Category: That’s Bananas

Aliens. Florida. Naked people doing crimes. Stories so weird, dumb, or oddly impressive, you’ll wonder how they’re even real – and maybe wish they weren’t.

One in Eight Americans Claim They’ve Lived with Ghosts

Forget skeletons in your closet – some people have full-blown ghosts roaming the hallways.

A Halloween poll from Realtor.com found one in eight Americans claim they’ve lived somewhere that was haunted. Like, signed a lease and everything.

Even most people who haven’t had an encounter aren’t totally ruling out the supernatural. A whopping 86% said hauntings are at least plausible. Only 14% gave a hard “nope” to ghost talk. The rest are leaving the door open – and hoping it doesn’t slam shut on its own.

So what exactly screams “haunted house” to people who’ve experienced it firsthand? Here are the most common spooky encounters people reported.

Unexplained noises

67% of people who’ve lived somewhere haunted reported this one. Think footsteps when no one’s home, mysterious thuds, or music that starts playing when your speakers are off. 51% said they heard “disembodied voices” as well.

Ghostly visuals

61% said they saw a shadowy figure or something they absolutely couldn’t explain. So, some sort of spirit… or they took a second Ambien by mistake.

Objects moving on their own

58% reported objects moving around on their own, like sliding across a surface or magically appearing in places they didn’t belong. Cue dramatic stare at that glass of water sitting on a table across the room.

Phantom pokes

Half of haunted home veterans say they’ve felt touched when no one was around. Pretty risky behavior in a post Me Too world, even for a ghost.

Light shows

48% said their lights flickered or appliances powered on and off randomly. Either it’s a spirit or your wiring hasn’t been updated since the Nixon administration.

People Are Trying to Move Trick-or-Treating, So It Always Falls on a Saturday

Every year, the same debate comes creeping back like a haunted house fog machine: Should we move Halloween to a weekend?

Luckily this year it’s on a Friday, so no one is complaining. But with October 31st falling on a random weekday most years, parents and candy-loving kids have long wished the holiday could just live on the final Saturday of October. But despite a Change.org petition that’s racked up over 150,000 signatures, the government still isn’t budging.

So now, there’s a new plan on the table: Instead of trying to shift Halloween itself, why not create an entirely new holiday just for trick-or-treating?

Introducing National Trick or Treat Day.

Yep, it’s official-ish. The folks behind the Halloween petition are pivoting their energy into starting a new holiday that would always land on the last Saturday in October. That way, families could enjoy trick-or-treating on a weekend without disrupting the traditional October 31st Halloween date. And honestly, it’s a pretty clever workaround.

The idea already has a spot on the National Day Calendar website, which tracks all the unofficial holidays we never knew we needed (looking at you, National Taco Day). But whether National Trick or Treat Day actually catches on remains to be seen. It could become a fun bonus night of candy and costumes… or fade into obscurity by Thanksgiving.

The original push to move Halloween came from safety and sanity concerns.

Supporters argue that Saturday celebrations are safer for kids, more convenient for working parents, and less of a nightmare for teachers dealing with sugar-zonked students on November 1st. Critics, of course, say Halloween is Halloween, and you can’t just reschedule spooky season like it’s a dentist appointment.

So will National Trick or Treat Day stick? Time will tell. But if you love candy, costumes, and avoiding weeknight chaos, don’t be surprised if this “bonus” Halloween becomes a thing.

More Milk Duds for everyone!

Dentist Says: Go Ahead, Eat All Your Halloween Candy at Once

It’s the kind of professional advice kids dream about: a real, actual dentist just gave Halloween the green light to go full sugar overload.

Dr. Olivia Mason, a dentist from West Virginia, has gone viral for suggesting that when it comes to protecting your teeth, eating all your Halloween candy in one sitting is actually better than dragging it out over days or weeks.

Yep, you read that right.

Dr. Mason, who runs Almost Heaven Family Dentistry near Wheeling, told her local news station that from a dental health perspective, a sugar binge is technically less harmful to your teeth than snacking on candy day after day. The reason? Frequent exposure to sugar gives cavity-causing bacteria more time to do their thing. If you’re only attacking your enamel once instead of over and over, your teeth (weirdly) come out ahead.

So if your kid housed their entire candy haul in one night, don’t panic—they may have accidentally made the dentist-approved choice. Just maybe not the stomach-approved one.

Of course, Dr. Mason did clarify that this strategy isn’t exactly a health win overall. Eating a mountain of candy at once isn’t easy on your digestive system, and might end in some serious sugar regrets. But when it comes to dental hygiene, it’s kind of a smart play.

She also dropped some candy wisdom: the worst offenders for your teeth are sticky, chewy treats like Starburst or Jolly Ranchers. Those little guys cling to your enamel and can be tough to brush away. Chocolate, while still sugary, melts more quickly and doesn’t stick around as long—which makes it slightly less evil in the eyes of your dentist.

The advice might sound like a Halloween fever dream, but it checks out.

The American Dental Association has shared similar guidance over the years, noting that it’s better to consume sweets in one sitting rather than snack on them all day.

Just make sure to follow it up with a good brushing, plenty of water, and ideally, a visit to the dentist sometime before next Halloween.

So go ahead, let the kids dive headfirst into their pillowcases full of candy. Just maybe keep a trash can—and a toothbrush—close by.

Smart Beds Got Dumb: Internet Outage Left People Sleeping Like Pretzels

File this under “2025 problems”: The internet went down, and it broke people’s… beds? The increasingly connected world we all live in is getting weirder by the day.

Thanks to a major Amazon Web Services (AWS) outage this week, a bunch of tech-savvy households discovered that their “smart homes” don’t function so well without, you know, the internet. And the standout meltdown came from a company called Eight Sleep.

Smart beds are great… until they’re not

Eight Sleep makes high-end bed frames and mattress covers that do all sorts of fancy things like heating, cooling, and adjusting to different positions – you know, like a hospital bed, but luxury.

That is, until the cloud broke. Then each one became a $2,000 paperweight with a mattress on top.

People couldn’t make their bed flat

Because Eight Sleep’s beds rely entirely on cloud computing hosted by AWS, the outage left users completely stuck. If your bed was tilted upright for reading or Netflixing when the servers went kaput, that’s just how you were sleeping that night.

One user posted, “It would be great if my bed wasn’t stuck in an inclined position,” while someone else helpfully quipped, “It’s all fun and games until a hacker folds you into a taco.”

Mattresses also overheated

Some users also reported their mattresses overheating, since the smart temperature system went haywire during the blackout. One guy said his bed was stuck at 9 degrees above room temp and compared it to “sleeping in a sauna.”

Thankfully, the problems were only temporary

The beds eventually came back to life once Amazon sorted things out, and Eight Sleep scrambled to let customers know they were aware it was unacceptable. The company’s CEO promised an “offline mode” was in the works, so if there’s ever another outage (100% chance of that), your bed won’t trap you like it’s auditioning for Saw 12: Sleep Edition.

Or auditioning for a remake of 2013’s “Bad Grandpa”…

Caramel Apples Might Be Delicious, But They Could Be Deadly

If you’ve been proudly DIYing caramel apples every Halloween, here’s something that might ruin your sweet tradition forever (or at least give you a serious reason to eat them all in one sitting)…

Caramel apples can become deadly if you don’t eat them fast enough. Like, actual deadly.

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin once traced a Listeria outbreak that killed seven people back to – brace yourself – caramel apples. That’s right. Not raw chicken. Not week-old potato salad. Caramel-covered fruit-on-a-stick.

So, what’s the deal? The problem starts when you dip the apple in hot caramel. You might think the heat would zap any bacteria, but nope. Instead, the caramel creates a cozy, sticky blanket that traps bacteria in place and gives it a perfect little incubator to multiply. Toss it in the fridge afterward, and you’ve basically set up a slow-cooker for germs.

Things get even worse if you let them sit for a while. The wooden stick you jam into the apple can give bacteria a little entry point and a place to thrive. It’s like a bacteria Airbnb—fully insulated, great location, long-term rental.

Thankfully, the fix isn’t that complicated. Scientists say if you really wash your apples thoroughly before dipping, and eat them within a few days, you’ll probably be fine. Key word: probably. The danger zone sets in if they hang out in your fridge for weeks. So unless you’re planning to eat them fresh, maybe skip them altogether.

If that sounds too risky for your snack plan, there are a million other ways to mainline sugar this spooky season. Try gummy worms, a mountain of candy corn, or just drink a milkshake like a normal Halloween adult.

Because no one wants their obituary to say “taken out by caramel.” Not when there are still so many other desserts to live for.

Hopefully they eat these apples in a timely fashion

New Malware Secretly Films You Watching Porn, Then Uses It for Sextortion

Next time you are thinking about whacking it, BEWARE. Your stiffy could become an iffy.

There’s a new kind of malware floating around the internet, and it’s the stuff of Black Mirror nightmares. Security researchers have flagged a creepy cyberthreat called Stealerium, malware that literally watches you while you watch porn – then snaps a webcam photo of you in the act. Its endgame? Blackmail and sextortion.

Let’s back up. For years, you’ve maybe seen those scammy emails claiming someone hacked your webcam while you were “busy” and demanding cash or crypto to keep the footage private. Most of the time, those emails were just fishing for suckers. But Stealerium flips the script by actually doing the thing.

How Stealerium works (and how it finds you)

This isn’t just digital voyeurism – it’s full-on cyberstalking. Stealerium gets on your computer the classic way: phishing emails. These emails disguise themselves as messages from banks, charities, or even streaming services, tricking you into clicking links or opening attachments. Classic scare tactics like “Payment Due” or “Court Summons” are common bait.

Once inside your system, Stealerium acts like a spy with zero chill. It scans your computer for juicy stuff like saved passwords, credit card numbers, cryptocurrency wallets, and chat histories. Then it keeps an eye on what you’re typing and looking at, waiting for… certain keywords. Type “porn” or “sex” into your browser, and that’s its cue. It takes a screenshot of your screen and snaps a photo of you using your webcam. Those files get sent to criminals, who use them as leverage for blackmail.

Worse still, the malware’s code has been floating around GitHub for years – supposedly for “educational purposes” – but recently it’s been popping up in more actual attacks.

Why Stealerium is more dangerous than ransomware

Unlike most ransomware that targets companies and locks up files until a payout, Stealerium is laser-focused on regular people. It relies on shame, not encryption. And because many victims are too embarrassed to report it, the attackers stay under the radar. They only need a small payment from each person, but they can hit thousands at once.

And yes, everyone is at risk. This type of phishing campaign is fast, automated, and cheap to launch at scale.

What you can do to protect yourself

  • Don’t click sketchy links or attachments, even if the email looks official. If you’re not expecting it, be suspicious. And never click a link that says it’s from your bank. Just type the website in yourself.
  • Cover your webcam when you’re not using it. A slider, sticky note, or a proper webcam cover can spare you from a lot of regret.
  • Keep your software up to date, especially your browser and antivirus tools.
  • Use antivirus software if you don’t already. It can’t catch everything, but it’s better than flying blind.

In the meantime, maybe think twice before clicking into incognito mode. Stealerium doesn’t care about what browser you’re using – just what you’re doing.

Got a Dark Car? Birds Might See It as a Toilet

Thinking about buying a dark-colored car to make dirt less obvious? That might help with dust—but not with bird poop.

A new report has revealed that bird droppings aren’t entirely random. Some vehicles, especially those with darker paint, seem to attract more than their fair share of aerial “gifts.” And if you drive a Ram, Jeep, or Chevy, you might want to keep the car wash on speed dial.

So what’s the deal with bird poop preferences?

According to the findings, brown vehicles top the list for most bird droppings, followed by red and black. On the flip side, white and silver cars appear to be the least targeted.

The science behind it is actually kind of fascinating: birds can see ultraviolet light and have enhanced color perception compared to humans. That means darker and glossier surfaces might look more reflective, more vibrant—or more threatening. During mating season, for example, birds may even see their own reflections and mistake them for rivals. Cue the attacks. Cue the mess.

And that theory could explain why your freshly washed ride always seems to be the first to get hit. It’s not your imagination—shiny cars may just be more inviting for bird drama.

Now for the brand breakdown. Who gets pooped on the most?

The top three brands that birds apparently prefer to defile are:

  1. Ram
  2. Jeep
  3. Chevrolet

They’re followed by Nissan, Dodge, Kia, Tesla, Audi, Ford, and Subaru. If you’re wondering why certain brands rank higher, it likely has more to do with their popular paint colors or design finishes than some secret grudge birds are holding.

The financial impact of bird bombs

It’s not just an eyesore either. Bird droppings are surprisingly acidic and can damage paint if left too long. According to the report, nearly a quarter of Americans spend more than $500 a year dealing with poop-related cleanups and repairs. Tesla and BMW drivers tend to spend the most—possibly because of the higher-end paint jobs and finishings that require extra care.

So, unless you’re planning to wrap your car in camouflage or install a rooftop scarecrow, maybe just avoid parking under trees… or get used to regular washings.

From Murderers Creek to Satan’s Kingdom: America’s Creepiest Place Names

If you’re into road trips with a side of goosebumps, today’s your lucky day.

Here’s a list of the eeriest-sounding places in all 50 states—and not because anything terrifying happened there, but because the names alone are enough to make you want to keep the car running.

These places have spooky written all over them. So whether you’re mapping out a haunted highway adventure or just want to creep yourself out from the comfort of your couch, here’s what made the list.

Let’s start with a few highlights:

  • Alaska: Deadman Lake sounds like a spot where you don’t want to find out why it’s called that.
  • Delaware: Slaughter Beach may be lovely in person, but that name doesn’t exactly scream “family fun.”
  • Illinois: Bloody Gulch Road feels like it was ripped straight from a horror movie.
  • Oregon: Murderers Creek? Yeah, maybe we’ll just wave from the car.

And yes, there’s a town in Michigan literally named Hell.

It’s been fully embraced, with “Welcome to Hell” signs and Halloween-level tourism every October.

Other creepy contenders include Satan’s Kingdom State Park in Connecticut, Transylvania in Louisiana, Witches Gulch in Wisconsin, and Death Canyon in Wyoming. So many places that make you wonder who was in charge of naming them—and if that person is okay.

And don’t worry, the South showed up strong too: Georgia’s got Slaughter Mountain, while North Carolina offers Devil’s Courthouse and South Carolina contributes Gravedigger Road.

If you want the full list, Mental Floss has short write-ups on each pick. (And if you visit any of these places, please report back. Preferably alive.)

Bonus ghostly content: CNN recently rounded up the three “spookiest cities” in the country based on their haunted histories. No surprise here—Salem, Massachusetts; Savannah, Georgia; and New Orleans, Louisiana top the list.

So, if you’re looking for the ultimate creepy cross-country road trip, maybe it’s time to pack a flashlight, cue up some true crime podcasts, and hit the road. Just… maybe avoid stopping at Dead Women Crossing in Oklahoma unless you’re really feeling brave.

Cat Clings to Car for 100 Miles, Becomes Furry Road Warrior

A Pennsylvania family recently learned that curiosity could actually kill a cat.

Because somewhere between packing snacks and loading up the van for a road trip, their cat Ray Ray decided to tag along. And not in the passenger seat.

About 100 miles into the trip, they pulled over for gas. Everything seemed normal until someone looked up. There was Ray Ray… clinging to the roof of the van. Not inside. Not in the back. Literally hanging onto the fabric of a soft cargo carrier, like some kind of feline action hero in a Mission: Impawsible sequel. (Sorry, that came to mind and I couldn’t not include it.)

The van had been flying down the highway at 70 miles per hour for nearly two hours, and somehow this furry daredevil held on tight the whole time.

When they spotted him, the family freaked out (understandably), but Ray Ray? Completely calm. Just blinking like, “What took you guys so long to notice?”

After a quick rescue, they realized he was totally fine… no injuries, no panic, just a little windblown.

So instead of heading home, they made him part of the vacation. Ray Ray went on to “run” a marathon in New Hampshire (spectator status only), take a road trip to New York, and even “see” Hamilton on Broadway.

The family hit a pet store for supplies… food, a litter box, and one of those clear bubble cat backpacks… then documented the whole wild journey online. Their followers couldn’t get enough of Ray Ray’s unbothered, whisker-in-the-wind attitude.

Sure, they had to sneak him into an Airbnb that technically didn’t allow pets, but at that point, what were they going to do… tell the world’s most determined cat he couldn’t come in?

From roof-riding stowaway to full-blown travel influencer, Ray Ray proved one thing: curiosity doesn’t always kill the cat. Sometimes, it gets him front-row seats to Hamilton.

Here’s the cat-mom Mara Denardo explaining this chaos.

The Best Halloween Song You’ve Never Heard Is by… Ryan Gosling?

If you’re tired of playing those spooky classics like “Monster Mash” and the “Ghostbusters” theme on loop, here’s the best Halloween song you’ve never heard – and it’s by Hollywood royalty.

Finding success with a holiday-specific song is exceedingly rare these days. Novelty songs like “Monster Mash” may have found their lane in the ’60s and ’70s. But in 2025? Yeah, that whole highway has pretty much been shut down.

The good news, though, is there’s no need to hope and pray for a new Halloween banger when there’s already one that’s locked and loaded and ready for your eardrums.

Hang on a second… that Ryan Gosling?

Yes, the same guy with three Oscar nods is also a pretty talented musician, often performing under the pseudonym “Baby Goose.”

You might remember his piano chops from “La La Land.” He actually learned to play for the movie… kinda. You’d be hard pressed to find any former Mouseketeer who hasn’t tickled the ivories at least a little. But when the movie was in pre-production, he was still wholly unqualified to play a jazz aficionado.

Most actors would have just used stand-in hands for the piano parts, but he made it happen on his own – with some help from a piano teacher. She worked with him for several months ahead of shooting, calling him a “very musical guy.”

But before he was pretending to be an accomplished jazz pianist or singing “I’m Just Ken” in “Barbie,” he’d already tested out his chops on a full album of Halloween-centric material.

Dead Man’s Bones

Ryan and Hollywood producer Zach Shields had bonded in the mid-2000s over their shared love of all things spooky, including Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion ride. So in 2009, they formed a band together called Dead Man’s Bones that would go on to release a grand total of one album.

The eponymous album “Dead Man’s Bones” came out just in time for Halloween on October 6, 2009, and featured a chorus of singers from the Silverlake Conservatory of Music Children’s Choir. Ryan and Zach also toured, looping in a different kids’ choir in each city they visited. (They found the chorus of children’s voices creepy, because… yeah.)

(One of those touring members was actress/singer Dove Cameron, who was just 13 when Dead Man’s Bones cruised through Seattle and gave her her first paying gig. She talked about the project in an episode of “Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard,” calling Ryan incredibly talented and a guy who “can do f*cking everything.”)

“My Body’s a Zombie for You”

The full Dead Man’s Bones album is worth a listen. But if you only give one song a chance, make it Track #5, “My Body’s a Zombie for You.”

It’s 60’s doo-wop meets haunted prom-night rock – like if Tim Burton lived in Motown. Add it to your Halloween playlist and wait for your friends to ask, “Who is this?”

They’ll be just as shocked as you were.

You can check out the full Dead Man’s Bones album on YouTube and Spotify. The band itself may be defunct, but the music lives on. Very zombie-esque. 🧟‍♂️

Bonus: Check out a live performance from their 2009 tour.

Exit mobile version