12 votes

Offbeat Fridays – The thread where offbeat headlines become front page news

Posted by mycketforvirrad
Tags: ask.discussion, recurring.weekly, offbeat fridays, offbeat

Tildes is a very serious site, where we discuss very serious matters like zooey zephyr, digital markets act and breakfast. Tags culled from the highest voted topics from the last seven days, if anyone was astute.

But one of my favourite tags happens to be offbeat! Taking its original inspiration from Sir Nils Olav III, this thread is looking for any far-fetched offbeat stories lurking in the newspapers. It may not deserve its own post, but it deserves a wider audience!

5 comments

  1. [2]
    Raspcoffee
    Link
    This week in the Netherlands, a group of volunteer rioters did not stop fighting for the police training, even after being instructed to do so. Google translate as usual:

    This week in the Netherlands, a group of volunteer rioters did not stop fighting for the police training, even after being instructed to do so.

    Google translate as usual:

    A training of the mobile unit in Ossendrecht, Brabant, got out of hand earlier this week. A group that had signed up as volunteers for a practice fight did not stop fighting when asked to do so.
    A spokesperson for the Police Academy confirmed this to NU.nl after reporting by Rijnmond.

    The training complex in Ossendrecht often hosts training sessions for the mobile unit (ME), where volunteers play the role of rioter. The group of volunteers was found via a public call from the academy. "The people then have to make known who they are and receive instructions," says a spokesperson.

    One of those instructions is that the volunteers must stop "rioting" when asked to do so. "If we shout that it's over, it's over. And that didn't happen. People continued."

    Academy will now hire opponents

    The training was stopped for safety reasons and the volunteers were asked to leave the premises. "There was a bit of pulling and pushing." The academy did not report the incident.

    According to various media, it concerns hooligans of football club Feyenoord. The Police Academy does not want to confirm this. "It is not up to us to say anything about that."

    After the incident, the academy has decided not to search for volunteers with a public call in the future. The academy will now work with temporary workers.

    7 votes
    1. jredd23
      Link Parent
      Life imitates art. I am going to date myself a bit on this but this reminds me of the Benny Hill show endings

      Life imitates art. I am going to date myself a bit on this but this reminds me of the Benny Hill show endings

      3 votes
  2. [2]
    mycketforvirrad
    Link
    Amazon forest felled to build road for climate summit BBC News – Ione Wells – 12th March 2025

    Amazon forest felled to build road for climate summit

    A new four-lane highway cutting through tens of thousands of acres of protected Amazon rainforest is being built for the COP30 climate summit in the Brazilian city of Belém.

    The state government touts the highway's "sustainable" credentials, but some locals and conservationists are outraged at the environmental impact.

    BBC News – Ione Wells – 12th March 2025

    6 votes
    1. jredd23
      Link Parent
      Somewhat speechless by this, I can't judge ppl for trying to improve their lives but WE (humans) are and will pay a heavy price for this action and many more like it.

      Somewhat speechless by this, I can't judge ppl for trying to improve their lives but WE (humans) are and will pay a heavy price for this action and many more like it.

      3 votes
  3. jredd23
    Link
    TSA finds live turtle in traveler's pants at New Jersey airport As F* as this goes, how in god's grace would Mr. Carter be able to tell if the turtle wasn't harmed. Just saying.

    TSA finds live turtle in traveler's pants at New Jersey airport

    "We have seen travelers try to conceal knives and other weapons on their person, in their shoes and in their luggage, however I believe this is the first time we have come across someone who was concealing a live animal down the front of his pants," Thomas Carter, the TSA's federal security director for New Jersey, said in the news release. "As best as we could tell, the turtle was not harmed by the man's actions."

    As F* as this goes, how in god's grace would Mr. Carter be able to tell if the turtle wasn't harmed. Just saying.

    5 votes