News and Grooves

News and Grooves June 11 Odd Encounters: From Spicy Seagulls to Saber-Toothed Fish

• Jim Murray

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What happens when nature serves up the unexpected? Dive into a world where seagulls bathe in curry and ancient anchovies sport terrifying teeth. Our musical journey through natural oddities begins in Aylesbury, England, where concerned citizens thought they'd rescued an exotic orange bird—only to discover it was simply a seagull with a taste for spicy adventures. After a few baths, the gull returned to its naturally unseasoned state, leaving behind a tale that perfectly captures how animal curiosity leads to surprising situations.

Travel back 50 million years to meet the ancestors of today's pizza toppings—saber-toothed anchovies that grew up to a meter long! These predatory fish, recently examined using CT scanning technology, reveal how dramatically species can evolve over time. With fearsome fangs and impressive size, these ancient swimmers bear little resemblance to their modern, plankton-feeding relatives, yet share key anatomical features that connect past to present.

Human ingenuity (or lack thereof) takes center stage as we explore ATM thieves whose blowtorch only managed to enhance security by welding the hinges shut, and the clever New Yorker who hacked the system by rotating through free mattress trials for over a year. Each story unfolds against a backdrop of original music that captures the mood of these peculiar tales—from driving rhythms that echo open roads to contemplative melodies that invite reflection.

The combination of bizarre natural phenomena, human folly, and atmospheric musical interludes creates an experience that's as entertaining as it is enlightening. By the end, you'll see the world differently, finding wonder in the weird and wisdom in the unexpected. Don't forget to tune in this Sunday for our next episode featuring even more amazing original music—a creative journey you won't want to miss!

Speaker 1:

You're listening to the News and Grooves Podcast.

Speaker 2:

A Spicy Discovery. When citizens of Aylesbury, England, found a large orange bird that was having trouble flying in early July, they thought they'd discovered an exotic creature in peril. Upon bringing it to a wildlife hospital, though, they found out it was the animal's behavior that had led to its bold color. The distressed bird was a seagull that had managed to get itself covered in curry. Seagulls are inquisitive by nature and are known to put themselves in similarly spicy situations. Thankfully, a couple of baths returned it to its naturally unseasoned state Can't even think, restless heart Burning, wildfire Rolling out Can't escape desire.

Speaker 3:

Cruising in my 59 Chevy Roads are mine Burying heavy, driving fast. Don't look back, speeding through dust attack. Radio house, old rock tunes, moonlight guides, under sky's, monsoons, gas pedal down. Feel the thrill, chasing dreams on Everest Hill. Cruising in my 59 Chevy Roads on mine, blurring heavy, driving fast. Don't look back, speeding through dust attacks. Radio house, four rock tunes, moonlight guides, under skies, monsoons, gas pedal down. Feel the thrill, chasing dreams on endless hills. Cruising in my 59 Chevy roads on mine, blurring heavy, driving fast. Don't look back, speeding through dust attacks. Don't look back, speeding through dust attacks, dusty memories we left behind. Twisting highways, freedom, I find Engine roars echoes my soul Night's off stage. Let's lose control. Cruisin' in my 59 Chevy Roads on mine, blurrin' heavy, drivin' fast, don't look back, speeding through dust attacks.

Speaker 4:

Not your average fish. New revelations from the fossil record show that somewhere between 40 and 55 million years ago, saber-toothed anchovies swam the ocean hunting. With a mouth full of spiky bottom teeth and one massive curved fawn protruding from the upper jaw, these predator fish were up to a meter long too large to fit on a pizza. In findings published in the Royal Society in May, scientists used CT scanners to examine fossil samples collected in Belgium and Pakistan in the last century. Though the saber-toothed anchovy went extinct, the newly identified species shares a number of features with the plankton-feeding fish we know today. The scientific literature doesn't determine whether the saber-toothed anchovy would be a polarizing ingredient on a pizza.

Speaker 1:

Golden days fade to night, but your smile keeps the light in your arms. Time's a dream, flowing soft like a stream. Autumn leaves start to fall Through it all. Hear my call. Every heart beats for you. Every dawn, something new. Every dawn, something new. Loving you forever. Through the storm, through the weather. Every star fades away, but your love here to stay. Loving you forever through the storm, through the weather, through the storm, through the weather. Every star fades away, but your love here to stay. Morning brings a soft breeze. Morning brings a soft breeze. Whispers dance through the trees With your hand clasped in mine. World stands still love. Divine Shadows may chase the day Still, I'll always find the way. Home is where your heart stays, guiding light in the haze. Loving you forever through the storm, through the weather, through the storm, through the weather. Every star fades away, but your love, you stay.

Speaker 2:

Up in flames. When committing a robbery, it pays to bring the right tools. That's what a pair of Florida would-be thieves discovered after they bungled a heist in May. Florida would-be thieves discovered after they bungled a heist in May. The duo were spotted on CCTV camera trying to use a blowtorch to destroy an ATM and get at the cash inside. Unfortunately, their tactics ended up enhancing security. The heat from the blowtorch welded the hinges shut, making it effectively impossible to open. The two ran off after their trial and error by fire, presumably to get a head start on their new ATM security business.

Speaker 3:

In a room so empty, light is fading fast. All my dreams are shattered like broken glass. Like broken glass, lost my pride, my fortune Faded into blue. But in this hollow space I still have you. Neon lights, wer memories in my mind. Days roll into nights, endless and unkind, lost the way to laughter. Tears feel overdue. But through the shadows I find my way to you, when all is lost and nothing's left to gain. You bring the sunshine after pouring rain. Love remains our constant in this empty room Found in your embrace amidst the gloom. City streets are empty, echoes fill the air. Past the countless faces, nobody to care. Lost my way through alleys, heartache in the queue. Still you stand beside me. Ever true. We dance through chaos, heartbeats sink as one, lost in the rhythm, until the night is done. No more fear in darkness. Destiny in you. With you by my side, I start anew when all is lost and nothing's left to gain. You bring the sunshine after pouring rain. Love remains our constant in this empty room Found in your embrace amidst the gloom Bed on Arrival.

Speaker 4:

Quality sleep is important and investing in a good mattress can help, but in 2016, new Yorker Karen Burr recognized a potential loophole mattress returns. For over a year, he slept on a rotating series of free trial mattresses sourced from online companies with money-back guarantees. Burr realized he could hack the system by simply returning his purchases within 100 days. By the time he bid a bet-a-do, he'd ordered another to take its place. Enough brands offered refunds that he could go years without actually paying for one. He gave up after he moved to an elevator-less building. However, lugging a mattress up or down several flights of stairs each time wasn't something he was willing to lose sleep over sunburn wind keeps violating chase of freedom.

Speaker 1:

Nowhere bound echoes of engines that don't make a sound.

Speaker 5:

We'll see you next time. Cities fade in the rearview mirror. Wheels keep rolling day getting clearer. On the road, we shake the night. Burning stars are only light. Every turn of breath, so new, alive on asphalt. Me and this crew, miles behind my past, keep screaming. Keep screaming. Empty bottles Hold your demons, radio croons, strangers' tales, and the moon hangs Sharks like a nail. Horde section. Blaring hearts arise, breaking dawn ignites the skies, broken maps. But we still strive. On the road, we feel the light. On the road, we shake the night, burning stars are only light. Every turn of breath, so new, alive on asphalt. Me and this crew.

Speaker 4:

Thank you so much for joining us. Our next podcast dropping this Sunday, featuring the most amazing original music on the Internet. This is an episode you simply can't afford to miss. We can't wait to share it with you, then.