OFFBEAT NEWS:

Yoga Pants Are Bad For The Environment

Yoga pants may be comfy, but they’re destroying the ocean. It turns out clothing that uses synthetic fibers, which includes yoga pants, Patagonia’s cozy jackets, and sweat-wicking athletic wear, shed what’s called microfibers when washed. Eventually, those fibers make their way to natural waterways and oceans.

While there was a federal ban on microbeads in face wash and other personal products, that only covered about 7% of plastic Florida Microplastic Awareness Project found off the Florida keys. A whopping 82% of plastic was from those pesky microfibers.

The new wave of research on the effects of microfibers has led to companies, including Patagonia, to support more studies on the pollution synthetic fibers cause.

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Senior Citizen Climbs Tree To Prevent Branch Trimming

Jeri Huber takes her yard very seriously. The 67-year-old woman climbed a pecan tree on her property to prevent its branches from being trimmed. What’s more, this is the second time the senior citizen has taken matters into her own hands.

This time, however, Huber was outsmarted. Utility company Oncor was able to get a restraining order against the feisty senior citizen by explaining it’s their responsiblity to keep power lines free from branches and thus prevent possible service disruptions. Once the Huber was kept at bay, the company was able to trim the tree.

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Swiss Restaurant Offering Bug Cooking Class

Weevil, the other, other, other white meat. A restaurant in Bern, Switzerland is offering a class on how to cook bugs, including some bred on site.

Participants will learn how to cook bug infested muffins and falafel using fried grasshoppers and weevils grown at the restaurant.

While it may seem strange to some, event organizer Andrea Staudacher points out that a handful of crickets has the same amount of protein as “a piece of beef steak.” If you’re going to be in Bern next month, the class at the Löscher restaurant costs $80 and is limited to 20 people.

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STUPID CRIMINALS:

A pair of coin-operated binoculars have been stolen:

Someone in Florida, Massachusetts had their eye on a strange prize: a pair of 305-pound, coin-operated, binocular-like devices that give tourists views along Mohawk Trail. Police are investigating, and say the binoculars are collectibles because so few are made.

Someone stole, then returned, a 70-pound popcorn ball:

The people at Chagrin Falls Popcorn Shop in Ohio were surprised to discover someone stole their 70-pound popcorn ball. Shop owner Dewey Forward said he wouldn’t ask any questions or press charges if the mass of popcorn was returned and his plea reportedly worked. The delicious ball, which was created for a New Year’s Eve popcorn ball drop, was due to be auctioned off this week, with the proceeds slated to go toward renovations of a town hall.