"Pastor Todd Holmes told WJHL that the AR-15 was just one of many giveaways at the church, and he thought it was appropriate since it was in honor of Independence Day." https://www.kcbd.com/2024/07/08/church-gives-away-ar-15-part-fourth-july-raffle

Who knew the Addams Family’s home was quite so colorful? https://www.boredpanda.com/the-addams-familys-living-room-was-actually-pink/

"For the first time, big data and artificial intelligence are being used to model hidden patterns in nature – not just for one bird species, but for entire ecological communities across continents. The models follow the full annual life cycle of each species, from breeding to fall migration to nonbreeding grounds, and back north again during spring migration." https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2023/10/ai-analyzes-bird-sightings-help-conserve-species

Then as now, the overlap between people suspicious of new foods and people suspicious that an adventurous neighbor might be a servant of the devil was pretty high. Try a tomato and risk turning into a werewolf, or being branded a witch? No thank you. https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/when-tomatoes-were-blamed-for-witchcraft-and-werewolves

@Klaatu_Veratta_Nectarine Even without that.

If you need a dose of Other People Stupid this morning, this should do it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnzIVnJypY0

@Klaatu_Veratta_Nectarine It's creepy and I cannot say exactly why.

"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great." -- Mark Twain

@Dashdrum I didn't learn that until I went to college! And I was so confused.

Birb is a programming language that consists of bird emojis 🐣. https://github.com/marvinborner/birb

"The agreement requires all California high school students to take a semester-long personal finance education course starting by the 2027-28 school year. The course will also be a graduation requirement starting with the Class of 2030-31."
https://abc7news.com/post/california-makes-financial-literacy-classes-graduation-requirement/15006074/

"Ask any Dungeons and Dragons player: dice rolls don’t always go your way. But what if you could use a complex algorithm to design dice to physically roll any way you wanted?" https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/math/a44786307/scientists-design-dice-roll-any-way-you-want/

There's a new Penric and Desdemona novella! And yes, it's as good as you expect and hope for. Maybe better.
https://amzn.to/4bBNtL4

TIL The first known abortion laws appear in the Code of Hammurabi, written in Assyria in 1772 B.C. Assyrian women were punished for aborting their fetuses, but fathers were allowed to kill newborn babies, indicating the law was designed to control the woman’s right to choose rather than to protect the fetus. https://www.sapiens.org/archaeology/archaeology-personhood-abortion/

Giorno first conceptualized the phone service Dial-A-Poem in 1968, and an iteration of the hotline still works today. If you dial 641.793. 8122, you'll access recordings from an archive of poetry and political oration. (as of 2020) https://www.sfmoma.org/read/john-giornos-dial-a-poem-still-brings-poetry-to-the-masses/

I've had this cookbook for 20 years but barely use it. Nonetheless, I've no intention in getting rid of it. Go figure. https://amzn.to/3VWCvK3

Bella, from Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, achieved a purr that measured 54.6 decibels -- equivalent to the volume of a boiling kettle. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/24432098/cats-worlds-loudest-purr-after-breaking-guinness-record/

When artists and writers were strapped for cash, Madame Rachou, the “patronne” would let them pay rent with paintings or manuscripts. Clientele were also permitted to to paint and decorate their rooms however they wanted. https://www.messynessychic.com/2019/06/21/inside-the-beat-hotel-of-paris/

The South Kensington venue's collection includes a trumpet from the opening ceremony 152 years ago and a programme designed by Pablo Picasso. The archive spans the venue's history since its inception in the 1850s and consists of tens of thousands of items. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-67099592

Visually navigate code as stars and galaxies

I have no idea if this is useful, but it sure looks cool.
https://anvaka.github.io/pm/#/