Here's our weekly collection of this weird, weird world — from hundreds rallying to see a man consume a jar of cheeseballs to Plato’s final moments complaining about music.
Higher power at play
WHERE?
Abuja, Nigeria
WHAT?
The power supply was cut off during Nigeria’s Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu’s speech at the National Assembly, which caused drama because the hearing was about… an increase in electricity prices. The interruption lasted five minutes, just enough time to, well, shine a light on the unstable state of the country’s electricity systems.
Cheesus Christ
WHERE?
Manhattan, New York
WHAT?
A man put up flyers saying he was going to eat a whole jar of cheeseballs in a New York City park, so hundreds turned up to watch a man eat a whole tub of cheeseballs in a New York City park. After almost a half hour, the anonymous “Cheeseball Man,” wearing an orange ski mask and cape, finally accomplished his mission: "There was a moment that I was definitely going to throw up. And then people said, 'Keep it down,' really loudly. So, I just kept it in," he said. God bless America.
Not quite my tempo, said Plato
WHERE?
Pisa, Italy
WHAT?
Italian researchers think they have uncovered the burial place of Plato and reveal what his final hours were like. Deciphered from charred Herculaneum papyrus scrolls, newfound texts suggests that the Greek philosopher was buried near a sacred shrine in the Platonic Academy of Athens — and that, as he lay on his deathbed, he mustered the strength not to impart his wisdom as he left this mortal coil, but to complain about the flute player who had a “scant sense of rhythm.” Ouch, Plato.
#MountFujiFail
WHERE?
Fujikawaguchiko, Japan
WHAT?
The quiet Japanese resort town of Fujikawaguchiko, in the foothills of Mount Fuji, has just about had enough with influencers. To fight off hordes of tourists and Instagram addicts swarming the place to snap a pic of the beautiful mount (and in doing so, littering, ignoring traffic lights and trespassing on private properties), authorities have ordered the building of a large black screen meant to block the view.
That’s enough time to watch at least 6 bad inflight movies!
WHERE?
Shenzhen, China
WHAT?
China Southern Airlines is launching its first-ever direct passenger flight from the megacity of Shenzhen to Mexico City, which will set the record as the longest nonstop regular commercial flight to originate in China. The flight time for this trip is 16 hours and covers over 14,147 kilometers — although flying the other way around is a little more grueling with an estimated 21 hours of flight time.
Earring error
WHERE?
Mexico
WHAT?
Famous French jewelry brand Cartier was forced to give a Mexican man an enormous 99.9% discount on diamond-encrusted earrings. Rogelio Villarreal was browsing Cartier's website when he found the earrings listed for just 237 Mexican pesos (a little under $14). Cartier tried to back out of the deal but Villarreal asked Mexico’s Consumer Protection Agency to get involved, and they ruled in his favor. According to Mexico's consumer laws, businesses are required to sell their products at their listed price.