Welcome to this week’s delightful parade of peculiar happenings, where Japan is literally chewing on its bear problem, and the Swedes are finding it challenging to bask in sunshine gloom. Be prepared for a snicker or two as we navigate this bizarre landscape.
– From Predator to Your Plate –
In a groundbreaking culinary strategy, Japan has decided to tackle its bear problem by… well, having them for dinner. Yes, you heard that right. No need for complicated wildlife management when you can just add “Bear Stew” to the menu at your local izakaya.
Bear meat has taken the spotlight, served on stone slates or simmered in hot pots alongside vegetables. With a staggering 13 unfortunate individuals meeting their doom in bear maulings this year—double the previous record—Japan’s culling efforts have officially pivoted from containment to culinary delight. Who knew bearing arms could also mean bearing forks?
Bears, those hefty predators weighing as much as a small car and boasting speed that would put Olympic sprinters to shame, have taken to invading homes and grocery stores like they own the place. But fret not; as panic rises, so does an appetite for their tender meat. Talk about turning a crisis into a feast!
Koji Suzuki, a restaurant owner in Chichibu, can barely keep up with the ravenous customers lining up to munch on his bear delicacies. “It’s a real bear-y good time,” he quips, while turning away hopeful diners. One lucky patron, 28-year-old Takaaki Kimura, experienced bear for the first time and practically melted into his chair over the taste, describing it as “juicy” and “delicious”—probably in a state of post-bear bliss.
Suzuki, a hunter at heart, emphasizes the importance of honoring the bears by cooking them to perfection instead of burying them. “We might as well have a bear-y good dinner instead of wasting perfectly good meat,” he chuckled. Talk about a new take on sustainable dining!
– That Won’t Fly –
Now, let’s zip over to Mexico, where a pilot staged a high-flying protest that could rival any movie plot. He locked himself in the cockpit and declared he wouldn’t take the passengers to Cancun until he received five months of back pay. A modern-day Robin Hood of the skies, if you will—except, you know, with more aviation snacks and less archery.
Even as passengers groaned, he sent a heartfelt apology to them, saying they didn’t deserve such a hiccup. But hey, who needs sunshine in Cancun when you can enjoy the exhilarating ambiance of a cockpit standoff? Smooth moves, Captain!
– Not Much Hygge –
And lastly, let’s traverse to the land of the midnight sun—well, sort of. In a staggering twist of fate, Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, has witnessed a sun-free first half of December. That’s right; not a single hour of sunshine was clocked in during those 15 dismal days. Maybe they should start charging for sunshine, considering the demand!
Meteorologists report only 30 minutes of sunlight, which is rapidly placing Stockholm in the running for the darkest December since 1934, when light levels were so low, they basically dropped their metrics to zero. Those famous concepts of “hygge” and coziness are now being put to the ultimate test, as even the most stoic Swede might struggle to find joy in sitting in a dark room with a candle and a tub of cinnamon buns.
So, the next time you feel low due to a lack of sunshine, remember, at least you’re not buried in snow and darkness, contemplating your life choices over a plate of bear stew. Cheers to the peculiar moments that keep life interesting!
