(via Bad Newspaper)
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Eat a Sandwich
Good idea, don't mind if I do. This is a new song from Parry Gripp, as if you couldn't tell.
Every State in the US
When you see a list of trivia about the states, you are sure to hear about the most famous facts; you know, the ones you've heard so many times. Wendover productions has some facts about all the 50 states, but these are not the facts you've heard before. The geographic oddities in this video are mind-boggling. El Paso is closer to Los Angeles than it is to Houston. Maine is the closest state to Africa. Mind blown. (via Tastefully Offensive)
R.I.P. Arbroath
The anonymous British blogger who only went by Kev quit his daily posting on November 24 due to poor health. He was eventually hospitalized and diagnosed with cancer. His many readers and fans wanted to help in some way, but Kev always guarded his privacy, and was too proud to accept help. He never revealed where he lived, or even his last name. His last post was on January 16. About a week ago his cousin in Canada left a comment that Kev had passed away.
The funeral notice for Kevin Norman Gray has now been posted. We will miss him.
Seth Myers on Trump's Travel Ban
Myers didn't have the example of the 5-year-old American citizen who was detained for four hours while his mother waited for his arrival. American citizen. Five years old.
One thing that I noticed yesterday as the newspeople on TV talked with Trump supporters is how absolutely terrified they are of refugees, or any foreigners. No wonder they feel the need for guns, they're just plain afraid. So the terrorist have already won. How can one go through life so fearful of anyone that's unfamiliar? Yeah, Trump fueled that fear as much as he could to get elected, but that doesn't make it real (quite the opposite).
Refugees are coming from dangerous countries. You know what? That's why they are coming -to get away from the danger!
What the Bible says about refugees.
And then there's this.
Miss Cellania's Links
Yassin Terou left Syria and settled into Knoxville, Tennessee without knowing anyone. Now he is friends with everyone. (via Metafilter)
Trump Advisor Stephen Miller, The Architect Of The Muslim Ban, Has Ties To White Supremacists And Neo-Nazis. Steve Bannon isn't the only one infesting the executive branch.
How Author Timothy Tyson Found the Woman at the Center of the Emmett Till Case. (via Metafilter)
Improbable Research was surprised to read that Donald Trump won an Ig Nobel Prize. That's one of those "alternative facts" we hear so much of lately.
The Anime Snowmen of Japan. (via Everlasting Blort)
Libertas Shrugs. An open letter from Zach Weinersmith.
Funny or Die's Guide To Who You Are Supposed To Tip And How Much. Obviously gleaned from personal experiences.
“Thirteen” going on “30 Something”: Growing up according to pop music. There's a song for every age of the music-buying public.
Is it really OK to never get your period? If you're pregnant, that's expected, but skipping period with birth control pills will cause doctors to look at you funny.
Selfies
the selfie you send to bae vs. the selfie you send to your bestie pic.twitter.com/idB2eFrYOY— Students Problems (@AwesomityFun) September 1, 2016
(via Buzzfeed)
Behold the Shimmering Beauty of Iran's Glass Mosque
Imagine stained glass magnified by a disco mirror ball, and that's only the beginning of what you can expect from Shah Cheragh, the mosque that means "King of the Light." The walls and ceilings are covered with glass and mirror tiles that shimmer and shine as you walk by. The mosque was built as a mausoleum in Shiraz, Iran, and was later fitted with an interior designed to magnify any light passing through. (via Atlas Obscura)
Playing with Food
I have an ongoing project to make posts for mental_floss articles I wrote way back when that I do not have an archive for. Here's another one: a list of some of the best food artists and how they make food look like something else.
Monday, January 30, 2017
11 Unusual Footraces
Putting a different spin on a footrace is a great way to grab publicity, draw runners and spectators, and have a lot of fun. Those things are particularly important when a race is a charity fundraiser. Read about are a few races that go the extra mile, so to speak, to stand out, in a list I posted at mental_floss.
Tweets of the Day
.@SeanSpicer's role in the Trump administration will be to provide the American public with robust and clearly articulated misinformation. pic.twitter.com/IlRkZPbDZl— The Onion (@TheOnion) January 29, 2017
You nailed it. Period! https://t.co/AUmS1C222b— Sean Spicer (@seanspicer) January 29, 2017
Maybe Spicer didn't read it closely enough. (via Uproxx)
Smells Like Teen Spirit
Rockin' 1000 (previously) performs Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" at Orogel Stadium in Cesena, Italy. (via Tastefully Offensive)
Miss Cellania's Links
How Steve Bannon Took Charge Of The Trump Administration.
How U.S. Senators have responded the the Muslim Ban.
The Secret History of the First Cat in Space.
7 Strange Mysteries of World War One.
Humans Almost Drove These 6 Animals To Extinction. But We Saved Them Instead.
56 Video Game Movies Currently in Development. Not all of them will make it to the screen.
The Priest Turned Media Mogul Who Stirred Up a Populist Frenzy. Father Charles Coughlin harnessed the power of radio for his pro-fascist views.
Do Big Cats Freak Out Over Laser Pointers Like House Cats? It depends on how big they are.
19 Snapchats That Are Too Wholesome To Be True. They're still amusing, or even downright funny.
Know Your Citrus. You might even want to try a new kind.
Sunday, January 29, 2017
Tap Dancing Stormtrooper Toy
Darth Vader leads his minions in a little soft-shoe to the tune of the Imperial March. This toy from Japan is called the Star Wars Space Opera “Pop’n Step” Toys. At the touch of a button, you can put the stresses of the real world aside and watch the villains from a galaxy far, far away dance while you laugh. There are other characters and configurations available. They apparently sync up when you snap them together.
I wanted these for about five minutes, then I realized it was much easier to just watch them on YouTube. (via Geeks Are Sexy)
Easy Rider 2017
Joel and Ethan Coen directed a Super Bowl ad that's being touted as a sequel to the 1969 movie Easy Rider. The bikers are a bit older… actually, they're a lot older, but some things never change, like the Steppenwolf song. Yep, definitely a sequel, as we find out what became of Peter Fonda 48 years later. Looks like he did well. Let's see: Coen Brothers, Peter Fonda, Super Bowl. Can you imagine how much this ad cost? Eh, Mercedes can afford it. (via Tastefully Offensive)
Miss Cellania's Links
This is a special political edition, due to the circumstances of the last couple of days.
Countries Listed On Trump's Refugee Ban Don't Include Those He Has Business With.
Here Are The Brave Soldiers Trump Just Banned From America.
Oscar nominee Asghar Farhadi won't be able to attend the Academy Awards ceremony because of the ban.
Those who hold green cards and valid visas and were out of the country this weekend can't get back in to the U.S. Some are missing school or work. Some can't return to their families here.
A 5-year-old American boy was detained temporarily because he was traveling home from Iran.
Other Americans and their non-American parents are affected.
Many people who hold dual citizenship are also banned from entering the U.S.
It's affecting people who just need to travel through the U.S.
Here are pictures from the immediate protests at airports around the country.
You need to read the replies to this Tweet -just click on the date stamp. So far, he's donating over $3,000.
Where Do Terrorists Come From? Source: The Cato Institute.
Countries Listed On Trump's Refugee Ban Don't Include Those He Has Business With.
Here Are The Brave Soldiers Trump Just Banned From America.
Oscar nominee Asghar Farhadi won't be able to attend the Academy Awards ceremony because of the ban.
Those who hold green cards and valid visas and were out of the country this weekend can't get back in to the U.S. Some are missing school or work. Some can't return to their families here.
A 5-year-old American boy was detained temporarily because he was traveling home from Iran.
Other Americans and their non-American parents are affected.
Many people who hold dual citizenship are also banned from entering the U.S.
It's affecting people who just need to travel through the U.S.
Here are pictures from the immediate protests at airports around the country.
For every reply to this tweet with a hand-drawn message of support for immigrants, Muslims, and/or refugees, I will donate $5 to the ACLU.— Hank Green (@hankgreen) January 28, 2017
You need to read the replies to this Tweet -just click on the date stamp. So far, he's donating over $3,000.
Swans Swim Through Ice
There's a thin layer of ice on top of the pond at Bradgate Park, in Glenfield, UK. But swans gotta swim, for some reason. This swan family follows dad single file as he breaks through the ice, bit by bit. You may think it's more trouble than it's worth, but you are not a swan. It must be important to them. (via Tastefully Offensive)
Tweet of the Day
We will not allow a Muslim ban in the United States of America. Here's what I said at Logan Airport tonight. #NoBanNoWall pic.twitter.com/XqeS9Iy14e— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) January 29, 2017
Senator Elizabeth Warren speaking at Boston Logan Airport just a few hours ago, protesting the travel ban our current administration has imposed on certain immigrants, refugees, and even visitors with valid visas.
Saturday, January 28, 2017
Circular Slip 'n' Slide
Thursday was Australia Day, and as always, there were plenty of summertime fun celebrations. In Canberra, this epic circular slip 'n' slide makes us all wish we lived Down Under. Jake River Henderson Fraser caught this video.
Redditor owenob1 tells us more about the contraption.
I WAS AT THIS EVENT!Meanwhile, those of us in the Northern Hemisphere can stay inside in our winter pajamas and dream of such fun. (via reddit)
EDIT: Phil the creator will be on Today Show, Sunday morning.
Some information:
This is an annual event with a new machine each year. I'm told this is the 4-5th year.
It took about 7 days to design and engineer (and built).
This was made from scratch and not actually a Hills Hoist.
The entire centre pipe is pumped full of water to provide to the hoses.
The rig has 3 speeds, this is number 1... the others were deemed too unsafe.
There is an operator who sits and awaits a thumbs up.
Ordinary dishwashing liquid is used of the black sheeting.
When you fall off it hurts - ALOT.
Tweet of the Day
Damn spoilers. pic.twitter.com/cLIMEQUK0r— Outstar (@outstarwalker) January 25, 2017
The second film of the new Star Wars trilogy got a name this past week. The extrapolations have begun. (via Metafilter)
How the Blind Cook
Christine Ha was the winner of the cooking competition show MasterChef season 3. She is also blind. Ha and her husband John now co-host the Canadian cooking show Four Senses. Here, she shows us by GoPro how she maneuvers around the kitchen by memory and feel. You can follow Christine at her personal website or her cooking blog, The Blind Cook. (via Nag on the Lake)
The Woman's March on Washington, Barrow, Alaska Edition
People all over the world participated in the Women's March on Washington, and not just in the U.S. Maybe you've seen the pictures. The residents of Utqiagvik, Alaska (formerly Barrow) were not going to be left out, even though the temperature was -16F. Kirsten Alburg was there to capture some video of the world's northernmost protest march from January 21, 2017. (via Everlasting Blort)
Friday, January 27, 2017
Rogue One as 8-bit Cinema
Those who care at all about Star Wars should have seen the movie Rogue One already, but in case you haven't, this video contains some spoilers. It's Cinefix's 8-Bit Cinema remake that turns the movie into an old-style video game. And you don't even have to control it! This is cute, but I must say that it's no substitute for seeing the film in its entirety. (via Geeks Are Sexy)
David Bowie's First TV Appearance
In 1964, David Bowie (then David Jones) was the 17-year-older leader of the band The Manish Boys. To gain publicity, his father came up with a stunt. They concocted an organization called the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired Men. That garnered the band an appearance on the BBC show Tonight. Here is that show from November 1964. It's good to see Bowie as an everyday longhaired British teenager. If the host had known where young David's career would take him, he would have been even more scandalized. (via Boing Boing)
A Peculiar Breakfast
She left behind 14 children, 30 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, five great-great-grandchildren and a 40 foot hole where the crematorium used to be.
Shrek Movie References
The Shrek movies tickled our fancies for a lot of reasons, but one was the many callbacks to other famous films. The Dreamsworks production referenced all the top Disney films, and slipped in scenes that reminded us of classic non-animated films, too. Possibly more of them than you realized. In this video, Bora Barroso collected as many of these references as he could and show them to us side-by-side. There's a list of them at the vimeo page. (via TVOM)
Miss Cellania's Links
Adrenaline Tattoo in Vancouver has the best marquee messages.
The Science and Security Board of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists have released their 2017 Doomsday Clock Statement. Read the full statement here. (via Metafilter)
The Countries with the Most Volcanoes, and an interactive map. (via the Presurfer)
The Cutest Twitter War Ever.
15 Awfully Big Facts About The Mary Tyler Moore Show.
How The Spiders From Mars embraced fashion during Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust era.
After World War II, between 30,000 and 50,000 American GIs married Japanese women. To prepare these brides for life in the US, the American Red Cross opened "bride schools" to teach them what they would need to know to fit in as an American housewife.
Beauty Gets a Makeover.
Pumpin' the Blues
Swedish bluesman Bottleneck John performs “Preaching the Blues” using a water pump as the rhythm section.
The waterpump blues duo - Live by the lakeside!!(via Laughing Squid)
Water splashing and rhythm swinging - I dig it, folks. This pump is simply awesome, so I HAD to go back and jam some more with it! Here's another clip featuring my National Duolian and this old, very old invention called a hydraulic ram pump!! It's just freakin' cool how steady and laidback it can provide this groovy beat!!!!! The lyrics are from Son House's song: Preaching the blues.
Thursday, January 26, 2017
The Netherlands Welcomes Trump in His Own Words
Our current president has made it clear that he's an isolationist, so Netherlands has taken the bull by the horns and made a video to reach out to the current administration. And they designed it specifically to appeal to you-know-who.
Of course, it's comedy. The Netherlands real-life response to our current administration is better told here. (Thanks, gwdMaine!)
Tweet of the Day
There are no words.— Dick Van Dyke (@iammrvandy) January 26, 2017
She was THE BEST!
We always said that we changed each other's lives for the better.
I... https://t.co/Xm8OBbQQ8j
Dick Van Dyke talked to The Hollywood Reporter about Mary Tyler Moore. (via Uproxx)
Miss Cellania's Links
How much would you pay for your right to protest?
The Death Star and the Final Trench Run. It didn't happen the way you think it did. (via Metafilter)
From Hospital Gowns to Paper Couture: The Unlikely Origins of '60s Disposable Dresses. Don't miss the gallery of groovy dresses at the end.
In 1915, a small band of warriors from a remote part of Georgia clad in medieval armor rode into the capital of Tiflis, reporting for military duty, stating: "We hear there's a war." (via reddit)
There used to be 4 billion American chestnut trees, but they all disappeared.
The Magic Flute Told in Cat GIFs. (via Metafilter)
Next: A march on Washington to support science. Get updates here.
Useless Salad Machine
The Useless Duck Company has developed a machine that will toss your salad. Considering that the tossing is the easiest part of making a salad, this is truly a useless machine. But when you have a new 3D printer, you look for things to make. You'll have to admit that watching this thing work is more fun that making a salad. Still, I don't think they'll be overwhelmed with orders. (via Geeks Are Sexy)
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
Ice Carousel
Janne Käpylehto took a chainsaw to a frozen lake in southern Finland and carved out his own ice carousel! He cut a near-perfect 40-foot circle, and then used a solar-powered outboard boat motor to power the spinning circle of ice. The ice must be pretty thick and heavy to stay level with a shelter, fire, and several people all on one side, although you can see it dip slightly as they jump across the circle. Käpylehto plans on building a bigger one next.
I’ve been planning to build an ice carousel for some time, but managed to do it in Lohja just now. I shot a video with aerial views and its gone viral. Total views more than 5 million. Next one will be a 50-meter giant with sauna, PV plant, electric outboard motors, stage and band.(Thanks, wordord!)
A Bad Lip Reading of Donald Trump's Inauguration
I have been avoiding posting anything about the inauguration, but this is funny. Bad Lip Reading took footage from the ceremonies and other events around it and took their best guess at what was said. Some of it is their normal nonsense, but some makes plenty of sense, particularly the back-and-forth between Obama and the new administration, even though it's probably not what was said. (via Uproxx)
7 Fun Cold Weather Activities Beyond Snowmen
When the mercury drops down below freezing, you might be tempted to stay inside, but what's the fun in that? Snow, ice, and freezing temperatures may be hard on your heating bill, but there are plenty of fun things to do outside, as explained in this list I posted at mental_floss. Just make sure to dress warmly, beware of walking on slippery ice, and take breaks to warm up inside.
Playing on Thin Ice
Look, the water is completely covered in ice -wonder if it will hold my weight? Let's find out! This would be an everyday "thin ice" video if it weren't for the laughter. The woman recording can't stop laughing long enough to help her buddy out of the water, but somehow is able to continue recording. (via reddit)
Miss Cellania's Links
What Trumpcare will look like. (via Boing Boing)
The Most Insane Airplane Horror Stories from Jalopnik Readers. A compendium of travel misery.
7 True Crimes Solved By Twists Too Ridiculous For Network TV.
Puppies Rescued from Buried Hotel.
The Myth of the Damsel on the Railroad Tracks.
Russia’s parliament voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to decriminalize domestic violence.
The 12-Year-Old Who Fought In the Civil Wars.
The Golden Sahara II
Jim Street designed and built a car he called The Golden Sahara II, which we get to see on a 1962 broadcast of the TV show I've Got a Secret. I thought the front of the car was the back at first. The paint contains fish scales. The tires are glass. There's a bar in the back. You can steer it with a joystick. And the whole thing cost $75,000 in 1950s money. No wonder it didn't take off. (via the Presurfer)
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
Cats Don't Like Closed Doors
When Chris Poole and his family moved to a new house, they stored lots of things in the basement until they could get it sorted out. They did not want their cats, Cole and Marmalade, to go down there because it wasn't yet safe. When the basement was deemed safe, they were free to explore and satisfy their curiosity.
You see, cats don't necessarily want in, they don't particularly want out. What they want is for you to leave the door open so they have unlimited access if and when they ever decide they want to be on the other side. Cole and Marmalade demonstrate this cat quirk like they do all other cat quirks.
ᚼᛒ: Harald Bluetooth and Your Phone
Have you ever wondered why your Bluetooth is called that, and where that symbol came from? Me neither, even when mine stopped working this morning. But it's a fascinating story, as told here by Tom Scott. You have to admit, Bluetooth sounds better than "lower power RF," which is what it could have been. And now, because they named the system bluetooth, you know a little more about Scandinavian history. Commenters also added that in Sweden, your wireless communication is called Blåtand because that's how they spelled Harald's name. (via reddit)
Miss Cellania's Links
Pictures From Women’s Marches on Every Continent. There are more linked in the Metafilter thread.
The First Observations of Sea Ice Came From 8th-Century Irish Monks in Iceland.
What's the worst sexual advice you've ever heard? The reddit thread answering this question is definitely NSFW. (via Uproxx)
The Hidden Room Behind Mount Rushmore.
The Creepy Religion That Explains All Of Trump's Actions.
The 2017 Razzie Nominations.
27 Pictures That Prove British Drunk People Are The Best Drunk People.
20 Geek Valentine's Day Cards Your Nerdy Sweetie is Sure to Love.
Marley and Ella
You wanna see something adorable? Mom got 9-year-old Marley a kitten! Marley is very happy about it. The emotional scene was so popular that Marley gave us a follow-up, where we see that Ella the kitten has grown in size, and seems very happy with Marley. (via Laughing Squid)
Animals That Only Bite Tourists
I have an ongoing project to make posts for mental_floss articles I wrote way back when that I do not have an archive for. Here's an early one that got a lot of mileage in its day.
It's not always fun to introduce visitors to your local flora and fauna. Dealing with tourists can be a real chore. So the habit of pulling their legs a bit can be a welcome bit of fun. It goes on all over the world, so when you are traveling, be aware that there may be a bit of poking fun going on ...especially if you're told of a scary local animal to beware. Read about snipes, hodags, jackalopes, and more in this 2007 mental_floss post.
Monday, January 23, 2017
Tweet of the Day
AMAZING shot captured by @KevinMazur 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/LMyVlxxNEr— Shattered-Earth (@Shattered_Earth) January 22, 2017
(via Boing Boing)
The Dark Side Of Star-Lord You Never Hear About
For many of us, the Marvel movie Guardians of the Galaxy was the first time we encountered Star-Lord, the leader of the Guardians and an all-around relatable hero with a sense of humor. But the character has a history in Marvel Comics that you might be surprised to know. Character creator Steve Englehart had a long-term vision for Star-Lord that went by the wayside when he left the company. Then things got weird as other writers took over, and Star-Lord moved to TV, video games, and movies. Your vision of Star-Lord might be changed by this video from Looper, but you can can look at him any way you want to. After all, it's fiction! (via TVOM)
Sunday, January 22, 2017
Getting Power During a Power Outage
The electricity in your home goes out. What to do? Well, if you knew what you were doing, you could use a flashlight to find the available batteries in your home to generate juice to run your most valuable gadgets. Mehdi Sadaghdar of ElectroBOOM gives us a demonstration of why we really don't want to do what he's doing. Ever. But we appreciate the pain he goes through to warn us. (via Laughing Squid)
