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40 Unusual Things People Came Across That Made Them Think They’d Entered A “Parallel Universe”
CuriositiesMAR 13, 2023

40 Unusual Things People Came Across That Made Them Think They’d Entered A “Parallel Universe”

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We’re all used to things looking, being and feeling a certain way. Just like rain is wet, so is the UPS truck brown. No questions asked, no answers needed.
So it’s only fair that seeing a thing in a completely different form, presentation or color than it typically is feels like a glimpse into a parallel universe. And since picturing a red Apple logo in your mind feels odd, Bored Panda did the job for you and wrapped up this list of common things that look nothing like they normally do.
Scroll down and upvote the most interesting pics that show things as if they were snatched from an alternate reality.

#1 This Red Only Rainbow I Saw At Midnight In Finland

This Red Only Rainbow I Saw At Midnight In Finland
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344points

#2 McDonald's In Roswell, New Mexico

McDonald's In Roswell, New Mexico
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343points

#3 Subaru-Branded Honey From My Local Dealership. Harvested From Their Rooftop

Subaru-Branded Honey From My Local Dealership. Harvested From Their Rooftop
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293points

Ask any marketing expert, and they will tell you that if invention is the mother of necessity, then re-invention must be due to the evolution of those needs. No wonder so many brands, from Apple to McDonald's, rebrand themselves from time to time, whether it’s a logo or the exterior of the restaurant.

“Looking at all those remakes of old movies, they’re still telling the same stories, but they have to find new ways to do it as time passes. In the same way, companies must continuously revisit their brand strategy to keep up with the latest market shifts to communicate their story effectively to the intended audience,” designer and marketing expert Shantanu Kumar argues.

#4 Deep Blue Slime Mold: Not Our Typical Shiny, But Very Cool Nonetheless

Deep Blue Slime Mold: Not Our Typical Shiny, But Very Cool Nonetheless
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275points

#5 There Was A Massive Pirate Ship Driving Around My Neighborhood

There Was A Massive Pirate Ship Driving Around My Neighborhood
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270points

#6 Saw This Car Filling Up At A Gas Station In Illinois And Did A Double-Take. The Top Tires Spin Too

Saw This Car Filling Up At A Gas Station In Illinois And Did A Double-Take. The Top Tires Spin Too
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251points

There are many reasons why brands decide to update the look of their brands, products, and services. Sometimes it’s because they seek to refresh their image because the old one no longer reflects their values. A smart rebrand can revive the company’s look and feel, making it more appealing to the customer of today.

Another reason for brands changing their usual look may come down to the fact that they want to appeal to a new target market, which is especially the case with growing companies.

#7 A White Redwood Baby

A White Redwood Baby
240points

#8 Blue Java Banana

Blue Java Banana
235points

#9 This Princess Leia Fire Hydrant I Saw Today

This Princess Leia Fire Hydrant I Saw Today
234points

McDonald's is known for its unmistakable identity with its iconic golden arches meeting the diners. But there are numerous examples of revamped, unusual McDonald's buildings surfing around the internet, like this “World’s Largest Entertainment McDonald’s” (now known as Epic McDonald’s) in Orlando, Florida.

The “Nonstandard McDonald’s” account on Twitter is dedicated to documenting unusual and sometimes tasteless McDonald’s buildings from around the world. According to the account’s bio, it is aimed at “preserving the only architectural heritage of the western world.”

#10 This Lowercase Stop Sign

This Lowercase Stop Sign
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230points

#11 Starbucks In Al Seef, Dubai, UAE

Starbucks In Al Seef, Dubai, UAE
229points

#12 I Saw This Vertical Chess Board At A Bourbon Bar

I Saw This Vertical Chess Board At A Bourbon Bar
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202points

What’s interesting, however, is that finding photos of these unusual Mcdonald's is becoming a task in its own right. Krieger, the creator of the “Nonstandard McDonald’s” Twitter, told Vox: “I was just surprised at how hard it was to find photo evidence of these weird McDonald’s that I had been to a couple of times, including the so-called Mayor McCheese mansion in Independence, Ohio.”

According to him, “One thing you figure out very quickly is that most of these places are no longer operating. They’re defunct.” Vox explains that many of these offbeat McDonald’s were pilot restaurants for culinary concepts that were eventually abandoned by the corporate mothership, such as “McDiners” which served classic greasy spoon fare.

#13 It's Finally Ripe

It's Finally Ripe
190points

#14 A Black Stop Sign

A Black Stop Sign
187points

#15 A Wendy’s Built With Shipping Containers

A Wendy’s Built With Shipping Containers
181points

Today, these unusual McDonald's are becoming a rarity since the company put a lot of effort into modernizing their standard, family-friendly appearance. Now the restaurants have a slick, modern look that many say lacks its original identity.

#16 How Am I Supposed To Teach My Kids Anything?

How Am I Supposed To Teach My Kids Anything?
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181points

#17 This Flat Fire Extinguisher I Found

This Flat Fire Extinguisher I Found
175points

#18 Pink Icicles Underneath A Grate At A Carwash I Work At

Pink Icicles Underneath A Grate At A Carwash I Work At
175points

#19 Cut Into A Watermelon My Husband Picked Up The Other Day At A Farm Stand And We Learned That Yellow Watermelons Are A Thing

Cut Into A Watermelon My Husband Picked Up The Other Day At A Farm Stand And We Learned That Yellow Watermelons Are A Thing
172points

#20 Shiny McDonald's

Shiny McDonald's
164points
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