NEWS OF THE WEIRD

Wait, What?

Researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden have found that using mindfulness to treat social anxiety is more effective when combined with sniffing body odor, Sky News reported. The body odor for the study was collected from people watching films, but it didn’t matter whether they watched comedy or horror. Women who participated in a mindfulness session while exposed to the odor saw a 39% reduction in social anxiety, while those who did mindfulness alone saw only a 17% reduction. The scientists aren’t sure why human sweat affects the response to the treatment.

The Entrepreneurial Spirit

“Sammie,” a housekeeper in Tampa, Florida, is cleaning up with a twist on the usual duties of the job, the New York Post reported. She makes $300 an hour — before tips — to tidy up a home while topless. “Today I cleaned five houses ... I have a security guy who sits out in the car and waits for me just in case something happens,” Sammie said on a Tiktok video. With tips, she made more than $2,000 that day. “If you think you needed a sign, this is your sign,” Sammie advised. “Topless maid cleaning service for the win.” One commenter noted that the security guy had the sweetest deal: $800 to sit in the car.

Smooth Reaction

On March 24, a sheriff’s deputy from Chisago County (Minnesota) pulled over a driver who had been speeding through Franconia Township, WFLA-TV reported. When the officer asked for the driver’s identification, he was handed a driver’s license and a “Get Out of Jail Free” card from a Monopoly game. “Unfortunately the state of Minnesota does not recognize this as a valid document,” the sheriff’s office posted on its Facebook page. “Points for the effort and humor though!” The driver was issued a “verbal warning” and allowed to proceed.