Offbeat

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Summary

Josua Hutagalung, a modest coffin maker from a remote village in Indonesia, became famous after a meteorite crashed through his roof. Reports suggested he sold it for $1.8 million, but he disputes the figure. He worries about security threats and media attention, fearing for his family's safety. Despite the hype, Josua used the money to renovate his kitchen, repair his roof, donate to the church and neighbors, and tend to his parents' graves. He continues his coffin-making business and emphasizes his ordinary life.

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What happened:

In February 2022, the Felicity Ace cargo ship carrying over 4,000 luxury cars caught fire in the North Atlantic. The fire raged for days and eventually the ship sank, taking the entire cargo (worth $401 million) with it. All 22 crew members were safely rescued.

Cause of the fire:

The exact cause is unknown, but electric vehicle batteries onboard are suspected to be a contributing factor. Lithium-ion batteries in EVs can be difficult to extinguish and pose explosion risks, making firefighting challenging.

Environmental impact:

Over 2,000 tons of oil, fuel, and other pollutants spilled into the Azores' marine ecosystem. Sunken car batteries and fuel tanks pose a significant threat to marine life and the ecosystem.

Additional details:

The ship was carrying high-end vehicles like Porsches, Audis, Bentleys, and Lamborghinis. This incident raises concerns about the safety of transporting EVs by sea and the potential environmental impact.

They were able to warm up in the sauna.

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cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/11452960

Police in Canada are investigating the bizarre theft of a taxidermy polar bear weighing some 500lb (225kg) from a resort near Edmonton.

The bear, standing some 12ft (3.6m) tall, is believed to have been snatched during the cold snap in early January with temperatures near -30C (-22F).

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Christmas time is upon us, and though children loathe getting new clothes for gifts, they best put on that new itchy sweater or slide on those unwanted socks. Or else risk being eaten alive by a giant cat, at least according to Icelandic folklore.

That's right. A child's worst nightmare — new clothes under the tree — could only be outdone by a somehow worse nightmare, being devoured by a ferocious feline that hunts down children caught not wearing their new clothes.

The tale of Jólakötturinn, which translates to Yule Cat, is an Icelandic Christmas classic dating back to at least 1932, according to the Icelandic Folklore website, a research project managed by the University of Iceland.

Jóhannes úr Kötlum, an Icelandic poet, wrote about the Yule Cat in his book, Jólin koma (Christmas is Coming), published in 1932.

Kötlum's poem tells the tale of a cat that's "very large" with glowing eyes. It roams the countryside, going from house to house looking for children who aren't wearing the new clothes they got for Christmas, according to the poem.

Memes of the Yule Cat have been making their way around social media, some are meant to be spooky, while others are a blend of fascination and satire.

"I am really fascinated by other culture's holiday traditions so shoutout to my boy the Yule Cat," one meme reads. "A monstrous cat who roams Iceland eating people who aren't wearing the clothes they got for Christmas."

The Yule Cat isn't the only sinister character that comes around Christmas.

Another European folklore character is Krampus, an anti-Santa demon that kidnaps and punishes naughty kids, according to mythology.net. Munich, Germany, hosts an annual Krampus run, which attracts hundreds of participants — and more spectators — every year.

Source: https://www.npr.org/2023/12/23/1221454825/youve-heard-of-santa-maybe-even-krampus-but-what-about-the-child-eating-yule-cat