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Oddly Enough

News, but not the serious kind

August 1st, 2007

Stop by and warm your heart…

Posted by: Robert Basler

Another reminder: while we welcome readers to this blog for a heaping daily portion of the ironic and sardonic, we do reserve the right to offer occasional heartwarming photos and video of the most adorable animals we can find, and we make no apology for it. Share this one with someone who will appreciate it. We will now return to our regularly scheduled absurdity.

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Anak, a 31-year-old Orangutan, holds her five-day-old baby Apie in her arms in Ouwehands Zoo in Rhenen, central Netherlands, July 31, 2007. The baby was born in captivity at the zoo. REUTERS/Michael Kooren

July 23rd, 2007

No bunnies were harmed in shooting this photo

Posted by: Robert Basler

Every so often this blog reserves the right to take a very brief break from its regular diet of cynicism, sarcasm and absurdity, and offer up a heaping portion of the adorable.   

Today is our lucky day, especially after learning that this rabbit voluntarily hopped into the tiger cub’s cage, and lived to tell the tale. The usual advice: if you can’t think of anybody who would love to get this picture, you’re hanging out with a cold, cold, crowd.

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Tiger cub plays with a rabbit at a zoo in Wenling, east China’s Zhejian Province July 21, 2007.  REUTERS/China Daily

June 14th, 2007

Hold that tiger…

Posted by: Robert Basler

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As you know, this blog promises a steady supply of cynicism, sarcasm, absurdity, and the cutest animals you’ll find anywhere on the Web.

Today’s dose of adorable comes courtesy of two tiger cubs you won’t believe. 

As usual, the video is served up with some lifestyle advice: if you can’t think of anyone whose day would be brightened by seeing this, you need to make new friends. Check it out:

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April 19th, 2007

Paging Mister Grinch…

Posted by: Robert Basler

Let’s all think about the meanest character we can imagine, sort of a mixture of Cruella De VilThe Grinch, and Jack Bauer’s father on “24.”

Now it’s my duty to warn you, there is someone even worse out there. We know this because Knut, the adorable polar bear, has received a death threat.

That’s right. Security around the little fuzzy guy has been tightened, and he doesn’t seem concerned, but you still have to look at him and wonder who could come up with an idea like this. Madeline Chambers reports:

Oddly Enough Blog

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Polar bear cub Knut is reflected in the water during the bear’s first presentation in Berlin zoo, March 23, 2007. REUTERS/Tobias Schwarz

March 23rd, 2007

Knut the Cute…

Posted by: Robert Basler

Dear Blog Guy,
My blood pressure is dangerously high this morning, and I need to bring it down very quickly. What should I do?
About to Blow

Don’t waste time telling me how much you enjoy this blog or anything. Immediately watch this 49-second video clip of Knut the polar bear making his first public appearance today. Watch it repeatedly, and your systolic will frolic. But don’t read any of the stories about Knut’s future. Trust me, you don’t need that. Here’s the video of Knut: and here is our latest story. Madeline Chambers reports:

Oddly Enough Blog

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Polar bear cub Knut is reflected in the water during his presentation in Berlin zoo, March 23, 2007. REUTERS/Tobias Schwarz

January 4th, 2007

Cats, over their heads in debt…

Posted by: Robert Basler

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Everybody who has a cat knows how bad they are at managing money. They’re always like, “Can I have a couple of dollars?” and then they never pay it back. 

Quite a surprise, then, to read that an Australian bank actually issued a  credit card to a cat named Messiah.

The bank later apologized for the lapse in judgment, which occurred when Messiah’s owner decided to test the bank’s identity security system.

August 31st, 2006

A McFlurry of excitement among hedgehog lovers…

Posted by: Robert Basler

You have to love it that something called the British Hedgehog Preservation Society tries to take on mighty McDonald’s over a badly designed dessert cup that has been killing hedgehogs

It seems the cute little guys stick their heads in the cup for a lick of left-over McFlurry and then can’t get out, starving to death. The Society has been badgering McDonald’s in the hedgehogs’ behalf for several years.

But what you have to love even more is that the Society finally won. Starting tomorrow, McFlurrys in the UK will be sold in hedgehog-friendly containers. McDonald’s said the design change had resulted from pressure from the Society, which prompted “significant research and design testing” to develop new packaging. Here’s the story:hedgehog360.jpg

“Pickles”, a female Hedgehog in the Wildlife Gardens of the Natural History Museum in London, in a 1998 file photo.