(via Bad Newspaper)
Saturday, February 28, 2026
Hair
The 1979 musical Hair was loosely based on the 1968 Broadway hit. In the eleven years between the stage production and the film, the concept of hippies as counterculture had faded, the Vietnam War had ended, and we already knew all the songs. Those anachronisms are unnoticeable fifty years later, and the movie is a glimpse into the way things were way back when. The music is still great, and the ending is still heartbreaking. There is a little nudity, which is why it got a PG rating. Ratings were serious back then.
Amateur
I first posted this video from Lasse Gjertsen some twenty years ago. At the time, he didn't know how to play drums or piano, but he knew how to edit videotape. Gjertsen was a YouTube sensation for a few years, then dropped off the internet. I've sometimes wondered what happened to him since then. According to Wikipedia, he is doing voice work and video effects for a children's TV show in Norway.
How the Greed of One Man Changed The World
One thing you really did study in American history class was the California Gold Rush. John Sutter found gold and everyone on the east coast decided to move to the west coast and get rich. But that's not the entire story. Sutter was actually a settler who was building a community, and the discovery of gold upset his plans and his life.
Samuel Brannan, on the other hand, saw opportunity in gold. His plan was not to get rich mining gold, but in publicizing it. He had come to the small village of San Francisco for religious asylum, but abandoned that to become the richest man in the territory. As people came from all over the world to seek gold, he took advantage of those people instead of the gold they were looking for. And the kind of people who came during the Gold Rush and stayed after it was over shaped the area into what it is today. Kurzgesagt After Dark looks at the darker side of the California Gold Rush. There's a one-minute ad at 4:52.
Spider-Man Dances!
Spider-Man doesn't spend all his time fighting crime. Every once in a while, he has to go out and pick up a few things at the store. And if there's a good song playing, he gets the urge to dance! YouTuber Ghetto Spider put on a show for other shoppers, who all pulled out their phones because no one would believe this otherwise. (via mille batson)
Friday, February 27, 2026
Cat vs. Computer
How dare you pay more attention to the computer than you do to your cat! Simon's Cat is being a typical cat again. After years of such shenanigans, i have learned to put my keyboard in my desk drawer when I'm not at my desk. And my cats have learned that my lap is a more rewarding place than on my keyboard. It helps that the heat vent is under the desk.
When You Win the Lottery
The odds of winning millions of dollars in a lottery are very, very small, and are only slightly improved by buying a ticket. But occasionally people win. The problem is that most winners believe they are now rich, when they have little understanding of how much money it takes to live like a truly rich person. Your payout is not going to be what you were led to believe, and it can be drained really quick when you see yourself as set for life.
First, there's income taxes. Then you need to pay people to manage your money. Then you need to consider your life span and how to make a limited amount of cash last before you quit your job. This TED-Ed lesson takes a hypothetical $3 million lottery jackpot and shows how it will not make you fabulously wealthy. However, it can provide you with a comfortable life if you manage it wisely. Personally, I have managed to avoid the curse of wealth by not buying a ticket.
"Africa," But Really Africa
There are 54 countries in Africa (plus three disputed territories), more than any other continent. You can try memorizing them by studying a map and then picturing the map while you recite them, but that hasn't totally worked for me because I always miss a few.
Dustin Ballard of There I Ruined It constructed a song to the tune of "Africa" by Toto with lyrics that name every country on that continent. Yes, they rhyme wherever they can. Far from ruining it, this song actually improves on the original by having something to do with Africa.
Miss Cellania's Links
Kansas Sends Letters To Trans People Demanding The Immediate Surrender Of Drivers Licenses. Birth certificates are affected, too. (via Fark)
L'Oeuf Electrique: The French Electric Egg That Arrived Decades Too Early.
Cats in snow. (via Everlasting Blort)
The Fate of Melania. The latest song parody from Randy Rainbow.
Paediatricians’ blood used to make new treatments for RSV and colds. (via kottke)
Buried Skier Rescued After Fellow Skiers Spot His Skis Sticking Out of the Snow.
Ghost Pools. A brief history of swimming in Atlanta and across America. (via Metafilter)
The Little-Known Story of the Enslaved Africans Who Found Freedom in the European Fight Over North America. You'll never guess where.
Hey, kids! Welcome to Camp Detention! The latest from Tom the Dancing Bug.
Cats Are Fans of the Oldies
Cats (and other animals) love to sing music from way before they were born. See more of them behind the fold.
Sketch Helped Police Identify Robber
Police in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, were on the lookout for a suspect in the robbery of a farmer's market. A witness provided a sketch of the perpetrator, which was shown on the local TV station. The response by newscaster Ethan Forhetz is priceless. Considering he was winging the news as it came in, he kept his cool pretty well. Now, lest you think this is a police sketch, it's not. It was drawn by a witness. Yet it was enough to lead police to identify 44-year-old Hung Phuoc Nguyen, who was still on the loose at the time of the report. It turns out that police were familiar with Nguyen already, and honestly recognized him from the sketch. (via reddit)
Thursday, February 26, 2026
The Louisville Leopards
The Louisville Leopards are an extracurricular percussion ensemble for kids between seven and 18 years old. Here they are, performing "Crazy Train" by Ozzy Osbourne in 2012. Ozzy and his family were so impressed, they donated $10,000 to the program.(via Fark)
Valentine's Day at the City Clerk's Office in NYC
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)
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.
The Risks of Eating Raw Fish
We eat other living things, which are likely to contain parasites. Plant parasites don't worry us much because they are usually only dangerous to plants. But meat, on the other hand, sometimes has parasites that can survive inside us. Commercial meat producing facilities have made great strides in reducing parasites. Wild animals are more likely to contain them, but we don't worry about it because we cook our food.
But then there's sushi and sashimi, which are more popular than ever. Can you get parasites from eating raw fish? Yes, if you catch your own fish and take it home and make your own fresh sashimi. Fish vendors, food processors, and restaurants have strict procedures to kill parasites before you have a chance to consume them. MinuteFood goes through the process, so you can stop worrying about it. I've never worried about it because I don't like fish and would never eat it raw anyway. This video is seven minutes long; the rest is an ad. (via Geeks Are Sexy)
Dinosaur, a Film by Nathan and His Dad
Four-year-old Nathan Mezquida tells a story he made up about dinosaurs. His dad, Allen Mezquida, animated his drawings to tell it.
Nathan spends hours drawing every day, mostly dinosaurs. He also loves watching BBC documentaries about dinosaurs. Next thing I knew, we were working on this short film together. Nathan was very clear about the story he wanted to tell and how he wanted it to look. He said he wanted it to be very real, "never cartoony." I did my best to stay true to his vision.(via Laughing Squid)
Monday, February 23, 2026
About Looney Tunes
The Warner Bros. animated shorts we know as Looney Tunes were so successful and so enduring because they didn't play to children. They were funny to everyone! They were made to run in theaters, in front of Warner bros. movies, so they often had stars from those classic films in them. But they didn't have to be respectful. After all, they were, first and foremost, funny. Turner Classic Movies (TCM) has acquired Looney Tunes, and made this video to welcome them. (via the Awesomer)
Kids React to Rotary Phones
Warning: this will make you feel ancient. Dial phones were replaced by push-button phones when these kids’ parents were children (although that wasn’t universal -remember when we had to pay an extra fee for touchtone service?), so it’s no surprise they don’t know how to use them. But when you hear them try to figure out how to send a text on a rotary phone, it strikes home how different the world they are growing up in really is. (via Metafilter)
Update: Want to feel even older? This video is 11 years old. All these kids are adults now.
The Secrets of Silk
Up until 552 AD, Europe paid dearly for a luxurious fabric from China called silk. It was lightweight but strangely strong, felt good against the skin, and came in amazing colors and patterns. What was it made of? How did they produce such beautiful fabric with it? That was a mystery that China was careful not to reveal, because they were making a ton of money sending silk along a trade route that became known as the Silk Road. They kept the existence of the silk worm, and the food it ate. But they also had some really advanced technology for fabric production that worked on principles that eventually made their way into our modern computers.
This simple video of the silk making process is more interesting than it has any right to be. There's a 70-second skippable ad at 4:07. (via Damn Interesting)
Miss Cellania's Links
Animal rescue is extra difficult (and dangerous) when a trapped critter can still move around a lot.
‘Smart Underwear’ could help unlock secrets of human flatulence. (via Damn Interesting)
How far back can you understand English? Try it going back one century at a time. (via Metafilter)
‘Mystical’ Kitten With Enormous Eyes Is Not AI — She’s A Rare Survivor. (via Fark)
The Trip That Changed Me: How Antarctica Shattered Daniela Hernandez’s Sense of Self.
Front-Page Felines: 10 Heroic Cats of Yesteryear. (via Strange Company)
Why is Trump trying to send a hospital ship to Greenland?
Routine medical procedures can feel harder for women – here’s why. (via Metafilter)
Origins of the Moonwalk
Awesome footwork going back to the dawn of the film age. Too bad we can't watch dancers from even earlier. (via Everlasting Blort)
Sunday, February 22, 2026
Loop
This wordless animation tells the story of a place where people are on a loop. They do the same thing all the time, in perfect synchronization, in a perfect rhythm. That is, until the day someone throws a wrench in to everything by -gasp- doing something different. That will not do! (via kottke)
The Coen Brothers' Circles
Next time you're watching a Coen brothers film, keep your eye out for the big centered circle. It's always there somewhere, often changing sizes. You've probably seen most of them in this supercut by Ariel Avissar. (via Laughing Squid)
Deadly Sibling Rivalry
Living species have varying reproductive strategies. Plants and insects produce as many offspring as possible because most of them will not survive. Mammals produce fewer offspring, but devote lots of time and energy to keep them alive. Then there are some species, like certain fishes and birds, that nurture their young while not getting too attached to them. They depend on sibling rivalry to cull the herd, so to speak, and keep only the fittest as their surviving progeny. MinuteEarth introduces us to some families that actually encourage offspring to kill each other. It seems a cruel strategy, but nature is only interested in what works. The video is only 2:25; the rest is an ad.
Dancing with the Neighbors
Michael Callaghan decided it was time that he got to know his neighbors, and he came up with a genius way to do it: ask them for a favor, and make it fun! He went door to door and asked each neighbor to come over and dance with him for a music video. He didn't mention if anyone refused, but plenty of them said yes. While you're doing something like this, you get to know their names, interests, and how friendly they are. Or at least how well they dance. When he throws a party, he'll know exactly who to invite. He's trying to start a trend with #NeighborDanceChallenge. We'll see how that goes. (via Tastefully Offensive)
Saturday, February 21, 2026
Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter
Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter was made in tandem with the earlier Billy The Kid Versus Dracula to be shown as a double feature. It makes sense for Western-horror fans. Jesse James meets a woman who is the granddaughter (despite the title) of Dr. Victor Frankenstein. She, of course, moved to the US to kidnap children, replace their brains, and make them her slaves. James just wants to rob stagecoaches, but he is lured into saving the day. (Thanks, WTM!)
The Salad Frog
Most people become disgusted when they find a foreign object in their food, and even more so when that object is alive. Musician Simon Curtis, on the other hand, didn't lose it when he found a frog in his lettuce. Making a simple salad in the middle of the night turned out to be an adventure he never expected. He kept the frog in the lettuce container because it was too cold to put it outside. Well, Tony, as he named the frog, didn't want to stay in the plastic box. He didn't just get out of the box, he wandered from room to room exploring his new home, and getting pretty dirty in the process. You have to admire Tony's adventurous spirit, but you also don't want to step on a frog just walking through the house. Simon went from simply not wanting the frog to die to showering his new pet with everything a little frog could want in life. Tony lucked out!
The Trailer for Toy Story 5
The original Toy Story hits theaters in 1995, so an entire generation has grown up and produced their own children since then. The toys have learned to deal with children growing up and leaving them behind, only to find new children to play with. But what happens when a child decides regular toys aren't fun anymore because they now have an iPad? Excuse me, this device is a "Lilypad" in the new movie Toy Story 5. Can the toys tear Bonnie away from her screen long enough to play with them anymore? You know Woody, Buzz, and the gang will come up with a scheme or two to make that happen. Toy Story 5 will open nationwide on June 19.
A Macaroni Recipe From 1784
Jon Townsend (previously) cooks up a little macaroni and cheese from a recipe published in 1784. Along the way, we get a bit of history about the term "macaroni" in the sense that it was used in the song "Yankee Doodle." But that has nothing to do with food. This dish is pretty basic, but sounds delicious. Several comments under the video asked where the nutmeg is. I had never heard of macaroni and cheese with nutmeg, but apparently there are a lot of recipes that call for it. Townsends has their own blog about historical recipes and food, aimed at use in reenactments, called Savoring the Past. (via reddit)
Friday, February 20, 2026
Myrt and Marge
Myrt and Marge is a 1933 showbiz film about vaudeville. A revue is facing closure, so the cast forms a co-op to keep it going- if they can find some new talent. It's the classic "let's put on a show to save the" ...show. What's notable is that we also see Ted Healy and his Stooges before they became The Three Stooges. Myrt and Marge was a cinematic flop and was rarely seen again, but it's quite funny in places. (Thanks, WTM!)
The Professor of Gilligan's Island
How could the professor, Dr. Roy Hinkley, build all those useful gadgets and not be able to repair the Minnow? There's a perfectly reasonable explanation, and it's not just plot armor.
A Dog Competes in Olympic Cross-country Skiing
The eyes of the world were drawn to an Olympic preliminary qualifying round in the women's cross-country skiing event in Tésero, Italy, on Wednesday. A large dog joined in the race and was even caught on Omega's official timekeeping camera as he crossed the finish line.
The dog was identified as a Czechoslovakian wolfdog named Nazgul, who belongs to a family who runs a local bed and breakfast. His owners speculated that Nazgul wanted to follow his family as they left for a different Olympic event, and broke out of the house. While the wolfdog surprised and unnerved some of the competitors, his presence did not affect the results of the heat, since the qualifying skiers had already crossed the finish line. That's a good dog.
Miss Cellania's Links
USA wins gold in women's figure skating. See Alysa Liu's free skate routine.
With an Experiment in Their Basement Photo Lab, Two Brothers Created a Paint That Outshines Them All. (via Damn Interesting)
In Defense of Bar Soap.
The Incredible Elephant Stables of Hampi.
Movie Heroes Who Are Actually Kind of Horrible If You Think About It. Movies count on you not thinking about it.
A Unique Property For Sale In Pennsylvania.
A powerful tribute dance performed in Washington, DC. (via Everlasting Blort)
"[W]hat if i told you, through the power of forensic analysis, we are closer than ever to knowing the exact Far Side cartoon that is making Sting smile in this iconic photo." I'm impressed with what people do in their too much free time. (via Metafilter)
Hitler’s Greenland Obsession. After creating an economic mess with ill-advised tariffs, Hitler looked north in pursuit of resources and national security. (via Damn Interesting)
Gâteau Gato, the Chocolate Cat Zoetrope
Gâteau Gato means "cat cake," but this is much more. Artist Alexandre Dubosc created a beautiful chocolate zoetrope that displays animated cats! Yeah, how could anyone combine chocolate cake, cats, and animation and not have a winner? You'll recognize Maneki Neko playing the piano, Felix, Nyan Cat, Yin-Yang Cat, and Grumpy Cat on this cake. There are other cats, plus mice, fish, and a big cat head on top with teeth! Notice the different language spellings of the word "meow" as well. (via Laughing Squid)
Microwave
Inventor of the microwave: This machine will cook dinner faster than a stove or oven. Consumer: How hot does the food get? I: Very hot, like the surface of the sun. C: Oh wow, that’s incre– I: But only some of it. C: Come again? I: The rest stays frozen.
— kottke.org (@kottke.org) February 17, 2026 at 8:18 PM
Thursday, February 19, 2026
The Cameraman on the Ice
Every time the Olympics roll around, there are new technologies to show us the action up close. You've seen camera drones following skiers and sledders down the course. In figure skating, we now have a camera man on the ice! Jordan Cowan is a former competitive ice dancer who now carries a steadicam onto the rink. No, he's not skating around during Olympic competition, but only approaches the competitor when their routine is through to see their reactions up close. However, Cowan is out on the ice during practice routines and exhibition performances. Check out some of his work at his YouTube channel.
Chain of Command
Colonel Sergeant is confusing enough, but someone in the comments also pointed out commander lieutenant general Admiral. (via reddit)
Owl in Trouble
Mike and Brian got close to take a picture of an owl, but the owl couldn't move because he was tangled in fishing line. That poor bird must have been so exhausted and frightened! This is why it's always a good idea to carry a knife out in the woods.
Humanoid Robots Dancing with Children
The annual Spring Festival Gala is a "must see" TV production in China, broadcast on the eve of the Lunar New year. This year's show featured dancing by humanoid robots developed by several Chinese robotics firms. The robots danced, flipped, jumped, and performed martial arts moves. They were joined by a group of children dancing onstage, which was impressive due to the danger it implied. This performance was designed to impress the world, but Western roboticists emphasize that dancing robots don't need to have situational awareness in order to adapt to changing conditions like industrial robots would. But they can sure put on a show. (via Laughing Squid)
Why Do Cameras Do This?
Now that panoramic photos are widely available on phones, you see weird camera effects more and more often. Destin Sandlin of Smarter Every Day explains the rolling shutter effect and why it happens. Wait until you see what the effect does to a fidget spinner, a guitar, and a spinning coin! (via Everlasting Blort)
Wednesday, February 18, 2026
American Obituary
U2 released a surprise six-track EP today called Days of Ash, no doubt to coincide with Ash Wednesday. The song "American Obituary" is about Renee Good. Bono said he started writing it the day after she was shot by ICE agent Jonathon Ross. The other songs on the EP deal with subjects like Ukraine and Gaza. U2 is planning to release an album later this year (their first since 2017), but these songs couldn't wait.
Get a Big Dish of Beef Chow Mein
The person who posted this didn't even know the reference, and went in a totally different direction. (via reddit)
The Fat Problem
We know that being overweight is bad for our health, but Kurzgesagt tells us why down to the molecular level. And it's not just one thing, but an entire constellation of effects that excess fat can have on us. Carrying more weight than is healthy will screw up every organ in your body sooner or later. If you think of a hundred ways to die, 99 of them are liable to be due to excess fat. It's pretty scary, especially right after you've splurged on a fast food meal. However, it's better to understand what's going on than to just die in ignorance.
The horror is somewhat assuaged by the googly eyes on our cells and organs when they are under stress, and by the forces of evolution that are illustrated by opossums. This video is only 9:12; the rest is an ad.
AI Chat
After a while, he got tired of that, and dialed the level to 100. The machine began discussing celebrities and TV shows, and that was fun for a while.
But then out of curiosity, the guy dialed the IQ level down to 50.
The machine said, "10-4, good buddy!"
I've never tried chatting with AI, and I have no desire to. The closest I've come is trying to get an answer about a utility service, and I had no choice. At least I found out how to escalate to a real person. But surely this joke could be updated to be relevant in 2026. What would be the punch line?
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