Author and a doyenne of death, Gail Ruben visits Ripley Radio this week and tells us about her quest to crash 30 funerals of total strangers in 30 days. Then she blogs about the deceased and her experiences at the funeral. Taking a whimsical approach to death and funerals is her forte.

In our sideshow segment, Jackpotting with James Taylor, the sideshow historian talks about one of his most unusual friends, Priscilla the Monkey Girl. Now deceased, Priscilla spent decades on the circus and carnival sideshow circuit, dancing for thousands of paying customers and showing off her body – totally covered with hair.

Additional random amazements discussed this week:

• Chris Epting discusses a very unusual site in Long Beach, Calif. – A family of sea turtles living and thriving in the warm waters of a small channel next to a power plant! You can now cancel your trip to the Galapagos Islands and head to Long Beach!
• Angela reveals the top occupations in which the employees need to drink the most coffee to survive a day at work. There are quite a few surprises in the Top 15. But we can reveal here that 54% of all employees of all occupations surveyed say they are more productive when they drink coffee.
• Intern Abby uncovers an unusual way in which tax collectors in Bangalore, India, collect back taxes. It involves drums and loud noises and the resulting embarrassment.
• Ralf explains how a baby doll saved an entire family from perishing in a house fire.
• We hear of a man who was awarded a new Honda Accord after his old one reached One Million miles.
• Kim Kiff, manager of the Ripley’s attractions in St. Augustine, Fla., drops by and tells us that St. Augustine is a great place to spend a few days during the upcoming holiday season.