Couple Chooses Unique Method of Deciding on a Married Name

One Australian couple's wedding reception had it all: speeches, cake……….tug-of-war, a potato-sack race……..you know, the usual. When Melbourne couple Brett Borland, 30, and Georgie Abela, 31, were preparing to tie the knot, they couldn't decide on what their new last name would be as a married couple. "We plan to have a family and want everyone to have the same last name, but Georgie wasn't sold on parting with her surname and I was open to taking her last name,” said Brett. Borland and Abela each come from large families and wanted them to mingle at the wedding, so the couple came up with an idea to help address both issues: They hosted a "Battle of the Surname" at their wedding reception, an all-day series of competitive games for their families to play against each other. The winning family would determine the couple's new last name. After competing in tug-of-war, a potato sack race, a soccer shoot-out and a twerk contest, the Borland family took home the trophy, and the couple took home their family name. "To be honest, everyone really locked in, which we absolutely knew would happen," Borland said. "The stakes were high, and everyone rose to the occasion." The Borlands shared the "Battle of the Surname" on social media with the caption, "Two names enter, one name leaves," inspiring a few other couples to do something similar at their own nuptials. 

 

 

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Giant Banana Car Draws Attention and a Traffic Stop in Montana

A giant banana car traveling along I-90 near Billings drew the attention of the Montana Highway Patrol. Steve Braithwaite wasn’t surprised when he was pulled over. After more than a decade driving The Big Banana Car, he’s grown accustomed to attracting attention. This time, however, the stop wasn’t just curiosity. Braithwaite was headed west toward Seattle when a trooper noticed that two boxes were partially blocking his license plate, which reads “Split.” No ticket was issued, but the stop gained attention after Montana Highway Patrol shared photos on social media, drawing thousands of reactions and plenty of banana-related jokes from commenters. For Braithwaite, those reactions are part of the experience. The idea for the vehicle came more than 15 years ago while he stood in line at a gas station. He noticed a banana near the register and began studying its shape, imagining how it would roll down a road. He began building the vehicle in 2008, spending weekends working on it, before finishing the 23-foot vehicle in 2011. Underneath the fiberglass fruit is the bones of a 1993 Ford F-150 pickup truck. Over the years, Braithwaite has heard nearly every banana pun imaginable, but one traffic stop in West Virginia remains his favorite and least expected. A police officer pulled him over after a stoplight and approached the car with a serious expression. "The reason I pulled you over," the officer said, "was because back there, you peeled out.” The joke worked so well that Braithwaite nearly missed it.

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British Man Drives For More Than 70 Years Without a License

Police officers on a routine patrol said they were stunned when they pulled over a driver in his 80s in the parking lot of a supermarket. The man, born in 1938, told them he had never had a driver’s license or insurance and that he had been driving since he was 12 years old. The man explained that he had managed to drive all those years without ever being stopped and had never been involved in an accident. Due to the increased number of traffic cameras in Nottingham, even on small trips you’re likely to hit a camera, so the man was even luckier than he realized. Driving without a license is punishable by between 3 and 6 points being added to your driving record, as well as a fine, especially if the driver has no insurance. In this case, officers didn't say what punishment the man received but because they can seize vehicles that aren’t insured, they hinted that the man may have had to walk home.

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4-Ingredient Beef Crescent Squares

These beef crescent squares are basically a full meal in a pan. It’s hearty, cozy, and ridiculously simple—perfect for those evenings when you’re tired from work but still want something that feels homemade. Store-bought crescent dough turns into a golden, flaky crust wrapped around savory ground beef and melted cheddar, all baked together in a glass casserole dish. It’s the kind of no-fuss, family-style meal you can throw together in minutes and let the oven do the rest.

Servings: 6

Ingredients:

• • 1 lb ground beef**, 80%-90% lean
• • 2 8-oz cans refrigerated crescent roll dough
• • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (about 8 ounces)
• • Kosher salt to taste

Directions:

• • Preheat oven to 375º F.
• • Lightly grease 9X13 glass casserole dish.
• • In a large skillet over medium heat, add the ground beef.
• • Cook 6-8 minutes, breaking beef up with a spoon.
• • Drain any excess grease.
• • Season the beef with kosher salt, stirring well to evenly distribute. Keep in mind the cheese and dough will add extra saltiness.
• • Press unwrapped crescent rolls evenly into the bottom of the casserole dish, pinching the seams together to form a solid crust layer.
• • Sprinkle 1 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the bottom dough layer.
• • Spread the ground beef evenly over the cheese layer, pressing it gently into an even layer.
• • Top the beef with the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese, spreading it to the edges.
• • Lay the second layer of crescent roll dough over the cheeselayer and carefully stretch and pinch seams so it forms a solid top crust, tucking the edges down along the sides.
• • Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until the top layer is puffed and golden brown.
• • Remove from the oven and let it rest for 8-10 minutes, which will help the layers set up.
• • Using a sharp knife or spatula, cut into 9-12 squares. 

** Substitute ground turkey for ground beef.

 

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