Blog Guy, I’ve been following your coverage of that San Fermin festival over there in Pamplona. So who’s winning?

Sadly the bulls always lose in the end, but I must say they’ve had a pretty good couple of days. In a four-minute running of the bulls today, several people were injured and one runner was killed.

Meanwhile, over at the bull ring, hotshot bullfighter El Cid had a real embarrassing experience.

Check out the photo below. What’s interesting about it is, it’s the only one of a whole series that I can actually use here. Thanks to some pinpoint horn work by this bull, the crotch on the bullfighter’s silly outfit was ripped open, leaving all of his male parts fully exposed to the crowd.

And while it’s not really for me to judge, it didn’t look all that impressive, either.

Live free or die.  Join the Oddly Enough blog network

Follow this blog on Twitter at rbasler

A runner is tossed by a Jandilla fighting bull in the running of the bulls at the San Fermin festival in Pamplona, July 10, 2009. One runner (not in picture) died and several people were injured in the run.REUTERS/Eloy Alonso

Spanish bullfighter Manuel Jesus “El Cid” is lifted up by the bull’s horn at the San Fermin festival in Pamplona July 9, 2009. REUTERS/Eloy Alonso

More stuff from Oddly Enough

Oh crap, what have I done? I’m pretty sure this is about the time that bull is supposed to be dead.

I KNOW I shouldn’t be riding upside-down on his back, hanging onto these pointy things while idiots laugh at me from the stands.

I should’ve listened to my guidance counselor who wanted me to go into TV repair. But I said, “No, I REALLY want to wear pink socks!”

I thought guys were supposed to rush out to help me! Those “machine gunadors” are supposed to save me!

And where are the flame-throweradors? Is that just a joke they play on new matadors?”

Why didn’t I just call in sick and go out for sangria with that cute senorita who sells flan?

Join the Oddly Enough blog network

Follow my blog on Twitter at rbasler

Spanish bullfighter Jose Tomas is tossed by a bull during a bullfight in Barcelona, July 5, 2009. REUTERS/ Carlos Cazalis

More stuff from Oddly Enough

Blog Guy, I see North Korea is shooting off more of those missiles. I’m worried. What can you tell me about them?

They don’t deal well with their goats.

Um, could you elaborate on that?

Just look at these pictures. A North Korean soldier kicking a goat. And they’re practically dragging them in the other photo.

Oh man, are you back on that goat jag again? I thought you had let that go.

I wish somebody would give that goat-kicker a dose of his own medicine. If I see that guy walking down my street, I’ll teach him about kicking.

But that’s just one soldier. He may be the only goat-kicker in North Korea.

No, if they put him within photo distance of the border, they think he’s exemplary. They must have a whole army of goat-kickers up there. Anybody got that guy’s cell phone number? Or his e-mail address? I’ll spam him senseless! Who’s with me?

Explore the unknown. Join the Oddly Enough blog network

Follow my blog on Twitter at rbasler

Above: A North Korean soldier kicks a goat on the bank of the Yalu River near the North Korean town of Sinuiju, July 5, 2009.

Right: A North Korean soldier pulls goats on the bank of the Yalu River near the North Korean town of Sinuiju, July 5, 2009.

REUTERS photos by Jacky Chen

More stuff from Oddly Enough

Blog Guy, my mom told me to ask you about the birds and the bees.

She WHAT?

She said you know a lot of stuff and you could explain it to me.

That’s quite a responsibility.  I checked yesterday’s photo file, which is where I get most of my information, and I think I can help you.

It turns out, bees land on sunflowers in California to gather pollen, and birds sit in nests in Belarus. Does that do it for you?

I thought it would be a little more interesting. After all, I am 26 years old!

Ah. In that case, be patient. I’m sure we’ll have some more shots of Victoria’s Secret models in the next few days.

Stop trying to be cool. Join the Oddly Enough blog network

Follow this blog on Twitter at rbasler

Above: A bee lands on a sunflower to gather pollen in Encinitas, California June 23, 2009. REUTERS/Mike Blake  

Left: A white-tailed eagle chick sits in its nest in a forest near the village of Tsemenitsa, Belarus, June 23, 2009.  REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko

More stuff from Oddly Enough

Ring ring ring…

“Hello? Is this the police? I want to come down to the station to report a stolen car…”

“Your call is important to us. Currently our office is being overrun by hundreds of venomous snakes, so please expect to be bitten a few times and maybe die.”

“Ah, then I think I’ll just wait. Maybe I’ll start taking the bus instead of driving. Good-bye.”

The above was a simulated conversation about a real situation over in Sierra Leone, where an actual police station is overflowing with slithering cobras and vipers.

According to our story they’ve tried getting rid of them by using snake charmers and have also tried smoking them out, with no luck. The next plan is to use firemen and soldiers to flood them out, which I’m guessing they haven’t properly discussed with experts or with their insurance agents.

I’m also guessing that the only bright spot is that reported crimes in that precinct are way, way down.

Feel better about yourself. Join the Oddly Enough blog network

Follow this blog on Twitter at rbasler

Above: Snake Handler Jack Bibby dangles rattlesnakes from his mouth during a performance at the Taylor Rattlesnake Sacking Championships in Taylor, Texas, in a 2007 file photo. REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi

Left: A traditional dancing devil parades down the streets of central Freetown, Sierra Leone, in a 2008 file photo. REUTERS/Katrina Manson

More stuff from Oddly Enough

Blog Guy, is it just me, or does it seem like these days you don’t see as many ferrets in fashion shows as you used to?

No, I see just as many ferrets as ever.

What about roosters? I’m not seeing so many of those, either.

I don’t know what kind of fashion shows you go to, but I’m seeing more roosters than ever on the runways. Look at this weekend show. Roosters, ferrets, snakes, porcupines…

Really? And what about ring-tailed lemurs?

LEMURS? Lemurs at a fashion show? Right. You just don’t get it, do you, slick?

Models and animals slideshow

Join the Oddly Enough blog network

Tweat yourself to this blog on Twitter at rbasler

Above: A model holds a ferret during the Defile.zoo fashion show in the zoo in St. Petersburg May 24, 2009. The show featured creations by local designers who promoted clothes made out of natural materials and without the use of fur.

Left: A model holds a rooster during the show.

REUTERS photos by Alexander Demianchuk

More stuff from Oddly Enough

Hang on just a dad-gum minute there, Blog Guy!

What’s wrong, stranger who talks just like Jed Clampett?

You had a purty good sign of the Apocalypse a couple days back, but I reckon you overlooked a better one. I saw some Reuters photos of…

Yes, yes, I know. I’ve had nightmares. You mean the dressed-up pigs?

Durn tootin’ I do!

Yeah, they dress pigs up like humans at this festival in the Philippines. I saw Zorro, a bride and groom, some boxers, then I passed out.

So you missed the piggy weddin’ song, “Days of Swine and Roses?”

Sigh. I’m getting up a petition objecting to this event. Want to sign?

Shore, but how do you send a big petition all the way to the Philippines?

I just use a Manila envelope.

Waste your life! Join the Oddly Enough blog network

Tweat yourself to this blog on Twitter at rbasler

Above: A roasted pig dressed like Zorro is on a wooden horse during an annual Lechon (roasted pig) festival in Manila, May 17, 2009.

Left: A man fixes a wig of a roasted pig dressed as a bride and groom during Lechon festival.

REUTERS/Cheryl Ravelo

More stuff from Oddly Enough

Quick quiz: Thousands of live rats in Cambodia, shown in crates below, are being shipped to Vietnam to…

a) enjoy a getaway at one of the world’s top rat vacation destinations.

b) be used as Happy Rat Day gifts.

c) take part in a rat exchange which could lead to a foreign exchange program involving real students.

d) be eaten up by people.

Is that your final answer? Yes, I’m afraid they are heading off to be eaten.

Still, if that surprises you then I guess you missed my blog a couple of weeks ago headlined Another bowl of blood, Lonnie! Shame on you!

What have you got to lose? join the Oddly Enough blog network

Tweat yourself to this blog on Twitter at rbasler

Above: A boy shows off a rat he caught at Kandal province, Cambodia, May 15, 2009.

Left: Live rats are stored in Kandal province, awaiting transport to Vietnam.

REUTERS photos by Chor Sokunthea

More stuff from Oddly Enough

Blog Guy, you write a lot about bullfighting, so you’re probably aware the new season has begun. How about giving us some behind-the-scenes stuff that most people don’t know about the tradition and pageantry of the sport?

Okay but remember, technically bullfighting isn’t a sport, it’s a ”sport”. In the photo below, matadors and their assistants are performing the “paseillo” before starting a bullfight.

My Spanish is very rusty, but I believe “paseillo” means walking around the ring cleaning up cigarette butts and bull poop.

That’s interesting. I wasn’t aware the matadors had to do such menial stuff.

Who else is gonna do it? When you put on funny outfits and torture animals to death for a living you’ve pretty much hit rock bottom already.

What about this other photo, with the capes?

The matadors are having a picnic. They’re looking for a good place to spread out their pink blankets where maybe the bulls won’t find them right away, so they can enjoy some tasteless flan.

Gosh, the way you describe it, it loses a lot of its romance.

Good.

Don’t rest until you join the Oddly Enough blog network

Above: Spanish matadors and their assistants warm up before starting a bullfight at The Maestranza bull ring in Seville, April 12, 2009.

Below: Spanish matadors and their assistants perform the “paseillo” before starting a bullfight at the ring.

REUTERS photos by Marcelo del Pozo

More stuff from Oddly Enough

Blog Guy, I know you follow the advertising business. I was wondering if successful ad campaigns in the States work well overseas, as well?

Not always. You know those insurance commercials where that obnoxious duck keeps saying “AFLAC!” until you want to wring its neck?

Duck? I thought that was a goose.

Really?  I’ll take a gander at Google…

A gander?  So anyway, what happened?

They tried shooting that commercial in Hungary, and the duck did his AFLAC! thing near a line of riot police.

And?

Turns out the cops weren’t discussing insurance. They were talking about dinner, and Hungarian cuisine relies heavily on ducks and geese. You do the math. 

Is any of this true?

No, but it’s like that saying, ”If:it looks like a duck and walks like a duck and quacks like a duck…then let’s roast it in sauerkraut and caraway seeds and eat it!”

No animals were harmed in doing this blog

 Meet better people. Join the Oddly Enough blog network

A goose is seen in front of a police line after being released by anti-government protesters during a rally in front of Budapest’s parliament building April 14, 2009. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh

More stuff from Oddly Enough