Ripley Entertainment Inc.'s Blog, page 431
January 22, 2017
January 21, 2017
January 20, 2017
Coin Stacking: A New Way to Balance Your Budget
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
These delicately balanced coin towers are the careful work of coin stacking artist Tanu.
We’ve seen rocks and boulders balanced in ways that seem to defy gravity, but something about making ordinary coins stack in complex arrangements is very impressive.
By staggering the coins or balancing them end-to-end, he’s able to place the metal discs close together without falling.
Check them out:
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.
Colima Volcano Violently Erupts with Lightning
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
Colima volcano in Mexico unleashed a sudden and stormy eruption. Magma and lightning shot into the air on January 18th, 2017.
The volcano, which stands 2,000-feet high, has erupted over 40 times since 1576.
Despite the apparent ferocity of the eruption, the volcano quickly calmed down and looked as though nothing had even happened the next day.
Via Webcams de Mexico
If you missed out on the eruption and want to see one live, you’ll want to check out Mout Yasur, a volcano that’s been erupting daily for 800 years.
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.
January 19, 2017
The Strangest Presidential Inaugurations (So Far)
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
Last year, just before the election, three shiny new wax figures arrived at the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! offices. There was one problem, though. In our mannequin challenge video, people noticed that his hands didn’t look quite right – too many people though the hands were too large, so we listened to the people and recast them smaller.
Since then, the President-elect has traveled to our Grand Prairie, San Antonio, and Orlando Odditoriums. Our wax figures will be staying put, and we will be holding a Snapchat interview and Facebook Live Video the morning of the inauguration.
While we cannot speak to what surprises the 45th Presidential Inauguration may hold, here are some of the strangest ones we’ve had so far:
Buchanan Wasn’t Done Running
As waves of so-called “hotel fever” ravaged Washington DC, everyone was keeping close to a bathroom, including President-elect James Buchanan.
Despite days of intestinal pain, Buchanan decided he was feeling better and announced the ceremony was on!
Minutes into the ceremony he changed his mind, but it was too late. He suffered through the ceremony with his doctor standing by. No sources have confirmed he soiled his pants at the inaugural podium, although many sources insinuated.
A cover rumor quickly spread that the President was not sick, but had been poisoned by arsenic.
Buchanan was also an early proponent of the faux hawk.
Harrison’s Hubris
William Henry Harrison was 68 years old when he was inaugurated. To prove he was still as vital as a young man he insisted on delivering a two-hour speech in the freezing cold without a coat on.
His hubris would cost him his presidency and his life. Less than 31 days into his term, he died of pneumonia. Vice President John Tyler had to serve out the remainder of the term.
Andy Ain’t a Drunkard
During Lincoln’s second inauguration, vice president—and president-to-be—Andrew Johnson had caught typhoid fever. His poor health along with a hot and muggy senate chamber made him feel like he might not be able to perform his duties at the ceremony.
What did the vice-president do to feel better in 1865? He drank a glass of whiskey. Then a second… and a third.
When it was time to give his speech, reports say he drunkenly rambled about pretty much nothing for 17 minutes, then kissed the bible.
After three attempts to impeach Johnson, Congress tried abolishing the presidency to get rid of him.
Abraham Lincoln in Drag
By the time Abraham Lincoln was elected, seven states had left the Union, and the route to his inauguration led him through the slave-holding city of Baltimore.
Lincoln had already received hundreds of death threats as the outbreak of the Civil War loomed nearer.
Lincoln would actually store documents in his hat while he was walking around.
To dodge would-be assassins, Lincoln donned a woman’s shawl and cape to hide his distinguished presidential form, and he was able to quietly pass through the city.
Though he arrived safely, Lincoln’s opponents criticized him as a coward for hiding.
January 18, 2017
This Grenade Was a Nerf Football Filled With Explosives
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
In 1973, the US Army made an anti-tank grenade football by hollowing out a Nerf football and filling it with explosive charges.
Official test reports say that the prototype grenade was made to be the same weight and shape of a football because soldiers would already be familiar with throwing it.
Regulation football weight is about 14 ounces, so engineers decided to make the size and weight of their tank-busting grenade to the same specifications.
How Well Did It Work?
“It did not work as envisioned.” – Army documentation
While the grenade football may have weighed the same as a normal football, it still wasn’t the same. As regular footballs are hollow inside, the weight is distributed evenly, allowing for consistent throws. The prototype, however, was filled with explosive elements, which gave the ball a wild and unpredictable flight.
Other Sports Ball Grenades
US weapon designers have often been cited with referencing baseballs when designing hand grenades.
The Office of Strategic Services (which eventually became the CIA) worked to develop grenades the same size and weight as baseballs in order to take advantage of American’s familiarity with the sport.
Known as the “beano” grenade.
Designers insisted on the fuse being integrated into the body of the grenade to adhere to the baseball’s spherical shape.
Unfortunately, this resulted in an overly sensitive trigger that had a tendency to activate prematurely.
Today
Now the military has given up on trying to engineer a competitive edge by associating grenades with sports balls.
For a long time, the Army taught soldiers to throw grenades like baseballs, or to use the T method, but due to the ever-evolving nature of war, they now let soldiers use whatever method works best for them.
Soldiers may use baseball analogies, but it is no longer mentioned in official documentation. Soldiers instead rely on practicing with actual dummy-grenades.
Marine hand grenade throwing practice.
Source: This Grenade Was a Nerf Football Filled With Explosives
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