Chilling Pop Culture Mysteries We Can't Stop Thinking About

Justin Bieber Is A Lizard Person?

(Wikimedia Commons)

In the realm of far-fetched conspiracy theories, one particularly unhinged notion suggests that pop star Justin Bieber is, in fact, a lizard person. According to this outlandish theory, believers argue that Bieber's alleged odd blinking in a YouTube video is indicative of reptilian behavior, claiming that his eye movements resemble those of a lizard.

Commenters on the video have perpetuated these claims, asserting that "only a lizard can blink like that." While this theory lacks any credible evidence and is widely regarded as baseless, it serves as a peculiar example of the imaginative and sometimes bizarre conspiracies that circulate in popular culture.

Was Avril Lavigne Replaced By A Lookalike?

(youtube)

In a fun twist, this conspiracy theory actually originated as an attempt to demonstrate how easily conspiracy theories can spread. It all started with a Brazilian blog post that claimed Avril Lavigne, the Canadian singer, had died by suicide in 2003 and was subsequently replaced by an imposter named Melissa Vandella. Yikes!

The purpose of the blog post was to serve as an example of a conspiracy theory, explicitly stating its fictitious nature. However, when the blog post gained attention after being shared by BuzzFeed, the theory regained momentum, and its followers began scrutinizing photos and lyrics in search of evidence supporting the existence of the alleged imposter. It is important to note that this theory remains unequivocally false.

Who Orchestrated The Max Headroom Incident?

(Wikimedia Commons)

On the night of November 22, 1987, an unusual incident known as the Max Headroom signal hijacking occurred in Chicago, Illinois. During the broadcast, the television signals of two local stations were hijacked, resulting in a pirate transmission reaching numerous households. The first instance happened during the sports segment of WGN-TV's 9:00 p.m. newscast. Viewers witnessed an unidentified person wearing a Max Headroom mask and costume, swaying erratically in front of a corrugated metal panel designed to resemble the animated background associated with the character.

Approximately two hours later, a second incident took place during a broadcast of the Doctor Who serial Horror of Fang Rock on WTTW, a PBS member station. This intrusion lasted longer since no one was present at the affected tower. The masked individual made references to various unrelated topics, such as Max Headroom's New Coke advertisements, the animated series Clutch Cargo, WGN sportscaster Chuck Swirsky, "Greatest World Newspaper nerds," and more. The video ended with the masked figure being spanked by a woman wielding a flyswatter. After roughly 90 seconds, the hijackers terminated the pirate transmission, and regular programming resumed.

Despite a criminal investigation conducted by the Federal Communications Commission immediately after the incident, the responsible individuals were never identified.

Cass Elliot the Mamas & the Papas Died After Choking On A Ham Sandwich

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One enduring pop culture myth revolves around the death of Mama Cass, a member of the iconic folk-rock group The Mamas & the Papas. According to the story, Mama Cass supposedly died while choking on a ham sandwich. While speaking with People Magazine in 2020 Cass' friend Sue Cameron explained:

Her manager Allan Carr picked up the phone, and he was hysterical. Allan said, 'You've got to tell them that she died choking on a ham sandwich. You must go to your typewriter and write that. There's a half of a ham sandwich on her nightstand.' I didn't ask any questions. I knew she didn't choke on a ham sandwich. I didn't believe Allan, but I thought just do it because something was wrong. The ham sandwich went worldwide. Many people don't realize that it's not even true. Even though I have said — and written — it's not true, it still goes on. I never thought it would last as long as it has.

Was Walt Disney's Body Cryogenically Frozen?

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Contrary to popular belief and the implications drawn from Disney on Ice shows and the Frozen franchise, it is important to clarify that Walt Disney's body was never subjected to cryogenic freezing with the intention of potential reanimation in the future. The persistent myth, often referred to as the "Waltsicle," owes its existence to Bob Nelson, who held the position of president at the Cryonics Society of California. In a 1972 interview with the L.A. Times, Nelson disclosed that Walt Disney Studios had indeed shown interest in the cryogenic freezing process shortly before Disney's death in 1966.

What Happened To The Lost Jeopardy Champion?

(J! Archive)

The mystery surrounding Barbara Lowe, the remarkable five-time Jeopardy winner, remains a head scratcher. Her unprecedented feat of triumphing in the early stages of the rebooted show hosted by Alex Trebek wowed audiences. However, when the highly anticipated Tournament of Champions following the second season arrived, where the finest competitors were to face off, Lowe's absence was perplexing. Despite her eligibility as a five-day champion, she vanished from the roster without a trace. Adding to the intrigue, her episodes appeared to have been inexplicably erased from existence, leaving avid fans puzzled and craving answers.

To this day no one is entirely sure why Lowe was refused entry in the Tournament of Champions or why her episodes her pulled from syndication, which is why this is such an enduring pop culture mystery.

Could Lewis Carroll Be Jack The Ripper?

(Pierre Andre)

For over a century, the true identity of Jack the Ripper has remained an unsolved mystery, despite various attempts to unearth the culprit. The extensive list of potential suspects, ranging from plausible to far-fetched, has even garnered a dedicated Wikipedia page. Among the more unconventional contenders is Lewis Carroll, the beloved author of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. In 1996, child psychotherapist and Carroll enthusiast Richard Wallace put forth a controversial claim in his novel Jack the Ripper, Light-Hearted Friend, suggesting that Carroll, whose real name was Charles L. Dodgson, was responsible for the infamous killing spree.

Wallace's theory rested heavily on Carroll's affinity for anagrams, alleging that hidden confessions of the Ripper murders could be deciphered in two of Carroll's works, The Nursery "Alice" and Sylvie and Bruno. Pointing to Carroll's proximity to the areas where the Ripper crimes occurred, Wallace sought to establish his case. However, this theory gained only fleeting credibility. Subsequently, Francis Heaney and Guy Jacobson, enthusiasts of anagram puzzles, discredited Wallace's claims by rearranging the letters in the first three sentences of his article, revealing a fabricated "confession" to the murder of Nicole Brown, implicating O.J. Simpson, and taking credit for Shakespeare's sonnets and Francis Bacon's work. Ultimately, this serves as a reminder that not everything one reads should be taken at face value.

Paula Abdul's Plane Crash - What Really Happened?

(Antoinette Bueno)

While speaking with RuPaul on his short-lived daytime talk show in 2019 Paula Abdul claimed:

During the end of my world tour, the Spellbound tour, when I was traveling from one city to the next, in a small seven-seater plane, one of the engines blew up and the right wing caught on fire, and we crash-landed. I didn’t have my seatbelt on, and I hit my head on the top of the plane and that went on to... I withstood 15 cervical spinal surgeries and I had to take seven years off. And then I reappeared on American Idol.

But did this crash landing following her St. Louis performance at June 19, 1992, Abdul’s 30th birthday actually happen? It wasn't reported on at the time, and given the potential dates when the alleged plane crash involving Paula Abdul is said to have occurred, none of the incidents documented in the National Transportation Safety Board's database bear any resemblance to her description. On top of that, the National Transportation Safety Board’s accidents database has no record of a plane crash in Iowa when Abdul was on tour in 1992. So is Abdul being straight up with us? We may never know.

Katy Perry Is JonBenet Ramsey

(Getty Images)

A series of YouTube videos have propagated a theory claiming that pop star Katy Perry is, in fact, the grown-up version of the late pageant princess, JonBenét Ramsey. According to these videos, which delve into the controversial Ramsey case where a 6-year-old girl was tragically killed in her home, the entire incident was allegedly an orchestrated hoax by secret societies such as the Illuminati and Freemasons.

The motive behind this supposed plot was to generate financial gain and propel Perry to stardom. Proponents of the theory cite various elements as evidence, including Perry's song lyrics, tweets, and music videos, along with perceived physical similarities between Perry and Ramsey's parents. The resemblance in their wardrobes is also brought into question, and one video even claims that the similarity of their eyebrows supports the theory, asserting that eyebrows remain unchanged over time.

Furthermore, the age difference between Perry and Ramsey, with Perry being six years older, is presented as evidence in favor of the theory. The video suggests that since Perry was 12 at the time of Ramsey's alleged death, there would be no need to conceal her identity, as she would have been of a different age. It is important to note that these claims lack substantial evidence and rely on speculative interpretations.

The Simpsons Predicted 9/11

(Fox)

In the show's season-nine premiere, “The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson,” Lisa holds up an ad for a $9 trip to Manhattan that shows the “9” next to an image of the Twin Towers (pictured here). How that translates into a 9/11 prediction as opposed to simply a coincidence is unclear but you have to admit it's unsettling. The episode, which was pulled from syndication after the 9/11 attacks but has since returned to rotation, follows the Simpson family into Manhattan, where Barney Gumble has taken the family car. The vehicle was abandoned near the World Trade Center.

Paul McCartney Was Replaced With A Lookalike

(GQ)

The urban legend and conspiracy theory known as "Paul is dead" revolves around the belief that Paul McCartney of  the Beatles, died in 1966 and was covertly substituted by a doppelgänger. The rumor initially emerged in 1966 but gained significant traction in September 1969, particularly among American college campuses.

According to this theory, McCartney allegedly died in a car accident, and to prevent public mourning, the remaining Beatles, potentially aided by Britain's MI5, replaced him with a look-alike. The Beatles then allegedly went on to communicate this story secretly through subtle details found in the band's albums. Proponents of the theory interpreted supposed clues within Beatles songs and cover artwork, causing the phenomenon to spread globally by October 1969.

The "clues" to Paul's "death" are all pretty far fetched, but drummer Ringo Starr puts them all together quite succinctly:

A DJ put all those signs together: Paul with no shoes [on the cover of Abbey Road] ... and the Volkswagen Beetle. Then there was Magical Mystery Tour, where we three had red roses and he had a black one. It was just madness ... There was no way we could prove he was alive.

Could Elvis Still Be Alive?

(WireImage)

The death of Elvis Presley, the legendary musician and cultural icon, continues to be shrouded in conspiracy theories and alleged sightings long after his passing at his home in Graceland. Numerous claims have emerged, suggesting that Elvis faked his own death to escape the pressures of fame and live a secluded life. Believers in these theories point to alleged sightings of the King in various locations around the world, accompanied by speculations about witness testimonies and photographic evidence.

Despite lacking concrete proof, these conspiracy theories have captured the imagination of fans and have become a prominent part of Elvis lore. While the official cause of his death is well-documented as a heart attack, the enduring myths surrounding Elvis's demise and reported post-death sightings continue to fuel intrigue and fascination among his devoted followers.

Was The Moon Landing Staged?

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Readers, you can throw a rock and hit a moon landing conspiracy theory. However, for the sake of exploring connections with pop culture conspiracy theories, let's focus on one notion that refuses to fade. This theory posits that the widely accepted narrative of the moon landing did not actually occur - suggesting that no human ventured into space, set foot on the moon, or planted the iconic American flag on its surface. 

Another aspect of this theory involves renowned filmmaker Stanley Kubrick, known for directing the 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey. Supposedly, NASA enlisted Kubrick's talents to create a Hollywood-style set resembling the moon's surface, and he was tasked with filming and "directing" the moon landing, which would be televised. Supporters of this theory believe that Kubrick dropped subtle clues about his involvement in his film The Shining, a movie known for its alleged symbolism (more on that later), to hint at his participation in the moon landing fabrication. In 2016, Kubrick's daughter vehemently dismissed this theory as a "grotesque lie," although some conspiracy theorists continue to embrace this cosmically strange theory.

Kim Kardashian Faked the Paris Robbery

(E!)

Following the distressing incident in Paris, where Kim Kardashian was held at gunpoint, gagged, and robbed, speculation quickly arose on Twitter regarding the motives behind the attack. Some users questioned whether the incident was orchestrated for publicity, insurance claims, or to boost ratings for the reality show Keeping Up With the Kardashians. During the incident, masked individuals posing as police officers broke into Kardashian's residence at Pourtales, also known as the "No Address Hotel," where she was alone at the time.

Although Kardashian was unharmed, the assailants managed to escape with approximately $11 million worth of jewelry. The private building features a private entrance and an underground parking garage, lending an air of mystery to the circumstances. Amidst online discussions, various theories emerged, including suspicions that Kardashian's bodyguard might have been involved in the robbery, while others believed the incident was a fabricated event aimed at generating attention, insurance benefits, and improved television ratings.

Marisa Tomei’s Oscar Win Was a Mistake

(Twitter)

Before Warren Beatty's now-infamous mix-up at the Oscars, where he mistakenly announced La La Land as the Best Picture winner instead of Moonlight (shout out to Jordan Horowitz and his beuatiful blue-eyed wife), there were rumors among hyper-vigilant Oscar followers about Marisa Tomei's 1993 win for Best Supporting Actress in My Cousin Vinny.

According to the speculation, presenter Jack Palance was purportedly intoxicated to the extent that he couldn't accurately read the winner's name. Some theorists argued that Tomei's unexpected victory seemed incongruous in a category that featured established actresses like Joan Plowright and Vanessa Redgrave. However, upon reviewing footage of the ceremony, it becomes evident that Palance had no difficulty reading the names. Moreover, the 2017 Best Picture mix-up demonstrated that the Academy's accounting firm, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, would not allow such an error to go unnoticed. It is worth noting that Marisa Tomei has since garnered two additional Oscar nominations, solidifying her standing as a respected actress within the industry.

Marilyn Monroe was killed by the government because she knew state secrets.

(getty images)

Much like conspiracies about the moon landing, there are more theories about Marilyn Monroe's death than there are people on the planet. Due to her romantic involvement with playwright Arthur Miller, Monroe came under scrutiny by the FBI, who suspected her of having communist ties. Speculation has persisted for years that she was involved romantically with both John F. Kennedy and his brother Bobby, leading to theories that her murder was orchestrated as a result. Some conspiracy theorists argue that Monroe's alleged closeness to the president and/or the US attorney general made her a potential threat due to her potential access to sensitive information, making her a liability in terms of national security.

In 2021, British author Nick Redfern delved into the Monroe theories with his book Diary of Secrets: UFO Conspiracies and the Mysterious Death of Marilyn Monroe. In the book, Redfern proposed the idea that Monroe may have been exposed to information that revealed the existence of extraterrestrials.

In reality, there is little concrete evidence to support the notion that Monroe had more than a couple of encounters with President Kennedy. Furthermore, there is no substantial evidence to suggest that either Kennedy or his brother shared state secrets, whether about aliens or any other topic, with the actress.

Was The Wizard of Oz Cursed?

(Reddit)

A persistent pop culture myth surrounding the classic film The Wizard of Oz suggests that a hanged munchkin can be seen in the background of a scene. According to the myth, during the iconic journey along the Yellow Brick Road, an unfortunate incident occurred during the production, resulting in the accidental inclusion of a hanging munchkin in one of the shots. However, it is essential to note that this claim is entirely unfounded. Numerous investigations and thorough analyses of the film footage have debunked this myth, revealing that the alleged hanged munchkin is simply a misinterpretation or a product of imaginative storytelling. Despite its lack of factual basis, this myth has persisted over the years, continuing to intrigue fans and fuel discussions about hidden secrets in popular films.

Sam Smith and Adele Are The Same Person

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One of the rudest pop culture conspiracy theories is the claim that Sam Smith and Adele are the same person. Smith addressed the rumors on The Drew Barrymore Show:

Everyone seems to think that I'm Adele in drag. 'Cause we've never been seen in the same room together, and if you slow down her voice it sounds maybe a bit like mine. So people think that we're the same person and I'm just in drag right now.

J.K. Rowling Doesn't Exist

(Susana Vera)

The Harry Potter books by JK Rowling have undoubtedly spawned a massive entertainment industry and left a profound impact on countless lives. However, there exists a lesser-known belief propagated by Norwegian film director Nina Grünfeld, who contends that Rowling might not actually exist. 

Grünfeld, in 2005, argued that Rowling's account of being inspired to write the Hogwarts adventures during a train delay seemed too remarkable to be true. Additionally, she questioned how Rowling managed to produce numerous books within such a short timeframe and transform them into the immensely profitable empire we recognize today. Grünfeld put forth the theory that, similar to the use of the Carolyn Keene pseudonym for the Nancy Drew mysteries, JK Rowling serves as a facade for a collective of professionals behind the scenes, generating the series as part of a cottage industry.

Is 'The Shining' Trying To Tell Us Something?

(Warner Bros.)

The Shining, a film set within the enigmatic confines of the fictional Overlook Hotel, presents a narrative shrouded in eerie ambiguity. Jack Torrance (played by Jack Nicholson) and his family take on the responsibility of caring for the hotel during the winter months. However, the oppressive atmosphere of the grand structure proves overpowering, as Jack succumbs to a malevolent and violent force that alters his temperament towards his wife and their psychic son.

The film has captivated cinephiles for decades, leaving them pondering over its true essence and unraveling its mysteries. The enduring enigma surrounding the film has given rise to various conspiracy theories that continue to intrigue fans and spark speculation surrounding Kubrick's intentions. Many theorists believe that The Shining is Kubrick admitting that he helped fake the moon landing. Some of the alleged clues in the film include Danny Torrance's Apollo sweater and the striking resemblance between the Overlook hotel's carpet design and NASA's launch pad layout. Some theorists also believe that the film is a commentary on the Native American genocide by colonists.

The documentary film Room 237 delves into an in-depth analysis of Stanley Kubrick's 1980 horror masterpiece. One theory references a depiction of a Native American peace pipe and the infamous scene featuring a gushing torrent of blood pouring from the elevator of the Overlook Hotel, are seen by proponents of this theory as symbolic indications of the brutal and devastating genocide inflicted upon Native American populations.

Will The Real Shakespeare Please Stand Up?

(Alamy)

The Shakespeare authorship debate revolves around the argument that someone other than the commonly attributed writer, William Shakespeare of Stratford-upon-Avon, actually penned the works credited to him. Those who question the Stratfordian attribution, known as Anti-Stratfordians, propose alternative authorship theories, contending that Shakespeare of Stratford served as a front to conceal the true identity of the author or authors. Anti-Stratfordians argue that various factors, such as social status, state security concerns, or gender, may have led to the withholding of public credit by the real authors.

Advocates for alternative candidates put forth arguments that they believe make their proposed authors more plausible than William Shakespeare. They claim that Shakespeare lacked the necessary education, aristocratic sensibilities, or familiarity with the royal court, which they contend are evident in the works. In response, scholars who support Shakespeare's authorship assert that biographical interpretations of literature are unreliable when attributing authorship. They argue that the available documentary evidence, including title pages, accounts by contemporary poets and historians, and official records, aligns with the attributions made during Shakespeare's era. This same type of evidence is used to support other authorial attributions of the time. In contrast, there is no comparable direct evidence supporting any alternative candidate, and Shakespeare's authorship was not called into question during his lifetime or for many centuries after his death.

How Many Andrew WKs Are There?

(Nina Ottolino)

Andrew W.K. is a rock star who was born in 1979 and whose real name is Andrew Wilkes-Krier. Or is he? According to this longstanding theory that just won’t die, “Andrew W.K.” is not one man but a piece of performance art created by a group of people who have at various times played the Andrew W.K. “character.” This is largely based on photos of Andrew that show him with different hair lengths and varying degrees of beard, so the simplest explanation is probably, “Sometimes men get haircuts.”

Andy Kaufman Faked His Death... Or Did He?

(getty images)

Andy Kaufman - anti-comic, performer, and grand prankster - frequently discussed the idea of staging his own death as an elaborate hoax, leading to persistent rumors even after his passing. These rumors were fueled by sporadic appearances of Kaufman's character, Tony Clifton, at comedy clubs following his supposed death. One notable instance occurred during a comedy benefit held in Kaufman's honor at The Comedy Store, where "Clifton" performed with members of Kaufman's entourage present.

Throughout the 1990s, Clifton made several appearances at nightclubs in Los Angeles. Actor Jim Carrey, who portrayed Kaufman in the film Man on the Moon, revealed on the NBC special Comedy Salute to Andy Kaufman that Bob Zmuda had been performing as the Clifton character.

In 2014, Zmuda and Lynn Margulies coauthored a book titled Andy Kaufman: The Truth, Finally, in which they claimed that Kaufman's death was indeed part of a prank and that he would eventually reveal himself. However, Kaufman never reemerged as promised, leaving the mystery surrounding his death unresolved.

Demi Lovato Has A Twin Sister, Poot

(Getty Images/Tumblr)

Back in 2015, a Tumblr user shared a photograph of a person that bore a resemblance to Demi Lovato, albeit with a shaved head save for a dollop of hair on top. Online sleuths determined that this photo was just a poorly timed snapshot of Demi, taken from an unusual angle, under less than stellar lighting conditions.

Despite this clarification, the internet embraced the photo and ran with it in a different direction. According to a mix of theorists and goofs, the individual in the photo was dubbed "Poot Lovato," purportedly Demi's long-lost twin who had been hidden away in Demi's basement since birth. While Demi did not endorse this notion, she did tweet a GIF of Poot in 2017, which either suggested the existence of Poot or hinted at Demi finding some fun in the entire situation.

Michael And Latoya Jackson Are The Same Person

(getty images)

The strange life of the late Michael Jackson was marked by tragedy and an array of peculiar incidents, has given rise to numerous speculations and unverified rumors. Throughout his career, the King of Pop was associated with peculiar stories, ranging from possessing the Elephant Man's bones to purportedly sleeping in an oxygen tent next to his pet monkey. Following his death in 2009, the speculation surrounding Jackson only intensified. Some theories suggest he was targeted by the Illuminati, while others propose that he faked his own death and currently hides in the background of YouTube videos. However, one particularly exceptional theory posits that Michael and his sister LaToya are one and the same person, based on allegations that they were never photographed together and their purported physical resemblance.

Beyonce Is Actually Solange's Mom

(Rex Features)

One of the more absurd conspiracy theories that has circulated involves the claim that Beyoncé, the internationally renowned singer and performer, is not actually Solange's sister, but rather her mother. This peculiar theory emerged, in part, due to a belief that the age difference between the two is too significant to be that of siblings. Proponents of this theory often point to alleged discrepancies in their public appearances and suggest that Beyoncé's pregnancy announcement was an elaborate cover-up for Solange's birth. However, it is crucial to note that this theory lacks any credible evidence and is widely regarded as unfounded. The claims surrounding Beyoncé and Solange's relationship are purely speculative and showcase the lengths some conspiracy theorists will go to create sensational narratives in the world of celebrity gossip.

Lea Michele Can't Read

(Lea Michele)

Glee's Lea Michele experienced a professional resurgence with her take on the iconic character Fanny Brice in the Broadway revival of Funny Girl, but coinciding with her career revival, there has been a revival of a conspiracy theory surrounding her reading abilities, originating from the pop culture podcast One More Thang.

In a 2017 episode, hosts Jaye Hunt and Robert Ackerman discussed Naya Rivera's memoir Sorry, Not Sorry, which delved into the behind-the-scenes drama of Glee. According to NBC News, one of the hosts mentioned a passage detailing Michele's reluctance to improvise, leading to a lighthearted comment suggesting she may be unable to read. This offhand remark sparked the birth of a conspiracy theory.

As the hosts noticed the growing attention their comment received online, they conducted a Facebook Live session, which has since been deleted, where they expanded upon their joke and transformed it into a full-fledged theory. Hunt and Ackerman proposed that due to Michele's early debut on Broadway at the age of eight, she never had the opportunity to learn how to read. They further speculated that her career trajectory at a young age rendered reading unnecessary over time.

For her part, Michele has hit back on the conspiracy, stating: 

I went to Glee every single day; I knew my lines every single day. And then there's a rumor online that I can't read or write? It's sad. It really is. I think often if I were a man, a lot of this wouldn't be the case.

Kris Jenner Sold Kim’s Tape

(Patrick McMullan)

Kim Kardashian's widely-discussed tape with Ray J in 2007 propelled her family into the public eye. While Kim initially expressed feelings of humiliation about the leaked tape during the first season of Keeping Up With the Kardashians, there are those who believe that the release of the video was not accidental. According to this alternate narrative, Kris Jenner, Kim's mother, allegedly played a role in orchestrating the sale of the tape.

In 2012, an insider reportedly informed Star magazine, stating:

The video already existed, and Kris was involved throughout the process as an intermediary, facilitating its marketing to an adult entertainment company. 

Kris Jenner has dismissed these rumors as baseless, referring to them as "nonsense" in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. She further commented:

You know, haters are gonna hate. People are gonna come up with the most ridiculous things.