bemeans:

Each morning, like clockwork, they board the subway, off to begin their daily routine amidst the hustle and bustle of the city.

But these aren’t just any daily commuters. These are stray dogs who live in the outskirts of Moscow Russia and commute on the underground trains to and from the city centre in search of food scraps.

Then after a hard day scavenging and begging on the streets, they hop back on the train and return to the suburbs where they spend the night.

Experts studying the dogs, who usually choose the quietest carriages at the front and back of the train, say they even work together to make sure they get off at the right stop – after learning to judge the length of time they need to spend on the train.

Scientists believe this phenomenon began after the Soviet Union collapsed in the 1990s, and Russia’s new capitalists moved industrial complexes from the city centre to the suburbs.

Dr Andrei Poiarkov, of the Moscow Ecology and Evolution Institute, said: “These complexes were used by homeless dogs as shelters, so the dogs had to move together with their houses. Because the best scavenging for food is in the city centre, the dogs had to learn how to travel on the subway – to get to the centre in the morning, then back home in the evening, just like people.”

Dr Poiarkov told how the dogs like to play during their daily commute. He said: “They jump on the train seconds before the doors shut, risking their tails getting jammed. They do it for fun. And sometimes they fall asleep and get off at the wrong stop.”

The dogs have also amazingly learned to use traffic lights to cross the road safely, said Dr Poiarkov. And they use cunning tactics to obtain tasty morsels of shawarma, a kebab-like snack popular in Moscow.

With children the dogs “play cute” by putting their heads on youngsters’ knees and staring pleadingly into their eyes to win sympathy – and scraps.

Dr Poiarkov added: “Dogs are surprisingly good psychologists.”

Good evening followers! My hair is uncontrollable today but we’re down to our last week of deployment now!!! :D So excited!

tastefullyoffensive:

[via]

crazyrodeogirl:

cryptidsandoddities:

In late December of 2003, security cameras at Hampton Court Palace, a huge tudor castle near London, captured a startling image. Security guards were unsettled to repeatedly find a fire door open when no one was apparently around. Upon checking the security tape, they were shocked by a ghostly figure, closely resembling King Henry VIII (who died in the 1500s).

Vikki Wood, a spokesperson for the Palace, said “We’re baffled too—it’s not a joke, we haven’t manufactured it. We genuinely do not know who it is or what it is.” They aren’t a ppc company, or even a company looking to gain from this oddity; they are just as baffled like most people who look at this footage.

A security officer, James Faukes, called the incident “unnerving,” and said they’d ruled out their costumed guides. “In fact, they don’t even own a costume like the one worn by the figure on the video. It was incredibly spooky because the face just didn t look human,” Faukes said.

I googled and yep this is legit: BBC article CNN article

STAYING UP UP UP!!

xdxixsxaxsxtxexrxsx:

3 British soldiers dead, 1 of them a reservist, and American born. All from my old regiment. 

rip

RIP

My heart bleeds for the families who don’t get their boys back :( I won’t be happy until mine is out of that shit hole in a fortnight.