I know what you’re all thinking: “Is this the form the inevitable alien invasion of earth will take?” Well, I wish I had an answer for you. A mass of orange eggs has appeared along the shore in remote Alaska, and scientists are a loss for what they are and where they came from. The good news is that it’s probably a crustacean of some kind, so we can hope that the alien life will not be too smart. Though be on guard, some of the eggs were sent to Charleston, SC for analysis so they’re already mobile.

Photographer Tom Persinger traveled deep into the Montana backcountry to shoot photos of fire watchers, interview them about their choices, and get a sense of their lives while they scan the horizon for wisps of smoke day-after-day for three months. It makes for strangely compelling fire watcher watching.

via Cold Splinters

Toe shoes, Vibram FiveFingers, EvoSkins, whatever you want to call them, they’re no longer welcome in the U.S. Army. The Army has issued an order banning the use of minimalist shoes or anything that simulates barefoot running because they detract from the military’s professional image. You might think this kind of issue would be unnecessary as Vibram doesn’t make a steel-toe version of their popular FiveFinger shoes, but as you can see in this picture, some soldiers have actually been using them (it’s the soldier wearing them in the photo, not the dog).

Ever wonder what it would be like if the Armageddon hit and all government shutdown? Well, we now know that the first victim would be administration buildings in state parks. Unable to reconcile the state budget, the Minnesota government shutdown closing all state parks and laying off all personal except the few who it takes to actually conduct the layoffs. Since then people have been on a vandalism bender at the state parks, trashing buildings, burning steps as firewood and generally destroying property. Couldn’t these people just go there and camp for free? They’d still get their fix of ‘sticking it to the man’ but without all the destruction.

via UpNorthica

A couple in Ohio paddled down a flood-swollen Grand River in Ohio on a leisurely afternoon. A park ranger saw them go by on the river and then caught up with them on a trail later and asked if it was them he saw on the river. Since their boat wasn’t registered and they lacked life jackets, they said it wasn’t them hoping to avoid a fine. The ranger believed them and thought he had a missing-paddler case on his hands. Cue the 10 hour search party combing the river. The two later admitted it was them, and the judge gave them a choice: 90 days in jail or 100 hours community service. They chose the service, and the judge had them stand in a kiddie pool while wearing PFDs, handing out water safety pamphlets in the middle of town.