(via Bad Newspaper)
Saturday, May 25, 2019
Robot Package Delivery
To replace the gig economy workers who are delivering everything from Amazon packages to dinner, we now have bipedal robots traveling in driverless vehicles. Digit is the name of the robot, a real product from Agility Robotics. Digit is astonishingly like a real delivery person in that it walks across the grass, leaves the package on the porch, and doesn't even ring the doorbell. But unlike humans, it does not require wages after the initial investment. Also its knees are backwards. Learn more about the robot in another video. (via Laughing Squid)
Mailboat Jumper Tryouts
In lake Geneva, Wisconsin, there are plenty of people living in houseboats, and they all have mailboxes. When the mailboat comes around, it doesn't stop at each one. Rather, a "mailboat jumper" jumps off the boat, delivers mail, picks up outgoing mail, and jumps back on the boat, which keeps moving. It takes rhythm, energy, and skills to keep up. I hope the pay is good. (via Neatorama)
Lemon
The internet has ruined us all. Think before you share, for you may be judged. This comic is from Chris Hallbeck at Maximumble.
A Fence Built Through a Pool
This happened in Orlando, Florida. See, someone a long time ago bought two lots with two houses side-by-side. They demolished one house and expanded the other with a garage and a pool, which extended over the property line. But it didn't matter, since he owned both, right? He eventually sold both lots to someone else, who got behind on their mortgage, and the property was foreclosed upon. The bank sold the two lots to two different people! The new owner of the mostly-vacant lot put up a fence on the property line, which bisects the pool of his neighbor. However, the most disturbing thing in this video is the way the news reporter pronounces the word realtor as "realitor." (via Boing Boing)
Tweet of the Day
Coatis in reverse look like herds of tiny brontosauruses— 41 Strange (@41Strange) May 20, 2019
(Via NormalPaladin) pic.twitter.com/Ow0Y8jf6yi
(via Nag on the Lake)
Friday, May 24, 2019
McDonald's Sweden is taking bees seriously. They have installed beehives on top of some of their outlets, and planted flowers to replace grass around the buildings. For World Bee Day (which was May 20), they commissioned a tiny McDonald's restaurant, which is just a fancy decor around a real beehive.
From the outside, the model is a replica of a McDonald's restaurant, with drive-thru windows, outdoor seating, and the golden arches presiding above it all. But instead of a counter and a tables, the interior is filled with frames where bees can build their wax. It's being billed as "the world's smallest McDonald's," but according to NORD DDB, it's still big enough to house thousands of bees.The McDonald's beehive was auctioned off after World Bee Day to benefit Ronald McDonald House. Let's hope the new owner uses it as intended, and reaps a sweet harvest.
Alternate Histories
Here's a good argument for why fictional world-building should not be too detailed. There's a good reason that the characters of The Walking Dead have never seen a zombie movie. This comic is from Randall Munroe at xkcd.
A Conversation Between a Crow and Cat
The crow is taunting the cat, and the cat does not appreciate it one bit. I would transcribe the dialogue, but I don't know Russian. (via reddit)
Miss Cellania's Links
What You Didn’t Know About the Apollo 11 Mission.
Fact-checking Trump's Rose Garden comments from Wednesday.
A Solution for Loneliness. (via Digg)
The 62 Very Isolated People of Palmerston Island. Palmerston is a nine-day boat ride from the nearest store, and is completely populated by William Marsters' descendants.
“Elizabeth Warren called me!” is turning into a meme. The senator is calling a lot of her supporters.
Some toilet humor, courtesy of Google Maps.
A blast from the past (2013): Mabel Stark: The Lady with the Tigers.
Dear Abby
I loved this John Prine song back in the '70s. My friends and I would sing it together. I hadn't heard it in decades, but Everlasting Blort has reminded me that YouTube has a vast archive of treasures.
Thursday, May 23, 2019
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