We've all been warned to avoid the Bermuda Triangle, where hundreds of planes and ships have mysteriously disappeared, at all costs, but not a lot of us are aware that there's a spot in Alaska we really ought to avoid too.
Even though it's supposedly been the site of a whopping 20,000 disappearances, the 'Alaska Triangle' isn't talked about half as much as it's sister in the North Atlantic Ocean - but it should be.
It's loosely defined as an area of wilderness between Utqiagvik, Anchorage, and Juneau, which you apparently shouldn't head to unless you're taking ghosting to a new level.
According to the History Channel, the eerie region is the site of more unsolved missing person cases than anywhere else in the world, as 20,000 people have vanished within the triangle since the early 1970s.
So I'm sure you can understand why we're not advising you to book a little trip there.
What makes that figure even more stranger is just how small the population in the region which has been dubbed 'Alaska’s Bermuda Triangle' is.
American cryptozoologist and field researcher Ken Gerhard conducted extensive studies in the area and can't help but feel uneasy about the 'strange disappearances' which have occurred there without explanation.
Thousands of people have gone missing in the 'Alaska Triangle' over the years (YouTube/History Channel)Speaking to the History Channel, he explained: "What I found when I was doing my research in the Alaskan Triangle, was that a number of these missing person cases legitimately could not be solved.
"This wasn't just a case of someone being mauled by a bear or falling into a crevasse, I mean, these were often people that were going about their daily lives.
"They weren't out on some grand adventure and yet ultimately, they disappeared for no good reason."
Chillingly, Gerhard explained that two people disappeared - one off a 'cruise ship' and another in a 'crowded tourist area on top of a mountain' - while he and his team were actually there.
The Alaska Triangle first flagged up as a strange spot back in 1972, when a small plane suddenly disappeared while it was travelling from Anchorage to Juneau.
It's been dubbed the US state's Bermuda Triangle (YouTube/History Channel)Three people - US House Majority Leader Thomas Hale Boggs Sr, Alaska Congressman Nick Begich, his aide Russel Brown - were on board alongside the pilot when it suddenly disappeared.
Despite extensive efforts from search teams - which lasted more than 3,600 hours and spanned over a 325,000 square mile radius - to try and track down the missing travellers, the foursome - and the plane - were never found.
This incident obviously prompted a lot of conspiracy theories, given the fact that two notable political figures were involved, but their disappearance ultimately remains a mystery - and so do the ones of the other 19,996 people who have boldly tackled the Alaska Triangle.
But seen as though the vast area is brimming with 'ragged mountain ranges' and 'untouched wilderness' while the climate is 'horrifically cold', according to IFLScience, it seems survival out there doesn't look likely.
Researcher Ken Gerhard said he had a 'very strange experience' there (YouTube/History Channel)And that's not to mention the large amount of bears which roam the land, as well as the 'millions of lakes, countless crevasses and vast valleys' they could encounter.
However, not every disappearance in the Alaska Triangle has gone unsolved.
Gary Frank Sotherden, from New York, was hunting in the Alaskan wilderness in the mid-1970s when he went missing.
His brother explained their family had not been able to have any 'closure' when they couldn't work out what happened to him, as they always hoped that he was somehow 'still alive'.
But after more than four decades - in which time Gary's parents passed away without knowing their son's fate - there was a major breakthrough.
A human skull was discovered along the Porcupine River in northeastern Alaska and DNA was later recovered in 2022, before it was revealed that it belonged to Gary.
A spokesperson for the Alaska State Troopers, Tim DeSpain, told AP at the time: "Based on the shape, size and locations of tooth penetrations to the skull, it appears the person was a victim of bear predation."
Although the US man's official cause of death couldn't officially be confirmed, his brother believes it 'seems most likely that he died from being mauled by a bear'.
All in all, it sounds like a place which is best left alone.Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Photo/Johnny Johnson/Getty
Updated 11:49 4 Sep 2024 GMT+1Published 08:59 4 Sep 2024 GMT+1
Chilling theory behind 'world's loneliest house' that's hours from nearest town where people are banned
YouTuber Ryan Trahan stayed overnight at the 'world's loneliest house' off the south coast of Iceland
A YouTuber went and stayed at the 'world's loneliest house' which has been linked to a bizarre conspiracy theory to see if there was any truth to the chilling stories.
US-based content creator Ryan Trahan took the video-sharing platform to provide us with some insight into the most secluded property you've ever seen.
The white-coloured home is basically in the middle of nowhere, situated in island Skalmen, off the south coast of Iceland.
It's seriously difficult to get to and there are no traditional means of transport available.
The YouTuber made it his mission to check it out (Ryan Trahan/YouTube)And the closest airport or town is two hours away as secluded visitors are banned for months at a time between May and late July each year due to it also being a protected bird reserve.
Forced to make his way there on a four-mile boat trip, before walking up on foot, Ryan got in touch with native Bjarni Sigurdsson to help him get around.
Bjarni made headlines in 2017 after showcasing his attempts to travel to the island himself.
With additional help from a dude named Ragnar, the three entered the island on a small boat, similar in size to a lifeboat.
Would you make the journey? (YouTube/Ryan Trahan)
The island was inhabited by bird scientists in the past. (YouTube/Ryan Trahan)In the video, Ryan admitted: "I feel deathly sick to my stomach right now I'm not sure if it's because I ate two bags of Icelandic candy?
"I haven't pooped in 40 hours. I'm so scared right now, can I just say that?"
Following a treacherous boat ride and hike, the trio finally made it up to the island, with Ryan adding: "So we made it to the loneliest house in the world but I can't forget why I'm here? I need to find out who owns this place, how did they build it? How long could you survive here without leaving?
"The stakes are high and they are juicy."
He stayed in the attic room of the house (YouTube/Ryan Trahan)Opening up on the conspiracy theory surrounding the home, Ryan said that some believe a billionaire built the property if there was ever a zombie apocalypse and they'd need to hide. Yep.
While others reckoned it was used for a religious cult.
Ryan finally asked if a billionaire built the house, but Bjarni revealed that there was a smaller house before this one, a few metres away, where bird scientists would stay to study the exotic and rare puffins that live on the island.
So no cults, then.
Meanwhile, after the YouTuber with 17 million subscribers reached the home, he showed us around his attic-sized room, with seven beds to choose from.
He explained how everything from food and supplies had to be carried up by hand and that the wildlife on show included sheep, puffins and seals.
Play
Ryan's video, posted in 2021, has racked up nearly 34 million views so far, as people in the comments were thankful to get such a look into the area.
"It really felt like three guys met at a certain point with different nature, Ragnar being the most experienced, fearless and serious one, Bjarni being the funny and wholesome guy with cooking skills and Ryan the young protagonist full of hope and determination embarked on a journey/mission. Such a good story telling man!" one viewer wrote.
As another added: "The ultimate trio. Two hardcore Icelandic men who might be the coolest people I’ve ever seen, and a random American guy that has zero experience."Featured Image Credit: YouTube/Ryan Trahan
Published 11:59 4 Sep 2024 GMT+1
'Human anthill' apartment block is home to 20,000 people who never have to leave
The apartment block in Russia takes being a close-knit community to a whole other level...
If you've ever felt claustrophobic in the hellscape that is student accommodation, take a second to think about the 20,000 people that live in the 'world's most crowded apartment block' known as the 'human anthill.'
Situated near St. Petersburg, Russia, the building complex contains a whopping 3,708 apartments across 25 floors.
In each section of the complex there's an average of four to six apartments on each floor, serviced by four lifts.
While the idea of living in close proximity to so many other people may sound like a nightmare, the building - dubbed the 'human anthill' due to its enormity - has soared in popularity since first appearing on the market back in 2015.
A 'human anthill' apartment block outside of St Petersburg, Russia, is home to 20,000 people (YouTube/Curious Facts)
And for arguably good reason, according to its residents. Parking is free, thick walls between units mean there are 'no disturbances or ruckuses' and the complex is in a convenient location for residents to commute to work, according to reports.
The apartment block's first floor is home to a variety of businesses, meaning residents can access everything they could possibly need without ever having to leave.
One person on social media lauded the building's facilities, which apparently include seven grocery stores, three beauty salons, multiple coffee shops, a nursery and a post office.
They said that they 'once spent half a year without leaving the premises' because it had everything they needed.
And for arguably good reason, according to its residents. Parking is free, thick walls between units mean there are 'no disturbances or ruckuses' and the complex is in a convenient location for residents to commute to work, according to reports.
The apartment block's first floor is home to a variety of businesses, meaning residents can access everything they could possibly need without ever having to leave.
One person on social media lauded the building's facilities, which apparently include seven grocery stores, three beauty salons, multiple coffee shops, a nursery and a post office.
They said that they 'once spent half a year without leaving the premises' because it had everything they needed.
The complex contains everything residents could ever need from shops to beauty salons to a nursery and post office (YouTube/Curious Facts)
And a Reddit user who's lived there for eight years says most residents are working individuals who like the convenience it offers.
The relatively low cost of the apartments - price range from £30,000 to £76,000 - are also really attractive to buyers when compared to properties in central St Petersburg, which are said to be 'old' and 'too expensive.'
But, sharing your apartment building with 20,000 other people doesn't come without its issues.
Play
One resident claims there are often long lines to use the lifts in the evenings like waiting for the bus.
I can't even imagine the chaos a fire alarm going off would cause...
And it's left people divided.
While one Redditer called the complex their 'dream place' and another said the apartments 'really ain't bad,' others were less convinced.
One user wrote: "It would stress me out living there."
Another said: "That just baffles me, we have 3000 people in our little farm town."
A third worried about 'the lack of parking spaces', while a fourth commented: "Can you imagine times when there's a plumbing issue?"Featured Image Credit: YouTube/NFKRZ
And a Reddit user who's lived there for eight years says most residents are working individuals who like the convenience it offers.
The relatively low cost of the apartments - price range from £30,000 to £76,000 - are also really attractive to buyers when compared to properties in central St Petersburg, which are said to be 'old' and 'too expensive.'
But, sharing your apartment building with 20,000 other people doesn't come without its issues.
Play
One resident claims there are often long lines to use the lifts in the evenings like waiting for the bus.
I can't even imagine the chaos a fire alarm going off would cause...
And it's left people divided.
While one Redditer called the complex their 'dream place' and another said the apartments 'really ain't bad,' others were less convinced.
One user wrote: "It would stress me out living there."
Another said: "That just baffles me, we have 3000 people in our little farm town."
A third worried about 'the lack of parking spaces', while a fourth commented: "Can you imagine times when there's a plumbing issue?"Featured Image Credit: YouTube/NFKRZ
Published 15:33 22 Dec 2023 GMT
All the chilling predictions The Simpsons got right this year
The beloved cartoon has a knack for foreshadowing major future events.
Instead of visiting a clairvoyant to find out what's on the cards for 2024, why not just binge watch The Simpsons for clues?
We're all well aware by now that the beloved animated sitcom has a knack for forecasting major historical events - but whether its merely a massive coincidence or a giant conspiracy theory remains up for debate.
The Simpsons Groundskeeper Willie: Damn Scots!
The fact that several of The Simpsons chilling predictions have seemingly come true this year has only added fuel to the fire of the longstanding discussion which often haunts the internet.
We already watched the residents of Springfield act out Lady Gaga flying into her Super Bowl performance, the US battling murder hornets, suffering from a disease eerily similar to Covid-19 and reacting to Donald Trump's presidency way before it all happened in real life.
A string of key events that have hijacked the headlines throughout the last 12 months also played out in The Simpsons universe ahead of time - making the theory that the writers know something we don't that bit more believable.
FoxTitanic Sub
For starts, the 2006 episode titled Homer’s Paternity Coot seemingly foreshadowed the devastating events that unfolded when the ill-fated Titanic sub made it's doomed voyage in June this year.
It shows Homer heading on an intrepid adventure as he tries to uncover the sunken treasure ship, the Piso Mojado, alongside his long lost father Mason Fairbanks in a submarine - just like how victims Shahzada Dawood, 48, and his teenage son Suleman headed to explore the Titanic wreckage.
The Simpsons characters end up separated while below the surface and when Homer gets lost, his submersible worryingly starts flashing an 'oxygen low' sign, which then swiftly changes to 'oxygen gone'.
He passes out - but thankfully wakes up in hospital three days later.
Tragically in real life, the Titan sub imploded during it's descent and killed all five passengers on board.
The cartoon classic's writer producer, Mike Reiss, had also been on three expeditions with OceanGate himself - but later said the episode was inspired by the 1996 film Crimson Tide.
He said: "We didn’t predict the future, we just did it off that movie and 20 years later, something like that happened."
FoxThe Barbie craze
But how does he explain The Simpsons apparently anticipating the Barbie craze taking over the world in 2023?
Loyal fans will remember the 1994 episode Lisa vs Malibu Stacey, where Lisa launches a campaign to get the creators of the Malibu Stacey doll to make a better role model for young girls.
The original toy utters phrases such as 'Math is hard’ or ‘Don't ask me, I'm just a girl’, which obviously doesn't sit well with Lisa - so she get's its designer, Stacy Lovell, to produce a more feminist-empowering toy called Lisa Lionheart.
Warner BrosThe inspiring figurine is released and instantly becomes a big hit - and The Simpsons resident newsreader Kent Brockman is urged by his daughter to do a segment on Lisa's doll, which soon becomes 'important news' and a 'fascinating' subject which he spent 28 minutes waffling on about - just like Greta Gerwig's Barbie film did.
However, the creators of Malibu Stacy see Lisa's doll as a real threat and release a new one to bury Lisa Lionheart.
To Lisa and Lovell’s dismal, the new Malibu Stacy - which is just the old one wearing a ‘new hat' - is wheeled in front of Lisa’s doll display, with little girls opting for Malibu Stacey instead.
Margot Robbie's starring role in Barbie helped bring the iconic doll back to the forefront of kid's minds, proving once and for all that she will always be that toy which will never die - just like Malibu Stacey.
Fox
Donald Trump's arrest
The cartoon sitcom predicted the rise of Donald Trump in the political sphere, but they also seemingly predicted his epic fall from grace too.
In the same episode which has strange parallels to the Barbie film's success, Kent Brockman also has some other news to share - but he only quickly spits it out after finishing his nearly 30 minute spiel about Lisa Lionheart.
As he's wrapping up the night's news and using the majority of his airtime to discuss the new doll on the market, the presenter casually adds: "Oh, and the president was arrested."
Scott Olson/Getty Image
Kent's last minute admission may have gone over the heads of some fans of The Simpsons, but others spotted that it seemed to foretell Donald Trump's arrest and charge in August 2023 amid an election interference case.
Although the episode didn't explicitly state the businessman was the President who had been led away in handcuffs, viewers put two and two together and added it to the list of eerie coincidences.
However, the unnamed President in the show was arrested for murder rather than accusations of attempting to overturn election results in Georgia and allegedly paying hush money to an adult entertainment star like Trump.
But hey ho, it's close enough to make the list.
Donald Trump's arrest
The cartoon sitcom predicted the rise of Donald Trump in the political sphere, but they also seemingly predicted his epic fall from grace too.
In the same episode which has strange parallels to the Barbie film's success, Kent Brockman also has some other news to share - but he only quickly spits it out after finishing his nearly 30 minute spiel about Lisa Lionheart.
As he's wrapping up the night's news and using the majority of his airtime to discuss the new doll on the market, the presenter casually adds: "Oh, and the president was arrested."
Scott Olson/Getty ImageKent's last minute admission may have gone over the heads of some fans of The Simpsons, but others spotted that it seemed to foretell Donald Trump's arrest and charge in August 2023 amid an election interference case.
Although the episode didn't explicitly state the businessman was the President who had been led away in handcuffs, viewers put two and two together and added it to the list of eerie coincidences.
However, the unnamed President in the show was arrested for murder rather than accusations of attempting to overturn election results in Georgia and allegedly paying hush money to an adult entertainment star like Trump.
But hey ho, it's close enough to make the list.
Fox
Elon Musk rebranding Twitter
It's been quite a whirlwind throughout 2023, but one of the most bizarre additions to this year's wacky occurrences is Elon Musk's decision to completely rebrand Twitter after he took it over in in October last year.
Has he not heard the saying if it's not broke, don't fix it?
Anyway, he decided to get rid of the iconic blue bird as well as the social media platform's well known name in favour of a new logo and moniker - X.
It came to a shock to a lot of dedicated social media users, although it was hardly surprising that Musk had opted for a complete shakeup of Twitter to make it his own.
Let's have it right, when does he do things by halves?
Antonio Masiello/Getty Images
But The Simpsons were one step ahead as per usual, as seen in a 2012 episode titled Ned ‘N Edna’s Blend.
As always, Homer is at the centre of it and this time he is seen scrolling on his phone.
If you look closely, you can have a gander at what kind of apps Springfield Nuclear Power Plant's finest worker has on his device and one might stick out to you.
That's because many believed that it looks suspiciously similar to the logo design that Musk went with for X.
Elon Musk rebranding Twitter
It's been quite a whirlwind throughout 2023, but one of the most bizarre additions to this year's wacky occurrences is Elon Musk's decision to completely rebrand Twitter after he took it over in in October last year.
Has he not heard the saying if it's not broke, don't fix it?
Anyway, he decided to get rid of the iconic blue bird as well as the social media platform's well known name in favour of a new logo and moniker - X.
It came to a shock to a lot of dedicated social media users, although it was hardly surprising that Musk had opted for a complete shakeup of Twitter to make it his own.
Let's have it right, when does he do things by halves?
Antonio Masiello/Getty ImagesBut The Simpsons were one step ahead as per usual, as seen in a 2012 episode titled Ned ‘N Edna’s Blend.
As always, Homer is at the centre of it and this time he is seen scrolling on his phone.
If you look closely, you can have a gander at what kind of apps Springfield Nuclear Power Plant's finest worker has on his device and one might stick out to you.
That's because many believed that it looks suspiciously similar to the logo design that Musk went with for X.
Fox
Censoring Michelangelo's David
Fans of The Simpsons are often left on the fence about the show's ability to predict things but this one really was a open and shut case of life imitating art.
Cast your mind back to the 1990 episode, Itchy & Scratchy & Marge, where Marge is on a mission to get rid of violence from the TV show her kids love - The Itchy & Scratchy Show - as Maggie is repeating the behaviour she watches.
Her campaign ends up blowing up, prompting thousands of other angry parents to share their grievances about things they don't find appropriate for their offspring to be watching.
Marge's rag tag gang of mums and dads then set their sights on boycotting the travelling exhibition of Michelangelo's sculpture of David which is doing a whistle-stop tour of Springfield.
Censoring Michelangelo's David
Fans of The Simpsons are often left on the fence about the show's ability to predict things but this one really was a open and shut case of life imitating art.
Cast your mind back to the 1990 episode, Itchy & Scratchy & Marge, where Marge is on a mission to get rid of violence from the TV show her kids love - The Itchy & Scratchy Show - as Maggie is repeating the behaviour she watches.
Her campaign ends up blowing up, prompting thousands of other angry parents to share their grievances about things they don't find appropriate for their offspring to be watching.
Marge's rag tag gang of mums and dads then set their sights on boycotting the travelling exhibition of Michelangelo's sculpture of David which is doing a whistle-stop tour of Springfield.
Franco Origlia/Getty Images
One parent tells the blue haired mum it is an 'abomination', while raging: "It’s filth, it graphically portrays parts of the human body – which practical as they may be – are evil," - even though Marge thinks it's a masterpiece.
A similar situation unfolded in real life early this year, when school kids in Tallahassee, Florida, were shown a picture of the iconic sculpture by an art teacher and their parents lost their rags.
People complained that their children had been exposed to 'pornography' and were 'upset' by it.
The principal of Tallahassee Classical school, Hope Carrasquilla, ended up resigning after all the backlash.
Where was Marge to smooth things over when you need her, eh?
Fox
'Radioactive' fish
To wrap up a year of mysterious coincidences, how about seeing Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida eat a fish which had been caught from radioactive water and treated?
To prove that marine mammals hadn't been affected by the pollution being pumped into the waters off the Fukushima coast and that the seafood was safe to eat, Kishida chowed down on some fish sashimi.
He said it was a 'safe' and 'very delicious' snack, although other people were more wary - especially loyal watchers of The Simpsons who had took heed of a 1990 episode.
In Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish, Mr Burns munches on a three-eyed fish which is believed to have suffered garish mutations due to pollution in the water from his nuclear power plant.
The ridiculously rich and menacingly mean businessman is running for governor of Springfield, so he needs to have the public on his side and goes to drastic lengths to convince people he hasn't caused any harm.
The fish - aptly named Blinky - is served up by the Simpsons family for Mr Burns and he takes a bite out of it in front of rows of cameras and press, just like how Japan's PM did.
You know you're in a mess when you're turning to Mr Burns playbook for tips on how to wriggle out of a scandal.
Although it didn't exactly come true, it's quite the uncanny coincidence.Featured Image Credit: Disney
Published 11:01 25 Jan 2024 GMT
People losing minds over Fruit Of The Loom 'Mandela Effect' after realising logo they remember never existed
The news that the cornucopia was never in the logo isn't sitting well with a lot of people.
If you end up down the rabbit hole of conspiracy theories surrounding the Mandela effect, you'll end up questioning everything you've ever known.
The term refers to when a large group of people collectively 'misremember' the same thing - like a landmark event, a logo or the letters in a word - but remain adamant that their recollection is correct.
The internet is flooded with other weird examples of the Mandela effect, but arguably one of the most contentious debates surrounds a clothing company's logo - Fruit of the Loom and its cornucopia.
Imgur/Fruit of the Loom
Basically, one camp are absolutely convinced that the US brand's fruity logo once featured a cornucopia too, while the other half, and the actual company, insist it never did.
This row has actually been raging for a lot longer than you think, as the star of the clothing company's adverts claimed the horn-shaped basket used to be on the labels of our purchases way back in 1994.
An article in a Florida newspaper which detailed an interview with Samuel Wright - who also played Sebastian the Crab in The Little Mermaid - read: "For 19 years, Wright made anywhere from 120-140 television commercials for Fruit of the Loom underwear. And he didn't even wear Fruit of the Looms.
"He wore skimpy bikini briefs. 'My wife is European,' he says from a hotel room in Tampa. 'She said (cotton underwear) made me look like an old man'.
"Anyhow, Fruit of the Loom's logo was initially a cornucopia swollen with an apple, green grapes, purple grapes, and their green leaves. Wright was the purple grape cluster. And he had to pretend Fruit of the Looms never found them that were great."
On top of that and various other bits of evidence, a dedicated TikTok creator has been on a mission to prove the cornucopia was a part of the logo for months - and she has some pretty compelling proof to back up her claims.
Nicole, better known as @dimelifting online, has trawled through decades of information in the hopes of proving her point and eventually found a t-shirt with the logo exactly how she remembered it. Take a look at her conclusions here:
She told social media users: "When Fruit of the Loom was asked about the cornucopia, they straight up lied to us and said it never existed."
She has also referred to it as 'one of the greatest marketing ploys in history'.
Fruit of the Loom has addressed the cornucopia controversy too, although people aren't completely trusting of their word.
In a tweet shared in June last year, the firm shared a snap of a crossword puzzle which had the hint: "Fruit of the ____ (company that does not, in fact, have a cornucopia in its logo)."
The image was posted alongside the caption: "The Mandela Effect is real, the cornucopia in our logo is not."
Fact-checking website Snopes have now weighed in on cornucopia-gate, claiming that the photographic evidence is 'weak' and out of hundreds of examples, 'only two discrete images' were provided of the logo with a cornucopia.
The page read: "Both images are allegedly taken from shirts found in thrift stores.
"Because no verified image of a Fruit of the Loom containing a cornucopia exists in print, and because the company has officially stated that its logo has never contained a cornucopia, the claim is false."
Maybe it always was just the apple, green grapes, purple grapes, and leaves. But I for one distinctly recall the fruit spilling out of a cornucopia - just like hundreds of others who are losing their minds about it.
One said: "It did exist. The company removed it and is gaslighting everyone into thinking it didn't exist. A girl on tiktok is getting all the receipts and pictures and information to prove it and the company is trying to sue her."
Another fumed: "Fruit of the loom, much like their underwear, is full of sh*t. They know the pic on the left was their logo at one point."
While a third wrote: "The first logo did exist. Perhaps it’s not the Mandela effect but the company decided to change the logo."
One parent tells the blue haired mum it is an 'abomination', while raging: "It’s filth, it graphically portrays parts of the human body – which practical as they may be – are evil," - even though Marge thinks it's a masterpiece.
A similar situation unfolded in real life early this year, when school kids in Tallahassee, Florida, were shown a picture of the iconic sculpture by an art teacher and their parents lost their rags.
People complained that their children had been exposed to 'pornography' and were 'upset' by it.
The principal of Tallahassee Classical school, Hope Carrasquilla, ended up resigning after all the backlash.
Where was Marge to smooth things over when you need her, eh?
Fox'Radioactive' fish
To wrap up a year of mysterious coincidences, how about seeing Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida eat a fish which had been caught from radioactive water and treated?
To prove that marine mammals hadn't been affected by the pollution being pumped into the waters off the Fukushima coast and that the seafood was safe to eat, Kishida chowed down on some fish sashimi.
He said it was a 'safe' and 'very delicious' snack, although other people were more wary - especially loyal watchers of The Simpsons who had took heed of a 1990 episode.
In Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish, Mr Burns munches on a three-eyed fish which is believed to have suffered garish mutations due to pollution in the water from his nuclear power plant.
The ridiculously rich and menacingly mean businessman is running for governor of Springfield, so he needs to have the public on his side and goes to drastic lengths to convince people he hasn't caused any harm.
The fish - aptly named Blinky - is served up by the Simpsons family for Mr Burns and he takes a bite out of it in front of rows of cameras and press, just like how Japan's PM did.
You know you're in a mess when you're turning to Mr Burns playbook for tips on how to wriggle out of a scandal.
Although it didn't exactly come true, it's quite the uncanny coincidence.Featured Image Credit: Disney
Published 11:01 25 Jan 2024 GMT
People losing minds over Fruit Of The Loom 'Mandela Effect' after realising logo they remember never existed
The news that the cornucopia was never in the logo isn't sitting well with a lot of people.
If you end up down the rabbit hole of conspiracy theories surrounding the Mandela effect, you'll end up questioning everything you've ever known.
The term refers to when a large group of people collectively 'misremember' the same thing - like a landmark event, a logo or the letters in a word - but remain adamant that their recollection is correct.
The internet is flooded with other weird examples of the Mandela effect, but arguably one of the most contentious debates surrounds a clothing company's logo - Fruit of the Loom and its cornucopia.
Imgur/Fruit of the LoomBasically, one camp are absolutely convinced that the US brand's fruity logo once featured a cornucopia too, while the other half, and the actual company, insist it never did.
This row has actually been raging for a lot longer than you think, as the star of the clothing company's adverts claimed the horn-shaped basket used to be on the labels of our purchases way back in 1994.
An article in a Florida newspaper which detailed an interview with Samuel Wright - who also played Sebastian the Crab in The Little Mermaid - read: "For 19 years, Wright made anywhere from 120-140 television commercials for Fruit of the Loom underwear. And he didn't even wear Fruit of the Looms.
"He wore skimpy bikini briefs. 'My wife is European,' he says from a hotel room in Tampa. 'She said (cotton underwear) made me look like an old man'.
"Anyhow, Fruit of the Loom's logo was initially a cornucopia swollen with an apple, green grapes, purple grapes, and their green leaves. Wright was the purple grape cluster. And he had to pretend Fruit of the Looms never found them that were great."
On top of that and various other bits of evidence, a dedicated TikTok creator has been on a mission to prove the cornucopia was a part of the logo for months - and she has some pretty compelling proof to back up her claims.
Nicole, better known as @dimelifting online, has trawled through decades of information in the hopes of proving her point and eventually found a t-shirt with the logo exactly how she remembered it. Take a look at her conclusions here:
She told social media users: "When Fruit of the Loom was asked about the cornucopia, they straight up lied to us and said it never existed."
She has also referred to it as 'one of the greatest marketing ploys in history'.
Fruit of the Loom has addressed the cornucopia controversy too, although people aren't completely trusting of their word.
In a tweet shared in June last year, the firm shared a snap of a crossword puzzle which had the hint: "Fruit of the ____ (company that does not, in fact, have a cornucopia in its logo)."
The image was posted alongside the caption: "The Mandela Effect is real, the cornucopia in our logo is not."
Fact-checking website Snopes have now weighed in on cornucopia-gate, claiming that the photographic evidence is 'weak' and out of hundreds of examples, 'only two discrete images' were provided of the logo with a cornucopia.
The page read: "Both images are allegedly taken from shirts found in thrift stores.
"Because no verified image of a Fruit of the Loom containing a cornucopia exists in print, and because the company has officially stated that its logo has never contained a cornucopia, the claim is false."
Maybe it always was just the apple, green grapes, purple grapes, and leaves. But I for one distinctly recall the fruit spilling out of a cornucopia - just like hundreds of others who are losing their minds about it.
One said: "It did exist. The company removed it and is gaslighting everyone into thinking it didn't exist. A girl on tiktok is getting all the receipts and pictures and information to prove it and the company is trying to sue her."
Another fumed: "Fruit of the loom, much like their underwear, is full of sh*t. They know the pic on the left was their logo at one point."
While a third wrote: "The first logo did exist. Perhaps it’s not the Mandela effect but the company decided to change the logo."
