ACROSS AMERICA — Nobody truly expects their home to be hit by a meteorite, and in the event that they did, they’d doubtless be dismissed as a worrywart or worse. However in what was one of many weirdest information tales of 2023, it occurred to a Hopewell, New Jersey, household simply after midday on Might 8.
The meteorite, an rectangular piece of steel consultants estimate to be about 4 billion years outdated, was pretty giant by area rock requirements at 4 inches by 6 inches and about 2½ kilos, and it entered Earth’s ambiance with such velocity that it pierced the roof, broke via the ceiling and landed on the hardwood flooring, the place it got here to a relaxation. The household was at house on the time, however nobody was injured.
“It’s uncommon for such issues to hit Earth and so they’re sometimes small,” stated Shannon Graham, a physics professor at The School of New Jersey, the place a crew deliberate to review the meteorite. “Most days, they only fritter away within the Earth’s ambiance and don’t make it to the bottom in any respect.”
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Graham stated the meteorite could have been associated to the Eta Aqauriids meteor bathe peak across the similar time the Hopewell household received the shock of a lifetime. » Learn extra on Princeton Patch.
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Otter Steals Surfboards And Hearts
A surfboard-stealing otter’s antics had been probably the most pleasant factor on the web for a number of months this summer season. The 5-year-old Otter 841 gained legions of supporters who had been outraged over the efforts of authorities, who had deemed her too aggressive and a hazard to folks flocking to the legendary surf, to seize and confine her to the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
The 5-year-old otter’s habits was forgiven — if not forgiven, not less than partially defined and sufficient for a reprieve from U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and aquarium workers pursuits — when it was found she had given start to a pup. Mark Woodward, the photographer who made Otter 841 beneath the social media deal with @NativeSantaCruz, shared a group of his pictures with Patch. » Learn extra and see 12 pictures on Santa Cruz Patch.
BananaGate ‘Whodunit?’
One thing weird has been happening in Elwood, Illinois, for the previous 12 months or so: a lone, inexperienced, unripened banana started showing on a railroad crossing. Generally there have been a couple of, typically there was a complete bunch. And as soon as there was a decapitated rooster, which weirdly sufficient is topped by the banana when it comes to intrigue.
Benjamin Skwirut determined to unravel the “befuddling thriller.”
“Why is that this occurring?” he questioned. “What does it imply? Are they left there for somebody to select up? Are they feeding the wildlife? It is a befuddling thriller.”
And what concerning the headless rooster, which he stated “everybody conveniently forgets about”? He’s not alone. Fixing this “whodunit?” and “whydunit?” is a factor now with a social media presence and plenty of “BananaGate” investigators. » Learn extra on Manhattan Patch
This Doesn’t Occur Each Day
Miss Crave is, properly, craving a BDSM dungeon and she or he desires Fort Lauderdale, Florida, taxpayers to construct her one. The masked, latex-clad Miss Crave, who insisted on being known as “mistress,” snuck onto town fee’s agenda, making her unconventional request whereas officers had been discussing a yard waste contract.
Miss Crave didn’t need the complete $906,500 earmarked for yard waste disposal, however needed a fourth of it “to help the doms and subs in Broward County, to create a dungeon created for us, by us taxpayers and voting residents.”
“Don’t let this glamorous look distract you from doing all of your responsibility to take my demand,” the mistress stated of her apparel and that of two reinforcements, who had been additionally masked and carrying latex. “I look ahead to spanking every one in every of you on the new, esteemed dungeon.”
The commissioners wished Miss Crave properly and moved on. » Learn extra on Miami Patch
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By no means Argue With A Parrot
Effectively, you possibly can, however the disagreement would possibly escalate rapidly. Troopers in Florida pulled over an erratic driver, anticipating to discover a drunken driver.
Nope.
The man was distracted whereas quarreling along with his parrot. He needed to go to Clearwater Seaside. The parrot needed to go house. Troopers stated they “resolved the standoff efficiently,” however didn’t say who gained. » Learn extra on Clearwater Patch
Outdated Bones Inform A Story
Scientists anticipate the primary dinosaur bone mattress to be present in Maryland since 1887 to present them extra perception into the lives of the prehistoric animals that roamed the state 115 million years in the past. The bones had been found in April at Dinosaur Park in Laurel.
“Discovering a bone mattress like this can be a dream for a lot of paleontologists as they will provide a wealth of knowledge on the traditional environments that preserved the fossils and supply extra particulars on the extinct animals that beforehand could have solely been identified from a handful of specimens,” stated J.P. Hodnett, a paleontologist with the Maryland-Nationwide Capital Park and Planning Fee and Prince George’s County Parks and Recreation.
“Most paleontologists need to journey throughout the nation or go abroad to seek out one thing like this, so having this uncommon discover so near house is improbable,” he stated. » Learn extra on Bowie Patch
Self-Checkout Workers Get together
This was a bit of unusual — and snarky in the precise methods. An occasion put up on Fb as a joke inviting self-checkout workers of a New Jersey Walmart learn: “Celebrating one other profitable 12 months of choosing, paying, and bagging your individual groceries whereas precise workers simply stand round and verify receipts.”
There was a lot response that prankster Andrew Delgado arrange an precise occasion, “The True Spirit of Christmas,” after native Walmart retailer officers declined his request they throw a particular occasion for the neighborhood. Charity is the value of admission — an unwrapped reward for a kid, a donation to the meals financial institution and issues like that.
“I’ll discover a solution to throw a banger Walmart occasion one other time,” Delgado joked within the submit. » Learn extra on Lacey Patch
Blissful New Yr, And A PSA
As we shut out 2023, we elevate a cup of cheer to our readers: The brand new 12 months stands earlier than us, like a chapter in a e book, with plots ready to be written about issues we by no means noticed coming. Benefit from the trip.
And a PSA: Spring will quickly be coming, and with it, garter snakes shall be rising from the bottom in big mating balls. Bizarre, huh? » Learn extra on Throughout America Patch
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