(via She Who Seeks)
Thursday, August 13, 2026
Bizarre Flower Sex
Ze Frank, who usually gives us True Facts about animals, has veered off and made a video about plants. But true to form, it's about the sex life of plants, and it starts off as suggestive as it can be. Plants reproduce sexually, but since they are rooted in place, many of them depend on animals to connect two potential parents. That's where "the birds and the bees" come in. And a lot of other insects, too. We know how bees pollinate plants, but different plants have evolved some extreme ways of attracting insects. There are flowers that use bizarre mechanical means to load those insects with pollen. Some flowers even swallow up insects, not to eat them (although some do), but to force them to participate in their pollination scheme. Yeah, this is beneficial to the insects in some way, otherwise it wouldn't last too long. There's a 30-second promotional section at 2:33.
Free Speech
This cartoon by Matt Wuerker with Politico sums it up nicely! #Blues
— 🔵Blue Dot Buckeye🔵#Blues 🦋💙🌊🗽🌪️ (@buckivotesblue.bsky.social) August 10, 2026 at 8:36 AM
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Wednesday, August 12, 2026
The Head
The Head is a low budget 1959 West German science fiction horror film. The original title is Die Nackte und der Satan (The Naked Woman and Satan). Wikipedia summarizes the plot:
A scientist, Dr. Abel, is successful in creating a serum capable of keeping a dog's head alive after the body dies. Before the scientist can take advantage of his new discovery, he suffers a fatal heart attack. His assistant uses the formula to keep the scientist's severed head alive long enough to assist him in an attempt to transplant the head of the beautiful, but hunchbacked, nurse onto the body of an exotic dancer.The movie was banned in Austria as offensive, although it is not clear exactly why. Critics said Die Nackte und der Satan was so bad that it was an unintentional comedy. The pacing is weird and every scene is comically overacted. For the American release, the title was changed to The Head, the nudity was cut, and the lines poorly overdubbed. The concept was repeated in the just-slightly-better 1962 movie The Brain That Wouldn't Die. (Thanks, WTM!)
Fearless Koda
Koda was found as a stray in the neighborhood, possibly dumped because of his illnesses. His eyes were so infected that they were ultimately removed, but he hasn't let that slow him down. A vet tech took Koda home to foster as he was recovering, but soon became his permanent mother. Koda quickly settled in and learned to navigate his world without sight. But that's just the beginning.
The family got Koda used to water, and then taught him pool safety, and then how to swim. They took him hiking and then camping. He learned to follow his humans' voices even in unfamiliar territory. Then they all went to Yellowstone for vacation! Koda is comfortable in a vehicle, a forest, a kayak, or a backpack. He isn't afraid because his people always look out for his safety, and he trusts them not to let anything bad happen to him. He's still just a kitten, but he's lived a rich and adventurous life many people would be envious of. You can follow the further adventures of Koda at Instagram.
The Enfield Horror
In 1973, Henry McDaniel of Enfield, Illinois, and his family saw a horrible monster approach their home in the dark. It was four or five feet tall, hairy, had pink eyes and stood on three legs. It also damaged the house. Publicity from the incident turned Enfield into a circus for a time as monster hunters descended on the area. Some people believed McDaniel, others didn't, and some reported also seeing the monster. Over time, the creature turned from an animal-type monster into an alien.
So what did McDaniel see that night? We still don't know, although there is plenty of speculation and quite a few possibilities. The real story is how that incident spread from local talk to national news, and grew as it went. It put the small town of Enfield on the map for quite some time. Dr. Emily Zarka explains what we know and what we don't about the Enfield Horror.
Miss Cellania's Links
The drama of animal CT scans. (via Everlasting Blort)
Taxi drivers rarely die of Alzheimer’s – how complex mental maps and spatial reasoning protect your brain. (via kottke)
What Ancient Romans Really Watched at the Colosseum — It Wasn’t Just Gladiator Fights.
An arts school where Epstein allegedly preyed on students reveals decades of abuse.
He’s been locked up in the barn recovering from an illness and this is his first time in the sun for a month.
The International Aerial Photographer of the Year Competition Winners of 2026. The 101 top-scoring entries can be seen in this gallery. (via Nag on the Lake)
Trump being jolted awake with 'The Zapper' when he nods off in bizarre new theory. Here's the video. (via Fark)
The political implications of Hiroshima’s scarred “maidens.” (via Damn Interesting)
What Does a Nuclear Bomb Explosion Feel Like?
There have been more than 2,000 nuclear bomb explosions, secret tests that were witnessed by plenty of military personnel. Some of them talk about the experience. (via Motherboard)
What We Have
A novel—and, no doubt, fleeting—moment of self-awareness.
— Mrs. Betty Bowers (@mrsbettybowers.bsky.social) August 10, 2026 at 8:18 PM
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Tuesday, August 11, 2026
Men Who Do Anything But Go to Therapy
How do men deal with trauma? In every way possible that doesn't make sense. Anything to avoid facing heartbreak. Ryan George illustrates.
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