Ripley's Believe It or Not by Ripley’s Believe It or Not! for February 09, 2023

I was one of the early skateboarders after sidewalk surfing became popular in the mid 1960’s. I wasn’t even aware that there were competitions, and so I won absolutely no medals, trophies or acclaim.

When Popeye and Bluto couldn’t be done, it was Mario, but was originally called Jump Man then. As for the damsel in distress, her name was Pauline.

That strange feeling is known as “freefall”, and it’s used to simulate zero gravity in special aircraft which repeatedly climb and dive. You can feel a less extreme version of it when going down in an elevator, where you’ll briefly feel lighter.

Back in my drinking days I used to get that feeling from the bedspins and I loved it.

That’s an interesting fact about Donkey Kong/Popeye.

I have generally avoided the contemporary, twisty style roller coasters. However, I did do once what seemed like an almost vertical 100 foot drop on a water slide at Typhoon Lagoon in Disney World.

Long distance space flight has much more bizzare effects on the human body, including loss of bone mass! And then there is the radiation going through space.

I see no reason there shouldn’t be a Popeye video game.

Interesting DK/Popeye connection! It also explains why when the Popeye game eventually came out (a year later in 1982 I think), it looked and played a LOT like Donkey Kong!

As for expert skateboarders, would Tony Hawks have the courage to skateboard ’round Ireland with a fridge? (very arcane reference there)

The proprietor of The Floating Piano Factory in NYC has sued to no avail, so the floating organs continue unabated. ~ Shirley McVerf, wannabe news lady

Take care, may proud green around the gills theme park tourist Ralph “Hey My Name’s Ralph Anyway So I Might As Well Ride Until I Toss My Cookies” Upchuckord be with you, and gesundheit.

I think Mario is more famous than Popeye now.

How many skateboarders does it take to change a light bulb?

Three – one to do it, another one to film it, and one more to say, “That was sick, man!”

What do you call a pro skater who just broke up with his girlfriend?

Homeless.

I doubt the claim that your internal organs “float” as described. All your internal organs are situated within a deep web of fascia and remain there, which is why they don’t accumulate inside your ribcage when you stand on your head.

I think the Popeye-Bluto version would have attracted more players.

This is why I stay off roller coasters.

Bluto never got the girl but I never felt sorry for him.

I love watching T he Cyclone but I’ll never go on it.

Whom ever owns the licensing rights to Popeye probably wakes up each day and start off by kicking himself!

i also tried skateboarding in the 1960s, but gave it up a couple minutes later #ouch

Mario was named after someone who rented warehouse space to Nintendo.

I’ve long wanted to see a 1930s-style set of Mario animations. There are a lot of old-fashioned things about the franchise when you think about it.

All good ones Charlie