If you follow the world of fossil hunting, you may remember this story. And if you don’t, you might remember it anyway, because there’s little that piques the interest of weird news reporters than headlines that include phrases like “dinosaur smugglers.” Dinosaurs all over the world can rest easy tonight, knowing that the most complete skeleton of Tyrannosaurus bataar ever found is being shipped back to its place of origin, Mongolia, now that the court case United States of America v. One Tyrannosaurus Bataar Skeleton (actual name) has been settled.

More and more these days we’re witnesses the technologies from our favorite sci-fi films and television shows get closer to reality. The latest is a new kind of software meant to predict the actions of criminals. Baltimore, Maryland and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania are already using it to prevent murders and Washington D.C. is next on the list. Don’t worry, no one is keeping psychics in a pool. Well, not that we’re aware… 

Using what clearly qualifies as one of the best disguises ever, three to four thieves dressed up as knights and armed themselves with swords and axes in order to rob the organizers of a medieval festival to the tune of $25,000. Though they blended in with other faire goers, apparently these guys were unconcerned with the whole knighthood entailing chivalry bit.

For her work covering the sex abuse scandal at Penn State, Sara Ganim has earned herself — and her staff — a Pulitzer Prize. And at the age of 24, she is the youngest recipient this year and one of the award’s youngest recipients ever. Considering how this story, which she first started covering when she was fresh out of college, blew up all over the world, it’s a signal of a pretty huge career ahead for the young reporter.

In a glorious update of a previous story, two suspects have been arrested after allegedly robbing a troop of Girl Scouts of their cookie money in Texas. You may recall that the girl pictured above on the left, Iravia Cotton, punched one of the suspects in the face before he got away, and that the girl pictured on the right, Rachel Johnson, was dragged by the culprits as they drove away. The latter also wished that the thief “had a scar” following the face-punch. While there was no talk of scars, the cops believe they have identified the jerks who took hard-earned cookie money from Girl Scouts.

The headline speaks for itself: Two Texas Girl Scouts, Iravia Cotton and Rachel Johnson, chased down a horrible person who stole $200 of Girl Scout cookie money from their booth. Iravia punched the guy in the face. Rachel grabbed on to the guy’s car and was dragged as he drove away. You might be wondering if they’re okay, and I kind of think they’ve proven they can take care of themselves. Man, the things girls need to do to earn badges these days!

A Badger Game is a centuries old two-man con which involves targeting a wealthy mark who appears to be visiting from out of town. The female member of the team attempts to lure him into a compromising position that can be barged in on by her partner posing as an irate brother or father or otherwise recorded for the purpose of blackmail.

The rest of these ladies appear to have been accused of just as impressive crimes (well, except for those who were accused of things that, thank goodness, are no longer illegal in the US).

A father questions his baby daughter on a very serious question: Who is your favorite? Mommy or Daddy? While his interrogation skills might pale in comparison to those of the team of Benson and Stabler, the baby does show a small moment of weakness.

(via YouTube)

Orlando, Florida is a magical place. And strange, fantastical things are not limited to the theme parks, I can tell you that! And so can Darth Vader. At least once he sobers up. Because the Dark Lord himself — or at least someone dressed exactly like him, and by “exactly,” I mean “he was wearing a Darth Vader helmet” — has found himself in the vicinity of the happiest place on earth, fending off a shower of pepper spray. By noble Jedi warriors? No. By Florida highway troopers from Earth. Occupy Tattooine!

For seemingly no rhyme or reason (or perhaps, sadly, a mental health reason), an unidentified 33-year-old man in Portland, Oregon was arrested after attacking Toys ‘R’ Us shoppers with a blue lightsaber. (Actual lightsaber not pictured above.) After swinging the toy weapon at people inside the store, he exited the store and headed into the parking lot, where cops met him … and where they were then attacked by a lightsaber. The holidays are getting to everyone, they are!