Oddity Central

Oddity Central

Impressive-Looking Gothic Castle in Connecticut Can Be Yours for $45 Million

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 05:28 AM PDT

Gothic castles aren't commonplace in America, so this impressive real-life Hogwarts in Woodstock, Connecticut, definitely stands out. 'Chrismark Castle' is only a decade old but with its moat and turrets, it has all the markings of a genuine medieval castle.

Chrismark Castle presents itself as a perfectly preserved medieval structure on the outside, with all sorts of modern amenities and technology concealed on the inside. It stands on a 354-acre property, encompassing 22,000 square ft. and consists of a massive lower-level garage, eight bedrooms, ten bathrooms, 12 fireplaces, a maid's room, a library, a pool, and several massage rooms.

The star of the castle's opulent interiors is perhaps the 1,200 square ft. circular kitchen – it has windows all around the walls, offering a 180-degree view of Lake Porter. The dining room spells grandeur as well – it has a unique ceiling design and can accommodate a huge dinner party. The master bedroom also offers gorgeous views of the grounds, and the granite-fitted master bathroom has its own whirlpool. All the doors in the castle are custom-fit and handmade, as are the hardwood floors.

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This Woman Is on a Quest to Have a Drink in Every ‘Red Lion’ Pub in the UK

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 05:00 AM PDT

Cathy Price, from Preston, Lancashire, has paid a visit to 500 different pubs named ‘Red Lion’ in Britain. In fact, she's made it her life’s mission to visit every single Red Lion in the UK, which just happens to be the most common pub name in the country. She celebrated her 500th visit last weekend in Bedfordshire, where she visited a Red Lion at Dagnall, near Whipsnade Zoo.

55-year-old Cathy has been touring the nation since 2011, visiting local Red Lions in Milton Bryan, Studham, Upper Sundon, Leighton Buzzard, Great Brickhill and Houghton Regis. She said that she got the idea for the project on a whim: "I was away in the Lake District for the weekend a few years ago and I was watching the Grand National at a pub and I read a sign which said the Red Lion was the most common pub name in the country."

"I thought they must be absolutely everywhere and that was when I decided I had to see them all," she explained. "I began on Grand National day, April 9, 2011, and aim to complete the quest as near to Grand National day as I can next year, which will have taken four years."

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Meet Professor Dumpster, the American College Professor Who Lives in a Dumpster

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 04:46 AM PDT

Dr. Jeff Wilson, a professor of environmental science at a university in Austin, Texas, is living in a 33-square-foot dumpster for a year. He kickstarted the unique project in February, and his efforts have earned him the nickname 'Professor Dumpster' among his students. Harvard-educated Wilson says that his goal is to show people that it is possible to have a pretty good life even in austere conditions.

The dark green dumpster is currently parked behind the women's residence halls in a corner of Huston-Tillotson University's campus. Wilson describes it as 'the most thoughtfully designed, tiniest home ever constructed'. Before he moved in, Wilson's students cleaned and fixed the dumpster for him, making sure that it wasn't smelly or unfit for living. And to make the dwelling as energy efficient as possible, they plan to set up solar panels and an energy producing toilet.

Having previously lived in a sprawling 2,500 square foot house, Wilson started downsizing his life after going through a divorce. He moved into a 500 square foot apartment, and sold all his spare clothes and furniture for $1 per item. He soon realized how little he needed to survive, and dumpster-living sounded like a great idea.

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