(via Bad Menu)
Tuesday, September 02, 2025
Follow the Yellow Marble
Some people have way too much time on their hands. But they also have marbles, magnetic ball bearings, and lots of other toys, so it works out well for us. (via Memo of the Air)
Can I Grow 100 Year Old Tomato Seeds?
Eric posts videos about his hobby of restoring rusty antique tools, and has built quite a following over the years. However, the latest video on his channel Hand Tool Rescue, months in the making, veered off into left field. He had found a free packet of seeds distributed with a seed catalog issued in 1926 (so the seeds were actually formed from 1925 tomatoes). Could he get them to germinate? His regular viewers were shocked when he revealed early in the video that he has a PhD in plant science, sparking comments about this being the worst tool restoration video yet.
The video is long, 24 minutes, but its funny and you can skip through if you don't want to learn all about his experiments with different germination media and his various failures and successes. But if you watch the whole thing, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat rooting for the survival of a (spoiler alert) single tomato seedling. (via Metafilter)
Al Franken on Weekend Update
If you're confused, slow down. This SNL segment is from1981, when Saturday Night Live really sucked. Dick Ebersol lasted until 1985, when the show once again came under the control of Lorne Michaels. Michaels has been at the helm ever since. You can see here how Franken was never afraid to tell things like they are. And he was really good at building name recognition for his eventual entry into politics.
Going Upstairs
Going up a staircase is not a natural canine behavior- it has to be learned. This puppy had never climbed stairs on his own before, but it was time. With plenty of encouragement from his role models and his human, he overcame his fear of heights and fear of failure to make it to the top!
Monday, September 01, 2025
Mayhem in the Workplace
On this Labor Day, let's remember that your job can be tough -and dangerous. This workplace safety video asks the question "what could possibly go wrong?" and then shows us. The accidents get worse as it goes on. Everyone was harmed in the making of this video. Let's hope they got better in the 50 years since. (via Memo of the Air)
Gospel Halftime Show
Saturday, The Ohio State University Buckeyes played the Texas Longhorns, and we have the opportunity to enjoy the halftime show without having to watch the game. That may sound weird to sports fans, but some of us care little for football. The Best Damn Band in the Land is known for their musical ability and precise formations. TBDBITL held tryouts only a couple of weeks ago received their first new uniforms since 2006. In the short time since then, they have put together a new show featuring familiar uptempo Gospel songs that work surprisingly well for a marching band.
Catnip Harvest
Today I started stripping this years' catnip crop that's been drying out for a while. I usually do this outside, but it was still dark this morning, so I just threw the stems on the kitchen floor. Most years, the cats aren't all that interested in the process, but that's because the three younger cats have been enjoying the catnip garden all summer. Marshmallow, however, rarely goes outside anymore and she thought she had died and gone to heaven wallowing in the fragrant discarded sticks.
This is not even half the catnip, but it's a real mess. I'll just leave it for a while because the old lady deserves some joy in her life. The flowers and leaves will go in a gallon jar so I can occasionally stuff it into an odd sock for the cats over the winter.
American Word Pronunciations
It's been said, often, that the US and Britain are two countries forever divided by a common language. And there are folks who will tell you that the language is not at all common, that it's two languages, and that you can only understand the other if you've been exposed to it quite a bit. I recall trying to share Monty Python and the Holy Grail with my kids, who refused to watch because they couldn't understand what was being said. Their loss.
There's a big ocean between the two countries, so it's no wonder that the pronunciation has diverged. But the United States is such a big country that Americans pronounce words differently depending on the area they are from. Laurence Brown has spent the last ten years contrasting Britain with America. In this video, he tells us about the American words that are not only pronounced differently in the British version, but also differently from other Americans. I'm sure there are some here that you (if you are American) pronounce in your own way. There's a 75-second skippable ad at 3:19.
Miss Cellania's Links
Pumpkin Spice Season Is Back. We’re Not Ready.
When Selling a House, Do Not Display Stolen Art.
Seeing infrared: scientists create contact lenses that grant ‘super-vision’. (via kottke)
Late crime-busting sheriff Buford Pusser inspired Hollywood. Investigators say he killed his wife.
Macquarie Island’s Ecological Upheaval. The island's story illustrates the devastation of invasive species.
Veterans rage at 'abusive' Trump over reports of him stiffing soldiers. (via Fark)
Why Is Canada’s Population so Concentrated? It's not just the cold weather. (via Nag on the Lake)
From empty party to an all-night stadium bash, a Mexican teen’s 15th birthday goes viral. (via Memo of the Air)
The World War Two bomber that cost more than the atomic bomb. (via Damn Interesting)
Crisis at the CDC.
Simon's Cat in Scratch Post
One thing we know about Simon's Cat is that he doesn't like to share. That's been apparent ever since the kitten showed up. This time, it's the scratching post that's causing a problem between the two. Another thing we know: when Simon is around, the cat always comes out ahead. When Simon isn't around, the kitten always gets the better of the cat.
Yep
(via Everlasting Blort)dress for the job you want
— debbshock (@debbshock.bsky.social) July 17, 2025 at 6:15 PM
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