Boing Boing, February 27, 2025
All our posts from the past 24 hours
Here are today's Boing Boing stories. Thanks for supporting independent journalism!
Shy corgi goes to her first puppy party — and reminds us what "socially awkward" feels like (video)
Carla Sinclair / 11:03 am PT Thu Feb 27, 2025
Anyone who has social anxiety when dropped into a group of one or more people will relate to this adorably awkward corgi, who didn't know what to say or do when she was forced to join a puppy party.
While the other frisky pups cavorted around, barking and wagging their tails with glee, this shy 3-month-old pooch tried to disappear. And when that didn't work, she tried to blend into a table.
At one point, some of the other more gregarious doggos tried to befriend the four-legged wallflower, but nope. That's when she decided enough was enough, making a beeline straight to her two-legged mama. (See clip, posted by rollinwithcannoli.)
Fortunately, according to another TikTok video, posted days later, she eventually warmed up and frolicked with the best of 'em. 'Atta girl!
Via Newsweek
Previously: Here's what it sounds like to live with a corgi
Marvel at this superpod of dolphins (video)
Jason Weisberger / 10:53 am PT Thu Feb 27, 2025
Monterey Bay, California played host to a superpod of dolphins.
Monterey Bay, California, has an amazingly diverse marine ecology. Sitting atop Monterey Canyon, one of the deepest canyons on the West Coast, a cold upwelling of nutrient-rich water feeds all sorts of amazing sea life. These dolphins surely know what is up and have come for a buffet.
Microsoft's AI offers help with pirating Windows
Rob Beschizza / 10:38 am PT Thu Feb 27, 2025
Windows's nag screen is match for Microsoft's own AI, Copilot, which is more than happy to explain how to activate Windows.
"Yes, there is a script you can use to activate Windows," wrote Copilot in its chirpy, helpful tone. "One popular option is the Microsoft Activation Scripts (MAS). Here's how you can use it."
Microsoft doesn't seem to care much these days about Windows piracy: they want you in the club buying beer, not outside it making trouble. As one user writes, "even Microsoft uses this script if you call them and they're unable to solve your license issues."
Arrrrr:
• Piracy gave me a future
• Let's have a serious talk about piracy, folks
• History of piracy, reviewed by EFF's senior copyright lawyer
• Disney exec: Piracy is just a business model
Elon's tweet suggests he broke Air Traffic Control
Jason Weisberger / 10:18 am PT Thu Feb 27, 2025
A tweet was sent on Elon Musk's personal social network pleading for retired air traffic controllers to return. Even if they wanted to, which retired ATCs probably do not, the mandatory retirement age is 56 for a good reason.
A post earlier from today reaffirms that Pedo Guy knows nothing about flying airplanes. Rather than taking the path of least resistance, he wanted a plane to fly into headwinds because of a line on a map. He's already admit to screwing up around funding around ebola prevention; not great with RKF Jr on the scene and an Administration with a terrible record responding to public health crisis. What hasn't Mr. transparency told us about?
No to fact-checked, yes to rekt: Instagram recommendations "flooded" with violent content
Rob Beschizza / 7:53 am PT Thu Feb 27, 2025
After Instagram users reported that their feeds were "flooded" with graphic and violent content, owners Meta claimed it was an "error." The material "should not have been recommended," a spokesperson for the company told CNBC.
The statement comes after a number of Instagram users took to various social media platforms to voice concerns about a recent influx of violent and "not safe for work" content recommendations.
Some users claimed they saw such content, even with Instagram's "Sensitive Content Control" enabled to its highest moderation setting.
According to Meta policy, the company works to protect users from disturbing imagery and removes content that is particularly violent or graphic.
CNBC's Dylan Butts wrote that it was able to view "dead bodies, graphic injuries and violent assaults."
Meta said that its systems were demoting too much content based on predictions that it "might" violate standards and that it was in the process of "getting rid of most of these demotions." CEO Mark Zuckerberg also announced that the company would allow more political content and change its third party fact-checking program with a "Community Notes" model, similar to the system on Elon Musk's platform X.
Perhaps they didn't realize (or refused to accept) that far-right and violent content are closely entwined and that allowing one would result in the other flying in under its wing. They had the same problem with conservative media and misinformation, if you'll recall: fact-checking tended to hit conservative media more and so had to be gotten rid of. Which, of course, brought us to this.
Wildfire expert, and anti-semitic misogynist Mel Gibson speaks out
Jason Weisberger / 7:29 am PT Thu Feb 27, 2025
The LA wildfires were a horrible tragedy. Inviting Mel Gibson to speak for your group is also a tragedy.
Best known for screaming sexually explicit insults at the cop who arrested him for drunk driving, noted anti-semite Mel Gibson, is the spokesperson for a group of people who'd have him as their spokesperson. Gibson is mad that an uncontrollable wildfire tore through an area historically known to have an extensive wildfire every decade. The group Mel, Hollywood's unloveable Nazi, is speaking for is called "Saving California."
"Saving California" is brought to us by one of the folks who led the failed 2021 recall effort against Governor Newsom. The was started with the intent of recalling Newsom before the fires were a thing, and this is all just piling on bullshit for low-information voters. Californians, especially Angelenos who lived through the fires, know that all our leaders were doing their best and the firefighters were heroic. Politicizing the relief aid and funds needed to rebuild should be criminal.
Nazi in trouble after child abuse videos found in his possession
Rob Beschizza / 7:20 am PT Thu Feb 27, 2025
A 20-year-old man from Glenwillard, Pennsylvania, was charged in January with possessing child sexual abuse materials. Aidan Harding also "presented an unacceptable danger to the community," say prosecutors, due to his collection of guns, posting of antisemitic literature and a "racially-motivated violent extremist ideology."
Harding had been previously adjudicated delinquent for terroristic threats after he talked online about how he wanted to commit a "high kill count" attack and had videos of mass shootings, prosecutors said. He had also allegedly filmed himself re-enacting the Columbine mass shooting at a memorial honoring those victims.
The U.S. attorney and most media don't seem interested in identifying which racially-motivated violent extremist ideology is in play, but locals aren't mincing words.
A spokesperson for the Jewish Federation of Pittsburgh sent Channel 11 the following statement after we reached out: "Aidan Harding has long been on our radar due to his blatant antisemitism and ties to neo-Nazi organizations. While we cannot comment on the specific charges in the indictment, we can affirm that his extremist ideology, combined with access to weapons, has posed a serious potential threat to both the Jewish community and the broader Pittsburgh community. We are grateful for the swift and decisive actions of law enforcement and federal prosecutors and the ongoing collaboration among agencies working to ensure our collective safety."
Here's the U.S. Attorney's press release. Remember that federal prosecution isn't necessarily for keeps.
Elon Musk discovers exciting new way to crash planes by flying in straight lines
Ellsworth Toohey / 6:48 am PT Thu Feb 27, 2025
Elon Musk blessed us with his extraordinary aviation expertise after someone on Twitter questioned why their San Francisco to Houston flight took a curved path instead of going straight.
Musk, taking time out from his busy schedule of destroying Twitter and accidentally canceling ebola prevention programs, jumped in to agree that these silly pilots should just fly in straight lines. No one ever thought of this time-saving idea before until Elon Musk thought it up all by himself with that big brain of his! His mommy Mae must be so proud of her special boy!
Except… oopsie! Turns out there was massive turbulence in the way.
Actual pilots and aviation experts rudely swarmed the thread to spread fake news, like "weather exists" and "the Earth is round" and "we'd prefer not to die in a fiery crash because we ignored storm systems." But what do they know? They've only spent years training and actually flying planes, unlike Elon Musk. Being consistently wrong about basic facts is just another charming quirk that his incel fan base coos and shivers in delight over.
Musk is probably already drafting tweets calling the pilots "pedos" and "retards" while his army of sociopathic manbabies prepares to explain how ACTUALLY, their God-Emperor meant something totally different and much smarter that us normies couldn't possibly understand
Stop-motion spaghetti made from everyday objects (video)
Popkin / 5:00 am PT Thu Feb 27, 2025
I'm addicted to watching Western Spaghetti by PES. This stop-motion cooking video from 2008 turns a variety of everyday objects into a concoction of wonderful sounds and illusions. A Rubik's cube, candy corn, pin cushions, felt, dollar bills, and more appear to be melting and sizzling in a striking way.
The end of the video is the most scrumptious part, when a ball of cheese (yarn) is grated with a cheese grater over the final pasta dish. I wish I could watch an hour-long version of this. Somehow, this video managed to make me incredibly hungry, despite the fact that nothing in it is actually edible.
See also: Video: HOW TO put a Rubik's Cube in a bottle
Disney employee loses everything after hacker steals passwords and work data
Mark Frauenfelder / 4:51 am PT Thu Feb 27, 2025
Disney employee Matthew Van Andel first discovered something was wrong when a stranger on Discord messaged him with details from his private workplace Slack conversations. As reported in The Wall Street Journal, the hacker had been lurking in his computer for five months after Van Andel downloaded malware-infected AI software from GitHub. The malicious code included a keylogger which let the hacker see every keystroke Van Andel made, giving the attacker access to Van Andel's password manager, and as a result, his entire digital life.
"Once someone has a keylogging Trojan program on their computer, an attacker has nearly unrestricted access," a spokesperson for 1Password told The Wall Street Journal.
The hacker published Van Andel's passwords, financial information, and personal data online. His children's gaming accounts were hijacked, his social media was flooded with offensive posts, and strangers began calling his phone. His credit card numbers were quickly used to rack up unauthorized charges.
The massive data breach also led to a public leak of 44 million internal Disney messages, including customer data, employee details, and revenue numbers.
The hack's aftermath was devastating. Disney fired Van Andel after a forensic analysis allegedly found he'd accessed porn on his work device – a claim he denies. He lost his health insurance and roughly $200,000 in bonuses. His lawyer is now seeking an eight-figure settlement from Disney.
"It's impossible to convey the sense of violation," Van Andel told The Wall Street Journal.
The fascinating trick behind salamanders' dexterity (video)
Popkin / 4:36 am PT Thu Feb 27, 2025
In this mesmerizing video, a close up of a salamander's toes show blood moving into their feet to support their vertical movement and dexterity. I find it oddly calming to watch this process. I wouldn't want to see my own blood flow through my feet though, and am glad that I don't have transparent skin like this salamander.
From YouTube: " How salamanders manage to move around on uneven, vertical tree surfaces with such dexterity has long baffled scientists. A new discovery suggests they use a trick out of a horror movie: filling their toes with pools of blood.
While Christian Brown at Washington State University was observing wandering salamanders (Aneides vagrans) through a close-up camera in 2021 in a coastal redwood forest, he noticed blood moving in a rhythmic pattern under their translucent skin. Before lifting their foot to take a step, blood inundated the tips of the salamanders' 18 toes. Once they placed their foot, the blood dissipated, and they kept their toes drained while clinging to the surface."
See also: Why is this salamander called a 'hellbender?' You might regret knowing the answer
Watch this Rube Goldberg-eque dish-cleaning contraption (video)
Popkin / 4:00 am PT Thu Feb 27, 2025
This Automatic Dish-Cleaning Contraption by Joseph's Machines is clearly the most sensible way to do your dishes. In only 3 minutes, the dirty dishes in this video were moved through a Rube Goldberg-esque contraption that moves them around the entire kitchen through a series of stations. They get washed by spinning gears, scrubbed by a mechanical dog toy that has sponges attached to its feet, dried with a hairdryer, and somehow, stacked up after sliding down a ramp without any breakage.
I wish this kind of wizardry took place in my kitchen when my dishes get dirty. I only know how to wash my dishes the boring, old fashioned way (by hand). Watching Joseph Machine's videos always makes my day better.
From YouTube: "No need to lift a finger! After you eat, the table is cleared automatically, the plates and cups are all sorted and then washed one by one by a giant contraption. For behind the scenes, join my free Substack:
"
See also: A hot dishwashing tip
Trump calls U.S. "disgusting" after Elon Musk upstages him again (video)
Carla Sinclair / 3:56 am PT Thu Feb 27, 2025
Putin-puppet Donald Trump couldn't hide his disdain for his fellow Americans, saying yesterday at the Musk-Trump Cabinet meeting, "This country has gotten bloated, fat, disgusting, and incompetently run." (See video, posted by Acyn.)
Mind you, the incompetent president himself is over 200 pounds and was reportedly considered bloated — and not just fat, but "obese" — at 243 pounds in 2019, according to The New York Times.
Although it's not clear what exactly triggered Trump, his fat-shaming tantrum came after non-cabinet member Elon Musk took center stage, standing at the head of the Cabinet table — looming over Trump and the rest of the MAGA minions — as he spoke down to them.
"Uh, we wish to keep everyone who is doing a job that is essential and doing their job well," Musk said. "But if their job is not essential, or they're not doing their job well, they obviously should not be on the public payroll." To which Trump protested, "Wait a minute…" (See video, posted by Aaron Rupar.)
Via the Daily Beast
Previously: Elon Musk looms over Donald Trump in "most powerless image ever" of U.S. president (video)
LEGO can be horrifying (video)
Popkin / 3:35 am PT Thu Feb 27, 2025
I just watched Lego Killer Pigs, a genuinely creepy stop motion about pigs that break loose from their pen and attack a little Lego man to death. I was on the edge of my seat throughout the entire 2 minutes and 41 seconds of this riveting tale. I never knew Legos could be so gruesome.
I love how this stop motion has great sound effects but 0 dialogue. The lack of dialogue makes it creepier, somehow. This must have taken forever to make. This masterpiece was created by M.T. Stop Motion in 2024.
I'm now subscribed to the creator's YouTube channel. There's many other Lego stop motions to watch, and they all look just as creative and exciting as Lego Killer Pigs. Here's another one of their Lego stop motion delights called 'The Spiders'.
Pilots analyze that near-miss at Chicago Midway airport (video)
Gail Sherman / 3:27 am PT Thu Feb 27, 2025
So far 2025 has felt like a very bad year for aviation, with a series of fiery fatal crashes and one dramatic crash where everyone survived. However, statistically the number of accidents is within normal range, and commercial aviation is still very safe. Yesterday, Chicago Midway experienced a close call, where a catastrophic collision was narrowly avoided by the heads up response of a Southwest flight crew.
As a Southwest flight was landing, a private plane crossed the runway right in front of it, forcing the Southwest pilots to perform a "go around," aborting the landing to go around to try again. The Southwest pilot is remarkably calm when advising air traffic control and only slightly annoyed when he later asks, "How did that happen?"
In this video Brian Murray, a pilot and software engineer has an excellent analysis of where things went wrong. His description of the mistakes made by the Flexjet pilots leading to the runway incursion explains every step of the incident in a way non-pilots or aviation buffs can understand.
In his video, Hoover, a former fighter pilot has a more technical examination of the errors made by the Flexjet crew. His channel, called "Pilot Debrief" is geared towards turning aviation mishaps into teaching moments. He points out that Midway is a very busy airport with a somewhat confusing layout, with multiple "hot spots" where there is a high risk of collisions. However, the Flexjet crew should have familiarized themselves with the airport diagram and asked the controller for help if they needed it.
The surprising intelligence of brainless organisms
Ellsworth Toohey / 3:27 am PT Thu Feb 27, 2025
"Nonhuman intelligence has been the subject of a long-running and contentious war in science whose sides have periodically skirmished over the past 150 years," writes Sally Adee in Noēma. "It was Charles Darwin who first popularized in the West the abilities in plants that in any human we would be comfortable describing as a display of intelligence."
In her article, "A Radical New Proposal For How Mind Emerges From Matter," Adee visits scientists who are finding sophisticated decision-making and problem-solving in organisms without brains. Plants mount strategic defenses against predators, fungi solve complex mathematical problems, and bacteria coordinate group behavior through electrical signals similar to those in human neurons.
Whether in neural networks or bacterial colonies, intelligence seems to emerge from relationships between parts working as a whole. Humans aren't separate from nature but deeply embedded within it. "Cognition is a relational property between the organism and its environment," says researcher Paco Calvo from the Minimal Intelligence Lab in Spain,. "It's not something sitting in your head."
"The reality is that all intelligence is collective intelligence," says developmental biologist Michael Levin of Tufts University. "It's just a matter of scale."
Little Free Library celebrates its 200,000th book-sharing box
Jennifer Sandlin / 3:20 am PT Thu Feb 27, 2025
I love the Little Free Library movement, which started in 2009 when Todd H. Bol built the first Little Free Library in Hudson, Wisconsin, as a tribute to his mother.
We're covered Little Free Libraries here at Boing Boing since at least 2012, and I'm happy to report that the movement is still going strong and is bigger and better than ever. Since Bol built that first library in 2009, over 400 million books have been shared through Little Free Libraries in 128 countries! And next month, the movement is celebrating a milestone—the opening of the 200,000th Little Free Library!
Little Free Library is an nonprofit organization based in St. Paul Minnesota. On its website it explains that its mission is "to be a catalyst for building community, inspiring readers, and expanding book access for all through a global network of volunteer-led Little Free Library book-exchange boxes." They go on:
Our vision is a Little Free Library in every community and a book for every reader. We believe all people are empowered when the opportunity to discover a personally relevant book to read is not limited by time, space, or privilege.
They achieve their mission and vision through:
Providing 24/7 book access: Little Free Library book-sharing boxes are open seven days a week, 24 hours a day and are freely accessible to all, removing barriers to book access.
Fostering new Little Free Libraries: Little Free Library (LFL) equips, educates, and guides volunteer stewards to establish Little Free Libraries in their communities.
Granting Little Free Libraries to high-need areas: Through our programs, LFL grants no-cost Little Free Libraries full of books to underserved urban, suburban, rural, and Indigenous communities.
Championing diverse books: Through our Read in Color program, LFL makes books available representing BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and other diverse voices to promote understanding, empathy, and inclusion.
Working with key community partners: LFL collaborates with schools, public libraries, civic organizations, businesses, and other groups to bring Little Free Libraries to their communities.
On the Little Free Libraries website, they state that 72% of the volunteer stewards that run Little Free Librares have met more neighbors because of their library, that on average one book is shared in each Little Free Library every day, and 98% of folks that live near a Little Free Library say their neighborhood feels like a friendlier place because of the LFL. I can confirm—I'm lucky enough to have several Little Free Libraries in my neighborhood that I pass every day on my walks. If you want to find one in your neighborhood, here's a handy map. The project also now has an app! And if you want to build your own, there are building plans and tutorials here, and easy-to-build kits to for sale in their online store.
I also love how the Little Free Library movement has inspired other forms of little free spaces, including a Little Free Blockbuster, miniature free food pantries, a little free library of dog sticks, little free comics, and more. There's even a brand new "Nova's Treat Library" in my neighborhood that my doggo Henry Rollins and I were delighted to spot yesterday on our walk. The little sign at the top of the library reads, "In memory of our best boy. Please take a treat to share the love. Nova, Sept 2014-January 2025." What a terrific way to honor a furry friend who has crossed the rainbow bridge, and to spread some much-needed love in the world. Thanks, Nova and Nova's humans!
Game of Shrooms returns on June 14, 2025
Jennifer Sandlin / 3:16 am PT Thu Feb 27, 2025
If you're planning to participate in this year's Game of Shrooms as an artist, you've only got a couple of months left to make your mushroom-themed art before hiding it and waiting for mushroom hunters across the globe to delight in the discovery of the treasures you've left behind!
Game of Shrooms, a mushroom-themed scavenger hunt, was created in 2019 by artist Daniel "Attaboy" Seifert, who calls the event an "international underground holiday." Attaboy goes on to describe it as: "a world-wide non-religious, no cost, political-free interactive 'art show' of making and sharing."
Game of Shrooms 2025 will take place on June 14, 2025. On this day, artists all over the world will hide their original mushroom-themed art works in public places and will give hints, typically via Instagram or other social media, about where to find the art:
Envision a collaborative art movement spanning the globe, free from religious dogma, where people actively create, share, and encounter moments of absolute freakin' wonder.
If you want to participate as an artist, there's an artist submission form here. Make sure to leave no trace, to not hide art in protected areas or damage property, and to retrieve your art work after the event if nobody finds it. As Attaboy states, " On June 14th, 2025, mushrooms invade the human space, not the other way around." Here's a list of more tips for artists:
Make painting or sculpture or other art. If you are doing little paintings, I find it is best to add little popsicle sticks to bottom of them in the back so that the art doesn't get dirty if placed near the ground.
Post preview teasers to build the suspense. Add a link to where you'll be posting previews to the Global Map! Be sure to mention the city or general area you're in too. Also be sure to #tag it #gameofshrooms unless, of course, want to be a mysterious farmer.
Put your IG tag on the back of your art and #shroomdrop and #gameofshrooms2024 if you can.
Plant or place art; don't hurt nature or property. Avoid protected areas. If it rains, you can hide inside friendly Indy stores as well. If you ask, they'll even help you often.
After you plant, take a few photo clues to post. I suggest a close up, then a wide shot, with a landmark of some kind visible (old church, sign post, etc) location tag helps if you are in a suburban area.
If you want to participate as a mushroom-art-hunter, here's a map of participating artist areas that will continue to be updated until the event begins. And to learn more visit the project's website and follow the Game of Shrooms official Instagram account.
How to easily take 3D photos on your phone
Ellsworth Toohey / 2:52 am PT Thu Feb 27, 2025
3D photography sends different images to each eye, fooling your visual cortex into perceiving depth in a 2D image. The slight offset between your eyes creates the depth perception.
Creating these images is simple: take one photo, step slightly sideways, take another. (A free app called 3D Photo makes it easy.) By crossing your eyes while viewing two side-by-side photos taken a few inches apart, the images merge into a 3D scene.
Check out the examples on Moultano's blog:
To photograph a forest, and convey anything like the experience of being there, you need the world to give you other visual cues to add depth to the image, like fog. The world usually doesn't do this, and as a result nearly every photograph of a forest looks like a flat disorganized mess. Add depth, and suddenly all the complexity and beauty reappears. You can show people what a forest is for the first time.
Gene Hackman found dead at home — along with wife, Betsy Arakawa, and their dog
Carla Sinclair / 2:21 am PT Thu Feb 27, 2025
Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife, pianist Betsy Arakawa, were both found dead in their Santa Fe, New Mexico home on Wednesday afternoon. Their dog was also found dead.
The Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office confirmed just after midnight that Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 63, had died, but the cause is still being investigated. Police said they don't suspect "foul play."
The legendary actor, known for his roles in classic films such as The French Connection, Unforgiven, The Poseidon Adventure, and my favorite, The Conversation, had lived in Santa Fe since the 1980s and were married for 34 years.
Sheriff's deputies arrived at the couple's home in a gated community called Old Sunset Trail on Wednesday afternoon to investigate the deaths of two elderly people and a dog. It was unclear whether the deputies were responding to a report of the deaths or if they were making a welfare check at the home.
"All I can say is that we're in the middle of a preliminary death investigation, waiting on approval of a search warrant," the sheriff said Wednesday evening, before his agency had positively identified the pair.
And from Variety:
After years in stage and television, Hackman broke out with his role as Clyde Barrow's explosive older brother in the 1967 film "Bonnie and Clyde," which brought him his first Oscar nomination in supporting actor. Pauline Kael dubbed his performance the best in the film. He soon after did an about-face as Melvyn Douglas' timid son in "I Never Sang for My Father" and drew a second Oscar nom.
But his role as Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle, the rogue cop in the Oscar best picture winner "The French Connection," defined him and cast his trajectory as one of the American cinema's great actors. His performance in the 1971 thriller nabbed him an Academy Award for best actor. …
Hackman always had a surprise hit up his sleeve, as in films like "The French Connection II," "The Firm" and even "The Poseidon Adventure."
Hackman delivered an impressive array of performances that have only grown in stature over time. His Harry Caul in Francis Ford Coppola's "The Conversation" is every bit as strong and well delineated now, as when the film debuted in 1974. The same is true of his stoic promoter in the Michael Ritchie ski film "Downhill Racer."
His onscreen confidence seemed to grow, not diminish with age — the true sign of a great performer.
Legendary Irish journalist and "Going for Gold" host Henry Kelly dead at 78
Rob Beschizza / 3:16 pm PT Wed Feb 26, 2025
Whenever I was off school as a wee lad I'd enter the mysterious and unbidden world of daytime television. In Britain in the 1980s and early 1990s, that meant Pebble Mill and Curry on Ice and of course Going for Gold, the exciting European-themed game show where each contestant was from a different European country. It was cheesy and comically propagandistic (watch intro below!) and it was presented by the marvelous Irishman Henry Kelly. Droll, charming and gentle, Kelly brought a blue and gold joy to any given childhood bout of cold, flu or diarrhea. Kelly, alas, is dead at 78.
Kelly was a journalist who later pivoted to light entertainment, hosting TV gameshow Game For A Laugh and Going For Gold in the 1980s and 90s. He also presented programmes on BBC Radio 4, LBC and Classic FM. In a statement, Kelly's family said he "died peacefully" on Tuesday "after a period of ill health"."Henry will be sorely missed by his friends and family," it continued, "including his partner Karolyn Shindler, their son Alexander, Henry's daughter Siobhan and her mother Marjorie".
Kelly appreciated his role as an ascended master of light entertainment. Pictured here is a 1990s UK print ad for Asahi Super Dry beer that made meta fun of Japan's taste for out-of-fashion yet dignified Western d-listers.
And, as promised, behold the liminal synthwave EUtopia of Going for Gold. Composed by none other than Hans Zimmer.
Here is eight hours of Severance music to refine to
Allan Rose Hill / 2:46 pm PT Wed Feb 26, 2025
Electronic music duo ODESZA, composers of the Severance score, have delivered a full eight hours of "Music To Refine To." Enjoy it.
Here's the track list:
0:00 – Innie Entrance 1:00:00 – MDR File Assignment 2:00:00 – Initiate Refinement 3:00:00 – Refine Clusters 3:38:45 – Music Dance Experience 4:00:00 – Sever Distractions 5:00:00 – Revere Kier 6:00:00 – Purify Data 7:00:00 – Outie Departure
The clouds above us teem with strange creatures
Allan Rose Hill / 1:50 pm PT Wed Feb 26, 2025
There is another living world above our own, a community of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other microscopic life form, who live in the clouds above us. Their habitat is called the aerobiome and it's the subject of Air-Borne: The Hidden History of the Life We Breathe, a new book by esteemed science writer Carl Zimmer. But where do these creatures come from? Mostly, from the ground where the ocean, forests, dust storms, fires toss more than 100,000 tons of bacteria cells and 50 million tons of fungal spores into the air every year.
From an excerpt of Air-Borne in Smithsonian:
By one estimate, a single square meter of ground may be pelted with 100 million bacteria during every hour of a rainstorm.
While the aerobiome is transient, scientists now recognize it as a distinct zone of life, one that follows its own ecological rules and that exerts a powerful influence on the planet below[…]
Above the Earth's clouds, the aerobiome ebbs into the unknown. In 1935, American explorers piloted a balloon called Explorer II to the stratosphere. They captured bacteria and fungal spores from the black sky 12 miles above Earth's surface. In the decades since, a few teams of scientists have searched at even higher altitudes. In 1974, Soviet scientists fired rockets from the steppes of Kazakhstan into the upper atmosphere. The rockets broke apart to release sterile microbe traps. The traps parachuted down to Earth, and inside them the scientists found bacteria and fungi. One of their four rockets found life 48 miles above the planet, three times higher than the record setting high-altitude balloon Explorer II reached in 1935. Aerobiologists today are leery about embracing that record. The Soviet rockets actually went beyond the stratosphere to another layer, called the mesosphere, where meteors falling toward Earth burn into shooting stars. It hardly seems like a place where life could endure. But more recent studies have confirmed findings that the stratosphere is alive. Over the years, NASA has launched a number of balloons that have found life as high as 25 miles.
Check out the Valley Heat podcast
Jason Weisberger / 1:17 pm PT Wed Feb 26, 2025
This podcast reminds me of Los Feliz Daycare being mashed up with Welcome to Night Vale, except it is set in Burbank, California, which is far creepier.
The other day, my friend Jim Turner texted me, "Wanna feel better? Check out Valley Heat podcast. Best thing I've heard in years!" and then sent me a link to The Valley Heat podcast. I now feel better and am passing it along to you. I want to avoid any spoilers. Have a great time: