(via Fark)
Friday, March 27, 2026
Mick Jagger at 15
He was referred to as "Michael" during this demonstration of proper footwear. It was his first TV appearance. (via Buzzfeed)
Thursday, March 26, 2026
Thanks, Obama
The only president we've ever had who is younger than me goes one on one with 24-year-old Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards. There's some trash talking but a lot of fun. They are supposed to play again at the opening of Obama's presidential library, which is much more than a library, and is called the Obama Presidential Center. (via Metafilter)
Samoan Wedding Dance
A Samoan bride, her mother, and her sister perform a traditional dance at the wedding reception as the crowd goes wild. The bride keeps her beautiful beaming smile throughout, and her head straight to keep the headdress intact. Those who know inform us that people joining in is a tradition that emphasizes the talent and synchronicity of the dancers by contrasting it with their not-so-smooth moves. The napkin-waving symbolizes a blessing to the newlyweds. A joyous occasion, indeed.
Sign of Spring
A pair of mourning doves are building a nest on the ledge outside my transom window on the second door leading to the porch. It's the perfect place for them, high up and out of the rain, and I never use that door anyway. I'm glad I have a window to keep an eye on them, because it's a reminder that nature continues the best it can.
Digging a Deep Hole
The latest question in the What If series concerns digging a deep hole in the ground. Our parents told us if we dug deep enough, we would come out on the other side of the earth in China. However, if you started in the United States and dug straight down, you'd end up in the Indian Ocean, west of Australia. Be that as it may, you can't dig through the earth's core, because it's too hot. And it gets too hot way long before you get near the core.
But in this scenario, heat isn't the only factor working against you. Randall Munroe also explains the difficulty of trying to dig such a hole. That doesn't mean that people haven't tried it. You might recall this somewhat disturbing video of the deepest holes humans have dug.
Miss Cellania's Links
Popular Lore Claims That William Howard Taft Got Stuck in a Bathtub. New Research Sheds Light on the Legend’s Forgotten Origins.
Nobody wants to work anymore.
Two Places, One Story: Mickey Mantle’s House and the Toxic Town Nearby. An Atlas Obscura map led to a joyful stop at Mickey Mantle’s childhood home, and a haunting visit to the abandoned mining town just up the road.
A recent ruling in a federal court in Boston has slowed RFK Jr.’s anti-vaccine agenda. But the news isn't all good.
The Dumbest Star Wars Trope Is Also Somehow The Most Scientifically Accurate. Missing planets? That literally happens all the time.
10 Best Discontinued Taco Bell Items That Were Iconic On the Menu.
Afroman's defamation victory is a win for Americans who cherish the right to cuck the police in song. (via Everlasting Blort)
A Blast from the Past (2014): French Fries Around the World.
Simon's Cat in The Tree
Simon's Cat is stuck way up in a tree and is afraid to come down! So, like any good cat owner, Simon goes up to get him, but finds it's pretty scary up there. Simon Tofield says this Simon's Cat cartoon is based on a true story.
Taking in the Scenery
Some cats are just so damn cool.
— The Spirit of Lorenzo the Cat (@lorenzothecat.bsky.social) March 24, 2026 at 6:33 PM
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Wednesday, March 25, 2026
The Bell Witch Haunting
The legend of the Bell Witch is still told in Tennessee. John Bell and his family started undergoing paranormal experiences in 1817. Most of the incidents were poltergeist activity, although the word was not yet used in America at that time. The haunting went on for years. The family kept the weird phenomena to themselves for months, and when the word got out, other families reported similar events. They continued until John Bell, the patriarch of the family, died under mysterious circumstances in 1820. Bell had married his wife Lucy when she was 12 years old (he was 32). They moved to Tennessee after Bell beat a murder rap in North Carolina. The family eventually had nine children and a solid reputation in Tennessee. But the witch threatened Bell constantly, and some reports said his health was failing the entire three years of the haunting. Or was he poisoned? Dr. Emily Zarka tells the tale of the Bell Witch. How much of the story is true is a matter of conjecture. Written accounts didn't appear until decades later, and even family recollections varied over time, but the story still chills those who hear it.
Red Pandas
Now here's some entirely pleasant footage. Red pandas are not at all related to giant pandas, and the only thing they have in common is eating bamboo. Giant pandas are bears. Red pandas had the name first.
Artificial Gravity Never Fails
We've watched movies and TV shows about space travel since we were little kids. Most of us have also watched the miracle of real space travel, such as the many videos we have of operations on the ISS. Have you noticed the real difference between the two? In the real world, we have not achieved artificial gravity, nor have we ever tried to. But it's in every show involving space travel. That one system must require a lot of power.
Adam Schwartz took this idea and ran to its logical conclusion. When a ship's life support systems are failing, why not turn off the artificial gravity and use the enormous amount of power it's consuming? One might think that it's built like some modern electronics, without an off switch. (via Geeks Are Sexy)
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