I couldn't figure what the typo should be, so I looked it up. This is a real thing. (via Bad Newspaper)
Tuesday, May 31, 2022
The Stunt That Almost Killed Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan has been injured countless times doing his own movie, which has affected his health over the decades. Was it worth the risk? Only Chan can answer that, but that's because he's still alive. One tiny misstep in any of those movie stunts could have spelled his end.
Half of this video is an overview of Chan's rise to stardom, which is worth the price of admission in itself. Then we get a look at the closest Chan ever came to dying in a film stunt. There is also a minute-long ad in the middle. (via Digg)
Making Swedish Cheese Doodles
Swedish television host Jenny Strömstedt celebrated "Cheese Doodle Day" by making the snack live on air during the morning show Nyhetsmorgon. I think she learned cooking from the Swedish Chef on The Muppet Show. This has some subtitles, but you don't really need them. (via reddit)
How Does a Heart Transplant Work?
Just a few decades ago, heart transplants were scary, futuristic procedures that created miracles. They still are. It's just that now we have more of them and know more about them. Well, at least doctors know more about them nowadays. TO the rest of us, as heart transplant is still in the realm of magic. This TED-Ed lesson takes us through the procedures involved in a heart transplant to make it more understandable. But even when you know how it's done, it still seems like a scary futuristic miracle.
Miss Cellania's Links
Canada in a nutshell.
The Women Who Ran the Mongol Empire.
Male Mice are Scared of Bananas. For good reason. (via Damn Interesting)
Missing Tortoise Found 30 Years Later. Alive.
The Conan the Barbarian Movie That Might Have Been with Oliver Stone's Original Script. (via Digg)
Richard Scarry's 21st Century Classroom. The latest from Tom the Dancing Bug.
Pompeii Victim Gets His Genome Sequenced. Now we know why he didn't try to flee the volcanic eruption. (via Boing Boing)
Nailed It: 50 DIY Projects Gone Wrong.
Comic of the Day: Catabolism. (Thanks, WTM!)
The Ghost of Slumber Mountain
Stop-motion pioneer Willis O’Brien gave life to these dinosaurs in 1919. He later worked on the first version of King Kong. Read more about this film at Smithsonian.
Monday, May 30, 2022
Riding a Giant Mechanical Elephant
The impressive gisnt mechanical figures of Les machines de l'île are like something out of a science fiction film -by Jules Verne. These animals are both technological wonders and works of art. Now we can take a look inside heir facility in Nantes, France, where they are built and stored. And if you're ever in the neighborhood, you can ride one yourself for less than ten euros! If not, take a ride with Tom Scott on a 40-foot-tall steampunk mechanical elephant.
A Touching Bridal Surprise
José Vitor Flach and Cíntia Bonfante Pereira got married the day before Brazil imposed pandemic restrictions in 2020. Cíntia is a speech therapist who works with children who have Down syndrome. Her new husband and bridal party arranged for her students to participate in the wedding ceremony as a surprise for the bride. She is moved to tears, a real problem when you've paid so much to have your makeup just right and the celebrations are just beginning. Notice how proud the groom is of the happiness he's conjured up by this gesture. The kids are adorable, especially the two in a car. They are trying to steer while an attendant with a remote control override keeps them on track. A good time was had by all. (via reddit)
Miss Cellania's Links
A Gel That Pulls Water Out of Air. It's cheap and sustainable, too.
Hidden Ancient Settlements Found in the Bolivian Amazon.
How Supercuts are Made.
40 Times People Failed To Remember What A Simple Thing Is Called So They Came Up With The Most Hilarious New Name.
A Short Biography of Human Excrement and Its Value. (via Metafilter)
Cat Mauled by Dogs Finds a Happy Home.
When you lie on your resume but still get the job.
Around the World in 80 Days, the Modern Version.
Comic of the Day: A Quest for an Ogre. (via Geeks Are Sexy)
Tweet of the Day
(via Fark)Holy. Shit. What a brilliant, horrifying cover. pic.twitter.com/qNATj7wRvy
— Heidi Stevens (@HeidiStevens13) May 29, 2022
Sunday, May 29, 2022
Obi-Wan vs. Anakin Dance Off
That brutal final fight between Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi on Mustafar from the movie Revenge of the Sith gets the disco treatment in the hands of Auralnauts. What are they fighting about now? It's a rivalry over the affections of the visibly pregnant Padme, which might make sense until you hear the dialog (which, in my opinion, is the best part of this video). The kaleidoscopic dance sequence take a bit of the sting out of Anakin being chopped up in little little pieces and burned by lava. That doesn't usually happen when rivals decide a winner by who's got the best dance moves. Mace Windu, Yoda, and even the Emperor get into the act in this weird mashup.
How Dog Breeds React to Burglars
Dogs naturally want to protect their homes and families, but some are better at it than others. Some need only their reputation, while others have to actually make a move to scare a stranger off. And some are just plain lousy at it. Jonny Devaney acts out a range of reactions when a burglar confront these dog breeds. Choose your guard dog wisely. (via reddit)
Tweet of the Day
(Thanks, WTM!)There are still good people in the world! 🙏💕pic.twitter.com/T8bSXcjAJB
— Figen (@TheFigen) May 24, 2022
Saturday, May 28, 2022
54 Goslings Cross a Road
Mike Digout observes Canada geese. Just a cuople of days ago, he recorded video of a gaggle of geese and all their goslings crossing busy Spadina Crescent in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. It's not that easy with all these youngsters. The leader waits for the right minute when no traffic is seen, and holds his/her head high while leading the parade. Yeah, he/she could go faster, but the babies couldn't. For the goslings, the street was easy, all you have to do is follow the leader. The hardest part for them was surmounting the curb on the other side. A good time was had by all. (via Fark)
Tweet of the Day
Yes, we know these orbits are really elliptical instead of round, but isn't this illustration cool anyway? (via Everlasting Blort)Dance of Mars and Jupiter pic.twitter.com/GnlxtdwFG9
— Space_Hub (@SpaceHub_SL) May 15, 2022
Friday, May 27, 2022
Frolicking Foxes
If you need a pick-me-up today, watch a litter of playful fox kits playing with a GoPro camera. It's a weird inedible object in the forest, so it must be a toy, right? Slovakian wildlife photographer Turiecfoto had seen a foxhole in the hills of Turkey, and set the camera in a meadow to see what could be captured. We don't know how long he had to wait for this adorable footage, but it was worth it. (via Laughing Squid)
Friday Night
I can relate, sort of. The only time I wore high heels much was in high school. After that, they were only for special occasions, like Halloween. But spoiling the cat? That comes natural to me, and always has. This comic is from Pizza Cake Comics.
Andor Teaser
Several years ago, we were teased with the idea of Diego Luna returning to the Star Wars universe in his role as Cassian Andor, one of the heroes of Rogue One. Finally we see that it's a sure thing, as the series Andor is scheduled to land on Disney+ on August 31. It's a prequel to Rogue One, not only an origin story for Andor, but also about the early days of the Rebellion, when everyday people could no longer take the abuses of the Empire and decided to stand up for their rights. Luna not only stars in the series, he is the executive producer. We will also see a young Mon Mothma, played by Genevieve O'Reilly, and Forest Whitaker will appear as his Rogue One character Saw Gerrera. First announced as a 12-episode series, Andor has since been expanded to two seasons, and possibly more.
Miss Cellania's Links
Unveiling New Names for US Military Bases. Then you'll want to go to Wikipedia and read more about each of these heroes. (via Metafilter)
The Most Horrific Scene You Didn't See in The Terminator. Kyle Reese's time traveling partner was completely dropped.
10 Prehistoric Battle Sites Around the World.
The Invasive and Endangered Sea Lamprey. How can it be both? (via Real Clear Science)
Wil Wheaton tells how his mother forced him into acting. (via Metafilter)
There were more children killed in school shootings this year than on-duty law enforcement officers killed by gunfire. (via Fark)
The Rough Afterlife of Five Star Wars Filming Locations.
Smart Birds Open Doors
The Campus Bike Centre at the University of Victoria installed automatic motion-sensing doors to make it easy for cyclists to enter and exit without dismounting. It’s a better idea than just leaving an open hole, but the swallows that nest inside had to figure out a way to get in and out. The swallows, being clever birds, have done just that. Who’s a bird brain now? (via Arbroath)
Tweet of the Day
(via Everlasting Blort)Nothing like a bit of Vivaldi played by The Goede Hoop Marimba Band to bring joy to any day #WednesdayMotivation pic.twitter.com/lTeNOF5XDZ
— Alison Kriel 💙 #ubuntu #AntiRacist (@AlisonKriel) May 18, 2022
Thursday, May 26, 2022
X-Wing
In this Star Wars fan film, the New Republic, in the form of Wraith Squadron's X-wing pilots, launched an assault on the forces of the Galactic Empire over Coruscant, in a vertigo-inducing urban dogfight, displayed in one continuous shot. Casual Star Wars fans will find it exciting and well-made. hardcore fans familiar with the expanded universe will notice characters, ships, and tactics from Star Wars novels, comics, and games. Special effects like this would cost millions back when Star Wars first came about, but now a guy on a computer can do it all by himself. To be honest, he worked on it for four years. Christopher Parks tells us what software he used at the YouTube page. (via Digg)
Lexie the Driving Dog
Vireya showed me that maybe it's not so weird to blame the drunk driving on the dog. Meet Lexie, who drives a ute on an Australian sheep farm. Lexie is Jack Russell terrier who tried rounding up sheep, but had a mishap with a large ewe and was injured. Her owner Cam Zschesh said, "Now's the time I could, ya know, teach the dog to drive." So she learned to drive the ute (utility vehicle). Lexie is better protected, and still pulls her weight on the farm by driving while Cam distributes hay. Not that she weighs much at all.
Now, Lexie is too small to reach the pedals, so Cam puts the ute in low gear to get Lexie started. She merely steers, but she's pretty good at it. If she sees sheep, she'll steer toward them because despite her experience, she loves sheep. The smart little dog is proud of her contributions to the family business. Read Lexie's story at ABC. (Thanks, Vireya!)
The Magical Cut
The guy from The Action Lab cuts his hand with a plastic butter knife and manages to draw blood. Or does he? This is the magic of chemicals. He's got ferrochloride and potassium thiocyanite on each side of the knife, and they combine when he presses it against his hand. That makes the blood, and then the addition of sodium fluoride makes it all turn transparent again. You might think this is genius way to do fake blood for a movie scene, but honestly, the cost of the chemicals is probably much more than what you'd pay for professional fake blood packets. (via reddit)
Miss Cellania's Links
The Onion's home page may look a bit redundant today, but it's not. Only the dates and places have changed.
Chainsaw Does Not Deter Needy Elk.
130,000-year-old Tooth Reveals More About Denisovans. (via Strange Company)
Here's What No One Told Me About Trying To Learn English as an Adult. You find yourself swimming in a sea of unfamiliar cultural references. (via Digg)
The Con Man Who Put His Clients in Coffins.
Carlo Collodi and the Original Pinocchio.
This Is the Southern Baptist Apocalypse. The abuse investigation has uncovered more evil than even I imagined. (via Metafilter)
Nekita the Makeup Illusionist.
Thor Gets Naked in New Love and Thunder Trailer.
The People Who Built Stonehenge, and Their Poop. Their fossilized feces tells us what they ate, and it ain't all that good.
America's gun culture - in seven charts. (via Fark)
2Cellos Funny Moments
Luka Sulic and Stjepan Hauser are the Croatian duo 2Cellos. Watch them perform here. This video consists of the funniest clips from interviews and such since they hit the big time. They are always ready for a joke, which often involves their small village and its many sheep. Watch for subtitles, because this is not entirely in English.
Tweet of the Day
How was your morning commute? You may have had to dodge a few potholes, but at least you didn't have to pull over to avoid incoming artillery. (via Fark)Driving at the roads of #Donbas in eastern #Ukraine️ #UkraineRussiaWar pic.twitter.com/GpcPVIzW3l
— Aris Messinis (@ArisMessinis) May 23, 2022
Wednesday, May 25, 2022
A Different Way of Thinking
It takes a certain amount of hubris to believe that intelligent alien life forms would be anything like humans. Intelligence can evolve in ways we cannot even imagine, but we should try to. We have an example right here on earth. An octopus is intelligent, but its neurological system is very different from all the land animals we are familiar with. “It’s not about how intelligent they are, it’s about how they are intelligent.”
Now imagine this video from Lizbeth's perspective. She was abducted by an alien species, taken to a lab, studied, scanned, and experimented on, and then brought back home unharmed. Do you think any of her friends are going to believe that tale? (via Digg)
The Dog That Adopted a Deer
Ludovica the fawn was abandoned by her mother near a farm in Germany. The sisters who run the farm saved the baby deer by feeding her, but did not want her to become too dependent on humans. It was Leo, their dog, who became Ludovica's comforter, protector, and teacher. When she was older, Ludovica was granted freedom to roam, and Leo taught her how to navigate the woods. Now, Ludovica spends most of her time in the forest with other deer. But she is still Leo's best friend, and visits the farm whenever the urge strikes. You can follow Leo and Ludovica at Instagram.
Bigger Boys, Bigger Toys
The plane was being taken off to be scrapped, so the excavator operator gave it one last flight, in the manner of a six-year-old. That's kind of sweet when you think about it. Find links to more excavator fun at Metafilter.
The Fresh Prince of Phoenixville
You all know the song, you just don’t know the lyrics to this version. This guy met a girl and his whole life turned upside-down, so he made a little song about it. From campus life to a home in the country and a growing family, this is quite the clever way to announce a baby on the way! (via Geeks Are Sexy)
Tweet of the Day
(via Fark)He’s 96 and he looks more happy to go to@the gym than I do when I roll out of bed. Protect this man at all costs.
— OnStage Blog - Chris Peterson🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈 (@OnstageBlog) May 20, 2022
Tuesday, May 24, 2022
An Honest Trailer for Morbius
The film Morbius had such an intriguing premise, but the execution was dismal. A scientist/doctor conducts experiments, hoping to cure his own blood disease and in the process turns himself into a vampire. What could go wrong? According to Screen Junkies, the movie is a confusing mess because they cut so much out of it that would have explained what we are watching. What's left are action scenes highlighting special effects that aren't all that good. While the film opened well and made a profit, the audience dropped steeply after it first weekend. The critics lauded Jared Leto's performance in the title role, but conceded that the plot was a incomprehensible. Morbius has a score of 17% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Money Can't Buy Happiness
It's not a Baby Boomer thing; that's just a go-to phrase among younger folks. "Money can't buy happiness" is a phrase aimed toward people who have plenty, but always want more. Money can certainly buy happiness, as I think back on the times that I've paid off a loan or come into some cash to pay bills. We would all be happier with less stress. Money can do that for people who don't have enough. Giving away money can do that for people who have more than is good for them. (via reddit)
Baby Sloth Returned to Mother
Earlier this month, a baby brown-throated three-toed sloth was found near a beach in Costa Rica. Volunteers from the Jaguar Rescue Center found the infant and took it to a vet to be checked out. The baby was okay, so they took it back, hoping to find its mother.
The mother had already climbed halfway back up her tree when the crew arrived with the baby. The mother made her way back down, a sequence that is edited in this video because it probably took a loooong time. After we get to see the reunion, they play it again, to show how the volunteer climbed up to meet her for a sweet reunion! (via Digg)
A Toilet Gets a Royal Sendoff
Finnish madman Lauri Vuohensilta loves to destroy things in dramatic fashion. He's managed to obtain some souped-up firecrackers to blow things up like handbags and mail boxes, but the ultimate goal is to blow up the toilet from his father's workshop. Now, to be honest, it appears that the toilet was being replaced anyway, and they took it outside to give it a respectful send off after 50 years of service. We also get to meet Lauri's father, and realize that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. The elder Vuohensilta finds the detonation a success, noting that at least the toilet doesn't leak anymore. They also blow up a washing machine and a car. A good time was had by all. (via Fark)
Introducing Pac-Man
Pac-Man turned 42 years old this week. Back in the ‘80s, he was all the rage. Here is a compilation of news reports from that time that try to make sense of the game, often delivered by announcers who have no clue. (via Neatorama)
Tweet of the Day
(via Everlasting Blort)The eating behavior of some sea cucumber is definitely stunning https://t.co/DMuhAuveLQ [source of the gif, BBC's Blue Planet II: https://t.co/vB75UFI4uL] pic.twitter.com/kzxxg16gew
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) April 19, 2022
Monday, May 23, 2022
Life Smartphone
You don't need two eyes when you never look at something that's more than two feet away. The iPhone debuted in 2007. They are fully-functional miniature computers you keep in your pocket, and people came to rely on them quickly. By 2015, smartphones were an addiction for people on the move, turning them into zombies who are completely unaware of the world around them. Life Smartphone is an award-winning short film by Chinese then-student Chenglin Xie that illustrates the worst that can happen. (via Everlasting Blort)
Cat with Droopy Face
Toby may look like a grumpy old man, but his look are due to a rare genetic condition. Ehlers Danlos syndrome is a disorder of the connective tissue, and may affect many of the body's organs. Despite his odd face, Tony is a sweet cat. Toby and his buddy Quinton, who has no teeth, were rescued together and found a forever home together. Their family also includes Leo and Chino, who also have Ehlers Danlos syndrome, but don't exhibit the facial droopiness that Toby does. Their humans are very accommodating to all the cats' specials needs. You can see more of Toby and his feline family at Instagram.
Eartha Kitt at the White House
Eartha Kitt tells the story of how she got blacklisted in the US in 1967. (via Nag on the Lake)
Miss Cellania's Links
How Should We Teach American History? Complaints about how history is taught in the classroom are nothing new. (via Damn Interesting)
Voyager I May Be Showing Its Age. (via Geeks Are Sexy)
When Cake Orders Are Too Literal.
The Oldest Prosthetic Eye We Know Of. (via Strange Company)
Laws restricting lessons on racism are making it hard for teachers to discuss the massacre in Buffalo. (via Fark)
A First Glimpse at the Spirit Halloween Film. As the leaves begin to fall, it will mysteriously appear at a theater near you.
Eight methods of keeping cool before air conditioning.
Dealing with Rising Sea Levels -by Selling.
Comic of the Day: Forgiveness.
The Washington Ballet's Hardest Dance Moves
Ballet is hard. Dancers have to be strong, precise, and stylish all at the same time. You might not appreciate how difficult these moves are until you see them in slow motion, as they are shown here. Dancers from the Washington Ballet explain why the moves are difficult as you watch them. (via Neatorama)
Tweet of the Day
Russia banned 963 Americans for life. The entire list can be read here. (via Metafilter)🤣😂🤣
— *GMQ* SUSAN 🇺🇲🇺🇦🌻 (@ifudontlike2bad) March 15, 2022
(Hillary was right and she warned everyone.) pic.twitter.com/ynZnBOlBi4
Sunday, May 22, 2022
What If You Were Swallowed by a Whale?
This video starts off assuring us that we won't be swallowed by a whale. Then it goes into detail. The problem I have with the presentation is the word "swallowed." In many of the cases, a better word would be "ingested," because there's a big difference between finding yourself in a whale's mouth and finding yourself in a whale's stomach. In fact, there's only one whale that could theoretically swallow a human, but plenty that might ingest a human. Still, we can't help but imagine being eaten when we see these gigantic ocean creatures. (via Boing Boing)
Manon
Cats got the beat! Not that they care. Several very chill. Cats are the stars of this music video by the Dutch band De Jeugd Van Tegenwoordig. (via Everlasting Blort)
Kate McKinnon Takes Off
It was the last episode of Saturday Night Live for season 47, and four cast members are leaving the show. The opening skit was Kate McKinnon's goodbye, and she could barely hold back the tears as she said goodbye to earth forever. This was also the final episode for Aidy Bryant, Kyle Mooney, and Pete Davidson.
36 Unusual Units of Measurement
Measurement is important, but it would take way more brain power than I can spare to learn all these!
Tweet of the Day
(Thanks WTM!)He is such a sweet assistant! 🤗🤗pic.twitter.com/sCLmcWCPb4
— Figen (@TheFigen) May 18, 2022
Saturday, May 21, 2022
When an Exchange Student Goes to Germany
The comedy trio Foil Arms & Hog are pretty accurate, and always irreverent, at highlighting the differences between cultures. When an Irish student goes to Germany for a cultural exchange, he gets way more than he bargained for. This may smack you as stereotyping, but so many commenters, German and otherwise, lauded its accuracy. (via reddit)
Critically Endangered Amur Leopards Born in St. Louis
The St. Louis Zoo has announced that two Amur leopards were born in April. The Amur leopard is one of the most endangered cat species in the world, with fewer than 100 cats remaining in the wild. The female cubs, named Anya and Irina, are the first for their mother, four-year-old Dot and her mate Samson. Anya and Irina are healthy, and will be kept away from the public for several months. (via Fark)
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