In a Nutshell:

• Ky Michaelson, also known as the “Rocketman,” has created what he believes is the world’s first beer-powered motorcycle, replacing a traditional gas engine with a 14-gallon keg that uses superheated beer to create thrust.
• The unique motorcycle, which hasn’t yet been taken out on the road, has already won first place in a few local car shows. Michaelson believes the vehicle could reach speeds of up to 150 miles per hour.
• Michaelson plans to test his beer-powered motorcycle on a drag strip soon, but after a few demonstrations, the invention is likely to end up as a showpiece in his home museum.

As gas prices continue to soar and debates about electric vehicle efficiency heat up, a Minnesota man named Ky Michaelson is barreling down a different road entirely.

Known as the “Rocketman” for his quirky creations, such as a rocket-powered toilet and a jet-powered coffee pot, Michaelson has now whipped up something that’s creating a whole new kind of buzz: the world’s first beer-powered motorcycle.

The idea of substituting petrol with pilsner might seem as crazy as a three-wheeled unicycle, but for Michaelson, it’s just another day in his Bloomington garage. His unconventional motorcycle swaps out the conventional gas engine for a 14-gallon keg equipped with a heating coil.

“It could be any kind of liquid. It could be Red Bull. It could be Caribou Coffee. It could be anything. But beer. Why not,” Ky’s son Buddy chimed in, highlighting the versatility of the invention.

The mechanics behind this high-octane hops machine are as heady as a stout. The beer in the keg is heated to a whopping 300 degrees, turning into superheated steam as it shoots out of the back nozzles. This steam provides enough thrust to propel the bike forward, making this two-wheeler a literal steamer.

And what about the environmental impact, you ask? Well, Michaelson’s not a beer drinker himself, so he sees his sudsy solution as a clever way to use up the brew.

“The price of gas is getting up there. I don’t drink, so I can’t think of anything better than to use it for fuel.”

While the beer bike hasn’t hit the open road yet, it has already clinched first place at a few local car shows. Michaelson believes his frothy ride could reach speeds up to 150 miles per hour, proving that it’s not just a novelty but a force to be reckoned with.

Michaelson plans to test his beer-powered motorcycle on a drag strip sometime soon. However, after a few demonstrations, it’s likely to end up in the museum in his house. Because what better centerpiece for a living room than a motorcycle that runs on beer?

“We’re right in the early stages, but we got it. We got it built, and I think it looks pretty cool,” Michaelson stated, brimming with pride.

His bike may be more of a boozer than a cruiser, but there’s no denying he’s tapped into something extraordinary. In the world of the Rocketman, horsepower has met hops power, and the result is absolutely intoxicating.

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In a Nutshell:

• Residents of Pendleton, South Carolina, were surprised when a goat roamed the neighborhood and entered a local home. The event was captured by the homeowner’s Ring doorbell camera.
• The goat, believed to live down the road, was playful and attracted the attention of many neighbors as animal control was called to capture it. Goats are known for their curiosity and intelligence, traits that often lead them to explore their surroundings.
• A 2014 study confirmed goats’ intelligence and long-term memory skills, where most of the test subjects were able to solve a puzzle for a food reward, and remembered how to do it ten months later. Other instances of goats breaking into homes and hotel rooms have been reported previously.

In a turn of events that gives a whole new meaning to “home invasion,” the town of Pendleton, South Carolina, has had its peace disrupted by a rebellious ruminant.

Yes, folks, we’re talking about a goat that decided to play Goldilocks in a resident’s home. No porridge was harmed, however.

Our bold Billy, who apparently lives down the road, decided to take a little neighborhood stroll. And not just any stroll, oh no, this critter had the audacity to saunter right into a woman named Taylor’s home. Because, you know, why not?

“The goat made a fun memory for us and the neighbors,” Taylor said to Newsweek, possibly while still in mild shock and checking her locks.

“My boyfriend even played with it in the backyard.”

Talk about turning lemons into lemonade, or in this case, turning goat invasions into a neighborhood spectacle.

As Taylor’s Ring doorbell camera shows, the goat nonchalantly ambled up to her front door, gave a few bleats (probably goat for “Open Sesame”) and wandered right in. Can you blame the guy? Who doesn’t love a spontaneous house tour?

But here’s where it gets interesting, folks. It turns out, our goat friend isn’t just a master of breaking and entering.

A study by Queen Mary University, London, and the Institute of Agricultural Science in Switzerland proves that goats are more than their vacant stares and ravenous appetites. They’re also puzzle-solving aficionados.

In what’s been dubbed the “artificial fruit challenge,” goats were presented with a tricky puzzle box containing a fruity reward. The goats had to pull a rope and activate a lever with their teeth and muzzle to access the food.

Guess what? Nine out of twelve goats were up to the challenge. Three tried to headbutt their way to victory (the goat equivalent of kicking the vending machine when your snack gets stuck, perhaps?).

And when the successful nine were retested ten months later, they all solved the puzzle in less than a minute.

“Take that, primates!” we can imagine them saying.

This isn’t the first time a goat has been caught in the act of a B&E.

Earlier this year, another goat felt the need to snuggle with its owners in the middle of the night.

And in October 2022, a wild goat with horns that would make a Viking helmet jealous let itself into a couple’s hotel room.

So, what’s the takeaway? Should we start goat-proofing our homes?

Or maybe, just maybe, we should all take a moment to appreciate the underestimated intelligence and audacity of these four-legged trespassers.

And for the residents of Pendleton, don’t be surprised if one day you find a goat at your door selling encyclopedias.

After all, they’re just trying to get our goat.

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In a Nutshell:

• A viral TikTok trend involving Fruit Roll-Ups has led to a black market, with two Americans caught smuggling 375 pounds of the candy into Israel and 10 mail shipments intercepted, totaling 650 pounds of confiscated Fruit Roll-Ups.
• The popularity of the candy has skyrocketed in Israel, with stores selling out and merchants charging $5 to $6 for a single Fruit Roll-Up, prompting people to attempt smuggling the candy into the country.
• Despite the craze, the Israeli Health Ministry has warned against consuming Fruit Roll-Ups, citing potential health risks and suggesting cucumber rolls as a healthier alternative.

A sweet, sticky snack has found itself in the center of an international smuggling scandal, proving that sometimes, crime really does pay – in Fruit Roll-Ups.

Thanks to a TikTok trend that has revived the popularity of the classic candy, people are going to great lengths to get their hands on them, even if it means breaking the law.

On May 1, Mako, an Israeli news outlet, reported that two Americans were stopped at customs at Ben Gurion International Airport with four suitcases chock-full of fruity contraband. Each passenger had two suitcases filled to the brim with cellophane-wrapped Fruit Roll-Ups.

In a video embedded in the report, customs officers can be seen rummaging through the suitcases, uncovering layer after layer of the fruit leather-style candy. One man, questioned about the sugary haul, claimed that the hundreds of Fruit Roll-Ups were for relatives in Israel.

Amy Spiro, a journalist at the Times of Israel, tweeted another video showing the suitcases bursting with the candy, writing: “An American couple was caught trying to smuggle 375 POUNDS of Fruit Roll-Ups into the State of Israel after prices skyrocketed once the snack became part of a viral TikTok trend.”

But that wasn’t the end of the Fruit Roll-Up crime spree. On May 4, Ynetnews reported that the Israeli Tax Authority had intercepted 10 shipments of Fruit Roll-Ups sent through the mail.

Destined for different addresses in Israel, these boxes contained a “commercial quantity” of the candy, subject to taxes and fees by law. The largest shipment weighed in at 38 pounds, and a total of 347 pounds was seized across all the shipments.

Combined with the airport bust, customs officials confiscated a staggering 650 pounds of the sugary snack, according to the Times of Israel.

So, what’s the deal with the sudden demand for Fruit Roll-Ups? It all began when a TikTok trend involving wrapping ice cream in the candy treat went viral. This sweet sensation has since made its way to Israel, where stores are selling out and merchants are charging $5 to $6 for a single Fruit Roll-Up.

Despite the popularity, the Israeli Health Ministry has issued a warning against eating the snack, citing potential health risks such as weight gain, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, and dental caries. They even offered a healthier alternative: cucumber rolls.

One thing’s for sure: this sticky situation is a prime example of how far people are willing to go for a taste of nostalgia.

And as the Fruit Roll-Up black market continues to flourish, we can’t help but wonder: what’s next, an international ring of Gushers smugglers?

Source: TODAY.com