16 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 grapheneos, ali khamenei and english. Tags culled from the highest voted topics from the last seven days, if anyone was asking.

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!

6 comments

  1. [2]
    mycketforvirrad
    Link
    Injured seabird desperately pecks at hospital door for help Associated Press – 16th February 2026

    Injured seabird desperately pecks at hospital door for help

    An injured seabird sought help by pecking at the door of an emergency room at a hospital in Germany until medical staff noticed it and called firefighters to help with its rescue.

    The cormorant, a shiny black waterbird, had a triple fishing hook stuck in its beak when it made its presence known at the glass door of the Klinikum Links der Weser hospital in the northern city of Bremen on Sunday.

    Associated Press – 16th February 2026

    9 votes
    1. chocobean
      Link Parent
      So glad bird bird was helped! But how did it end up there? The Klinikum Links der Weser hospital, according to maps, is some 70km from the coastal city of Bremerhaven and its hospital.

      So glad bird bird was helped!

      But how did it end up there? The Klinikum Links der Weser hospital, according to maps, is some 70km from the coastal city of Bremerhaven and its hospital.

      2 votes
  2. [3]
    nic
    Link
    Camel pageant thrown into chaos after 20 competitors disqualified for using hump-plumping injectables Camel owners had used injections to enhance the camel’s lips, dermal fillers around their...

    Camel pageant thrown into chaos after 20 competitors disqualified for using hump-plumping injectables

    Camel owners had used injections to enhance the camel’s lips, dermal fillers around their noses and silicone wax to enlarge the humps.

    The camels are judged on four key features: their coat, neck, head and humps. The winning animals usually have the shiniest hair, a long and muscular neck, long eyelashes and plump lips, and, of course, plump and defined humps.

    ...there is usually more than $60 million of prize money at stake.

    4 votes
    1. [2]
      kinnabari
      Link Parent
      This isn't the first time this has happened. Last time, a few years ago, they Botoxed the camels' faces.

      This isn't the first time this has happened. Last time, a few years ago, they Botoxed the camels' faces.

      1 vote
      1. nic
        Link Parent
        Seems like opportunity is ripe for a Best In Show 2 - Camel style?

        In 2018, 12 camels were disqualified from the event for having Botox injections from horse breeders, while 40 camels were disqualified in 2021 for allegedly having stretched noses.

        Seems like opportunity is ripe for a Best In Show 2 - Camel style?

        2 votes
  3. asteroid
    Link
    Man accused of using taco seasoning packets to steal $40K from Target A Florida man is facing retail theft charges after local authorities allege that he stole thousands of dollars' worth of...

    Man accused of using taco seasoning packets to steal $40K from Target

    A Florida man is facing retail theft charges after local authorities allege that he stole thousands of dollars' worth of trading cards from multiple Target stores using 99-cent taco seasoning packets.

    2 votes