(via Bad Menu)
Friday, November 30, 2018
CIMON, the ISS Robot
The crew of the International Space Station have a new friend- a robot, delivered this past summer. CIMON is a small, 3D-printed robot that looks like a cross between Wilson the volleyball from Castaway and HAL 9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey. It moves by the action of two internal fans, and communicates by artificial intelligence.
CIMON, short for Crew Interactive MObile companioN, is the first interactive flight companion to take part in an ISS mission. The $6 million, basketball-sized robot was built by Airbus under a contract awarded by the German Aerospace Center (DLR). The purpose of the project is to see if an artificially intelligent bot can improve crew efficiency and morale during longer missions, including a possible mission to Mars.In this video from the European Space Agency, CIMON shows off its stuff to German astronaut Alexander Gerst, but around the four minute mark, it starts acting like a stubborn toddler. Well, he is pretty young. (via Gizmodo)
Maru and Hana and Autumn Leaves
Maru loves being outside, but he acts as if those colorful leaves are some kind of litter he doesn't really want to step on. Hana? She doesn't care; she'll crunch right through them. Oh look! The cats have their own tree house! Of course they do.
Basic Research
When the practical applications are unveiled, the value of basic research can be championed or rebuffed, depending on who benefits. This comic is from Zach Weinersmith at Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal. See additional punch lines in the hover text and by pushing the red button at the website.
Thomas the Train Stunts
It's been a few years since we saw the first Thomas the Train stunt video, and finally here's a sequel that will mesmerize you. (via reddit)
Miss Cellania's Links
The Trump Organization Planned To Give Vladimir Putin The $50 Million Penthouse In Trump Tower Moscow.
The cat lady's Christmas tree. (via reddit)
Photographer Simon Dell noticed a family of mice in his back yard. Instead of setting traps, he built them an entire village.
Fox News Isn't A Normal Media Company. We Have To Stop Treating It Like One.
Spiders Produce Milk to Feed Their Young. Meet Toxeus magnus, a jumping spider that mimics the appearance of an ant, and who display a suspiciously mammalian method of raising spiderlings. (via Metafilter)
50 Hilarious Photos That Everyone Needs To See Before Having Kids. If you still want to have children afterward, you're ready.
During WWII, Polish Refugees Found a Home in India.
Trump’s Washington Post interview shows a presidency that’s beyond satire.
Story Plots Diagrammed as Subway Maps. You can buy them from Jake Berman of Fifty Three Studio.
A blast from the past (2014): Making Snow with Hot Water and Other Frozen Phenomena.
Massachusetts
Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!! is the Japanese TV show with a recurring segment in which participants are punished for laughing. Then they are placed in situations where everyone laughs. In this case, they lost it over trying to pronounce Massachusetts. (via reddit)
Thursday, November 29, 2018
Lion Attacked by Pack of Hyenas
Lions are bigger and more powerful than hyenas, but there is strength in numbers. In this outtake from The Lion King (actually a clip from Dynasties from BBC Earth), a lion is caught out on his own and is surrounded by a pack of hyenas. Not only are they circling him, but they are laughing at him. If there were dialogue, it would be provided by Jeremy Irons and Whoopie Goldberg. (via Digg)
Bohemian Chanukah
The Jewish a cappella group Six13 has released the video for their 2018 Chanukah anthem. It's a holiday parody of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" that retells the story of the Maccabean Revolt and details some traditional Chanukah customs. Chanukah (or Hanukkah) begins on December 2 and runs through December 10 this year. (via Boing Boing)
Meanwhile on Mars
Imagine a planet populated entirely by robots. Then imagine a new robot falls from the sky- an alien! But this is no imaginary planet; it's Mars. The newest exploration robot, named InSight, landed on Monday. Curiosity, as well as Spirit and Opportunity and the other Martian robots are naturally be happy to see a new friend, but this one wasn't even built to roam, just dig. Looks like they'll just have to drag him around themselves! This comic is from CommitStrip.
Crib Escaping Twins
It's bad enough when your toddler learns to climb out of the crib, but it's even worse when she learns to free her sister! Not only that, she can manipulate the drop side to hide the evidence. Jen Davis, the first escapee, posted this video of her and her twin when they were 22 months old, back in 1989. (via reddit)
Tweet of the Day
My grandma is in Mexico taking shots with random girls on the beach and posting pics of it with captions like they're bff's.. pic.twitter.com/SA47BMUsX3— payt (@paytongrett) March 9, 2017
(via Buzzfeed)
Wednesday, November 28, 2018
Baklava
A chef makes a horrendous mistake. Short, sweet, and if you don't get it, check out a couple of definitions that will make it all clear. (via Digg)
Whoa
This brings up a strange perspective. Think of all the technological innovations in the early half of the 20th century. Then think of the many innovations in your own lifetime. They come up so gradually that you don't even realize how far we've come (barring space travel, which seems to be an exception). In 1961 we didn't have home computers, and now we have iPhones and Netflix. The Pill was brand new. Most cars didn't even have seat belts, much less crumple zones- because we didn't have interstate highways, either. People living between the Wright Brothers and NASA probably didn't think about how historic their technological innovations were over time, either. This moment of truth is brought to you by Randall Munroe of xkcd.
Morning Routine
Zack Collie is paralyzed in most of his body. Here he shares his morning routine as he gets ready for whatever the day brings. It's eye-opening, and his mother deserves all the respect in the world. She loves him so much. (via reddit)
Miss Cellania's Links
People Getting Stabbed In Medieval Art Who Just Don’t Give a Damn. (via Metafilter)
Finding a Formula for the Funniest Words in English. (Thanks, WTM!)
America Is Poorer Than It Thinks. They way we measure who's poor needs to be updated for modern conditions.
How Long Does It Take to Pass a LEGO Piece? Six pediatricians swallowed minifig heads to find out. (via Gizmodo)
Moth dad discovers the imperial system of measurement, and is livid. How many Fahrenheits are in a cup? (via Metafilter)
That's a Lot of Bull. (via Buzzfeed)
What You Do to Survive.
A blast from the past (2013): 11 Functional Homemade TARDISes.
An Honest Trailer for Elf
The Will Ferrell movie Elf came out in 2003, although it seems like just yesterday, yet it has become a Christmas classic. So of course, Screen Junkies has to make an Honest Trailer and ruin the magic for all of us. Strangely that doesn't quite happen, because as dumb as the movie is, people love it. (via Tastefully Offensive)
Tweet of the Day
"Are you okay Mom?" <- oh man dogs are too pure pic.twitter.com/JzGu5BfScU— Fluff Society (@FluffSociety) November 23, 2018
(via Everlasting Blort)
Tuesday, November 27, 2018
How to NOT Do Thanksgiving
If you had a pleasant Thanksgiving feast or none at all, you might wonder what the classic dysfunctional family holiday dinner is like in real life. Lauren Lorenzo of eLL cartoons knew you would ask, so she recorded the audio of her family's Thanksgiving dinner and animated it for our pleasure. Spoilers: little brother isn't thankful, Dad opens a can of worms with an enigmatic statement, and Grandma drinks too much. (via Laughing Squid)
The Aunt
This is the reason my niece and nephew couldn't come and stay with us for more than a couple hours at a time when they were children. I didn't know until after the fact, but their mom is quite a bit more strict and protective than I was. Still, their kids and my kids all turned out to be pretty good adults. This is the latest from Chris at Lunarbaboon.
Pumpkin Spice
Gothgrrl took her Mini to get an oil change while she was home for Thanksgiving. This is the place she chose to give her business to.
Cat Does Sit Ups
This cat is taking a break underneath a car to do his daily workout routine, starting with sit ups. At least that's what it appears to be, although I suspect that the cat is cleaning his chest. Doesn't matter; we take inspiration where we can get it. (via Buzzfeed)
Miss Cellania's Links
The Curious Case of Harriet Moore, Alias John Murphy. (via Strange Company)
The exact plan failed, yet the desired end was achieved anyway.
You May Be Cool but You’ll never be Cordell Jackson Cool.
The Witch Capital of Norway. Vardø is dark and cold, and has a history of witch executions. (via Metafilter)
You've seen them in the movies- big, strong debt collectors who won't take "no" for an answer. Ozy heard from a guy who once worked for a shady New York outfit that fronted money to gamblers, which meant collecting could be difficult.
It's a Dance Party! Push all the buttons for more fun. (via Everlasting Blort)
The Bacteria Lurking in American Shower Heads.
The ‘feel-good’ horror of late-stage capitalism. Those inspirational stories you pass around hide the fact that civilized countries don't let people fall into such trouble in the first place. (via Metafilter)
Corpses in the Pig Pen: The Tale of Indiana's Most Notorious Serial Killer.
A blast from the past (2013): Ten Neat Things to Do With Apples.
Here's a reminder that all my posts at Neatorama must have five upvotes before they are published on the front page. That would go faster if you would go to the upcoming queue and vote for them! You'll also get points good toward t-shirt discounts.
The Day Barney Got Wrecked
I must have been really busy during the fall of '97, since I don't recall even hearing about the carnage at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. High winds destroyed the balloon in the shape of every toddler's favorite dinosaur Barney. Read more of an explanation at Boing Boing.
Tweet of the Day
MUST SEE: This is extraordinary. A tunnel inserted beneath a motorway in 48 hours in Holland, seen here in fast time lapse video. Drainage work on my nearest main road have been ongoing for 4 months...🤔 pic.twitter.com/Sh2GdVBOOR— Mark Lane 🇬🇧 (@marklanebiz) November 20, 2018
(via Everlasting Blort)
Monday, November 26, 2018
Swiss Mishap
While visiting Interlaken, Switzerland, Gursk3 decided to try hang gliding the safe way- by going on a tandem ride with a pro. Easy, right? Until he's in the air and realizes that his harness was never connected to the glider! All he can do is hang, with both hands, for his life. For more than two minutes. The pro cannot help him and guide the glider at the same time. Gursk3 survived to post the video, but he was not unscathed. Surprisingly, he kept his sense of humor long enough to produce the video. We don't know what happened to the pro afterward, but we would like to think he is unemployed. (via Digg)
What is Federal Land?
You've heard of federal land, but who controls it, how does it differ from state or private land, and how did it become that way? Even if you've never wondered about it, when CGP Grey tackles a subject, you know it's going to be interesting, and that you'll learn more than you bargained for.
Life is Short
The great wisdom of the ages is surprisingly contradictory. This comic is from Go Borgo. (via Geeks Are Sexy)
Robot Attack
Boys will be boys, even in the robot apocalypse.Brian Vowles had two sons and an iPhone, so he made a movie, a short film, about two young warriors who fall into a trap set by a robot programmed to destroy the human race. You can read about the project here, including a running video diary of the 4.5-year-long struggle to get Robot Attack finished. (Thanks, WTM!)
Miss Cellania's Links
The Story Behind That IKEA Photo of Amsterdam. (via Metafilter)
One Day in Donald Trump's Army.
Meet the Fatbergs. Monster blobs lurk in the sewers beneath us, silently growing until the wreak havoc on the civilized world.
A cat illustrating the concept of frustration.
Giant Mammal Relative Roamed Among Dinosaurs. Meet Lisowicia bojani, a newly-discovered dicynodont that lived 237 million years ago, in the Triassic period, when dinosaurs first rose to dominance.
The World Ploughing Championships. (via Metafilter)
Ranking Over-the-Counter Stomach Medicines.
6 Explosive Fart Controversies.
The War Over a Patented Avocado. The Carla has spawned a lawsuit by the company Aiosa, who owns the first Carla tree and patented the fruit, against the distributor Fresh Directions International for selling Carla clones.
A blast from the past (2013): 16 404 Pages That Are Worth the Error.
Christmas Cookies for Singles
If you're feeling particularly bitter this Christmas due to the recent collapse of a promising relationship, how do you celebrate? Make cookies! Jolly Christmas cookies to mask the smell of desperation and loneliness, flavored with the bitterness of your tears and a generous splash of resentment. But that's okay, right, 'cause you're over it, right? Contains some badly-censored NSFW language. After you watch this, and bake your cookies, you'll probably want to see more videos from Smoothiefreak. (via Metafilter)
Tweet of the Day
This drawing from a Heimlich Manoeuvre how-to contains more complex emotion than nearly every novel pic.twitter.com/jHWWjLpvE0— Chris Currie (@furioushorses) November 23, 2018
(via Nag on the Lake)
Sunday, November 25, 2018
Just Another Day in Vegas
A man from Liverpool went to Las Vegas and got way too drunk, or so he says, although from his behavior he seems to be tripping. The police found him in a parking lot. The police were nice to him, which was a surprise because he's apparently heard of American cops. (via reddit)
Guard Cat Repels Invader
A security camera was trained on the cat door of this home, so you can assume that funny things had been happening, and the family was trying to figure it out. Maybe this raccoon had attempted burglary here before! In this instance, Fluffy sprang into action to defend her territory. "Territory" is what cats call their food dish. (via Geekologie)
Art Center Christmas Tree
The art center in the town redditor strangeloop527 lives put up their Christmas tree. This is a genius statement designed to provoke thought and conversation on the state of modern art, the ephemera of art, and the futility of spending large amounts of money on art. If you looked at this and said, "I don't get it," then you'll want to revisit the biggest art story of 2018. Now it all makes sense, with a Christmas theme. (via reddit)
Tweet of the Day
Insurance groups are recommending GoFundMe as official policy - where customers can die if they can’t raise the goal in time - but sure, single payer healthcare is unreasonable.— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) November 24, 2018
h/t @DanRiffle pic.twitter.com/zetPW0MgDd
(via Splinter)
Saturday, November 24, 2018
J-Setting at Jackson State University
The dance group that inspired Beyoncé is a college drill team. The legendary Jackson State J-Settes are known nationwide for they innovative moves, and their members change every year, or even every week, completely turning over every five or so years. Their unique style is called J-Setting. (via Digg)
The Rockettes Kick Their Legs
The Radio City Music Hall Christmas Show is a tradition, and the Rockettes do up to four shows a day for holidays visitors to the city. A few years ago, the Wall Street Journal asked them how they do it.
Tweet of the Day
My husband and I called my sweet, 85-year-old grandma to tell her I got a new job.— Mommy Owl (@Lhlodder) November 12, 2018
She congratulated us, talked for a bit, and then hung up.
Later she called me to say I should open a secret bank account and never tell my husband about it.
My grandma is fierce.
(via Buzzfeed)
Friday, November 23, 2018
The Lion King Official Teaser
Disney is preparing a new remake of The Lion King, set for release in July of 2019. Some are calling it the "live action Lion King," but that's not what it is, since it is all animated. It's just animated very realistically. What's truly impressive is the list of voice talent attached to the project. Here's a first look, and below you'll see a side-by-side comparison with the 1994 movie.
(via Tastefully Offensive)
Forklift Driver Destroys Warehouse
One wrong move by the hapless forklift driver and the whole house of cards falls in. I swear, this looks like nothing so much as a complicated domino fall. Whoever designed this rickety setup is much more at fault than the forklift guy. (via Boing Boing)
Thursday, November 22, 2018
A True Story
You might recognize the story. This is the news clip from that heinous small town crime committed on Thanksgiving Day 1965. (via Marilyn Bellamy)
Lions vs. Honey Badgers
Who would you bet on in an encounter between lions and honey badgers? Honey badgers don't care how big and ferocious lions are. The lions, in turn, are telling themselves that this little bundle of sass isn't worth the trouble. Can you blame them? (via Digg)
Thankfulness 1951
This family cannot afford a turkey for Thanksgiving. From a modern point of view, you'd think Mom would be under pressure to get a job so the family can have some meat at least once a year. But the point of the film is that we always have something to be thankful for. (via Laughing Squid)
Scary Rooms
Happy Thanksgiving! Have fun spending time with your family. This comic is from Optipess. (via Geeks Are Sexy)
How to Cook a Frozen Turkey in Just 90 Minutes
Tom Nardone has some extreme ideas about Thanksgiving food. I wouldn't recommend trying to cook a frozen turkey, but I will recommend watching the video. Oh, and the pumpkin pie looks good. (via reddit)
Addams Family Thanksgiving
The worst Thanksgiving play ever takes a turn for excitement when Wednesday adds some reality.
Thanksgiving Jokes
Because they use such FOWL language!
What kind of key can’t open any doors?
A turkey.
What always comes at the end of Thanksgiving?
The G
Which side of the turkey has the most feathers?
The outside
Why did the turkey cross the road?
It was the chicken's day off
What are the feathers on a turkey's wings called?
Turkey feathers
What's the best dance to do on Thanksgiving?
The turkey trot
Can a turkey jump higher than the Empire State Building?
Yes - a building can't jump at all
What do you get when you cross a turkey with an octopus?
Enough drumsticks for Thanksgiving
How can you make a turkey float?
You need 2 scoops of ice cream, some root beer, and a turkey
(via Julie D at Happy Catholic)
