Buzz
Whether you're stranded on a mountain, require someone to perform at your funeral, or are seeking an adrenaline rush, don't panic. The 10 organizations listed here are ready to step in with their exceptionally unusual services. We've previously explored individuals offering help in unconventional ways, but today, we spotlight the companies, charities, and eccentric organizations that go above and beyond in the most bizarre ways imaginable.
10. AIC-CERT
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, claiming over 1,800 lives and causing $108 billion in damage. While much of the destruction impacted private properties and businesses, the storm's floodwaters also destroyed museums and libraries, damaging valuable books, historical manuscripts, and works of art. To protect these irreplaceable treasures, the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) assembled a team of volunteers to salvage as many records, paintings, and encyclopedias as they could.
Motivated by the team's achievements, the AIC created a dedicated group focused on preserving global works of art. Known as AIC-CERT (since the full name, 'the American Institute for Conservation Collections Emergency Response Team,' is a bit of a mouthful), this team includes architects, art specialists, furniture experts, and various other professionals. They're essentially the Avengers of the art world, and when disaster strikes, they're the first on the scene.
When Hurricane Ike hit Galveston, Texas, the team rushed to assist places like the Lone Star Flight Museum, the University of Texas Medical Branch, and Moody Mansion. When Superstorm Sandy hit New York, AIC-CERT set up a 'cultural recovery center' in Brooklyn, where they helped artists restore more than 3,000 pieces of art. They even traveled to Haiti after the 2010 earthquake to preserve the country's heritage sites and cultural artifacts.
AIC-CERT operates without charge (funded entirely by donations), but their focus isn’t solely on major catastrophes. They're also concerned about smaller-scale incidents, which is why AIC-CERT assists organizations worldwide in preparing for a range of emergencies, from insect infestations to leaking pipes.
Through their disaster response workshops, AIC-CERT equips museums with crucial skills to prevent and handle emergencies, such as freezing waterlogged books to halt further damage or properly cleaning mold from a contaminated canvas. So, the next time you're admiring an iconic building or a stunning artwork, remember that AIC-CERT is just a call away, ready to jump into action if disaster ever strikes.
9. Catchword
Choosing a name for your child, book, or Mytour list can be challenging. Now, imagine selecting a name for a product that will be sold worldwide. Before it reaches store shelves, it's essential to pick a memorable name that captures attention and conveys everything customers need to know. Creating a clever and fitting title is no easy task, which is why companies often turn to Catchword. This Oakland-based firm boasts high-profile clients like McDonald’s, Starbucks, Wells Fargo, and Time Warner Cable.
To start, Catchword works with clients to understand what they want the name to communicate—whether it's approachability, innovation, or a folksy vibe. Once they grasp the desired tone, the team dives into dictionaries, reference materials, and software that scans foreign phrases. After compiling a list of potential names, they experiment with various prefixes and suffixes to find the perfect combination. Typically, they generate around 2,000 options, which are then whittled down to 30 to 60 finalists to present to the client.
The process goes beyond simply picking a catchy name. The word must be easy to pronounce, visually appealing, and available for trademark. If someone else already owns the name, it’s a no-go. It also needs to convey the right ideas and emotions. And perhaps most importantly, they have to ensure the word doesn’t have any negative or inappropriate meanings in another language. After all, you wouldn’t want your product to accidentally translate to 'worthless' or 'stupid' in Chinese.
So, have you ever used a Catchword product? Enjoyed a Starbucks Refresher, indulged in a cup of Chobani Flip yogurt, tried a Chipotle Sofrita, savored a bowl of Dreyer’s Dreamery ice cream, or munched on a McDonald’s McBistro sandwich? Maybe you’ve had AllState 'GoodforLife' or 'House and Home' insurance? Or perhaps you’ve used a Canon Maxify printer or watched the movie Idiocracy? If so, you can thank the talented team at Catchword.
8. Global Rescue
When a tsunami or earthquake ruins your plans, who do you call? Sure, the Red Cross will eventually arrive, but if you’re stranded on a mountain or caught in a war zone, you can’t afford to wait for charity. You need action, and you need it fast, which is where Global Rescue comes in. These professionals are the Navy SEALs of rescue operations, and they’ll respond to any crisis, anywhere, anytime… for the right price.
Founded in 2004 by Dan Richards, Global Rescue responds to emergencies worldwide. With offices in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pakistan, and Thailand, the team constantly monitors weather conditions and global events. During the Arab Spring, they evacuated 60 people from Egypt. When the 2011 tsunami hit Japan and the 2015 earthquake struck Nepal, Global Rescue was there to assist. On average, the company conducts around 1,000 rescue missions every year, and they’re considered the best in their field. Employing around 200 specialists, many of whom are former Special Forces, Global Rescue covers everything from first aid to wilderness survival.
Naturally, Global Rescue operates for profit. If you want to ensure they have your back, you’ll need to pay. The organization counts high-profile clients like Uber, Conde Nast, and NASA among its patrons, and they also work with individuals, including journalists and adventurers. Options range from $329 to $655, and if you’re planning to trek Everest or explore the Amazon, it could be a wise investment.
However, Global Rescue has faced criticism, largely due to the fact that they charge for their services. While they may offer a lift to non-members if there’s room on a helicopter, their paying clients always take precedence. As founder Dan Richards explained to Wired, “We are not the Red Cross. We don’t have the ability to just deploy our services to people who haven’t paid a membership fee.” In other words, they prioritize those who can afford to pay for rescue—those with deep pockets. Is this unethical, or is it simply a business model?
7. Unified Weapons Master
MMA has gained huge popularity, especially with stars like Ronda Rousey leading the charge, but there's one issue that still remains. No, we're not talking about steroids—it's the prohibition on weapons. While fists and feet are fair game, swords and bo staffs are off-limits inside the Octagon.
The reasons behind this restriction are obvious—you can't be swinging a katana at your opponent. But for athletes trained in martial arts like escrima and sayoc kali, this poses a dilemma. Without their weapons, how will they ever prove who’s the ultimate fighter?
This is where Unified Weapons Master (UWM) steps in. Founded by David Pysden and Justin Forsell, the Sydney-based company wants to establish its own MMA league, one where athletes can wield sais, nunchaku, and other weapons. But how will these fighters safely engage in weaponized combat? UWM has teamed up with engineers and armorers, including one who contributed to the Lord of the Rings films, to create a full-body suit designed for the job.
The suit, called the Lorica, is crafted from carbon fiber and impact-resistant foam. Beneath the outer layers, pressure sensors detect the impact of a weapon, sending that data to a computer. The computer then calculates the force of the strike, factoring in its location with the help of specialized medical software. After enough hits, or one fatal blow to a vital area, the computer will declare the fighter ‘unconscious’ or ‘dead.’ It’s essentially like a real-life video game.
If all goes according to plan, UWM aims to host its first tournament in 2016. Watching a modern samurai take on a Shaolin staff master would be exciting, but UWM’s mission is about more than just thrills. Co-founder Justin Forsell explains that there are 96 different weapons-based martial arts, and with the help of this new high-tech suit, UWM aims to keep these ancient practices alive.
6. Accion Ortografica Quito
Everyone knows a grammar stickler, but none quite like the folks behind Accion Ortografica Quito. Based in Quito, Ecuador, the trio of Accion Ortografica Quito may seem like average citizens by day, but by night, they become street vigilantes, armed with stencils and spray paint. But they aren't your typical graffiti artists—at least not in the traditional sense. These are graffiti guardians, focused on eliminating grammatical mistakes from their city's walls.
The group, which takes its name from a Mexican poetry movement, began their crusade when one of the members saw a wall covered in some truly horrific graffiti. It wasn't the content that bothered him, but the multitude of spelling errors—at least 10 mistakes in just two sentences. This couldn’t go uncorrected, so that night, he and a friend went out and fixed all the mistakes, erasing errors and adding punctuation.
Motivated by this experience, the two 'grammar vigilantes'—codenamed ‘Dieresis’ and ‘Tilde’—declared an all-out war on graffiti across the city, correcting misplaced punctuation and capitalizing letters as needed. After all, grammar matters. As one member explained to Colors magazine, 'A single misplaced comma or oversight can change the meaning of a sentence. It can change your life.'
Though their mission sounds fun, getting caught tagging a wall could lead to a hefty fine and jail time. But the members of Accion Ortografica Quito are undeterred. As one member boldly declared, 'We will not break, we will not give up until my city is free of spelling mistakes on walls.'
5. The Green Street Mortuary Band
Funerals in San Francisco’s Chinatown are always unique. When a member of the Chinese-American community passes, it’s believed that their spirit remains close to the body. However, there’s a risk the spirit might wander, become lost, and transform into a vengeful ghost. To ensure the spirit rests peacefully, Chinatown residents organize an intricate parade to guide the spirit home.
Before the procession begins, candy is placed in the deceased’s mouth to cleanse away the taste of death. At the front of the procession, an open-top car proudly displays a large portrait of the deceased to keep the spirit tethered to its body. As the parade moves through the streets, mourners throw 'spirit money' into the air, helping pay for the spirit’s journey into the afterlife.
What makes this ritual truly captivating is the music. In Chinatown, it’s common to hire bands to lead the funeral procession, believing the melodies will keep the spirit nearby. When locals seek top-tier musicians, they turn to the Green Street Mortuary Band. But there’s something unusual about this group—none of the members are Chinese, and they only play Christian hymns.
Under the direction of saxophonist Lisa Pollard, the band marches through the streets, playing hymns like 'Amazing Grace' and 'Onward Christian Soldiers.' Equipped with a range of instruments, from trumpets to trombones to drums, the band creates quite the ruckus, especially when local Buddhists join in, singing their own songs alongside the procession.
Despite not being regular churchgoers, the Green Street Mortuary Band has earned a massive following, working over 300 gigs a year. They’re undoubtedly the most beloved musical group in San Francisco, with local musicians constantly vying for a chance to join the band. Regardless of anyone’s religious beliefs, it’s impossible to ignore the way the Green Street Mortuary Band and their Chinatown funeral performances perfectly embody the United States as a melting pot of diverse ideas, cultures, and traditions.
4. Scotland Yard’s Super-Recognizers
Everyone loves a superhero team. From the Fantastic Four and the X-Men to the Incredibles, we’ve got a lot of legendary squads. But there’s also a real-life group of superheroes—Scotland Yard’s 'super-recognizers.' Led by Detective Chief Inspector Mike Neville, these incredible individuals work for Scotland Yard. Armed with exceptional mental abilities, they use their powers to capture criminals, identifying suspects one face at a time.
Renowned for their exceptional memory skills, the super-recognizers sift through hours of CCTV footage, working to match blurry, grainy faces with names. After all, what’s the point of recording a crime if you can’t identify the criminal? When a crime like an assault or robbery occurs and the police struggle to make an identification, Scotland Yard calls on their super team for help.
In their everyday roles, these super-recognizers work as jailers, detectives, and patrol officers. However, due to an unusual mental quirk (which could even be genetic), they have an uncanny ability to recognize faces. All it takes is a few seconds of CCTV footage, and they can recall a thug from years ago, a mug shot they once glimpsed, or even someone they arrested in the past.
That’s right; the super-recognizers don’t compare the video footage to actual photographs. Instead, they rely on their mental photo albums to identify criminals, and they’re astonishingly effective at it. During the 2011 England riots, computer facial recognition software sifted through 4,000 images, identifying just a single suspect. Meanwhile, Gary Collins, a super-recognizer and police constable (nicknamed 'Rain Man' in the office), identified 180 perpetrators, even those hiding behind hats and bandanas.
Currently, Scotland Yard employs 152 super-recognizers, and their results are remarkable. In 2011 alone, they reviewed over 200,000 hours of footage and identified 600 suspects. Two-thirds of these individuals faced criminal charges, and an impressive 90 percent of them were locked up.
Curious if you might secretly be a super-recognizer? Take a look at this test created by researchers at the University of Greenwich. If you get more than 10 questions correct, then who knows? Scotland Yard could one day recruit you to use your extraordinary memory to fight crime.
3. Extreme Kidnapping
People do some outlandish things in pursuit of an adrenaline rush. For those thrill-seekers who think they’ve done it all, there’s Extreme Kidnapping. Based in New Orleans, this group offers a bizarre service. They’re 'kidnappers for hire,' but not in the criminal sense. Instead, they provide a real-life version of David Fincher’s *The Game*.
If you've seen the 1997 thriller, you’re familiar with the plot: a mysterious organization puts their clients in extreme scenarios involving kidnappings and shoot-outs. After watching the film, Adam Thick was inspired to launch his own company offering similar experiences. For $500, he and his team will kidnap you, throw you into a van, take you to a secret spot, and keep you tied up for hours. If you’re willing to pay $1,000, you get an additional six hours of pure terror.
Before your kidnapping experience begins, you’ll need to fill out a form so Extreme Kidnapping can tailor the ordeal to you. Are you okay with being beaten? How do you feel about waterboarding or getting zapped by a stun gun? Do you have any fears you’d like to share? You also get to choose your own narrative. Maybe you're a secret agent captured by enemies, or perhaps you’ve been mistaken for someone else. You can even pick your team of abductors, whether you want the typical thug group or the 'Elite Girls' package, featuring women in platform heels and miniskirts. (If you're after realism, this might not be your best option.)
Things can get pretty intense. As *GQ* writer Drew Magary, who was 'abducted' in 2013, reported, the team at Extreme Kidnapping isn’t afraid to make things real. They’ll tape your mouth shut, slap you across the face, and force you to urinate in Gatorade bottles while your hands are bound.
So if you’re tired of your dull, everyday life, give Extreme Kidnapping a call. Or if you dream of running a business like this, Extreme Kidnapping is up for sale. You can even find it listed on *eBay*.
2. The Love Commandos
Falling in love in India can be more dangerous than just a broken heart. In a society where arranged marriages are still common, strict expectations surround potential partners. The most important rule? Young people are strongly discouraged from marrying someone outside their caste or religion. In fact, falling in love with someone from a different background can quickly escalate into a violent situation.
If you marry against your family's wishes, you might be facing even more than just disapproval. In extreme cases, families may resort to 'honor killings.' This is especially prevalent in northern India, where the local councils known as *khap panchayats* often give parents the green light to kill their children for marrying outside their caste. So, what does a young Brahman do when they fall for someone from a lower caste?
Enter the *Love Commandos*. Founded in 2010 by Sanjoy Sachdev, the Love Commandos provide an underground escape route for couples in love. Based in Delhi, this organization has branches across the country, helping more than 300 couples find safety. Their homes serve as hiding spots for couples on the run, and once they reach the central base, they’re offered shelter, food, and even presents. Often, the Commandos help couples marry, ensuring they can safely live out their love story.
The work these Commandos do is incredibly risky. Families, enraged by their children’s love, often hire professional kidnappers to hunt down couples. *Khap panchayats* have even put up a $40,000 bounty for anyone who kills a Commando. Despite the danger, the Love Commandos are undeterred. They’ve assisted over 40,000 couples, and they’re not stopping anytime soon.
So why risk it all for love? Sachdev believes that inter-caste and inter-religious marriages could transform India into a more progressive and harmonious society—one free from outdated traditions and violence. In essence, the Love Commandos are dedicated to proving that love can indeed conquer all.
1. The Shadow Wolves
At first glance, the work of the Shadow Wolves may seem unremarkable. They are law enforcement agents tasked with stopping drug smugglers, which is a vital job but one that is common across the world. What sets the Shadow Wolves apart isn't the type of work they do, but rather who they are and how they carry it out. This team of Native Americans specializes in tracking smugglers in a way that harkens back to their ancestors: by ‘cutting for sign,’ or reading the land for clues.
Founded in 1972, the Shadow Wolves patrol the Tohono O’odham Nation reservation, spanning 2.8 million acres on the Arizona-Mexico border. The team consists of 15 members, all of whom are at least one-quarter Native American. More than just a team of trackers, each member brings a wealth of knowledge about the art of following trails.
Though the Shadow Wolves utilize modern technology, their true expertise lies in tracking by sight and intuition. They're adept at spotting subtle signs like overturned rocks, broken branches, or stray threads. These clues help them understand if a smuggler traveled at night (when they leave footprints uncovered), carried heavy loads (indicated by deep tracks), or recently passed through (if the tracks are layered beneath fresh animal prints).
Despite facing high-tech opposition from smugglers using radios and night-vision equipment, the Shadow Wolves remain highly effective. According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Wolves seize around 30 tons of drugs each year. Their success has garnered international attention, leading the team to teach tracking techniques to law enforcement in places like Kazakhstan, Latvia, and Estonia.
Even if you’re a drug dealer equipped with the most advanced technology available, it won’t do you any good in the Tohono O’odham Nation. All the Shadow Wolves need is a snapped branch or a piece of fabric, and before long, they’re closing in on their target like a well-coordinated pack of hunters.
