Activists Are at it Again, This Time Urging the White House to Replace Easter Eggs with Potatoes

Eggs will roll! Animal rights activists are urging officials in both the U.S. and U.K. to ditch traditional Easter eggs in favor of decorated potatoes at their annual egg-rolling festivities. Their reasoning? Swapping eggs for potatoes would reduce animal suffering, teach children empathy and kindness, help the planet, and support potato farmers. PETA sent a letter to First Lady Melania Trump expressing concern on behalf of consumers who earlier this year faced soaring egg prices amid recent avian flu outbreaks. The organization proposed rebranding the annual White House Easter Egg Roll — which dates back to 1878 — into a “Make America Great Easter Potato Roll,” complete with dyed spuds, sack races, and hot potato games. In exchange for the First Lady’s cooperation, PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk offered her the gift of a dress made from vintage Idaho potato sacks, inspired by Marilyn Monroe’s iconic 1951 frock. Regardless of what PETA wants, the White House Easter Egg Roll remains on the congressional calendar for Monday, April 6, 2026.

Marilyn Monroe in the spud dress (left) and the dress offered to the First Lady

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World War II Vet Becomes Oldest Organ Donor in U.S. History at 100

Two hours after Dale Steele (above with wife Doris) passed away, his son received a call. The circle of life was spinning and Dale’s legacy would soon live on. Even at 100 years old, his liver was 100% healthy and could be donated. Officials from the organ donation nonprofit Live On Nebraska explained that the way the liver constantly replaces cells and regenerates makes its functional age less than three years old. Steele’s liver was successfully transplanted into a grateful patient, making him the oldest organ donor in U.S. history. “One of the myths we hear out in the community often, is that ‘I’m too old to be an organ donor. I might not be healthy enough to be a donor.’ I think a case like this truly proves that there is no age limit,” said Kyle Herber, President and CEO of Live On Nebraska. So, as Dale’s life was nearing its end in February, the organ donor group inquired about his organs, and the answer was an easy one. “We consented without any hesitation,” said Dale’s son Roger. “We thought, this is the kind of thing — if he were able to be asked — he’d agree to.” According to Herber, more than 100,000 patients in the U.S. are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant, including nearly 400 in Nebraska alone. It’s estimated that approximately 17 people die every day waiting for a transplant. Dale was able to save at least one of them.

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Googly Eyes Can Stop Seagulls From Stealing Your Food

Nothing is worse than enjoying a day at the beach, when out of nowhere a seagull swoops down and snatches your food. Now, researchers have discovered a way to deter gulls, which are well-known for stealing food. Scientists found that gulls were less likely to approach and peck at food when the packaging featured "googly eyes." The idea builds on existing research into animal behavior, where direct eye contact is often seen as a sign of threat. When gulls think they’re being watched, they appear more cautious about taking food. While the googly eye trick isn’t foolproof, researchers found that it could still massively reduce the chances of food being stolen. In a study where 30 gulls were presented with a carry-out box with and without eyes, researchers found that over half of the birds never attempted to approach the box with eyes. The findings offer a simple and low-cost way to deal with a problem that’s become increasingly common in seaside towns, even if it’s not a guarantee that you won’t be forced to fight for your food.

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A Florida Man Faked His Murder Using a Gun and a Weather Balloon

The mysterious death of a Florida man was solved by piecing together an elaborate suicide plot that included a weather balloon hoisting a gun into the sky. Palm Beach Gardens police began investigating the death of Alan Jay Abrahamson as a homicide. His body was in a field near his country club home with a bullet wound to his chest. Abrahamson, known to carry a lot of cash, but there was nothing in his wallet and his watch was missing. Police found no weapon and no shell casings. A $3,000 reward drew no leads, and as time went on, police had more questions than answers. Surveillance video obtained a few days after the death showed Abrahamson’s last moments. Wearing a long-sleeve sweatshirt, shorts, sneakers and a blue ball cap, he walked off camera with something in his left hand. About 37 minutes passed, and then a gunshot was heard. What happened during those 37 minutes? An email found on Abrahamson's phone suggested he bought a weather balloon and helium tanks, a purchase none of his friends could explain. Police began to suspect Abrahamson’s death might have been a suicide. The working theory became that he tied a gun to a string, attached it to the weather balloon, and once the shot was fired, the balloon carried the weapon away from the scene. A blood stain on Abrahamson’s sweatshirt appeared to support the claim: a long thin line of blood had traveled up, indicating something was in the blood and dragged across to the top of the shirt. During their investigation, police came across an episode of CSI: Las Vegas from 2003 showing a character who staged a homicide by tying a gun to helium-filled balloons to carry the gun away from the scene. To support investigators’ theory, they found searches on Abrahamson’s computer on ways to commit suicide, guns, and various ways a weather balloon could assist. Investigators determined that the weather balloon likely burst somewhere north of the Bahamas in the Atlantic Ocean, and the case was closed.

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