Ripley Entertainment Inc.'s Blog, page 426
February 22, 2017
Skydiving Beavers Were Relocated via Planes in Idaho
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
In 1948, the settlers of Payette lake, Idaho, wanted to relocate their beavers to the remote and unsettled wilderness.
The terrain, however, had no roads, and mules had trouble carrying frightened rodents on their backs. Wildlife officials decided to use planes, and with a supply of surplus World War II parachutes and a brave test-beaver, Geronimo, they perfected a plan to air-drop the beavers.
Watch the video to see these daring-do beavers in action!
Source: Skydiving Beavers Were Relocated via Planes in Idaho
February 21, 2017
February 20, 2017
Princess Leia Keyboard Portrait is Filled with Hidden References
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
We’ve unboxed works by Oviedo, Florida, based artist Doug Powell before, but this portrait of Princess Leia is my new favorite.
Doug has made portraits from other odd materials, including a shotgun shell portrait of Clint Eastwood and a jigsaw puzzle portrait of John Lennon.
This portrait, however, uses 6,872 keyboard keys to make the galaxy’s favorite rebel.
If you look extra hard, you can even see “May the Force be with you.”
May the Force be with you.
That’s not the only Star Wars reference hidden among the seemingly random smattering of keys; 27 character names are actually embedded in the portrait.
Darth Vader
Rey
R2-D2
Boba Fett
Click the images to expand and find more:
Doug has made portraits from other odd materials, including a shotgun shell portrait of Clint Eastwood and a jigsaw puzzle portrait of John Lennon.
In our Orlando Odditorium.
Source: Princess Leia Keyboard Portrait is Filled with Hidden References
February 19, 2017
February 18, 2017
February 17, 2017
Eye Parasite Flails Inside Frog’s Eye
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
This is what happened when a parasitic larva grows into a fully grown worm in the eyeball of a frog.
Believe it or not, a Florida man first discovered humans can also be affected by this infection.
Transmission Vectors
Drinking water containing the larva (pretty rare in the U.S.)
Eating an animal infected with the parasite (looking at you, frog legs)
Contact with bodily orifices (eyes, ears, open wounds, etc…)
The only effective way to remove one of these parasites is to have it surgically removed.
MINI BION
“BIONs” – short for Believe It or Not – is the word we use at Ripley’s to refer to anything that is unbelievable and worthy to become part of Ripley’s lore and collection.
February 16, 2017
This Silver Swan Automaton is 250 Years Old
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
Built in the mid 18th-century, this swan robot is made entirely out of silver and still works! Like the Tipu Tiger automaton, the silver swan operates using complex systems of springs and gears.
When activated, the life-size metallic swan swivels and pivots to preen and hunt for fish. The “stream” it swims in is actually an array of glass rods, which when layered overtop of silver, creates the glittering illusion of running water.
The automaton was designed and built by John Joseph Merlin and London inventor James Cox.
Originally, the swan had an 18-foot waterfall standing behind it, but researchers believe it was stolen while on exhibition.
The silver swan attended the 1867 World’s Fair and was even seen by Mark Twain.
“The swan had a living intelligence in his eyes.” – Mark Twain
MINI BION
“BIONs” – short for Believe It or Not – is the word we use at Ripley’s to refer to anything that is unbelievable and worthy to become part of Ripley’s lore and collection.
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