Monday, May 12, 2025

Miss Cellania's Links

Baby Boom at Hospital is Not Due to Patients.

100 Years Ago: The Man Who Single-handedly Stopped Thousands of Illegal Deportations. This obscure piece of history will induce some déjà vu. (via Damn Interesting)

Let's Go On An Internet Road Trip! Where we go is up to you and hundreds of other players. (via Metafilter

Bride's father has dementia, but she brings him to the wedding in the perfect way.

Was it a stone tool or just a rock? An archaeologist explains how scientists can tell the difference.

The New Pope Is Calling Himself Leo—Just Like 13 Other Pontiffs Who Came Before Him. Who Are They?

How Scotland’s 35-Year Kilt Ban Backfired in Spectacular Fashion.

Why some women are choosing to be celibate or ‘boy sober,’ for a life without sex. (via Fark)

Using a Fisheye Lens



(via Fark)

What Is Narcissism?



We know the story of Narcissus. We've aware of narcissism, the psychological condition of being obsessed with one's self. But do we understand what's wrong with these people? No, we don't have to be tolerant of people who are arrogant, selfish, and oblivious to the welfare of those around them. But it might help if we understood what is going on with them. If we can't help them, avoiding such people may be the best thing for your own mental health. This video is from The School of Life. (via Laughing Squid)

Sunday, May 11, 2025

Fatso

8 American Habits That Confused Me As a Brit



Lawrence Brown of Lost in the Pond addresses various American habits that were new to him, like working too much, drinking too much coffee, doing donuts in the snow, measuring road trips in hours, blocking traffic, and disposing of our gum properly.  



Mothers Day Suggestion

(via reddit)

Star Wars Doesn't Need Dialogue



You've probably already seen a few versions of Star Wars as a silent film, because YouTube is full of them. We assumed that the idea works so well because everyone knows the story already. Danny Boyd, also known as Cinemastix, explains how it's much more than that. George Lucas himself said he designed Star Wars to work as a silent film, but he meant that the dialogue is not as important as other elements of the films. The driving force behind the rhythm of Star Wars is the music -and that's anything but silent.

The exposition in this video gives us plenty of examples of how music and action power the Star Wars movies -and other films, too- which makes the dialogue less important. And we can see here how Hayden Christensen comes off as a much better actor in the prequels when he's either silent or overdubbed.

Mothers Day Gift

(via reddit)

A Mother's Day Message from SNL



Saturday Night Live opened with a few cast members singing to their mothers, just like you'd expect, but they are soon interrupted by our current president, because there's just too much news to joke about for this week. Former cast member Cecily Strong appeared, only a month after giving birth to a baby girl, which is a wild way to celebrate your first Mother's Day. And we find out who has been designated to portray Pete Hegseth.  

Ma Mom

(via Fark)

Thank You Mom



People on the streets of New York thank their moms for the many things that moms give. Thanksfa commissioned this video by Michael Marantz and Barry Pousman for Mothers Day.  (via Laughing Squid)

Saturday, May 10, 2025

How Shakespeare Camped



Taken: The Musical



If they can make a musical out of Saw, which Dr. Dolittle flew to New York to see, they can make a musical out of anything. The Liam Neeson movie Taken is a case in point. Dustin Ballard, otherwise known as There I Ruined it, took the most memorable scene from that action film and gave it a lighthearted tune just perfect for the Broadway stage. (via Neatorama)


Movie Identification

The Strangest Queen Deaths That Still Haunt Us



It's not easy being queen. Sure, it often comes with a pampered life and fabulous fashions, not to mention power, so it appears enviable. But there are downsides to being at the top, like an arranged marriage, pressure to produce heirs, lack of privacy, political and family drama, and enemies around every corner plotting to take your place. And a queen is expected to present a regal image and a brave face even when her world is falling apart. Many queens died at the hand of their closest relatives, or the effects of being a political pawn. Others succumbed to enemies. And some died from natural causes, which could be pretty horrific in previous centuries. Weird History explains the deaths of ten queens of the past who died under rather strange circumstances.

Larry



(via Fark)

Why the Same Song Plays at Every Graduation



It is the season to hear "Pomp and Circumstance" played at every graduation ceremony. The song was not written for a school commencement; in fact, the lyrics are quite warlike. So how did it became the tradition song for such ceremonies?

Vox look sat the history of Edward Elgar's march, and how it became associated with commencement. Bonus: we get to hear Dame Clara Butt sing the song. (Thanks, Phil Edwards!)

Friday, May 09, 2025

Remarkable



From 1906. (via Undine)

The Perfect Gift

Long Steven



A dachshund needs to do his business, but doesn't want to go out in the rain. What would be a simple story is made special because it's from Birdbox Studio.