Cool Stuff Daily

The mysterious century-old sponges somehow surviving on a dead underwater mountain near the North Pole. Plus, doctors in Canada can now prescribe patients annual passes to National Parks. And SpaceX is set to lose 40 of the 49 Starlink satellites it launched last week due to a geomagnetic storm. Sponsors: Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnews ExpressVPN, ExpressVPN.com/kottke for an extra 3 months FREE on a one-year package Links: Scientists Discover Centuries-Old Arctic Creatures Surviving on Fossils (Vice) These Animals Are Feasting on the Ruins of an Extinct World (The Atlantic) Arctic Sponges Survive Dark, Hostile Conditions by Feasting on The Extinct (ScienceAlert) Doctors Can Prescribe Year-Long Pass To Canada's National Parks (National Parks Traveler) Doctors in Canada Can Prescribe Annual National Park Passes to Patients (Mental Floss) Doctor's orders: 'Nature prescriptions' see rise amid pandemic (Thomas Reuters Foundation News) SpaceX loses up to 40 satellites to geomagnetic storm after Starlink launch (Ars Technica) SpaceX to lose up to 40 Starlink satellites after geomagnetic storm (The Guardian) SpaceX loses 40 Starlink satellites to a geomagnetic storm (Engadget) Gumby Characters Acquired by FOX for Live-Action, Animation Projects (Collider) Gumby The Movie (1995) Explained by RiffTrax (RiffTrax, YouTube) Nerdle Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is a national digital currency coming to the US? And what would that look like? Plus, coders have teamed up with scholars of British literature to decode Charles Dickens’s secret notes. And the very clever wine bricks from the Prohibition Era that helped keep the wine industry afloat. Sponsor: Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnews ExpressVPN, ExpressVPN.com/kottke for an extra 3 months FREE on a one-year package Links: The US is debating whether to adopt a digital dollar (NPR) A US Digital Dollar Should Serve the Public, Not Banks (Bloomberg) Fed releases long-awaited study on a digital dollar but doesn't take a position yet on creating one (CNBC) Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) Feedback Form (Federal Reserve Board) Decoding Dickens’s Secret Notes to Himself, One Symbol at a Time (NY Times) Forget Wordle! Can you crack the Dickens Code? An IT worker from California just did (The Guardian) Dickens Code How Wine Bricks Saved The US Wine Industry During Prohibition (Vinepair) CDC launches wastewater tool to help show COVID-19 trends (The Verge) CDC COVID Data Tracker Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Micromorts, the unit of measurement that predicts your risk of death. How effective are they and how could we make it more effective, especially with regards to the pandemic? Plus, why Washington state is building highway overpasses for cougars. And two rappers who have been added to the Super Bowl halftime show lineup and will be making history with their performances. Sponsors: Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnews ExpressVPN, ExpressVPN.com/kottke for an extra 3 months FREE on a one-year package Links: We Need A Standard Unit Of Measure For Risk (Adjacent Possible) microCOVID Project Why Washington state wants to spend millions building bridges for cougars (Fast Company) Dr. Dre Adds Two Deaf to Super Bowl Halftime Show (Consequence of Sound) Deaf Detroit rapper to join Eminem, Dre, Snoop at Super Bowl halftime (Detroit Free Press) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Olympic Games have officially begun––how to reconcile excitement for the sports and the spectacle with the reality of the situation. Plus, controversy is brewing over the remains of Captain Cook’s ship the HMS Endeavour. And choose your fighter: 3D-printed vegan meatballs or Build-A-Bear’s sultry “After Dark” line of stuffed animals for adults. Sponsors: Jenni Kayne, Use code KRH at jennikayne.com for 15% off your first order Munk Pack, Use code KRH at Munkpack.com for 20% off your first purchase Links: 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics: Given China's human rights abuses, why report on them or pay attention? (Slate) Olympic spotlight back on China for a COVID-tinged Games (AP) 2008 Beijing Olympics opening ceremony: How Zhang Yimou pulled off a masterpiece for multiple audiences. (Slate) The 2008 Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremonies planners have fallen out of favor in China in 2022 (Washington Post) Olympics 2022 -- How we ended up with a Winter Games amid China's human rights crisis (ESPN) Controversy erupts over Aussie museum's identification of HMS Endeavour wreck (Ars Technica) Row erupts over wreck in US waters identified as Captain Cook's Endeavour (The Guardian) IKEA is offering 3D-printed vegan meatballs to job candidates while it interviews them (Business Insider) Build-A-Bear just launched an 'After Dark' series (CNET) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When did we start counting? Are numbers just a modern human concept? Plus, we have more details about the impending end of the International Space Station as focus turns ever-more to the moon and Mars. And a new search engine that only gives you one result and it’s always a book that was published before 1927. Sponsors: Munk Pack, Use code KRH at Munkpack.com for 20% off your first purchase Jenni Kayne, Use code KRH at jennikayne.com for 15% off your first order Links: How did Neanderthals and other ancient humans learn to count? (Nature) NASA Plans a Fiery End for the International Space Station by 2031 (Scientific American) NASA: Decommissioned International Space Station to plunge into Pacific Ocean in 2031 (Washington Post) NASA Provides Updated International Space Station Transition Plan (NASA) New company run by former NASA leader aims to build robotic outpost near the Moon (The Verge) A Search Engine That Finds You Weird Old Books (Debugger, Medium) 11/2/21 episode about Rewilding Your Attention (Kottke Ride Home) Weird Old Book Finder Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How does your brain know when you’ve had enough to drink each time you take a sip of water? Plus, a Groundhog Day tragedy, how North America came to celebrate this wacky holiday, and what it’s future might look like in lieu of the climate emergency. And finally, the Pope’s personal playlist. Sponsors: Jenni Kayne, Use code KRH at jennikayne.com for 15% off your first order Munk Pack, Use code KRH at Munkpack.com for 20% off your first purchase Links: Thirsty? Here's how your brain answers that question (NPR) Your Body's Thirst Messenger Is in an Unexpected Place (NY Times) A celebrity groundhog dies shortly before his big day (NPR) Groundhog predictions of spring no better than chance (National Geographic) Groundhogs Aren't Looking for Their Shadow—They're Scoping Out the Opposite Sex (National Geographic) Can a groundhog's shadow really predict if there will be six more weeks of winter? (Library of Congress) Punxsutawney Phil Reckons with His Jungian Shadow (McSweeney’s) ​Flowers in The UK Are Blooming a Whole Month Earlier Than They Did in The 1980s (ScienceAlert) The Pope's Playlist Is Pretty Decent! And, Honestly, Weirdly Romantic (Mother Jones) The (unofficial) Pope Francis Playlist (America Magazine) Pope Francis Visits Rome Record Shop And Gets Classical CD (UDiscover Music) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The New York City subway cars taking on a second job on the ocean floor. Plus, a successful drone created using Leonardo da Vinci’s aerial screw design. And crows in Sweden are being trained to pick up litter. Sponsors: Munk Pack, Use code KRH at Munkpack.com for 20% off your first purchase Jenni Kayne, Use code KRH at jennikayne.com for 15% off your first order Links: Sinking 1,000 NYC subway cars in the Atlantic to create a reef didn't (Fast Company) Growing Pains for a Deep-Sea Home Built of Subway Cars (NY Times, 2008) New York's Subway Lives On in the Atlantic Ocean as Artificial Reefs (PBS Thirteen) Bye bye Brightliners: MTA's oldest subway cars bid farewell on final run after almost 58 years (amNewYork) More Than 2,500 New York City Subway Cars Are Now Artificial Underwater Reefs. See This Artist’s Remarkable Photos of Them Here (artnet) Photographing the New York City Subway Cars That Retired as Artificial Reefs (Atlas Obscura) New York City's newest oyster bed is 50,000 mollusks and 5,000 old public school toilets (Washington Post) NY State Drops Two More Vessels, Including "Chickadee" The Tugboat, Into Waters For Artificial Reefing (Gothamist) MTA Redbird Train Scrapping off Shark River Reef New Jersey (YouTube) This drone flies using da Vinci's 530-year-old helicopter design (CNET) A New Quadcopter Is Based on da Vinci's 530-Year-Old Helicopter Model (Interesting Engineering) Swedish firm deploys crows to pick up cigarette butts (The Guardian) Crows may soon be Sweden's newest litter pickers (The Local Sweden) Crows trained to collect cigarette butts on the street (Boing Boing) Latest Attraction at French Theme Park: Crows That Pick Up Trash (NY Times) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The lost history of moon trees. Not quite as exciting as it sounds, but still really cool. Plus, the lineup of new emojis that just dropped on iOS 15.4––as well as a new study showing how emoji use can be an early detector of remote work burnout. And Moderna’s HIV vaccine has entered human trials. Sponsors: Jenni Kayne, Use code KRH at jennikayne.com for 15% off your first order Munk Pack, Use code KRH at Munkpack.com for 20% off your first purchase Links: We Almost Forgot About the Moon Trees (The Atlantic) The Moon Trees (NASA) Is There An Apollo 14 Moon Tree Near You? (Universe Today) Moon Trees Stand as Living Testaments to First Voyages to Moon (NASA) Can you help us find the Moon Trees? (Royal Astronomical Society) Buy a Half Moon Tree Seedling (American Heritage Trees) First Look: New Emojis in iOS 15.4 (Emojipedia) Can emoji use be the key in detecting remote-work burnout? (Phys.org) Moderna's HIV Vaccine Has Officially Begun Human Trials (them.) Hunting the holy grail: the marred history of HIV vaccine trials (Clinical Trials Arena) Moderna begins early-stage trials of mRNA-based HIV vaccine (Engadget) The F.D.A. grants Moderna’s vaccine full approval. (NY Times) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Catalonia is set to pardon a thousand people who were condemned for witchcraft four hundred years ago. Plus, a mysterious object discovered in our galaxy has astronomers a bit stumped. And why don’t avatars in the metaverse have legs? Sponsors: Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnews Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottke Links: Catalonia to pardon up to 1,000 people accused of witchcraft (The Guardian) Hundreds of Women Executed for 'Witchcraft' Were Just Pardoned (Vice) Catalonia Pardons Hundreds of Witch Trial Victims (Mental Floss) What the hell is this new thing in the Milky Way? (Mic) Astronomers detect powerful cosmic object unlike anything they've seen before (Space.com) Scientists amazed by blinking star's 'totally unexpected' behavior (Reuters) 'Spooky' object that unleashes periodic bursts of energy detected in Milky Way (NBC News) Astronomers Detect Strange Signals We've Never Seen Before in Our Cosmic Vicinity (Science Alert) I found out why metaverse avatars don't have legs (The Next Web) Tongan Flag Bearer Cancels Olympic Plans to Help Tsunami-Stricken Nation (Vice) Tonga Tsunami relief by Pita Taufatofua (GoFundMe) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What’s up with the drastically different predictions for this weekend’s Nor’easter, and how is snowfall measured anyways? Plus, the sus-prisingly long history of the term “sus.” And, sometimes pre-ordering a book does not mean you’ll get it right on the publication date. Like when the shipping container it was being transported in sinks to the bottom of the ocean, for example. Sponsors: Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottke Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnews Links: How is snowfall measured? A meteorologist explains how volunteers tally up winter storms (The Conversation) Why This Weekend's Bomb Cyclone Snow Forecast Is So Challenging (Gizmodo) Why Northeast Winter Storms Can Be Difficult to Forecast (Weather.com) How do we tell how much snow fell in a storm? (The Verge) What does 'sus' mean? (Merriam-Webster) Sus meaning: 'Among Us' catchphrase has a controversial past (Inverse) sus | suss, n. (Oxford English Dictionary) Thread on 'sus' (with original illustrations!) (Austin Kleon, Twitter) Thanks for Preordering! Your Cookbook Is at the Bottom of the Atlantic Ocean (Eater) Turkey and the Wolf's Hotly Anticipated Cookbook Delayed After Copies Sink in the Atlantic (Eater New Orleans) Large swell in 22-knot wind caused idling Madrid Bridge to roll and lose boxes (The Loadstar) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is there liquid water under Mars ice cap or isn’t there? Recent studies have claimed both. And what about an underground ocean on Saturn’s death star moon? Here’s all of your space water updates. Plus, the origins of the melodramatic “dun dun duuuun” sound. And, and old SpaceX rocket stage is on track to slam into the moon this March. Sponsors: Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnews Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottke Links: So is there liquid water under the Martian ice cap or not? (Bad Astronomy, Syfy Wire) Saturn's moon Mimas may have a liquid water ocean under its surface (Bad Astronomy, Syfy Wire) Saturn's 'Death Star' moon might be hiding an underground ocean (The Verge) Dun, Dun Duuun! Where did pop culture's most dramatic sound come from? (The Guardian) Desperate Desmond (Library of Congress) The Devil's Tritone: The History of a Most Sinister Chord (Fender) A SpaceX Rocket Is Going to Slam Into the Moon (Gizmodo) After 7 years, a spent Falcon 9 rocket stage is on course to hit the Moon (Ars Technica) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A look into the world of extreme ironing. Plus, how China has been making strides in controlling the weather by shooting rockets at clouds. And, a much more low-key opportunity to help NASA collect data about real, non-modified clouds. Sponsors: Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottke Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnews Links: Meet an athlete heating up the world of extreme ironing (A/V Club) Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House by Cheryl Mendelson The Finely Pressed, Death-Defying World of Extreme Ironing (Mel Magazine) Extreme Ironing Around the World (60 Second Docs, YouTube) Extreme Ironing - Pressing For Glory (2003 TV Program) (YouTube) The Winter Olympics could highlight China’s innovative — and troubling — efforts to control the weather (Washington Post) China 'modified' the weather to create clear skies for political celebration (The Guardian) Operation Beijing storm: rockets target rain (Reuters) NASA wants you . . . to look into the clouds (Washington Post) NASA GLOBE Cloud Challenge 2022: Clouds in a Changing Climate (NASA GLOBE Program) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The James Webb Space Telescope has officially reached its destination. What can we expect next? And why do Americans eat so much more peanut butter than anyone else? A bit of history on this National Peanut Butter Day. Sponsors: Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnews Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottke Links: NASA’s revolutionary James Webb Space Telescope reaches final orbit in space (The Verge) The James Webb Space Telescope glides to its deep-space parking spot today! (Space.com) NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has reached its destination. Now what? (Tech Radar) How World War I Turned Peanut Butter Into a Kitchen Staple (Mental Floss) Why Do Americans Love Peanut Butter? (Slate) Golden Snitchwiches Robot vacuum cleaner escapes from Cambridge Travelodge (BBC) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How a new technique for 3D printing metal could revolutionize manufacturing. Plus, the great potential of the false banana. And archeology’s “sexual revolution.” Sponsors: Jenni Kayne, Use code KRH at jennikayne.com for 15% off your first order Munk Pack, Use code KRH at Munkpack.com for 20% off your first purchase Links: 3D printing's next act: big metal objects (Axios) Seurat Technologies raises $41M to bring "revolutionary" Area Printing to market (3D Printing Industry) False banana: Is Ethiopia's enset 'wondercrop' for climate change? (BBC) Enset - Gastro Obscura (Atlas Obscura) Archaeology's sexual revolution (The Guardian) 'The Great British Bake Off' is becoming a stage musical (Mashable) Punxsutawney Phil Will Wish You a Happy Groundhog Day on Cameo (Mental Floss) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some reassurance from the experts that being bad at Wordle is not a sign you’re less smart than everyone else. Plus, the International Space Station is getting a film studio and sports arena. No word yet if Space Jam 3 will be shooting there. And how officials around the world have continued to successfully use sewage to predict COVID outbreaks. Sponsors: Munk Pack, Use code KRH at Munkpack.com for 20% off your first purchase Jenni Kayne, Use code KRH at jennikayne.com for 15% off your first order Links: Being Bad at Wordle Doesn't Mean You're Dumb. Here's Why (NBC LXTV) Georgia Tennant text tweet (Georgia Tennant, Twitter) A film studio may be launching in space in 2024 (Mashable) UK company behind Tom Cruise space film unveils plans to launch space movie studio (The Verge) Film Studio to Be Launched in Space in 2024 (The Hollywood Reporter) In Sewage, Clues to Omicron's Surge (NY Times) Yankee Candle Reviews Say 'No Smell' Amid Omicron Surge (Business Insider) Biobot wastewater data for US (Biobot Analytics) Wed. 06/17 - How Poop Can Prevent COVID-19 Outbreaks (Kottke Ride Home) M&M characters redesigned for a "more dynamic, progressive world," Mars announces (CBS News) M&Ms' beloved characters are getting a new look (CNN) green m&m (greenmfanfic, Instagram) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From french fries to snow plows, the global shortages continue. But are we starting to see the beginning of a whole new world for workers and the supply chain? Plus, you know what kind of soup you can never be short of? The kind that doesn’t exist. And, what’s going on with the 5G rollout at US airports? Sponsors: Jenni Kayne, Use code KRH at jennikayne.com for 15% off your first order Munk Pack, Use code KRH at Munkpack.com for 20% off your first purchase Links: Lumber Prices Are off the Rails Again. Blame Climate Change. (The Atlantic) Grocery Store Shortages Are Back. Here's Why. (Eater) Potato shortage: A growing global spud crisis is affecting french fries, from Japan to Kenya (Washington Post) You Can Overcome Your Empty Grocery Store (LifeHacker) Yes, There's Even A Snowplow Driver Shortage in America (Jalopnik) One of the Most Famous Victorian Dishes Is a Hilarious Lie (Atlas Obscura) Campbell's Releases Two Scented Candles That Smell Like Soup (Food & Wine) On our wish list: the SK-II x Andy Warhol Limited-Edition collection you should not miss (Vogue Singapore) Why Airlines Are Fighting the 5G Rollout (Wired) Telecoms delay 5G launch near airports, but some airlines are cancelling flights (NPR) Why AT&T and Verizon are feuding with the FAA over a last-minute delay to 5G (The Verge) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Choosing to remain in the dark; on the power of “deliberate ignorance.” Plus, AI that can make academic articles more comprehensible, and one site in particular that took off last week. And a new browser-based history game that I at least can’t stop playing. Sponsors: Munk Pack, Use code KRH at Munkpack.com for 20% off your first purchase Jenni Kayne, Use code KRH at jennikayne.com for 15% off your first order Links: What We Don't Want to Know (Vice) "Deliberate ignorance can be understood as a cultural skill" (Max Planck Society) Jon Hamm Narrates Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, Updated for the Timeline Era (Kottke.org) A New Use For Ai: Summarizing Scientific Research For Seven-Year-Olds (The Verge) tl;dr papers tl;dr papers twitter examples This AI model will help you summarise a research paper in seconds (Study International) Wikitrivia is a web game that challenges your knowledge of historical dates (The Verge) Wiki History Game “Weird Al” Yankovic Biopic to Star Daniel Radcliffe (Pitchfork) Daniel Radcliffe to Play 'Weird Al' Yankovic in Roku Movie (Variety) Daniel Radcliffe tweet (Aliza Weinberger, Twitter) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The thought leaders who inspired Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Plus, his childhood name change, what to make of his legacy, and more. Also today, what caused the massive volcanic eruption in Tonga over the weekend? And gather up your silver bullets, it’s a Full Wolf Moon tonight. Sponsors: Jenni Kayne, Use code KRH at jennikayne.com for 15% off your first order Munk Pack, Use code KRH at Munkpack.com for 20% off your first purchase Links: National Day of Service (AmeriCorps) Commentary: The Historical Disruption of Martin Luther King Jr. (Daily Yonder) Just in Time for MLK Day, Comcast NBCUniversal Releases New Documentary, Avenue of Dreams: Reclaiming MLK Boulevards (The Root) How MLK's 13-year-old granddaughter thinks you should spend the holiday (NBC News) Americans see Martin Luther King Jr as a hero now, but that wasn't the case during his lifetime (CNN) The story of how Michael King Jr. became Martin Luther King Jr. (Washington Post) Coretta Scott King, 'thought partner' in building the dream (Philadelphia Tribune) Martin Luther King Jr.'s first date with Coretta: She was not impressed (Washington Post) Henry David Thoreau's Influence on Martin Luther King Jr. (Mental Floss) Remembering Martin Luther King Jr.: 5 things I've learned curating the MLK Collection at Morehouse College (The Conversation) The public has underestimated the radicalism of Martin Luther King Jr.'s early work (Washington Post) MLK is revered today but the real King would make white people uncomfortable (The Guardian) The Tonga eruption explained, from tsunami warnings to sonic booms (National Geographic) Why the volcanic eruption in Tonga was so violent, and what to expect next (The Conversation) Pacific volcano: New Zealand sends flight to assess Tonga damage (BBC) Full Wolf Moon, the first full moon of 2022, rises tonight (Space.com) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is slow internet and is it a thing we should still be striving towards? What about slow email? Plus, in some very pressing news, the US Food & Drug Administration has officially deregulated French dressing. And Welsh scientists have determined that masks make people look more attractive. Sponsors: Indeed, Get a free $75 sponsored job credit at Indeed.com/goodnews Lendtable, Use code KOTTKE at Lendtable.com to get an extra $50 added to your Lendtable balance Links: The Subversive Genius of Extremely Slow Email (The Atlantic) The US Federal Government Deregulates French Dressing (Wall Street Journal) FDA drops regulations on French dressing (NPR) FDA revokes French dressing standard of identity (The Takeout) Face masks make people look more attractive, study finds (The Guardian) Face masks 'make wearers look more attractive', study suggests (Cardiff University) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The growing market for non-alcoholic beers, and a new “undistilled non-whiskey” that’s arrived just in time for Dry January. Plus, the search for a new king of a tiny island. And, the debate over “ghost flights” is heating up in Europe. Sponsors: Lendtable, Use code KOTTKE at Lendtable.com to get an extra $50 added to your Lendtable balance Indeed, Get a free $75 sponsored job credit at Indeed.com/goodnews Links: WhistlePig Devil's Slide Non-Alcoholic Rye Whiskey (Paste) Why I Love the Continuing Growth (And Improvement) of Non-Alcoholic Beer (Paste) WhistlePig's New Non-Alcoholic Whiskey Is Aged for 6 Years Before Being 'Undistilled' (Food & Wine) Wanted: The Future King and Pub Manager of Piel Island (Atlas Obscura) Pub landlord, caretaker and monarch sought for isolated Piel Island (The Guardian) Piel Island: Search on for landlord to run pub and island (BBC) "Ghost Flights" Are Wreaking Havoc On The Environment For No Good Reason (Mic) Ghost Flights Are Polluting the Skies Thanks to Omicron (Gizmodo) EU Defends Airline Slot Rules Over Lufthansa Ghost Flights Row (Bloomberg) Girl Scout Cookie season officially begins and this year DoorDash will deliver (Good Morning America) 08/19/2020 episode explaining the double-naming system of Girl Scout Cookies (Kottke Ride Home) Thin Mints and Grape Nuts Cereal? Ryan Seacrest Reveals 'Life-Changing' Girl Scout Cookie Hack (People) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The real physics of Wile E. Coyote’s 10 billion volt electromagnet. Plus, cannabis can prevent SARS CoV-2 from spreading. Technically. And does listening to this podcast at double speed decrease your comprehension? Sponsors: Indeed, Get a free $75 sponsored job credit at Indeed.com/goodnews Lendtable, Use code KOTTKE at Lendtable.com to get an extra $50 added to your Lendtable balance Links: The Physics of Wile E. Coyote's 10 Billion-Volt Electromagnet (Wired) Scientists: Cannabis Can Prevent COVID-19 Infection (Vice) Oregon State research shows hemp compounds prevent coronavirus from entering human cells (EurkAlert) How much do students learn when they double the speed of their class videos? (Science Daily) Play mini golf to see how politicians tilt elections using maps (Washington Post) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A human has received a genetically-altered pig’s heart in a transplant for the first time ever. Plus, China’s lunar lander found water on the moon. And a look into the origins and phenomenon of Wordle. Sponsors: Lendtable, Use code KOTTKE at Lendtable.com to get an extra $50 added to your Lendtable balance Indeed, Get a free $75 sponsored job credit at Indeed.com/goodnews Links: In a First, Man Receives a Heart From a Genetically Altered Pig (NY Times) In 1st, US surgeons transplant pig heart into human patient (AP) First transplant of a pig heart into a person sparks ethics questions (STAT) A gene-edited pig’s heart has been transplanted into a human for the first time (MIT Technology Review) Chinese Lunar Lander Makes The First Ever On-Site Detection of Water on The Moon (Science Alert) Chang'E-5 lander makes first onsite detection of water on moon (Phys) China's Chang'E-5 lander finds first onsite evidence of water on the Moon (New Atlas) Wordle Is a Love Story (NY Times) Wordle creator overwhelmed by global success of hit puzzle (The Guardian) Wordle creator promises viral game will stay simple and ad-free (BBC) Done your Wordle for the day? Try out these spoofs instead (The Verge) Heard Of Wordle? Now There's A Pokémon Version (Nintendo Life) How to win at Wordle using linguistic theory (The Guardian) The Physical Manifestation Of Wurdle Pounds My Butt As A Slightly Frustrating But Ultimately Rewarding And Meditative Daily Routine by Chuck Tingle United States Mint Begins Shipping First American Women Quarters™ Program Coins (US Mint) Maya Angelou becomes first Black woman to appear on US quarter as Treasury begins distribution (CNN) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scientists are working on a plan to shoot tardigrades into interstellar space on lasers. Plus, the James Webb Space Telescope is so-far going better than anyone had dared to imagine. And alpaca’s favorite new year snack: Christmas trees. Sponsors: Indeed, Get a free $75 sponsored job credit at Indeed.com/goodnews Lendtable, Use code KOTTKE at Lendtable.com to get an extra $50 added to your Lendtable balance Links: Scientists Want to Send Tardigrades to Distant Stars With Massive Lasers (Vice) Sending Life to the Stars (The UCSB Current) All hail the Ariane 5 rocket, which doubled the Webb telescope's lifetime (Ars Technica) Even NASA Seems Surprised by Its New Space Telescope (The Atlantic) Bad Astronomy | James Webb Space Telescope ready to begin testing components (Bad Astronomy, Syfy Wire) In a Truly Historic Milestone, JWST Has Been Successfully Deployed! Now What? (Science Alert) Louth alpaca farmer delighted at Christmas tree donations (RTÉ) The weird reason why alpacas and goats love Christmas trees (Suffolk Live) Arby's new sandwich is so spicy it comes with a free shake (CNN) Best Deals During National Pizza Week 2022 (Thrillist) 05/20/2020 episode about Chuck E. Cheese's ghost kitchen & character lore (Kottke Ride Home) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Boaty McBoatface is helping diagnose the severity of the situation at the Doomsday Glacier in Antarctica. Plus, it looks like solar shingles are finally actually a thing. And something to try this weekend––the Dutch practice of uitwaaien. Sponsors: ExpressVPN, ExpressVPN.com/kottke for an extra 3 months FREE on a one-year package Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottke Links: How Explosives, a Robot, and a Sled Expose a Doomsday Glacier (Wired) Boaty McBoatface Is Set to Confront Antarctica's Doomsday Glacier (Gizmodo) Doomsday Glacier in Antarctica Could Collapse Soon: New Research (Rolling Stone) Scientists explore Thwaites, Antarctica's 'doomsday' glacier (AP) What Antarctica's 'Doomsday' Glacier Could Mean For The World (Science Alert) 10/19/2020 - Grand Duke Travis of Westarctica Wants To Save the Planet (Kottke Ride Home) The solar roof could finally become a reality thanks to GAF's nailable solar shingles (The Verge) Solar shingles you can nail to a roof unveiled by GAF Energy (Venture Beat) GAF Energy's easy-install solar shingles aim to outshine Tesla roofs and traditional panels (Tech Crunch) Forget hygge, it's time for uitwaaien (Washington Post) Uitwaaien: the Dutch invention you never knew you needed, until now (Dutch Review) Uitwaaien, or Outblowing, Is the Dutch Cure for the Winter Blues (Mental Floss) 09/17/2020 episode - Practice Friluftsliv This Winter (Kottke Ride Home) Corona's New Beer Adds Vitamin D, Removes Alcohol (AdWeek) Corona Looks to Conquer the "Vitamin D Beer" Market With Odd New "Sunbrew 0.0" Non-Alcoholic Beer (Paste) Wes Anderson to Direct Benedict Cumberbatch in Roald Dahl Film Adaptation (Collider) Wes Anderson to make new Roald Dahl adaptation with Benedict Cumberbatch (The Guardian) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A look at predictions for today from a 1922 article in The New York Herald. Plus, move over self-driving cars, introducing fish-operated vehicles. And car commercials in France will soon require advertisers to tell people not to drive. Sponsors: Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottke ExpressVPN, ExpressVPN.com/kottke for an extra 3 months FREE on a one-year package Links: Image 87 of The New York herald (New York, N.Y.), May 7, 1922 (Library of Congress) "One Hundred Years From Now" poem by Mary A. Ford (Library of Congress, LOC Serendipity) What the World Will Be Like in a Hundred Years (1922) (Hacker News) Scientists train goldfish to drive a fish-operated vehicle on land (Ars Technica) Not to Alarm Anyone, but Scientists Taught Goldfish to Drive (Gizmodo) Scientists Defy God, Teach Goldfish to Drive on Land (Vice) Car ads in France soon must encourage more environmentally friendly travel (NPR) 'Opt for cycling': French car ads required to back travel alternatives from 2022 (France24) French Car Ads Will Soon Be Required by Law to Tell You Not to Drive a Car (Gizmodo) Kew scientists name new tree after Leonardo DiCaprio (BBC) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gravity as a possible solution to one major drawback of wind and solar power, and reasons to be cautiously optimistic about our prospects for the climate overall. Plus, the link between physical strength and mental health. And the CDC’s zombie preparedness guide. Sponsors: ExpressVPN, ExpressVPN.com/kottke for an extra 3 months FREE on a one-year package Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottke Links: Gravity Could Solve Clean Energy's One Major Drawback (Wired UK) Gravity Energy Storage Will Show Its Potential in 2021 (IEEE Spectrum) The rare spots of good news on climate change (MIT Technology Review) What's the Difference Between a Rise of 1.5, 2, and 3 Degrees Celsius? (Global Citizen) On the Surprising Link Between Physical Strength and a Healthy Brain (Literary Hub) How the CDC would act in a zombie outbreak (Boing Boing) Preparedness 101; zombie pandemic (CDC) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The history and future of predicting the future. Plus, a new “open-source” COVID vaccine that could help way more people around the world get vaccinated. And, after taking down a statue of Robert E. Lee in Virginia, local experts found two time capsules inside its base. Sponsors: Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottke ExpressVPN, ExpressVPN.com/kottke for an extra 3 months FREE on a one-year package Links: The History of Predicting the Future (Wired) This Reddit Thread Predicting The Things People Are Sure Will Happen In 2022 Will Get You In The Right Headspace For The Rest Of The Year (Digg) New patent-free COVID vaccine developed as “gift to the world” (New Atlas) India's Corbevax vaccine was developed at Texas Children's Hospital. It expects nothing in return. (Washington Post) Editorial: Houston-made Corbevax vaccine welcome news in pandemic fight (Houston Chronicle) Two Time Capsules Found at Removed Confederate Statue Base (The Mary Sue) Experts find books, a coin and an envelope in Robert E. Lee statue's base (NPR) 2nd time capsule found at the Robert E. Lee statue site in Richmond (NPR) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A fresh argument for reclassifying Pluto as a full-fledged planet that would open the doors for way more planets than just the OG nine. Plus, it was raining fish in Texas last week. And if you’ve been trying to remember the title of a book you read as a kid, a new community on Instagram might be able to help you out. Sponsors: ExpressVPN, ExpressVPN.com/kottke for an extra 3 months FREE on a one-year package Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottke Links: Pluto should be reclassified as a planet, scientists argue (NBC News) Scientists avenge Pluto, claim 150 planets in our solar system (A/V Club) Moons are planets: Scientific usefulness versus cultural teleology in the taxonomy of planetary science (ScienceDirect) Fish fell from the sky in East Texas (NBC News) It rained fish over a Texas town this week in a bizarre weather event (CNN) Strange Rains (National Geographic) Can it rain frogs, fish, and other objects? (Library of Congress) Still looking for that picture book you loved as a kid? Try asking Instagram (NPR) Pease Porridge Press (@myoldbooks) (Instagram) 52 Things I Learned in 2021 (Kottke.org) 52 things I learned in 2021 (Tom Whitwell, Fluxx) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A history of the humble donut as a symbol of American patriotism, and a circular source of joy world round. Plus, a round-up of New Year’s traditions from around the world––in case you’re looking for a little inspiration on this perhaps quieter-than-usual New Year’s Eve. Links: Doughnuts: The fried treat that conquered the modern world (BBC) The Delicious Democratic Symbolism of...Doughnuts? (JSTOR Daily) The History of the Doughnut (Smithsonian Mag, 1998) Everything You Need to Know About the Great American Doughnut (Eater, 2015) How doughnuts became Australia's symbol of Covid hope (The Guardian) New Year's Good Luck Traditions: 7 food rituals to ward off misfortune in 2017 (Mic, 2017) New Year's Traditions from Around the World (Old Farmer’s Almanac) 7 New Year's Eve traditions from around the world to try at home (Washington Post) Tracing the Origins of a Black American New Year's Ritual (NY Times) New Year's Eve In Spain Is All About The Grapes — Save The Cava For Later (NPR, 2016) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The argument for emojis as folklore, the top emojis of 2021, and why an emoji reference site is being archived in the Library of Congress. Plus, it turns out gray hair can return to its original color… sometimes, and temporarily. And, waterbeds didn’t fully go away after the early 90s. Their main consumer base just shifted… to cows. Sponsors: GiveWell, Have your donation matched up to $250 by entering Kottke Ride Home at check out at GiveWell.org Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottke Links: Emojis Are Folklore (Emojipedia) The Most Frequently Used Emoji of 2021 (Unicode) Emoji to Scale 7/17/20 episode about World Emoji Day (Kottke Ride Home) Gray Hair Can Return to Its Original Color--and Stress Is Involved, of Course (Scientific American) What Ever Happened To Waterbeds? (Mental Floss, 2016) Cows Deserve Waterbeds, Too (TIME, 2012) Yep, Dairy Cows Really Love Water Beds (Modern Farmer, 2019) Cow Waterbeds: How Advanced Comfort Technology Sold A Crazy Idea To Dairy Farmers (HuffPost, 2013) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is the real driver of all of humanity’s innovations, doctrines, and oddities? According to some psychologists, disgust. Plus, the surprisingly recent history of counting down to midnight on New Year’s Eve. And forget smell-o-vision, now there’s a TV you can taste. Sponsors: Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottke GiveWell, Have your donation matched up to $250 by entering Kottke Ride Home at check out at GiveWell.org Links: How Disgust Explains Everything (NY Times) Why Do We Count Down to the New Year? (Zócal) Would You? (Gizmodo) Tasty TV: Japanese professor creates flavourful screen (Reuters) Where Is Webb? (NASA) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A round-up of Christmas traditions from around the world and throughout time. Plus, the US Army is working on a vaccine that could protect against all COVID and SARS variants, including omicron. And there’s a cream cheese shortage so Kraft Heinz is bribing us not to make cheesecakes over the holidays. Sponsors: Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottke GiveWell, Have your donation matched up to $250 by entering Kottke Ride Home at check out at GiveWell.org Links: 11 of the Weirdest Christmas Traditions We Should Absolutely Bring Back (Lifehacker) 13 of the Weirdest Christmas Traditions From Around the World (Lifehacker) 12/22/20 episode about Tió de Nadal and El Caganer (Kottke Ride Home) 12/21/20 episode about the German flaming mulled wine, feuerzangenbowle (Kottke Ride Home) The Battle for Christmas: A Social and Cultural History of Our Most Cherished Holiday by Stephen Nissenbaum Transgender Warriors: Making History from Joan of Arc to Marsha P. Johnson and Beyond by Leslie Feinberg Sweden's bizarre tradition of watching Donald Duck (Kalle Anka) cartoons on Christmas Eve. (Slate) From All Of Us To All Of You 1960 FANRES 2019 (Archive.Org) The Mummers Parade is returning to Broad Street on New Year's Day 2022 (Philadelphia Inquirer) US Army Creates Single Vaccine Against All COVID & SARS Variants, Researchers Say (Defense One) Army Testing a Universal Vaccine: Spike Ferritin Nanoparticle SpFN for All Variants (Business Insider) How the Cream Cheese Shortage Is Affecting NYC Bagel Shops (NY Times) Kraft will literally pay you not to make cheesecake this holiday season (NPR) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The James Webb Space Telescope is launching on Friday. Here’s what to expect, and why astronomers are so stressed out about it. Plus, Scotland may soon be issuing a three centuries overdue pardon to victims of its many witchcraft trials. And when the snowstorms come this season, your town might just be de-icing the roads with beet juice. Sponsors: GiveWell, Have your donation matched up to $250 by entering Kottke Ride Home at check out at GiveWell.org Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottke Links: Webb Telescope Approaches Launch, With an Eye Toward Cosmic Origins (NY Times) James Webb Space Telescope: how our launch of world's most complex observatory will rest on a nail-biting knife edge (The Conversation) Watch this space: New telescope to unlock mysteries of the cosmos (NBC News) Astronomers are freaking out over the launch of the James Webb telescope. (Slate) NASA refuses to rename James Webb Space Telescope (NPR) NASA Sets Coverage, Invites Public to View Webb Telescope Launch (NASA) Witches of Scotland: Bill to be brought forward to pardon women and others convicted of witchcraft (The Scotsman) Women executed 300 years ago as witches in Scotland set to receive pardons (The Guardian) UN adopts landmark resolution condemning witchcraft accusations (Humanists International) March episode about witches & ale wives (Kottke Ride Home) To Beat Winter, Cities Fight Back, With Beets (Bloomberg) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How an athlete’s blood could boost cognitive function, potentially in non-athletic people. Plus, the origin and meanings of the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” And, Christmas in July takes on a whole new meaning with cruises designed specifically for professional Santas. Sponsors: GiveWell, Have your donation matched up to $250 by entering Kottke Ride Home at check out at GiveWell.org Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottke Links: Can an Athlete's Blood Enhance Brainpower? (NY Times) The 12 Days of Christmas, explained: The story behind the carol (Vox) William Studwell's 2008 Carol of the Year (Religious News Service, 2008) 12 Days of a POP PUNK Christmas (YouTube) FACT CHECK: The Twelve Days of Christmas (Snopes, 2000) When Santa Goes on Vacation (NY Times) Scenes From a Bearded Santa Pleasure Cruise (MEL) Scenes From a Mall (This American Life) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How a librarian discovered a secret library within her library. Plus, some tips for unplugging more deeply when you’re on vacation. And the group of actual birds knocking Adele and Ed Sheeran off the top of the Australian music charts. Sponsors: GiveWell, Have your donation matched up to $250 by entering Kottke Ride Home at check out at GiveWell.org Tentree, Use code KOTTKE to get 15% off at tentree.com Links: Inside a hollow library book, a secret library (Capital Daily) @inusedbooks (Instagram) Decentralized Zine Library Project 'Punk' DC public library shirt raises $100K (Washington Post) How to Use Your Phone Less: 6 Tips for Going Device-Free on Vacation (Condé Nast Traveler) Bird songs bump stars off Australian music chart (BBC) Songs of Disappearance album featuring birdsongs of endangered species reaches the Top Five ARIA album charts (ABC Australia) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It turns out those pesky spotted lanternflies have changed the local honey in Pennsylvania, and it’s… kind of good? Plus, the FDA has approved eye drops that fix age-related vision problems. And one company is trying to prevent new staff turnover by letting them see what the job is really like using VR headsets. Sponsors: Tentree, Use code KOTTKE to get 15% off at tentree.com GiveWell, Have your donation matched up to $250 by entering Kottke Ride Home at check out at GiveWell.org Links: When Life Gave Pennsylvania Spotted Lanternflies, Its Bees Made Spotted Lanternfly Honey (Atlas Obscura) 09/17 episode about spotted lanternflies (Kottke Ride Home) The FDA Just Approved Eye Drops to Correct Aging Vision (Gizmodo) New FDA-approved eye drops could replace reading glasses for millions: "It's definitely a life changer" (CBS News) New Eye Drops Offer an Alternative to Reading Glasses (NY Times) The First FDA-Approved Eye Drops to Treat Blurry Vision Are Now Available in The US (Science Alert) MGM Resorts Job Seekers Can Try Out Roles in VR Before Starting (Business Insider) Alexa's latest celebrity voice is Santa Claus himself (The Verge) Ted Lasso Loses His Mustache in New Animated Holiday Short (Consequence TV) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A NASA spacecraft has just touched the sun for the first time in human history. Plus, are floating neighborhoods the future for coastal towns? And a look back at the origin of online reviews, and a question about their future. Sponsors: GiveWell, Have your donation matched up to $250 by entering Kottke Ride Home at check out at GiveWell.org Tentree, Use code KOTTKE to get 15% off at tentree.com Links: NASA craft 'touches' sun for 1st time, dives into atmosphere (AP) NASA Enters the Solar Atmosphere for the First Time (NASA) Embracing a Wetter Future, the Dutch Turn to Floating Homes (Yale E360) How online reviews came to rule our lives — How Did We Get Here? (Mashable) Section 230: everything you need to know about the law protecting internet speech (The Verge) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When did we first start sending holiday cards and will the tradition ever end? Plus, the health risks for humans in space and a high-tech sleeping bag that could prevent astronauts’ vision from deteriorating. And, Keanu Reeves explains what was going on in the infamous Sad Keanu photo. Sponsors: Tentree, Use code KOTTKE to get 15% off at tentree.com GiveWell, Have your donation matched up to $250 by entering Kottke Ride Home at check out at GiveWell.org Links: A Brief History of the Holiday Card (JSTOR Daily) Millennials are embracing the tradition of holiday cards (Washington Post) Christmas: A Candid History by Bruce David Forbes Halloween: The History of America's Darkest Holiday by David J. Skal NASA scientists consider the health risks of space travel (Space.com) NASA's new sleeping bags could prevent eyeball 'squashing' on the ISS (Engadget) Space sleeping bag to solve astronauts' squashed eyeball disorder (BBC) Study Investigates How Men and Women Adapt Differently to Spaceflight (NASA, 2011) Keanu Reeves finally explains "Sad Keanu" to Stephen Colbert (A/V Club) Keanu Reeves, Matt Kindt, and Ron Garney talk about 'BRZRKR', the top selling debut comic in 30 years (Mashable) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Need a creative boost? Try this napping hack from Thomas Edison and Salvador Dalí––research from this month says it actually works. The woman who successfully traded a bobby pin for a house. And Swedish towns are trying to reclaim their names from IKEA products. Sponsors: GiveWell, Have your donation matched up to $250 by entering Kottke Ride Home at check out at GiveWell.org Tentree, Use code KOTTKE to get 15% off at tentree.com Links: Sleep technique used by Salvador Dalí really works (Science Alert) Spark Creativity with Thomas Edison’s Napping Technique (Scientific American) Edison was right: Waking up right after drifting off to sleep can boost creativity (Science.Org) Just 10 Minutes of Moderate Running Can Boost Brain Activity, Study Shows (ScienceAlert) Salvador Dali (Hallmark Art Collection) From hairpin to house: woman who mastered ‘trading up’ realizes dream (The Guardian) 05/27/21 episode about the bobby pin project (Kottke Ride Home) Sweden reclaims place names from IKEA (CNN) Sweden wants to reclaim the names behind Ikea’s toilet brushes and trash cans (Fast Company) Discover the originals of Sweden (Visit Sweden) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Insights from the real-life NASA scientist behind Netflix’s new killer-comet movie, Don’t Look Up. Plus, reindeers are the only mammals whose eyes change color with the seasons. And their noses kind of do too––the science behind that, and the history of the most famous red-nosed reindeer of all. Sponsors: GiveWell, Have your donation matched up to $250 by entering Kottke Ride Home at check out at GiveWell.org Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnews Links: Meet the real NASA scientist behind Netflix’s Don’t Look Up (The Verge) Asteroid scientist Amy Mainzer talks space rock impacts and Netflix's new movie 'Don't Look Up' (Space.com) Netflix's Most Realistic Apocalypse Movie Reveals A Controversial Scientific Debate (Inverse) What a Times Journalist Learned From His 'Don't Look Up' Moment (NY Times) Why Are Reindeer Eyes Golden In Summer But Blue In Winter? (National Geographic) The Scientific Reason Why Reindeer Have Red Noses (Smithsonian Magazine) Christmas: A Candid History by Bruce David Forbes Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Finally we get some truth from bird truthers. Everything you need to know about the Birds Aren’t Real movement. Plus, New Zealand is banning tobacco completely for the upcoming generations. And Instagram is bringing back the chronological feed! Kind of. Sponsor: Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnews GiveWell, Have your donation matched up to $250 by entering Kottke Ride Home at check out at GiveWell.org Links: Birds Aren’t Real, or Are They? Inside a Gen Z Conspiracy Theory. (NY Times) Birds Aren't Real New Zealand to Ban Tobacco Permanently for Anyone Born After 2008 (Gizmodo) New Zealand to ban cigarettes for future generations (BBC) Novel New Plan in New Zealand To End Smoking (NPR) Instagram Is Bringing Back the Chronological Feed (Gizmodo) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cleaning advice from nineteenth century housekeepers. An upcoming feminist retelling of 1984. How to watch the Geminid meteor shower next week. And MST3K is officially coming back next year. Sponsors: GiveWell, Have your donation matched up to $250 by entering Kottke Ride Home at check out at GiveWell.org Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnews Links: Milk for Floors, Bread for Walls: 19th-Century Cleaning Tips for the Modern Era (NY Times) Spring Cleaning the Old-Fashioned Way (English Heritage) The Domestic Revolution by Ruth Goodman The Difference Between Disinfecting and Sanitizing, According to the CDC (LifeHacker) Feminist retelling of Nineteen Eighty-Four approved by Orwell’s estate (The Guardian) Sandra Newman is writing a feminist retelling of Nineteen Eighty-Four. (Literary Hub) A ‘feminist retelling’ of George Orwell’s 1984 is in the works (Polygon) Geminids: You need to watch the fiery fragments of an asteroid fall to Earth (Inverse) In Depth | Geminids – NASA Solar System Exploration (NASA) What's Up: Skywatching Tips from NASA (NASA) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How SpaceX’s giant Starship rocket could herald a new generation of space exploration. Plus, all sound recordings from the mid-1800s to 1923 are going to be released to the US Public Domain on January 1st. And Heinz and Terry’s have partnered to create a chocolate orange mayonnaise. Yeah. Sponsors: Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnews GiveWell, Have your donation matched up to $250 by entering Kottke Ride Home at check out at GiveWell.org Links: Planetary scientists are starting to get stirred up by Starship’s potential (Ars Technica) How SpaceX’s massive Starship rocket might unlock the solar system—and beyond (MIT Technology Review) NASA announces 10 new astronaut candidates who could fly to the Moon someday (The Verge) All Sound Recordings Prior to 1923 Will Enter the US Public Domain in 2022 (Public Domain Review) Public Domain Audio Release 2022 (Citizen DJ, Library of Congress) What Will Enter the Public Domain in 2022? (Public Domain Review) Chocolate Orange Mayonnaise exists, and you can win a jar right now (Boing Boing) How To Buy The Heinz Terry's Chocolate Orange Mayonnaise In The UK (Bustle) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you feel like the dialogue in movies has gotten harder to understand? It’s not just you. Sound professionals dish on all the reasons why it’s gotten worse in recent years. Plus, a giant steel structure coming soon to Tasmania has already started recording us to provide evidence of our shame to future civilizations. And honeybees that survived for weeks under volcanic ash after the eruption in the Canary Islands. Sponsors: GiveWell, Have your donation matched up to $250 by entering Kottke Ride Home at check out at GiveWell.org Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnews Links: The Real Reason You Use Closed Captions for Everything Now (Wired, 2018) Here's Why Movie Dialogue Has Gotten More Difficult To Understand (And Three Ways To Fix It) (Slash Film) October episode on open captions (Kottke Ride Home) This Mysterious, Indestructible 'Black Box' Will Tell The Future What Happened to Us (Science Alert) Earth is getting a black box to record our climate change actions, and it's already started listening (ABC Australia) Honeybees Survived for Weeks Under Volcano Ash After Canary Islands Eruption (NY Times) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why the FBI thought the inventor of Tickle Me Elmo might have been the Unabomber. A new potential method for freeze-drying vaccines. And it’s Krampusnacht this weekend. Here’s everything you need to know about the sinister anti-Santa. Sponsors: Lendtable, Use code KOTTKE at Lendtable.com to get an extra $50 added to your Lendtable balance Tentree, Use code KOTTKE to get 15% off at tentree.com Links: Tickle Me Kaczynski: How the Inventor of the Ultimate Elmo Toy Became a Unabomber Suspect (MEL) Study: How to freeze-dry a potential COVID-19 vaccine (University at Buffalo) Christmas: A Candid History by Bruce David Forbes The Battle for Christmas: A Social and Cultural History of Our Most Cherished Holiday by Stephen Nissenbaum The Origin of Krampus, Europe's Evil Twist on Santa (Smithsonian Magazine) What is Krampus? How the Christmas 'Devil' Became Cool (National Geographic) Who is Krampus? Explaining Santa Claus's Scary Christmas Counterpart (National Geographic) Krampus: the demonic Santa Claus you haven't heard about (Vox) Weird Krampus drive-thru parade puts terrifying twist on Christmas and it's Saturday night (NOLA) Necromanor Haunted House hosting pictures with Krampus for Christmas (Shreveport Times) Krampusfest returns to Orlando's Milk District in December to give a little festive punishment to the naughty (Orlando Weekly) Krampusnacht Celebrates Milwaukee's German Roots (Shepherd Express) 3rd Annual San Francisco Krampus Pageant at El Rio in San Francisco (SF Station) A Houston Area Brewery Released a Krampus Themed 12-Days of Christmas Beer Box (Texas Is Life) The R-Rated "Naughty Cut" Of Krampus Will Bring The Christmas Horror Movie To 4K (Slash Film) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How a twenty-one-year-old student-teacher and his roommates created Oregon Trail fifty years ago, and never made a cent from their creation. Plus, a letter Catherine the Great wrote in favor of vaccinations just sold for $1.3 million. And, for one night only, you can stay in the original Home Alone house. Sponsors: Tentree, Use code KOTTKE to get 15% off at tentree.com Lendtable, Use code KOTTKE at Lendtable.com to get an extra $50 added to your Lendtable balance Links: ‘Oregon Trail’ at 50: How Three Teachers Created the Computer Game That Inspired — and Diverted — Generations of Students (The 74 Million) Oregon Trail game history: An interview with the inventor, Don Rawitsch. (Slate) Watch the creators of retro gaming classic Oregon Trail reminisce in a now-retro video (A/V Club) The Oregon Trail emulator (Archive.Org) Oregon Trail Gets A Makeover With More Accurate Native American Representation (NPR) Miracle Workers (TBS) George Washington and the First Mass Military Inoculation (Library of Congress) Catherine the Great Letter Supporting Inoculations Sells for $1.3 Million (NY Times) Catherine the Great's Letter Endorsing Vaccines Sold at Auction (Mental Floss) 'Home Alone' house will be on Airbnb for one night only this month (NBC News) The 'Home Alone' house is on Airbnb. Merry Christmas, ya filthy animal. (Mashable) In Denmark, a snow storm means people overnight in an IKEA (AP) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why does Duolingo use such weird and sometimes deeply relatable phrases to teach its users new languages? Plus, the real science behind the much-hyped “first living robots that can now reproduce.” And the origins of the twelve days of Christmas. Like, the actual days. Not the song about turtle doves. Sponsors: Lendtable, Use code KOTTKE at Lendtable.com to get an extra $50 added to your Lendtable balance Tentree, Use code KOTTKE to get 15% off at tentree.com Links: Why are Duolingo sentences so weird? (Slate) ‘Amazing science’: researchers find xenobots can give rise to offspring (The Guardian) Interesting research, but no, we don’t have living, reproducing robots (Ars Technica) Bizarre Creatures Are World's First Self-Replicating 'Living Robots', Scientists Say (Science Alert) Christmas: A Candid History by Bruce David Forbes Jack's Countdown to Christmas (Instagram) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Mark Twain invented the bra clasp. Kinda. Plus, beavers doing the work of million dollar machines to restore land and prevent wildfires––in a fraction of the time and for a fraction of the cost. And a new twist has emerged in the McDonald’s milkshake machine lawsuit saga. Sponsors: Tentree, Use code KOTTKE to get 15% off at tentree.com Lendtable, Use code KOTTKE at Lendtable.com to get an extra $50 added to your Lendtable balance Links: Mark Twain disliked suspenders so much that he invented the bra clasp. (That’s right.) (Literary Hub) Mark Twain, Scrapbook Innovator (West Virginia University Libraries) Celebrity Invention: Mark Twain's Elastic-Clasp Brassiere Strap (The Atlantic) How Mark Twain’s Hatred of Suspenders Drove Him to Invent (Smithsonian Magazine) The Facts in the Case of Mark Twain's Vest Strap (Journal of the Patent Office Society, 1939) Curious Questions: Did Mark Twain really invent the bra strap? (Country Life) A dry California creek bed looked like a wildfire risk. Then the beavers went to work (Sacramento Bee) The McDonald’s Ice Cream Machine Hacking Saga Has a New Twist (Wired) New details in the McDonald's ice cream machine hacking lawsuit (The Takeout) McDonald's Ice Cream Machine Drama Gets Messier as Restraining Order Issued | Food & Wine (Food and Wine) Fri. 04/23 - A McShake Up: The Battle Over McDonald's Ice Cream Machines (Kottke Ride Home) Thu. 09/02 - What Is Grimace & Why Are Hyperlinks Blue? (Kottke Ride Home) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are influencers’ aesthetic choices for their kids threatening their brain development? Probably not, but the science behind it is kind of interesting. Plus, pub-goers in England got stranded for three days with an Oasis tribute band. And there’s a maple syrup shortage, but don’t worry, Canada was ready for it with their emergency maple syrup reserves. Sponsors: Lendtable, Use code KOTTKE at Lendtable.com to get an extra $50 added to your Lendtable balance Tentree, Use code KOTTKE to get 15% off at tentree.com Links: Are Instagram’s Aesthetic Moms Hindering Kids’ Development? (Wired UK) Snowstorm Leaves Dozens Stranded for Days in a Remote UK Pub (NY Times) "Snowasis": Blizzard Traps Dozens of People with Oasis Cover Band for Three Nights (Consequence of Sound) Storm Arwen: Repairs begin after worst storm damage in 20 years (BBC) Minus 10C Arctic blast predicted as Storm Arwen rages on (The Guardian) Facing shortages, Canada taps its strategic reserves of maple syrup (CNN) Amid massive shortage, Canada taps strategic reserves — of maple syrup (Washington Post) 'Vaccine' Is Merriam-Webster's Word of the Year (Gizmodo) Word of the Year 2021 (Merriam-Webster) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How does the CIA go about recruiting young people who are increasingly skeptical of government institutions and also not exactly covert about their lives on social media? Plus, a dictionary of fake words for very real feelings. And are we cautiously eyeing an end in sight for the supply chain issues? Kind of. Links: The CIA Is Trying to Recruit Gen Z—and Doesn't Care If They're All Over Social Media (Washingtonian) The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows (Tumblr) The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows (Kottke) The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows by John Koenig Supply-Chain Problems Show Signs of Easing (Wall Street Journal) Beanie Babies airlifted from Chinese factories to O’Hare to circumvent shipping backlogs in time for the holidays (Chicago Tribune) Techmeme Ride Home Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices