Tell us an interesting random fact you stumbled across (Part 1)

That is absolutely awesome! I was extremely dismayed that there’s something referred to as a sport called Ultimate Frisbee that doesn’t involve fire. This is definitely ultimate hockey.

Played on a floating platform in shark-infested waters. :grinning:

There is actually underwater hockey as well, so you can get your water hockey in two ways.

And since ice is classified as a mineral we also have earth hockey in two ways. Neither of them anywhere near as awesome as fire hockey.

Underwater ice hockey rivals fire hockey.

TIL that in Japan there are precision walking competitions, in which teams of women walk around a large stadium creating various formations. At first I thought, “That’s rather silly,” and I was about to go to another video. But it became oddly compelling, especially when the huge audience in the arena applauded or laughed for reasons I couldn’t quite figure out.

If you don’t want to watch the whole thing, at least jump to the finale, starting around 13:00.

I’m pretty sure I will never really understand Japan.

I will say, the ability of two sizeable groups of people to walk backwards on an intersecting course without looking or adjusting their speed or path and not have one bump, that’s pretty impressive. I mean, they practiced that a LOT, and did whatever you want to call it, flawlessly.

It’s not sillier than Western military marching in parades.

A mysterious golden egg has been found in the deep sea. I thought the spawn of a Deep One would be larger….

I’ve heard people from Japan say the same thing. One said something along the lines of “I understand Japan and I still don’t understand Japan”.

Didn’t watch the video (shame) but how is that different than large scale halftime college football band entertainment carrying tubas, drums, and mascots? Or elaborate cheerleader competitions? And Olympic opening and closing ceremonies? If they fill a stadium, sell advertisement, it will make profit and show up on TV/YouTube.

And it’s Japan. I’ve lived there and returned numerous times for business and vacation - some things on TV or shows are not meant to be understood by mere mortals.

I never said it was silly, at all. I agree with @Cheesesteak that’s it’s impressive, and must have taken a lot of practice and discipline. And it is similar to military drill and marching bands, but not exactly the same. The walkers would count off in sequence, or form columns of different sizes, or strike certain poses; I’m not sure why those moments drew so much applause.

No music, and at times they move faster than most marching band I’ve seen, not that I’ve seen many. But I think marching bands and Olympic ceremonies are a bit silly, too.

I recognize the immense skill and training that must go into all of these performances, but they just seem a bit weird.

Sorry, I didn’t intend to put words in your mouth. I find both activities (orchestrated walking and military marching) quite silly, but I find a lot of customs in my own culture silly too.

Time to mention schunkeln. Germans do that: when music is played, they swing their bodies from one side to the other in unison. Like dancing sideways. Horrible. Awful.
I know of no other nation where this is perpetrated. The two worst words in German: Schunkeln and Arbeitsfrühstück.

I live in a Catholic region where Carnival is celebrated, and I’ve been in situations where I was amidst hundreds of people schunkeling and had to play nice and go along. I hated it. HATED IT! I might as well shot myself in these moments.

I knew you would agree. :smiley:

We have it…just worse and we don’t have a cool word for it.

You have it better. There’s no schunkeln in Berlin. Or is there? :scream: