single minute of the film took one entire week of filming! The making of The Nightmare Before Christmas conjured up many more unbelievable numbers, too…
November 2, 2017
Or Not: Drinking Alcohol Will Warm You up on a Cold Night
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
Or Not
In today’s world many misconceptions have been perpetuated—becoming modern day “facts”—when, in reality, myths and hearsay have taken over. Sorry to burst your bubble, but in this weekly column, Ripley’s puts those delusions to the test, turning your world upside down, because you can’t always…Believe It!
Today: Alcohol Doesn’t Warm You Up
Don’t Bother with Your Whiskey Sweater
As we move into the holiday season, holiday shoppers make sure to pick up a couple spirits to warm them up in the chilly winter weather. Whether you pack a flask and take a few nips throughout the day to rosy your cheeks or relish sitting outside by a roaring fire, imbibing a warm whiskey for that subtle burn, you’ll be surprised to find that alcohol has no such warming effect.
Ever since the 1800s, stories of brandy-toting St. Bernards on snowy mountain tops have helped perpetuate the myth that all you need to keep warm are well-brewed spirits. While a healthy shot of whiskey might make your face flush scarlet, your body temperature itself hasn’t actually risen. The heat inside your body has just moved around.
Your Body’s Drunk
As your body processes alcohol, your blood vessels dilate, increasing blood flow. Blood rushes from the hot core of your body and fills the capillaries close to your skin, making your body feel hot. The heat has just moved to the surface, where it will cool faster in the cold air, meaning alcohol will actually cause your body heat to decrease.
Your skin, which thinks it’s hot, will sweat and fire signals in your brain to cool off, even remove warm clothing. This effect has proved fatal to drinkers who find themselves walking home in the cold, removing their warm clothes, and suffering hypothermia or frostbite because their body thinks it’s warm.
The Initial Burn
When you pound back alcohol, you may feel an initial burn in your throat, but we promise no additional heat has been added to your body or defied the laws of thermodynamics to be created. Similar to the contents of peppers that make food taste hot, capsaicin, alcohol binds to the receptors on your body that sense heat, causing a chemical reaction that makes them more sensitive.
Ethanol—the alcohol in your alcohol—binds to the transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (VR1 receptors) which are the vehicle through which we perceive body temperature. When you take that shot of tequila, the burn you feel is really your throat becoming more sensitive to your own body heat.
Fighting the a Cold
Your trusty flask of holiday spirits may not keep you warm, but there is scientific evidence that it could help you fight off the common cold. The same effect of dilating your blood vessels can make it easier for your mucus membranes to fight off infection. That said, don’t go overboard on the schnapps. If you drink too much,you could become dehydrated, countering the effects of the blood flow to your nostrils.
Source: Or Not: Drinking Alcohol Will Warm You up on a Cold Night
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