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Garfield Phones Beach Mystery Finally Solved After 35 Years (bbc.com)

An anonymous reader shares a report: A French coastal community has finally cracked the mystery behind the Garfield telephones that have plagued its picturesque beaches for decades. Since the 1980s, the Iroise coast in Brittany has received a supply of bright orange landline novelty phones shaped like the famous cartoon cat. Anti-litter campaigners have been collecting fragments of the feline for years as they clean the beaches.

But now, the source of the problem has been found -- a lost shipping container. Last year, campaigners from the Ar Vilantsou anti-litter group made the novelty phone a symbol of the plastic pollution on the beaches of the Finistere region -- part of which is a designated marine park. Once a common household item, its eyes open when the landline receiver is picked up, and thousands were made and sold during the 1980s. Collectors still buy and sell the vintage Garfield phone online today. The beach-cleaning teams had long suspected that a lost shipping container -- perhaps blown overboard -- had regurgitated its precious orange cargo. But they had never been able to find it.

70 comments

  1. The 1980's "everything plastic" paradigm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Needs to change. Unfortunately dishonest consumer whores in land-locked red states would rather deny that forever-problems exist. Such is the forever-problem of Republican educational standards and illiteracy.

    1. Re: The 1980's "everything plastic" paradigm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And the solutuon

    2. Re: The 1980's "everything plastic" paradigm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And pieces of civil war ships have been washing ashore here for 145 years and counting but nobody cares. Keep the cartoons for the kids.

    3. Re: The 1980's "everything plastic" paradigm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I wish i was that lucky to find something like that.

    4. Re: The 1980's "everything plastic" paradigm... by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 5, Funny

      First they made a list of all the plausible explanations:

      1. A shipping container lost its contents

      After 3 decades of work, they narrowed this list down to:

      1. A shipping container lost its contents

      This is absolutely brilliant investigative work.

    5. Re: The 1980's "everything plastic" paradigm... by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 5, Informative

      First they made a list of all the plausible explanations:
      1. A shipping container lost its contents

      After 3 decades of work, they narrowed this list down to:
      1. A shipping container lost its contents

      This is absolutely brilliant investigative work.

      Actually, (from TFA) they actually found the shipping container.

      The media attention on the new campaign, however, drew the eye of a local farmer who remembered the first téléphone Garfield appearing after a storm in the early 1980s, when he was a young man.

      He also knew the location of the container - in a secluded sea cave accessible only at low tide.

      Members of the Ar Viltansou group, accompanied by Franceinfo journalists, set out to find it.

      Climbing down the slippery rocks to the cave, the team spotted remnants of a destroyed shipping container - and soon, between the rocks, Garfield phones - in a more complete condition than any found before them.

      Don't know why this guy didn't tell someone sooner ...

      --
      It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
    6. Re: The 1980's "everything plastic" paradigm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > Don't know why this guy didn't tell someone sooner ...

      Maybe he did.

      Maybe the local cops just didn't care, or didn't know what to do about it.

    7. Re: The 1980's "everything plastic" paradigm... by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 2

      What I don't get is why they say this still doesn't solve the problem - if they can get close enough to identify that the container is indeed the source of the phone debris, can't they remove the contents even if they can't shift the container itself?

      --
      #DeleteChrome
    8. Re: The 1980's "everything plastic" paradigm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      He didn't know anybody was interested.

    9. Re: The 1980's "everything plastic" paradigm... by IWantMoreSpamPlease · · Score: 1

      This is the French we are talking about.
      When was the last time anything worked in France? /h (maybe)

      --
      So rise up, all ye lost ones, as one, we'll claw the clouds.
    10. Re: The 1980's "everything plastic" paradigm... by kriston · · Score: 1

      If you watch the video, the container is mangled and broken into pieces and both it and its contents are in an inaccessible crevice. The tide comes in and floods the area. The Garfield phones float up and out through the small crevice.

      --

      Kriston

    11. Re: The 1980's "everything plastic" paradigm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      it was time for cheese and wine and they retreated.

    12. Re: The 1980's "everything plastic" paradigm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You know, the French didn't retreat. They had nowhere to retreat _to_.

      The people that retreated were the British.

      They pretty much fled across Western Europe, with the German army trailing behind them, then got in boats and buggered off home, leaving the entire German army camped on France's doorstep without the supplies to go home.

    13. Re:The 1980's "everything plastic" paradigm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Needs to change. Unfortunately dishonest consumer whores in land-locked red states would rather deny that forever-problems exist. Such is the forever-problem of Republican educational standards and illiteracy.

      I wonder what state actor sponsores this kind of shitstirring trolling.

    14. Re: The 1980's "everything plastic" paradigm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Deport yourself, carpet bagger. You created nothing.

    15. Re:The 1980's "everything plastic" paradigm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Glad you found a way to blame Trump for three decades of Garfield phones washing up on a beach in France. Totally not a terminal TDS case or anything.

    16. Re: The 1980's "everything plastic" paradigm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Thanks for the 100.000 French soldiers who died while the others embarked from Dunkerk: https://www.quora.com/How-many-French-soldiers-died-during-the-battle-of-France-in-1940

      I wonder what you would have done against an enemy twice bigger (Germany+Austria+Italy=Axis powers)

      Maybe you would have been working for the other side:
      https://libcom.org/library/allied-multinationals-supply-nazi-germany-world-war-2
      https://rarehistoricalphotos.com/henry-ford-grand-cross-1938/
      https://www.liberation.fr/planete/1998/12/04/ford-fournisseur-du-iiie-reich-le-groupe-americain-employait-prisonniers-et-deportes-en-produisant-p_254762
      https://timeline.com/fanta-coca-cola-nazi-845ee7e513af
      https://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/2007/04/LOWY/14601

    17. Re: The 1980's "everything plastic" paradigm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      First they made a list of all the plausible explanations ... After 3 decades of work ...

      What iz zees? You dare to mock us? Zees iz a war you cannot win. Americons. Ze elect zis bloated whale carcass az prezedent and say we are stoopeed? Idioats. I would pees on zere country but, of course, zis trump, he already has.

    18. Re: The 1980's "everything plastic" paradigm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This doesn't solve the problem because even if they could totally remove the container and all the phones, there is a huge percent of them already floating around the ocean in that area.

    19. Re: The 1980's "everything plastic" paradigm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Blood plasma is sterile you fucking retard. Stop spreading misinformation. You are almost as bad as those fuckwits who say that vaccines are good for you

    20. Re: The 1980's "everything plastic" paradigm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If the crevice was inaccessible then the cargo container and contents could not have entered.

    21. Re: The 1980's "everything plastic" paradigm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually, (from TFA) they actually found the shipping container.

      You actually used actually twice in one sentence.

    22. Re: The 1980's "everything plastic" paradigm... by Scarletdown · · Score: 1

      Show of hands... Who guessed it before even reading the summary?

      --
      This space unintentionally left blank.
  2. Re: Jon by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    We figured out that part sometime ago. But wait, there's more!

  3. A demonstration of "out of context" by SuperKendall · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'll throw this out there as a fun out of context quote:

    "Ar Viltansou and local officials say they will continue to harvest Garfields from the coastline."

    Monsters!

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    1. Re: A demonstration of "out of context" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I assume the phones are too small for forensic analysis, but in some places, if you find debris, you can trace the path of the debris based on the markings made by rocks, coral, etc.

    2. Re:A demonstration of "out of context" by McLoud · · Score: 1

      I'll throw this out there as a fun out of context quote:

      "Ar Viltansou and local officials say they will continue to harvest Garfields from the coastline."

      Monsters!

      My non-existent criptocoins for mod points, that was as good one

      --
      sign(c14n(envelop(this)), x509)
    3. Re:A demonstration of "out of context" by indytx · · Score: 1

      I'll throw this out there as a fun out of context quote:

      "Ar Viltansou and local officials say they will continue to harvest Garfields from the coastline."

      Monsters!

      The French will eat anything.

      --
      Make love, not reality television.
    4. Re:A demonstration of "out of context" by sabbede · · Score: 1
      That is fun!

      This whole story is fun. The very idea of a French beach inexplicably amassing bits of Garfield is just delightfully funny.

  4. What a mystery by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    A guy knew the location of the container in the early 80s, but nobody else knew about it for 35 years yet this phenomena of washed up phones was well known? Geez, does anyone go exploring anymore?

    1. Re:What a mystery by desdinova+216 · · Score: 1

      no, because no one is willing to finance it.

    2. Re:What a mystery by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ^ Kendall.

    3. Re:What a mystery by sheramil · · Score: 1

      Geez, does anyone go exploring anymore?

      In caves on the coastline of France? No. Not since Noximilien found that Eliacube. Didn't end well.

  5. Re: Jon by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Just don't drink a mug of dog sweat for any reason

  6. Think outside the box by Nidi62 · · Score: 3, Funny

    They should have either put some lasagna on another beach or set up a couple Nermal statues on the beach. Between the 2 that should keep Garfield well away fro the beach.

    --
    The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil
    1. Re:Think outside the box by DigiShaman · · Score: 1

      They just need a shipping container of spilled plastic Odie dolls to compliment the cleanup.

      --
      Life is not for the lazy.
    2. Re:Think outside the box by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think it would be easier to put up signs around the beach saying "Everyday is Monday here."

    3. Re:Think outside the box by martinX · · Score: 1

      Nermal dolls might be better. Odie is simply klutzy. Nermal, however, is known as Garfield's main and direct nemesis.

      --
      When they came for the communists, I said "He's next door. Take him away. Goddam commies."
    4. Re:Think outside the box by goose-incarnated · · Score: 1

      Complement.

      --
      I'm a minority race. Save your vitriol for white people.
    5. Re:Think outside the box by cellocgw · · Score: 1

      complement

      Ya never know, maybe the Odies would be enthusiastically cheering on the Garfields.

      compliment

      --
      https://app.box.com/WitthoftResume Code: https://github.com/cellocgw
  7. Agreed, think harder! by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

    They should have either put some lasagna on another beach or set up a couple Nermal statues on the beach.

    They should do that but not to keep the Garfields out...

    As I was reading it, I was thinking what a massive waste it was not to turn this into a giant tourist draw! Like you said, Nermal statues on the beach, discounts in town if you managed to find a Garfield phone part and bring it into local bars and restaurants. Garfield themed beach towels and so on.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    1. Re:Agreed, think harder! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > turn this into a giant tourist draw!

      Is it wrong for me to want a container full of polyhedral dice to tip overboard and crack open near where I live?

    2. Re:Agreed, think harder! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, you should definitely do it. Taking advice from the Internet is the best way to get useful, considered answers.

  8. Re:Kendall is pointlessly lying faggot FUD 100% by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Lucky dog, GP. Where can I get a troll of my own?

  9. EU bans garfield phones by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    This will help protect the environment.

    1. Re:EU bans garfield phones by dougTheRug · · Score: 1

      Stuff that matters.

    2. Re: EU bans garfield phones by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      More like:
      EU bans Garfield comics for eco-crime.

  10. Re:Kendall is pointlessly lying faggot FUD 100% by HornWumpus · · Score: 0

    Before the internet, slang was regional.

    First it was 'Butt fuck', then 'Boofu' (as in 'BooFu buddy') then 'Boofed'. If 'Boofing' came with getting wasted, you were gay and in denial.

    15 year old boys used lots of terms they barely understood. In any case the charges against Cavenaugh where not credible on their face.

    The GP troll needs to remember his derp. 'Devil's Triangle' was supposed to be sex position.

    Alumnus could easily be a group of boys who dated a girl and got _nothing_. Shared, notorious _wasted_effort_.

    --
    John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
  11. TRY AGAIN LYING FAGGOT WIMPWUSS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/devils-triangle-drinking-game-explained-by-ex-classmates-of-brett-kavanaugh

    1. Re:TRY AGAIN LYING FAGGOT WIMPWUSS by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

      I know it was a drinking game.

      But the standard derp is that is was a sex position, they even added it to the urban dictionary as such.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
  12. Devil's Triangle by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Umm is that a typo in your spam? Kav said the devil's triangle was a drinking game. It's not. It's a 3 way more commonly known as double penetration. L2UD n00b.

    Kavanaugh pretended ... ... "Devil's Triangle" wasn't a drinking game. It clearly is.

    1. Re:Devil's Triangle by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh sure, of course you're right. Lol. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/devils-triangle-drinking-game-explained-by-ex-classmates-of-brett-kavanaugh

  13. Re: Kendall is pointless lying faggot FUD 100% by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Shut the fuck up Nermal, nobody cares.

  14. Garden path headline by Michael+Woodhams · · Score: 1

    "Garfield" - could be a person or a place, let's keep going
    "Garfield phones" - OK, Garfield is phoning someone.
    "Garfield phones beach" - maybe a public phone on the beach, or we'll get a useful continuation like "lifeguard" to which "beach" is an adjective.
    "Garfield phones beach mystery" - OK, I've lost the plot here. Abstract concepts don't usually accept phone calls. Maybe "lifeguard" will still come next to rescue some sense out of this.
    "Garfield phones beach mystery finally". Nope, no lifeguard, no rescue.
    Perhaps "Garfield phones beach, mystery finally solved..." Totally makes sense, but I have to assume a nonexistent comma.
    Maybe Garfield is a place with a beach, and the beach has a phones mystery. But then it should be "Garfield Beach phones mystery..."
    Maybe there is a Phones Beach? But then what is Garfield doing? Surely nobody named a place "Garfield Phones"?

    --
    Quattuor res in hoc mundo sanctae sunt: libri, liberi, libertas et liberalitas.
  15. Re:Kendall is pointlessly lying faggot FUD 100% by sabbede · · Score: 1

    Did you think that was good behavior? Did someone tell you that what you were doing was of some benefit to anyone other than yourself? Did you really think it benefits you?

  16. Re:Hi This Is Carlton Your Doorman by sabbede · · Score: 1
    Nice! That's a solid obscure reference right there!

    Rest in peace Lorenzo. You were awesome.

  17. Anti-litter symbol isn't litter by dnwheeler · · Score: 1

    Why would they use the phone as a symbol for their anti-litter campaign when they knew it wasn't litter?

  18. Re:Kendall is pointlessly lying faggot FUD 100% by No+Longer+an+AC · · Score: 1

    Boofing never meant getting wasted or "farting" which is what Brett Kavanaugh claimed.

    I'll just reference this Frank Zappa song:

    Like my English teacher
    He's like
    (Valley girl)
    He's like Mr. Bu-Fu
    (Valley girl)

    We're talking Lord God King Bu-Fu
    (Valley girl)
    I am so sure
    He's, like, so gross

    Like, he sits there and
    Like, plays with all his rings
    And he, like
    Flirts with all the guys in the class

    Yes,the lyrics suggest that the valley girl's English teacher is gay and probably engages in anal sex with other men and she's grossed out by that. I don't think FZ ever pretended to be politically correct.

    I honestly don't know about "Devil's Triangle", but it's not a drinking game I ever heard of and it does sound more like a sexual position to me. Maybe BK could explain the rules to us if he wasn't too drunk to remember.

    I can't say whether he ever committed sexual assault or attempted to, but we do know he liked alcohol a little too much and bragged about sexual conquests whether real or imagined and he did lie to Congress.

    IMO, he's not fit for the Supreme Court.

  19. Re:Kendall is pointlessly lying faggot FUD 100% by GLMDesigns · · Score: 1

    Lying to Congress in the 2000s while a President Bush appointee would disqualify him, in my opinion.

    Having consensual sex of any sort at any age does not disqualify him; nor does drinking to excess, nor lying about sexual conquests as a teenager, young man.

    --
    If you're scared of your govt then you need to further restrict its powers
    Vote 3rd Party in 2016 and beyond