Love was in the air on Valentine's Day as dozens of people got married at the City Clerk's office in New York City. Mayor Zohran Mamdani stepped in to officiate some of the nuptials. Was he there to help relieve the holiday crush, or was it just his way of celebrating love for the occasion? Either way, couples were thrilled to have their number called and see who their officiant would be. Those weddings will be talked about in those families for generations. (via Laughing Squid)
Thursday, February 26, 2026
Valentine's Day at the City Clerk's Office in NYC
The Lubbock Lights
A strange formation of lights made their way across the sky over Texas in 1951. There were multiple reports, photographs, and even radar sightings. Once the sightings hit the newspapers, other accounts rolled in until the formation was dubbed "the Lubbock Lights." Those reports came not only from drunks and cranks, but also scientists, professors, and government employees. The Air Force took those reports seriously, but no explanation was ever offered.
Remember, this was in 1951, the era of experimental weapons and aircraft, Cold War espionage, and general distrust of ...everything. Reports of "flying saucers" had been a thing for a few years already, but aliens from outer space were not always the first thing that came to observers' minds. However, aliens or birds or hoaxes were always a possibility. Still, no explanation of the lights was confirmed, and the US Air Force began Project Blue Book to investigate what's going on up there. Dr. Emily Zarka gives us the rundown on the Lubbock Lights
A Han Solo Song
Han Solo: lovable rogue, smuggler, Rebellion hero, scruffy-looking nerf-herder. He had plenty of talents, and first among those was the ability to deliver a line perfectly. He did it again and again. Put those lines together with cadence, make them rhyme somewhat, and you've got a tribute remix from Eclectic Method. Eclectic Method (Jonny Wilson) has done quite a few of these Star Wars remixes, compiled here. (via Tastefully Offensive)
Google It
Google has all the answers, but you should already have this one. This comic is from Steve Nelson at Twonks. (via reddit)
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
An Irish Horror Story
American humorists are expected to produce biting satire, point out the absurdities of life, or at least give us a few puns or pratfalls. Across the pond, sketch comedy is a bit dryer. The Irish comedy troupe Foil Arms and Hog have no real jokes in this sketch; its humor comes from the elevation of an everyday situation into a dramatic tragedy. We all know someone who does this (teenagers are good at it), but rarely is it a group thing.
Ray is a Ray of Sunshine
Ray was street cat with no eyes. Lucky for him, he lived in Turkey, where people feed street cats. After being passed around somewhat, he landed with a family who loves him, and who already had rescue cats. But Ray doesn't act like he's blind, because he has a really good inner map relying on sound, smell, and feel. The family moved to Finland, where he's now living his best life. See more of Ray and his family at Instagram.
Is Hypnosis Real?
The term hypnosis grew out of the work of Franz Mesmer in the 18th century. He promoted the theory of animal magnetism and would cure illness with magnetic fluids. His successes were later attributed to the power of suggestion, which gave us both the placebo effect and hypnosis. Hypnosis is based on the power of suggestion in humans, but was depicted in movies as a "power" to force people to do things they normally wouldn't. As such, it was relegated to the realm of bunk. The truth is that hypnosis is a technique that works (on some people), but is not that dramatic. It's more a matter of opening one's mind to new ways of thinking. (via Damn Interesting)
Miss Cellania's Links
Original Concept Designs of Beloved Disney Characters That Almost Looked Completely Different.
Michelangelo hated painting the Sistine Chapel – and never aspired to be a painter to begin with.
Kids are easy to please!
On November 04, 1965, the US military carried a special bomb to the North Vietnamese in commemoration of the 6-millionth pound of ordnance dropped. This bomb was unique because of the type..... it was a toilet! (via Bits and Pieces)
What it's like living near Meta's massive data center. (via Nag on the Lake)
The real-life version of Heated Rivalry starred two women.
Nostalgia time: 10 TV Moments That 'Broke the Internet' Before There Was an Internet.
Blood test boosts Alzheimer's diagnosis accuracy to 94.5%, clinical study shows. (via Boing Boing)
Where is Papa's Phone?
Papa can't find his phone. It rings, but it's not in his pockets. It's not in his car. When he walks away, no one can hear the ringing, so it must be on him somewhere. Can all the assembled family members help him find it? The best part of this video is his sense of humor about the whole thing. The mystery will be solved by the end of this video. (via Laughing Squid)
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Ancestors Show Up in Your Time of Need
In the original Star Wars, Obi-Wan Kenobi returns from the dead to remind Luke to trust the Force. In The Lion King, Mufasa appears in the clouds to advise Simba. Mulan had a whole group of deceased ancestors watching out for her. And if I recall correctly, something similar happened in Field of Dreams. Movies often have inspiring scenes of the lessons we learned from our forefathers coming back to save us when we really need it. But how far back can you go before the wisdom of our beloved relatives is totally useless? Don't mind the length of the video, the skit is only 3:50.
Dizzy
Dizzy was a feral cat that has become a cuddlebug. She has crossed eyes and some special needs that mean she needs daily medication. She's turned out to be quite a wonderful companion for the folks who were willing to step up for her.
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