Weird News: Dino-Might
Eyes of the Beholder
In Mount Gambier, Australia, a large sculpture called Cast in Blue has garnered attention from locals since its installation last year, ABC News reported. Amelia Vanderhorst, 20, of Mount Gambier, Australia, added her own personal touches to the “blue blob” late last year, and on March 24, she pleaded guilty in court to a charge of making graffiti. According to Vanderhorst, she was high on MDMA and had consumed three liters of vodka before placing googly eyes on the sculpture. She said she wanted to make it look funny but admitted it was “one of the stupidest things I’ve ever done.” She was ordered to pay $2,000 in compensation and complete 60 hours of community service. “Your actions mocked the sculpture and the artist,” said Magistrate Kylie Schulz.
Rocket Man
Florida Highway Patrol officers stopped a truck near Plant City, Florida, on March 22 as it drove along a state highway, CBS12-TV reported. The driver, whom officers dubbed Rocket Man, had missiles mounted in the bed of the truck, and multiple other drivers had called it in. However, the missiles turned out to be plastic replicas used for shows and events, and the driver was released with a gentle warning to transport his “artillery” in some other manner.
Sign Me Up
The Texas Department of Transportation has cut off the small town of Bug Tussle (population 15), United Press International reported on March 23. More than 70 Bug Tussle road signs have been stolen over the years, and the DOT announced it won’t supply the burg with any more. “People just like the name Bug Tussle, and they steal the signs,” explained resident Deborah Stout.
Sounds Like Something a Robot Would Say
Well, it’s official: CNBC reported on March 26 that AI has taken over the internet. A report released by cybersecurity firm Human Security detailed the incursion of bots in our lives: Automated traffic grew eight times faster than human traffic in 2025. “The State of AI Traffic” also concluded that AI that performs autonomously grew almost 8,000% last year. But Stu Solomon, CEO of Human Security, reminded readers that not all AI systems are malicious. “This notion of machine bad, human good is just not realistic,” he said. “You have to live in a world where machines are acting on our behalf, and we have to establish a level of trust that’s persistent over time.”
Dino-Might
If you’re looking for an eye-catching ornament for your front yard, perhaps consider Tyra, the 86-foot-tall, 145,000-pound T. rex that currently graces the town of Drumheller near Calgary, Canada. Popular Science reported on March 24 that the fiberglass and steel dino will be evicted from its home in 2029, so officials from the Chamber of Commerce and the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology aren’t wasting any time. They’ve had Tyra structurally assessed and declared her “safe, stable and ready to welcome visitors.” The original plan was for her to be dismantled when her time is up, but the chamber is looking into “long-term options for the dinosaur.”