Cool Stuff Daily

Mars may still be volcanically active, which could mean positive things for the potential of life on the planet. More good vaccine news, this time from Oxford and AstraZeneca. And speaking of Oxford, the dictionary took a weird turn for their Word of the Year. Sponsors: BitTrust IRA, Waive your signup fee BitTrustIRA.com/kottke The Jordan Harbinger Show, jordanharbinger.com/subscribe Links: Signs of Recent Volcanic Eruption on Mars Hint at Habitats for Life (NY Times) Oxford-AstraZeneca's Covid-19 Vaccine Up to 90% Effective (Kottke) AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine is 70% effective on average, data show (STAT) 3rd major COVID-19 vaccine shown to be effective and cheaper (AP) AstraZeneca and Oxford Say Vaccine Is Up to 90 Percent Effective (NY Times) Oxford’s official word of 2020 is . . . well, it’s a lot of words. (LitHub) Words of an Unprecedented Year: 2020 English Language Report (Oxford University Press) OED Word of the Year expanded for 'unprecedented' 2020 (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

Hosted by Taraji P. Henson, Wondery (Dr. Death, Dirty John, The Shrink Next Door) and Universal Music Group present Jacked: Rise of the New Jack Sound. The story begins with a keyboard player in the heart of Harlem: Teddy Riley. Teddy’s entire world was music. Playing it. Composing it. Producing it. Teddy and his friend Timmy Gatling followed their dreams and started a revolution in the world of hip-hop and R&B.They crafted hit after hit, and were on top of the world. Their group’s quick rise to fame came with betrayals and broken friendships. Tensions within the band began to flare, and rivalries with other artists turned violent. As the stakes grew higher, their troubled manager pushed the group past their breaking point, with deadly results. Listen today at http://wondery.fm/Jacked_Kot 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

Did Ben Franklin really think the turkey should replace the eagle as America’s national bird? Analyzing the microbiome of Leonardo DaVinci’s drawings. And scientists who have figured out a way to rewind cellular aging in humans. Sponsors: Fitbod, Get one month free at Fitbod.me/kottke BitTrust IRA, Waive your signup fee BitTrustIRA.com/kottke Links: Should the Turkey Replace the Bald Eagle as the National Bird? Ben Franklin Thought So (Discover Magazine) From Benjamin Franklin to Sarah Bache, 26 January 1784 (National Archives) The microbiome of Da Vinci's drawings (Phys.Org) In a First, Scientists Say They've Partially Reversed a Cellular Aging Process in Humans (Science Alert) 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

Advice for enjoying the holidays even if you’re spending them alone this year. AI researchers have made a sarcasm detector. And a look at the burgeoning field of paleomixology. Sponsors: Fundrise, Get your first 90 days of advisory fees waived at fundrise.com/kottke Fitbod, Get one month free at Fitbod.me/kottke Links: How To Enjoy the Holidays if You'll Be Alone This Year (Vice) 22 Ways to Make Thanksgiving Into Your Own Weird, Perfect Holiday (Vice) Baskin-Robbins Turkey Cake (Baskin-Robbins) AI researchers made a sarcasm detection model and it’s sooo impressive (Venture Beat) How a Black-Feathered Dino Inspired a Series of Nerdy Cocktails (Atlas Obscura) 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 real talk about celebrating Thanksgiving this year. How artificial intelligence is being used to recreate smells from history. And Bunny the Talking Dog, the latest viral star on Tiktok. Sponsors: Fitbod, Get one month free at Fitbod.me/kottke Fundrise, Get your first 90 days of advisory fees waived at fundrise.com/kottke Links: How to Reduce (but Not Eliminate) Covid Risk at Holiday Gatherings (Wired) A Pandemic Winter Safety Rule: Don't Spend Time Indoors (The Atlantic) How to Decide if It's Safe to Get Together For the Holidays (Kitchn) One-Pot Thanksgiving Dinner Recipe (Kitchn) Kitchn’s Guide for a Festive, Small-Scale Thanksgiving Menu (Kitchn) Our Best Thanksgiving Menu for Just Two People | Kitchn (Kitchn) How AI Is Helping Researchers Recreate Historical Smells (Forbes) Seeing by Smelling – How to Enhance the Experience for Blind and Low Sighted People in a Museum of 'Visual' Art (Odeuropa) How Bunny the dog is pushing scientists’ buttons (The Verge) TheyCanTalk.org I Am Bunny (@what_about_bunny) (Instagram) I am Bunny (@what_about_bunny) (Tiktok) 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 trans figures in history in honor of Transgender Awareness Week. New stretchable sensor gloves that could change the game for robots, physical therapy, and VR. Liquid Death, the over-the-top canned water company, has released their second album of the year. Plus a new release from Waffle House. And a quick extra detail about the Moderna vaccine to add to my rundown from yesterday. Sponsors: Fundrise, Get your first 90 days of advisory fees waived at fundrise.com/kottke Fitbod, Get one month free at Fitbod.me/kottke Links: Murdered, Suffocated And Burned Alive: 350 Transgender People Killed In 2020 (Forbes) Transgender Awareness Week (GLAAD) Genny Beemyn, "Transgender History in the United States" (Genny Beemyn, UMass) Re-Dressing America’s Frontier Past by Peter Boag Revolutionary by Alex Myers ‎One From the Vaults (Apple Podcasts) Disclosure (Netflix) Stretchable sensor gives robots and VR a human touch (Cornell Chronicle) Researchers create Synthetic Skin that lets you ‘feel’ in virtual reality (Popular Mechanics) What you need to know about Liquid Death Mountain Water (Newsday) Liquid Death Drops “Greatest Hates Volume II” with Punk Rock Legends (Ghost Cult) Waffle House Is Releasing A Bacon-Infused Beer (Delish) Dolly Parton partly funded Moderna Covid vaccine research (The Guardian) An mRNA Vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 — Preliminary Report (New England Journal of Medicine) 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 second potential COVID-19 vaccine is showing incredible efficacy and bringing us a modest dash of hope. The future of sustainable air conditioning. The French media outlet that accidentally published obituaries for nearly a hundred public figures today… all of whom are still alive. And the Star Wars character that the SpaceX Crew Dragon astronauts brought to space this weekend. Sponsors: Fitbod, Get one month free at Fitbod.me/kottke Fundrise, Get your first 90 days of advisory fees waived at fundrise.com/kottke Links: Moderna says its covid-19 vaccine is nearly 95% effective (MIT Technology Review) Early Data Show Moderna’s Coronavirus Vaccine Is 94.5% Effective (NY Times) Fauci Is Excited About Moderna's COVID Vaccine, Reportedly 94.5% Effective (Vice) Moderna vaccine stability enables distribution in rural America: U.S. official (Reuters) How materials you’ve never heard of could clean up air conditioning (MIT Technology Review) Air Conditioning and Sycamore Trees | The Anthropocene Reviewed (WNYC) Keeping Cool | A Chilly Reception | 1 (American Innovations) Radio France Internationale publishes obituaries of people still alive (BBC) Romanian court tells man he is not alive (The Guardian) SpaceX Crew-1 team harnesses the Force by bringing Baby Yoda with them to space (The Verge) NASA and Peanuts Celebrate Apollo 10's 50th Anniversary (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

Why do we associate Friday the 13th with being unlucky? The weird and creative solutions some offices are coming up with for virtual holiday parties this year. And don’t miss the next, and first official, SpaceX astronaut flight launch tomorrow. Sponsor: BitTrust IRA, Waive your signup fee BitTrustIRA.com/kottke Link: 2020’s second Friday the 13th is this Friday (EarthSky) Friday the 13th isn’t unlucky. It’s a meme disguised as superstition. (Vox) Why is Friday the 13th So Unlucky? (Snopes) These companies are hosting the weirdest office Christmas parties (Wired) NASA certifies SpaceX's Crew Dragon for astronaut flights, gives 'go' for Nov. 14 launch (Space.com) SpaceX-NASA launch: What to know ahead of Saturday's Crew Dragon astronaut mission (CNN) The 50th Anniversary of the Iconic Exploding Whale (Kottke) Thu. 07/02 - The Exploding Whale Memorial Park (is a real thing) (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

A simple question with a very, very complicated answer: how many holes does a straw have? Why the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine could be significant beyond COVID-19. And yet another botched art restoration in Spain. Sponsor: Gabi Insurance, gabi.com/kottke Links: Q: What Is a Hole? A: We're Not Sure! (Kottke) How Many Holes Does a Human Have? (Vsauce, YouTube) What We Talk about When We Talk about Holes (Scientific American) GOING DEEP DISCUSSION TOPIC: "What is a hole?" (David Rees, YouTube) Why It’s a Big Deal If the First Covid Vaccine Is ‘Genetic’ (Wired) Why the Pfizer vaccine is a big deal (explained in simple terms) (The Literature Lady, Twitter) Seven big unknowns about the breakthrough coronavirus vaccine (Wired) Sculpture restoration work draws laughs, memories in Spain (AP) A Botched Restoration of a Painting in Spain Draws Outrage (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

A deep dive into why a statue of an eighteenth century feminist writer has caused such a stir in England. A new YouTube show to watch, made by Hungarian scientists, called The Genius Dog Challenge. And Collins Dictionary’s word of the year. Sponsor: Gabi Insurance, gabi.com/kottke Links: Mary Wollstonecraft finally honoured with statue after 200 years (The Guardian) On women's bodies in statues (Mona Eltahawy, Twitter) On women in parks (Tracy King, Twitter) For Three Suffragists, a Monument Well Past Due (NY Times) 9/23 episode discussing UK statues (Kottke Ride Home) Who Will Win the 'Genius Dog Contest?' Watch the Competition Begin (NY Times) ‘Lockdown’ Is 2020’s Word Of The Year, According To Collins Dictionary (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

Australian scientists have discovered two new mammals. The trick to sticking to new habits that requires letting yourself be bad at things. A new perfume that smells like books. And a calming, hand-drawn web-based game to help you chill out. Sponsor: Gabi Insurance, gabi.com/kottke Links: Two new species of greater glider discovered (Sydney Morning Herald) Here's how I finally got myself to start exercising (TED Ideas Blog) Portland's iconic Powell's Books is selling a book-scented unisex fragrance (CNN) Short Trip (Alexander Perrin) 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

Pfizer has good news about a potential COVID-19 vaccine. Here’s what you need to know. Meet the man who went viral over the weekend for interrupting a French newscaster. And high fashion scratch-and-sniff t-shirts; plus a brief history of the technology that enabled them. Sponsor: Gabi Insurance, gabi.com/kottke Links: Vaccine efficacy 101 (Natalie E. Dean, PhD, Twitter) Biden's Plans for Halting the Unchecked Spread of Covid-19 in the US (Kottke) Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine is more than 90 percent effective in first analysis, company reports (Washington Post) Pfizer Vaccine Is 90% Effective, Study Says (Buzzfeed News) Temper expectations re: vaccine (James Ball, Twitter) Meet Meka Anyanetu, Aka 'Omelette Du Fromage' Man (Forbes) What in the World Is a $590 Scratch-and-Sniff T-shirt Doing in 2020? (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

Scientists have discovered more information about an absolutely hellish, inhospitable planet. And it’s not the one you think. Colorado passed a first-ever of its kind ballot measure to reintroduce a species of animal to its state. An intriguing if not-yet-promising coronavirus deterrent in the form of a nasal spray. And the secret writing life of former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams. Sponsors: HelloFresh, Get $90 off including shipping at HelloFresh.com/ridehome90 Fitbod, Get one month free at Fitbod.me/kottke Links: Scientists discover bizarre hell planet where it rains rocks and oceans are made of lava (CBS News) We’ve Found Oceans Of Molten Lava And ‘Rocky Rain’ On The Most Extreme Planet Yet, Say Scientists (Forbes) Colorado Is Getting Its Wolves Back After Voters Approve Historic Referendum (Gizmodo) A nasal spray blocked infection in lab animals, raising hopes for a new weapon against the virus. (NY Times) All 8 Stacey Abrams Romance Novels - Selena Montgomery Books List (Oprah Magazine) Chris Pine writing class (Dana Koster, 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

Remember, remember the fifth of November. Here are some thoughts on the complicated legacy of the Gunpowder Plot. Why Nebraska’s electoral votes are so weird, and the man responsible for keeping them weird. And, inspired by the Korean practice of nunchi, some tips on being a better communicator in virtual spaces. Sponsors: Fitbod, Get one month free at Fitbod.me/kottke HelloFresh, Get $90 off including shipping at HelloFresh.com/ridehome90 Links: Guy Fawkes's Misunderstood Legacy (The Atlantic) Thread on Senator Ernie Chambers (Dr. Andrew R. Schrock, Twitter) Read the (Virtual) Room! How to Improve Your Digital Nunchi (Wired) 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

Brian Eno’s thoughts on social media and the role of the artist in these trying times, as well as a related new finding that smartphones may actually be helping to pop people’s filter bubbles when it comes to news consumption. A new archaeological discovery that has upended previous conceptions about gender roles in ancient hunter-gatherer societies. And Belgium’s cuddle buddy mandate. Sponsors: HelloFresh, Get $90 off including shipping at HelloFresh.com/ridehome90 Fitbod, Get one month free at Fitbod.me/kottke Links: Brian Eno's Music for Anxious Times (NY Times) Phones Actually Pop Skewed 'News Bubbles' (Futurity) Wed. 10/14 - Can Virtual Public Parks Save Democracy? (Kottke Ride Home) 9,000-Year-Old Burial of Female Hunter Upends Beliefs About Prehistoric Gender Roles (Gizmodo) Everyone Gets a Cuddle Buddy in Belgium's New Lockdown (Vice) Why Counties Are Livestreaming Their Ballot Counts (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

It’s Election Day in the US. I’ve got some good and some weird tips for staying calm amidst the election storm. An AI that can tell if you have COVID-19 just by listening to your cough. And a deep dive on one type of U.S. citizen who can’t run for public office in eight states. Sponsors: Fitbod, Get one month free at Fitbod.me/kottke HelloFresh, Get $90 off including shipping at HelloFresh.com/ridehome90 Links: Activities to reduce stress waiting for 2020 Election Day results (CNBC) How The Verge is coping with election anxiety (The Verge) Softbody Tetris (Kottke) Election Distractor (NY Times) This AI Can Tell if You Have Covid-19 Just by Listening to Your Cough, Researchers Say (Gizmodo) Anti-atheist statutes still foul 8 state constitutions in U.S. (Patheos) In Seven States, Atheists Push to End Largely Forgotten Ban (NY Times) Church of Universal Suffrage You either have to vote or lie to visit Pornhub on Election Day (A/V Club) 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

Heading into the U.S. general election tomorrow, a refresher on why polls can be unreliable and how to read them responsibly. An opportunity to own the vintage spyware gadgets of your dreams. It’s 2020: platypuses glow in the dark now. And a new site that will distract you from the election. Sponsors: BetterHelp, Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/REPORT Fitbod, Get one month free at Fitbod.me/kottke Links: How claims of voter fraud were supercharged by bad science (MIT Technology Review) Why Pollsters Were Completely and Utterly Wrong (Harvard Business Review) Opinion | This Election Map Will Be Everywhere. Don’t Let It Fool You. (New York Times) 2020 - Latest Election Polls (Real Clear Politics) For Sale: The Entire Spycraft Collection of New York's KGB Museum (Atlas Obscura) Scientists Just Discovered That Platypus Fur Glows Green Under UV Light (Vice) Election Distractor (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 you’re seeing more young Black students working the polls this year. How the pandemic might parallel Prohibition's effect on the American brewing industry. NASA followed up a viral tweet with a literal link to their Soundcloud, and it’s definitely worth listening to, especially this weekend. And Play-Doh has just introduced a new line for adults. Yes, really. Sponsors: Fundrise, Get your first 90 days of advisory fees waived at fundrise.com/kottke The Jordan Harbinger Show, jordanharbinger.com/subscribe Links: Why young Black students are stepping in as poll workers this election season (NBC News) How a Beer Historian Is Documenting COVID-19's Impact on Brewing (Atlas Obscura) NASA SoundCloud Playlist Features Sinister Sounds of Space (NASA) Play-Doh for Adults May Be the Most 2020 Product Innovation Yet (Ad Week) 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

Can lab-grown brains become conscious? And should we let them? Burger King’s latest creepy stunt to try to rile up McDonald’s. And why do we say trick-or-treat, and what is Mischief Night anyways? Sponsors: The Jordan Harbinger Show, jordanharbinger.com/subscribe Fundrise, Get your first 90 days of advisory fees waived at fundrise.com/kottke Links: Can lab-grown brains become conscious? (Nature) Burger King Halloween stunt makes Ronald McDonald appear in restrooms (Business Insider) Wonder Fair's Virtual Haunted Bathroom (Wonder Fair) Mischief Night and Halloween: A Brief History of the Term (TIME) Why Do We Say 'Trick or Treat' on Halloween? (Mental Floss) Halloween: The History of America's Darkest Holiday by David J. Skal 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 back at one hundred years ago when women ruled a notorious wild west town. Some thoughts on the effects of technology on our ability to remember our thoughts in the long-term. And the internet is calling it the best game of 2020, but it’s actually just a virtual 3D tour of a house for sale. What’s going on? Sponsors: Fundrise, Get your first 90 days of advisory fees waived at fundrise.com/kottke The Jordan Harbinger Show, jordanharbinger.com/subscribe Links: Remembering When Women Ruled a Wild West Town (Atlas Obscura) Gaining, Losing, and Winning Back the Vote: The Story of Utah Women's Suffrage - Better Days Curriculum (Utah Women’s History) Are we losing our ability to remember? (Scott Taylor) This 3D home tour is the best accidental video game of 2020 (A/V Club) The House on Blue Lick Road (Waxy) 3D Tour of 880 Blue Lick Road 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

Throwing cold water on that whole signs-of-life-on-Venus news. A new travel guide to haunted hotels, based on bad Tripadvisor reviews. A study looking into why we don’t click or comment on certain posts online. And Kazakhstan changes their stance on Borat. Sponsors: The Jordan Harbinger Show, jordanharbinger.com/subscribe Fundrise, Get your first 90 days of advisory fees waived at fundrise.com/kottke Links: New analysis casts serious doubt on the claim of phosphine in the atmosphere of Venus (Bad Astronomy) 12th order polynomial explanation (Bad Astronomy) Ghost Stories of Tripadvisor is a dreadful directory of hotel hauntings (It’s Nice That) 3 Things Drive Our Social Media 'Non-Click' Decisions (Futurity) Why don't we click on some social media posts? (UMich) Kazakhstan stops resisting Borat, adopts "Very nice!" tourism slogan (A/V Club) 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

NASA’s big announcement has been revealed: there is way more water on the moon than we thought. An update on the murder hornet situation. Oreo has built a vault in Norway to preserve a stash of Oreos in case that Election Day asteroid, which is absolutely not going to hit the Earth, hits the Earth. And mutant crayfish clones have taken over a Belgian cemetery just in time for Halloween. Sponsors: FightCamp, joinfightcamp.com/ride The Jordan Harbinger Show, jordanharbinger.com/subscribe Links: NASA's Big Moon News: There's Water All Over the Place (Gizmodo) NASA’s SOFIA Discovers Water on Sunlit Surface of Moon (NASA) Water on the Moon could sustain a lunar base (BBC) Washington Scientists Destroy First Murder Hornet Nest in US (Earther) In Japan, the ‘Murder Hornet’ Is Both a Lethal Threat and a Tasty Treat (NY Times) Oreo stashed its cookies in a doomsday vault in preparation for the 'Election Day asteroid' (CNET) Hundreds of self-cloning crayfish invade Antwerp cemetery (Brussels Times) An aquarium accident may have given this crayfish the DNA to take over the world (Science Mag) 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 Venus Flytraps have a short-term memory? A new interactive database of every lifeform that’s ever gone into space from Earth. The Seattle bar that made a pandemic-safe pinball machine. And Burger King is getting in on the zero-waste game with reusable containers in select markets. Sponsors: FightCamp, joinfightcamp.com/ride Fitbod, Get one month free at Fitbod.me/kottke Links: The secret of how the Venus flytrap “remembers” when it captures prey (Ars Technica) "The Astronaut Database" (Supercluster) Bat Hung onto Shuttle During Liftoff (NASA) Seattle arcade thinks on its feet, introduces touchless pinball (NBC King5) Burger King is testing a new, reusable container for Whoppers (Fast Company) Meet Loop, the new zero-waste platform for consumer products (Fast Company) Is the McDonald's Ice Cream Machine Broken? (Kottke) 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 does root beer have to do with a potential COVID-19 vaccine? A deep dive on that connection. A peek into the world of people who grow giant vegetables. And the Iowa woman who had her cat successfully cloned. Sponsors: Fitbod, Get one month free at Fitbod.me/kottke FightCamp, joinfightcamp.com/ride Links: A COVID-19 Vaccine Could Rely on Rare Trees in Chile (The Atlantic) COVID-19 tracker: Roche taps Atea for oral antiviral; AstraZeneca's US vaccine trial to resume 'imminently' (Fierce Pharma) ‘We’re like athletes’: the secret lives of giant-vegetable growers (The Guardian) Backyard Giants: The Passionate, Heartbreaking, and Glorious Quest to Grow the Biggest Pumpkin Ever by Susan Warren Squashed by Joan Bauer Iowa Woman Has Her Dead Pet Cat Cloned (Oddee) ViaGen Pets | America's Pet Cloning Experts 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

Today is International Pronoun Day so here are some historical facts about pronouns. Scientists have discovered a previously unknown organ in the human body. And forget about WeWork, a Japanese amusement park has offered up their ferris wheel as a co-working space. Sponsors: FightCamp, joinfightcamp.com/ride Fitbod, Get one month free at Fitbod.me/kottke Links: A brief history of singular 'they' (Oxford English Dictionary) He, she, or ... ? Gender-neutral pronouns reduce biases – study (The Guardian) Gender-neutral pronouns: When 'they' doesn't identify as either male or female (Washington Post) Kamala versus Daenerys (The.Ink) International Pronouns Day (Pronouns.Org) Scientists Just Discovered a Mysterious Organ Lurking in The Centre of The Human Head (Science Alert) Doctors May Have Found Secretive New Organs in the Center of Your Head (NY Times) Japanese theme park lets you co-work from the Ferris wheel (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

Tardigrade sunscreen. Coming soon? How to enjoy a socially-distanced holiday season. Some promising methods for upcycling plastic into more valuable materials. And the curious case of the extremely moldy Twinkie. Sponsors: Fitbod, Get one month free at Fitbod.me/kottke FightCamp, joinfightcamp.com/ride Links: This tardigrade can glow to protect itself when exposed to UV rays (CNN) How to Make Socially Distanced Holidays Actually Feel Special (Vice) If recycling plastics isn’t making sense, remake the plastics (Ars Technica) Scientists Are Fascinated By An 8-Year-Old, Moldy Twinkie (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 fourteen-year-old Texan who may have just made an important discovery for potential COVID-19 treatments. An update on the safety and new norms surrounding air travel. Nokia is building a mobile network on the moon. And the website that’s basically a more organized Chat Roulette but for trying to heal the US’s political divide. Sponsors: BetterHelp, Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/REPORT Fitbod, Get one month free at Fitbod.me/kottke Links: This 14-Year-Old's Discovery Could Lead to a Cure for COVID-19 (Vice) 3M Young Scientist Challenge winner is Anika Chebrolu, who won for a coronavirus discovery (CNN) How Air Travel Has Changed During COVID-19 According to The Points Guy (LifeHacker) What to Do If Your Airplane Seatmate Won't Wear a Mask (Traveler) The risk of COVID-19 infection on flights is 'very low,' and 1 infected passenger would take 54 hours to spread the virus to others onboard, a US government study found (Business Insider) Got any signal up here? Nokia to build mobile network on the moon (Reuters) PartyLine - 🇺🇸 Live voice-chat with other Americans ‎Conversations with People Who Hate Me (Dylan Marron, Apple Podcasts) 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

More and more humans these days have an extra artery. The 2020 Tony Award nominations and the very strange case of Mr. Aaron Tveit. A calculator that will tell you how much time you’re wasting in your day not listening to podcasts. And The Flaming Lips have a plan to bring concerts back, responsibly. Sponsor: FightCamp, joinfightcamp.com/ride Links: More Humans Are Growing an Extra Artery in Our Arms, Showing We're Still Evolving (Science Alert) 2020 Tony Award Nominations: Jagged Little Pill, Moulin Rouge!, Slave Play Lead the Pack (Playbill) The 2020 Tony nominations have been announced, and they’re the weirdest ever (Washington Post) Review: ‘The Lightning Thief,’ a Far Cry From Olympus (New York Times) The Podcast Calculator is here to fill up your "dead time" (A/V Club) Podcast Calculator - Reclaim the Dead Time (OmniCalculator) The Flaming Lips are testing out bubble concerts (A/V Club) Interview: The Flaming Lips' Wayne Coyne Talks 'American Head,' COVID-19, Audience Bubbles & More (JamBase) 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 new study puts our odds of living in a simulation at about 50-50. So, that’s a thing. There has been a second sighting of a person on a jetpack flying through LAX’s flight path. And tips to curb your phone habit, adapted from methods used to quit smoking. Sponsor: FightCamp, joinfightcamp.com/ride Links: Do We Live in a Simulation? Chances Are about 50–50 (Scientific American) LAX reports another sighting of person wearing jet pack (LA Times) A jetpack at LAX? Maybe. Jetpacks are very real (LA Times) Quit Your Phone Addiction Using Methods That Work for Smokers (Better Humans) Unflattering Dog Photo Challenge (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

A thought-provoking proposal from Eli Pariser on how we can fix the broken parts of the internet by creating digital public parks. NASA drops their latest single: the sounds of the Milky Way. And how to make your own AR jack o’lantern using an Amazon Prime box. Sponsor: FightCamp, joinfightcamp.com/ride Links: To Mend a Broken Internet, Create Online Parks (Wired) Data Sonification: Sounds from Around the Milky Way (NASA) How to View Augmented Reality Experiences Hiding on Your Amazon Boxes (LifeHacker) 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 all those merpeople and sea monsters on old maps? Why Peru opened up Machu Picchu after seven months for one single man to visit. The supermassive black hole that spaghettified a star. And the Anti-Ad Ad Club paying influencers to trash talk corporations. Sponsor: FightCamp, joinfightcamp.com/RIDE Links: Why Did Renaissance Europeans See Merpeople Everywhere? (Literary Hub) In 1562 Map-Makers Thought America Was Full of Mermaids, Giants, and Dragons (Atlas Obscura) Peru opens Machu Picchu for a single Japanese tourist after almost seven-month wait (Reuters) After a 7-Month Wait, This Tourist Got Machu Picchu All To Himself (NY Times) ESO telescopes record last moments of star devoured by a black hole (Science Daily) Astronomers get a front row seat to a star getting torn apart by a huge black hole (Bad Astronomy) Get paid for shitting on Amazon, Facebook, and other big brands (A/V Club) Anti Ad Ad Club 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’s Indigenous People’s Day today. How and when did this start becoming a thing? How west coast governments are finally turning to tribal leaders for assistance preventing wildfires. A serious collaboration between Weird Al Yankovic and Portugal. the Man. And an interactive website that shows you a global map of tribal territories and languages. Sponsor: FightCamp, JoinFightCamp.com/RIDE Links: The Native History of Indigenous Peoples Day (Yes Magazine) Indigenous Peoples Day: 4 Things to Know (Teen Vogue) Native America Calling All My Relations This Land Suppressing Indigenous Knowledge Created Uncontrollable Wildfires (Bitch Media) Alarmed by Scope of Wildfires, Officials Turn to Native Americans for Help (NY Times) Portugal. the Man, 'Weird Al' Yankovic Team Up for 'Who's Gonna Stop Me' (Rolling Stone) Portugal. The Man on music, stardom, indigenous rights and playing only 'live instruments' at CRSSD Festival (San Diego Union Tribune) Native-Land.ca | Our home on native land 'I regret it': Hayden King on writing Ryerson University's territorial acknowledgement (CBC) Indigenous Land Acknowledgement, Explained (Teen Vogue) 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 kind of operating system do they use in space? The science behind cocktails, to up your at-home mixology game. The 22-year-old responsible for the most viral beats on Tiktok. And the Connecticut mayor who isn’t taking any of John Oliver’s crap. Links: Definitely not Windows 95: What operating systems keep things running in space? (Ars Technica) Cocktail Chemistry: 10 Science-Backed Tips for the Perfect Drink (Discover Magazine) Good Drinks: Alcohol-Free Recipes for When You're Not Drinking for Whatever Reason (Kottke, Bookshop) Meet Ricky Desktop, the most viral beatmaker on TikTok (The Verge) Danbury to Name Sewage Plant After John Oliver If He Visits (Vulture) 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 Islamic scholars who beat Darwin to the punch by about a thousand years. A cool site for finding new books to read. The world’s largest ouija board. And naked celebrities teaching us about naked ballots. Links: A Thousand Years Before Darwin, Islamic Scholars Were Writing About Natural Selection (Vice) Whichbook | A new way of choosing what book to read next World's Largest Ouija Board (Rob Allam, Twitter) World’s Largest Ouija Board Unveiled in Salem, Massachusetts (Mental Floss) OUIJAZILLA! (Talking Boards Historical Society) These Naked Celebs Have an Important Message for Voters (Represent Us, YouTube) "IMPORTANT" (2016 GOTV celebrity video) (Save the Day, YouTube) Nude celebrities ask you to read mail-in ballot instructions (A/V Club) 'Naked Ballot' Rule Raises Worries For Pennsylvania Voters (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 twenty-four possible super-habitable planets that could be better than Earth. The man you can pay to gatecrash your funeral. The perfect conclusion to the skateboarding cranberry juice trend, and what the heck that trend was. And the winner of Fat Bear Week 2020. Links: Scientists Have Identified 24 Possible 'Superhabitable' Planets (Vice) 'Coffin confessor' Bill Edgar paid to gatecrash Queensland funerals and speak up for the dead (ABC) Cranberry Juice Skateboarder Gets Surprised With A New Truck Full Of Juice From Ocean Spray (Digg) The Internet Has An Embarrassing, Dancing Mexican Uncle In Tío TikTok (Mitú) All Hail 747, Your Hefty Fat Bear Champion of 2020 (Earther) 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 the pandemic is changing our taste in music. The most ironic thing that could happen to a newly-published book titled Word Perfect. How asbestos might actually be a weapon against the climate crisis. And a Rocky Horror Picture Show-themed monument in New Zealand. Links: Is Pandemic Brain Changing Your Taste in Music? You're Not Alone (Vice) "Music is 5x as good right now" (Demi Adejuyigbe, Twitter) Famed lexicographer's new book "Word Perfect" released with a ton of typos (Boing Boing) Asbestos could be a powerful weapon against climate change (you read that right) (MIT Technology Review) There's a park in New Zealand dedicated to Riff Raff from ROCKY HORROR (Boing Boing) Riff Raff (Visit Hamilton) RiffRaffStatue.org 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

Archaeologists have found evidence of neurons in the brain of a Mount Vesuvius victim that basically turned to glass. The latest entrepreneurial trend of the pandemic taking off, in part thanks to influencers? Vending machine ownership. A Wikipedia hack for learning new-to-you complex topics. And another U.S. president whose illness had the potential to throw the nation into chaos. Sponsor: BetterHelp, Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/REPORT Links: Archaeologists find evidence of neurons in glassy brain of Vesuvius victim (Ars Technica) The economics of vending machines (The Hustle) Simple Wikipedia George Washington nearly died from the flu. (Washington Post) George Washington (Brad Neeley, YouTube) 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 crows have some skills we once thought were unique to humans. Breaking down what exactly ingredients like “eye of newt” and “tongue of dog” actually are. And Neil Cicierega’s latest mash-up album, Mouth Dreams, is here to bring you a smile in this tough year, but also give you nightmares. Links: Crows possess higher intelligence long thought primarily human (STAT News) Smartest Birds: How Smart Are Crows Compared to Humans? (Popular Mechanics) Please Pass Me The Eye Of Newt; What's Really In That Witch's Cauldron (Dave’s Garden) Neil Cicierega's Mouth Sounds mashes up Star Wars, Limp Bizkit, Peter Gabriel (A/V Club) MOUTH DREAMS (Neil Cicierega) 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 are people saying there’s a black hole at the center of the Earth? The Irish Supreme Court declares that Subway’s bread is not actually bread. The surprising controllers the US Navy uses for its subway periscopes. And winter is coming. So here are some practical tips for preparing for it. Links: No, There Isn’t A Black Hole At The Center Of The Earth (Forbes) Strange Research Paper Claims There's a Black Hole at the Center of the Earth (Futurism) Subway sandwiches contain 'too much sugar' to legally be considered bread, Supreme Court rules (The Journal) Subway's Bread Has Too Much Sugar to Be Called Bread in Ireland (Gizmodo) If You're Already Dreading Winter, Here Are Some Small Ways to Prepare Now (Vice) US Navy submarines are getting Xbox 360 controllers to control their periscopes (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

A guide to the lunar spectacles in October. Some tips for improving communication when wearing masks. The surprising discovery that some of Edward Hopper’s early works were copied. And the wearable social-distancing tech allowing the London Marathon to go forward. Links: Moon Today Halloween Blue Moon in 2020: How Rare Is a Full Moon on Halloween? (Old Farmer’s Almanac) All you need to know: 2019’s Hunter’s Moon (EarthSky) What is a Hunter's Moon? (Universe Today) 2020, October 31: Rare Halloween Full Moon (When the Curves Line Up) How to Use Nonverbal Cues to Make Your Point While Wearing a Face Mask (LifeHacker) Early Works by Edward Hopper Found to be Copies of Other Artists (NY Times) The London Marathon will go ahead thanks to social-distancing wearables (Engadget) 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 Halloween rocket launch. A brief peek into the history of book burnings in honor of Banned Books Week. The surprising and grim origins of Nike’s “Just Do It” slogan. More water has been found on Mars. And the return of Fat Bear Week. Links: NASA targeting Halloween for next SpaceX Crew Dragon astronaut launch (CBS News) The Shockingly Grim Origins of Nike’s Famous Slogan (Better Marketing) Nike 'Just Do It' slogan inspired by Utah spree killer Gary Gilmore (Business Insider) Buried lakes of liquid water discovered on Mars (BBC) Bad Astronomy | Scientists find several lakes of liquid water under the surface of Mars (Syfy) Astronomers Find Potential Hidden Lakes on Mars (The Mary Sue) Fat Bear Week 2020 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

An undergrad has proven that paradox-free time travel is indeed possible. If you thought email newsletters were ubiquitous now, let me introduce you to the world of 1930s mimeograph newsletters. The emerging field of biomedical tattoos. And the Satanic tea company here to bust stereotypes. Links: Time Travel Theoretically Possible Without Leading To Paradoxes, Researchers Say (NPR) Time Travel Is Possible: Math Proves Paradox-Free Time Travel (Popular Mechanics) Time Travel - Is It Possible? (Popular Mechanics) Peak Newsletter? That Was 80 Years Ago (Wired) We’re at Peak Newsletter, and I Feel Fine (Vanity Fair) Dynamic tattoos promise to warn wearers of health threats (The Conversation) Care for a Cup of Satanic Chamomile? (NY Times) Bones Coffee Company 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 face mask economy––how everyone from high fashion designers to mom and pop shops on Etsy met the demand, and where they go from here. The origins of the phrase “jack of all trades.” Arnold Schwarzenegger is trying to fund polling locations. And Vin Diesel pivots to singer-songwriter. Sponsor: Indeed, Get a $75 credit at Indeed.com/GOODNEWS Links: How a couple of mom-and-pop Etsy shops made millions off masks (The Verge) The Real Reason Every Fashion Company Is Now Making Face Masks (Marker) Vistaprint, Gap, and Etsy Sellers Pivoted to Making Masks. What Happens When the Bubble Pops? (Marker) Jack of All Trades meaning (The Idioms) "Jack of all trades, n." (Oxford English Dictionary) Essayes and Characters of a Prison and Prisoners by Geffray Mynshul Arnold Schwarzenegger says he'll pay to reopen polling centers across America so everyone can vote (Upworthy) Vin Diesel Is a Sensitive Club King on Debut Single 'Feel Like I Do' (Rolling Stone) 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 guide to saying no for people-pleaser’s. A recently discovered secret party room located under Grand Central Terminal and other strange breaking news from the New York City subway. Experts weigh in on why humans evolved to have butts. And the mysterious reason the internet went out every morning at seven am across an entire village in Wales. Sponsor: Indeed, Get a $75 credit at Indeed.com/GOODNEWS Links: How To Say No, For The People Pleaser Who Always Says Yes (NPR) Secret 'Man Cave' Discovered in Room in Beneath Grand Central Station (Gizmodo) Subway Pooping Ban On MTA Board To-Doo List (Patch) Why Do We Have Butts? (Gizmodo) Old TV caused village broadband outages for 18 months (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

A new discovery indicates chromium is about a thousand years older than we thought. Why it’s sometimes better not to use your full potential on things. A group of chefs trying to make drive-thru fine dining a thing. And an Enola Holmes PR stunt from Netflix that’s shining a light on women’s representation. Sponsor: Indeed, Get a $75 credit at Indeed.com/GOODNEWS Links: 1,000-Year-Old Precursor to Stainless Steel Found in Iran, Surprising Archaeologists (Gizmodo) This 'Modern' Invention Is Really 1,000 Years Old, Researchers Discover (Vice) In Defence of Half-Arsing (David R. MacIver) Why this drive-through restaurant could be the future of fine dining (Fast Company) Netflix Enola Holmes Statues Thread (Netflix UK, Twitter) Netflix Celebrates 'Enola Holmes' Release With Statues Of Sisters Overshadowed By Famous Brothers (Forbes) More Monuments to Women (Public Monuments and Sculpture Association) 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 new study has found that fans of horror movies are having an easier time coping with the pandemic. The woman who serves as the Queen of England’s body double. A new species of dinosaur discovered with perfectly preserved fossils in China. And a few ways to get your nature fix from the National Parks Service, including one that will make you $50,000 richer. Sponsors: Indeed, Get a $75 credit at Indeed.com/GOODNEWS Links: Horror Movie Fans Are Having an Easier Time Dealing With the Pandemic, Study Says (Vice) The Morbid Curiosity Scale Coltan Scrivner (Psychology of Morbid Curiosity) 125-Million-Year-Old Dinosaurs Found Buried By Volcano Eruption In China (All That’s Interesting) 125 million-year-old dinosaur found buried by a volcanic eruption in China (CNN) Visit Any National Park for Free on September 26—or Volunteer to Help Maintain Them (Mental Floss) National Public Lands Day (National Environmental Education Foundation) Michelob ULTRA Pure Gold CEO A Photographic Window into the Remote Siberian Territory of Yakutia (Kottke) 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 do we eat fish sticks? The story behind those viral annual 21st of September videos. How to get the mental health benefits of “vacation anticipation” without going on vacation. And one of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s favorite teachers. Sponsors: BetterHelp, Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/REPORT Indeed, Get a $75 credit at Indeed.com/GOODNEWS Links: How marketers convinced America to eat fish sticks (The Hustle) The shifting popularity of fish throughout American history (Splendid Table) Interview: Demi Adejuyigbe's 'September 21' Videos (Vulture) 9/21 (Demi Adejuyigbe, YouTube) September 21st! A Charity Fundraiser (Action Network) How travel excitement can provide COVID-19 stress relief (LA Times) Ruth Bader Ginsburg on how Vladimir Nabokov influenced her writing. (Lit Hub) Opinion | Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Advice for Living (NY Times) Egypt tomb: Sarcophagi buried for 2,500 years unearthed in Saqqara (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

Jason Kottke started Kottke.org in 1998, making it one of the oldest, still maintained blogs on the web with over 26,000 posts spanning topics from art and technology to design, culture, and general knowledge. This is a peek behind the scenes of Jason's process, his philosophies, and general thoughts on the internet––where it’s been, and maybe where it’s going. We talked about what running the blog looks like now, how it’s changed over the years. The evolution of patronage models, and his current thoughts on them. We talked a bit about burn out and managing that tension between what you really want to do versus what may appear to be the path of success online. And about the increasingly challenging task of maintaining ownership over what you create online. We also compared and contrasted our experiences as an OG blogger versus an OG vlogger, and how terrible both of those words are. Links: Kottke.Org Jason Kottke 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 2020 Ig Nobel Prize winners were announced last night. Some people are trying to make CD players a thing again. How algorithms can detect our mood based on what we write online. And the surprising connection between Frozen and Arrested Development. Sponsor: Beachbody on Demand, Text "GOODNEWS" to 303030 for a free trial membership Links: 2020 Ig Nobel Prize Winners (Improbable Research) Emergency Bra Scientific American Endorses Joe Biden (Scientific American) Sara Little Turnbull Inspired the N95 Respirator From a Bra Cup Design (House Beautiful) CD Players Are Back From the Dead and Now Work With Airpods (Gizmodo) How To Remove Ham From CD Drive (InconseQuest, YouTube) How algorithms discern our mood from what we write online (Sinapticas) Hedonometer This Popular Line In The "Frozen" Song "Love Is An Open Door" Was From An "Arrested Development" Episode (BuzzFeed) 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 tips for tricking the algorithms and having a more neutral social media feed. Scientists have discovered a possible way to prevent motion sickness. The Norwegian concept of friluftsliv and how it could be just what we need this winter. And the latest installment in the sad saga of Chuck E. Cheese versus the pandemic. Sponsor: Beachbody on Demand, Text "GOODNEWS" to 303030 for a free trial membership Links: How to Break Out of Your Social Media Echo Chamber (Wired) Firefighter fighting conspiracies (WildlandMike, Tiktok) You can train your brain to reduce motion sickness (Eurekalert) What is ‘friluftsliv’? How an idea of outdoor living could help us this winter (National Geographic) Why Chuck E. Cheese Needs to Destroy 7 Billion Paper Prize Tickets (Food and Wine) Chuck E. Cheese wants to destroy 7 billion prize tickets, watch the world burn (The Takeout) 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