Boing Boing, June 02, 2025
Gritty games and corporate mischief
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Happy Monday! Today's stories start with Pac-Man's metal makeover in "Shadow Labyrinth," which reimagines the pellet-muncher as an eldritch horror. Meanwhile, Aldi faces a lawsuit from Mondelez over suspiciously familiar snack packaging, and Airbus discovers what happens when raccoons make themselves at home in an aircraft assembly line.
We've got a fascinating look at drive-thru psychology, a walkthrough of how to build your dream cabin in the woods, and an Italian Greyhound named Pickle who's gone viral dispensing philosophical wisdom. Plus: British Airways deals with an unconventional in-flight performance, Canada battles early-season wildfires, and LEGO considers commemorating an iconic moment in LGBTQ+ history.
Gen V season 2 promises more gore and MCU-style connections in new teaser trailer
Grant St. Clair / 11:00 am PT Mon Jun 2, 2025
For a show that pokes so heavily at the sprawling, tangled mass of IP that is the MCU, The Boys often feels like it's on the verge of becoming the monster it fights — it is produced by Amazon, after all. The first glimpse of this was the announcement of spinoff Gen V, a sort of sidequel focusing on students training to become the over-the-top, corporate-backed superheroes that are killed off left and right in the main show.
In a surprise to everyone, though, Gen V ended up being pretty good, even crossing over significantly with The Boys in that show's fourth season and gathering enough acclaim to merit a renewal of its own.
Season 2 has just been announced for a September 17 release, featuring more superhero antics, more wild frat parties, and of course more excessive gore. In true MCU fashion, it'll likely be required watching for the final season of The Boys, which is still TBA.
How fast food drive-thrus manipulate your mind and wallet
Jason Weisberger / 10:38 am PT Mon Jun 2, 2025
From layout choices to advanced algorithms, this video shares the secrets of drive-thru science.
There should be no surprise that chain restaurants have invested a significant amount in drive-thru architecture, design, and marketing to maximize the use of space, sell more, and reduce costs. A friend recently introduced me to the world of fast food ordering via app, and it quickly became apparent that eliminating the costs of order taking and cash register operation is a massive boon to the operator.
Watch this pro build a cabin in the woods from scratch
Séamus Bellamy / 10:30 am PT Mon Jun 2, 2025
The older I get, the more I become convinced that the best thing for me is to move the hell away from everyone. Someplace quiet, deep in the woods, with naught but some billionaire jerk's Satellite Internet technology and an unkindness of ravens to keep me company. Sadly, my carpentry skills are, shall we say… not the best.
To get past this massive detour on my road to solitude, I've been reading lots of homesteading books lately and watching tons of builds on YouTube. This croft, built into the side of a hill, is one of my favourite designs. What a home. What a view.
Clever fable about quick thinking
Mark Frauenfelder / 10:09 am PT Mon Jun 2, 2025
Here's a short fable about a lawyer used quick thinking to save his career. From How to torture your mind; paradoxes, fallacies, dilemmas, figures, and word wonders by Ralph L. Woods (1969):
Two business partners placed $20,000 in the hands of a lawyer as custodian, with an ironclad understanding that the lawyer was to make no withdrawals from the fund without the signature of both partners.
When one of the partners then went off on a vacation, the other partner went to the lawyer and told him that a note for $15,000 was due and had to be paid immediately out of the fund. The custodian asked for the two required signatures. The partner said the other man could not be reached, but that the note must be paid immediately to stave off bankruptcy. Reluctantly, the lawyer handed the partner $15,000 for the payment of the note, whereupon he disappeared completely.
When the other partner returned home he instituted suit against the custodian for the $15,000 paid out of the fund. The lawyer explained the circumstances, and when the partner still insisted upon payment, the lawyer said, "I paid out the money for the note not from the partnership fund, but rather from my own funds."
"Then give me the fifteen thousand that you did not draw out of the fund," said the partner.
"All right," said the lawyer, "but you must produce the two signatures."
The lawyer, of course, gave the deceptive partner $15,000 from the partnership fund. The lawyer knows the honest partner can't get both signatures because: a) the deceptive partner has disappeared with the money b) even if found, the deceptive partner wouldn't sign since they already took the money.
What would you do if you were the honest partner?
While adults rage, California athletes embrace trans champion AB Hernandez
Jason Weisberger / 9:52 am PT Mon Jun 2, 2025
Jurupa Valley High's AB Hernandez, a transgender high school athlete, achieved top placements at California's state track championships, receiving widespread support from fellow competitors despite Trump threatening to withhold funding to the state.
Non-competitor adults are doing their song and dance about trans athletes, while athletes are proud to include and compete with them. It is sickening to hear these "adults" attempting to represent people they do not. Take the competitors at their word and ignore this guy:
Local right-wing activist and blogger Josh Fulfer, 45, tried to suggest such camaraderie — while perhaps genuine in some cases — is spurred by fear of speaking out, citing the violence he recently encountered. Fulfer returned to the corner of Nees and Minewawa to continue protests on Saturday after his car window had been shattered the day prior by a counter-protester who wielded what appeared to be a pink-and-blue trans flag and was promptly arrested. Fulfer's group of a dozen protesting Hernandez's participation on Friday had grown by several Saturday but fell well short of the 50 to 60 he claimed he expected. A megaphone echoed the message, "No boys in girls' sports," for the first few hours of the meet.
"There's a code of conduct that they have to follow," Fulfer said. "You see what happens to adults that stand up for girls: We're attacked. Do you think a 16-year-old high school girl wants to have that reputation of being that one? They're scared to speak out. … They don't feel safe. That's why the adults in the room need to be the voice for them."
Remorseless Senator Ernst's bitter-sounding non-apology (video)
Jason Weisberger / 9:38 am PT Mon Jun 2, 2025
Invoking the tooth fairy and Jesus in her non-apology, Senator Ernst sounds like the wicked witch.
Iowa Senator Joni Ernst recently told someone unhappy about losing their medical care that no one lives forever. Rather than own the mean-spirited and ugly remark, Ernst instead decided to insinuate people who are dissatisfied with the Republican budget are stupid.
Appearing on camera with what look like tombstones in the background, Ernst said: "I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely apologize for a statement that I made yesterday at my town hall."
"I made an incorrect assumption that everyone in the auditorium understood that yes, we are all going to perish from this Earth," she continued, adding that she's glad she didn't have to bring up the subject of the tooth fairy.
"But for those that would like to see eternal and everlasting life, I encourage you to embrace my lord and savior, Jesus Christ," she said.
Review: Triple Aught Design FAST Pack Litespeed Cordura Standard
Séamus Bellamy / 9:30 am PT Mon Jun 2, 2025
My everyday carry hasn't changed much over the years. It includes a small number of items: a medical kit, a knife, a flashlight, keys, a Midori Traveller notebook and whichever laptop or tablet I happen to be using at the time. I don't futz around with what I carry, as I largely don't care about it. I know what I need on a day-to-day basis. I like the tools that I have.
What do I use to haul around my EDC? That's a different story. I've owned a lot of backpacks over the years. Right now, my closet includes a Filson Journeyman backpack, Goruck GR3 (for travel), a Vertx 25L Tactical Backpack (review coming soon), and my latest get, the Triple Aught Design FAST Pack Litespeed Cordura Standard. My Filson sees the most action out of all of the packs that I own. But the TAD Litespeed is growing on me fast.
The TAD FAST Pack Litespeed has been around, in one form or another, for over a decade. I originally tested one for Macworld, around 10 years ago. It was a good bag then. It's a better bag now. Improvements to the construction of its shoulder straps and back panel ventilation make it a heck of a lot more comfortable to layer, no matter how much weight you're carrying. That it comes with load litre straps, a rarity for a 22-litre bag, keeps what you're hauling close to your back, increasing your comfort. Its main compartment, except for a pair of zippered, mesh pockets baked into the interior of the lid, is a blank canvas, allowing for the carry of any number of items.
I've found that I'm able to fit a 16-inch laptop inside it, with no issues. My daily carry, a 14-inch ThinkPad X1 Carbon, slides in and out of the 16-inch Tom Bihn Stash I leave in the bag with no problem. TAD makes it possible to attach additional pouches and organizational aids to the bag's main compartment. Their Control Panel is designed to be lashed into the main compartment with a series of straps. With MOLLE attachment points all over the panel, you can customize your carry options anyway you please.
The pack comes with a beavertail attached to the outside, for carrying extras like a jacket. But you can use it inside the pack, in lieu of a Control Panel. The exterior of the pack is covered in MOLLE attachment points for further customization. There's a Velcro panel for Unit ID or morale patches and two zippered pockets. The first is a deep stash pocket, ideal for larger objects like a smartphone or compact camera like a Sony RX100. The second pocket contains a number of admin organization options, making it easy to keep track of the wee things that would normally get lost in your pack. So far, I've not felt the need to modify the bag in any way. But I love that the option is there.
I love how well it's made, too. I'd put the quality up against that of my Filson Journeyman any day. The pack is made, primarily, using 1000 Denier Invista
Cordura fabric, making it damn near impossible to tear or rip. Stress points, like the top carry handle and points where the pack mates with its shoulder straps, are reinforced with Hypalon.
Of course, nothing's perfect. 1000 Denier Cordura is fairly water-resistant. If you get caught in a downpour, chances are that whatever is inside the bag will stay dry for a while. The pack's waterproof external zippers help with that. But a lip sewn over those zippers to help keep water out of the bag would be appreciated. As would a DWR coating. It's possible to add the latter with products like Nikwax TX to improve its water resistance, if you're the sort that tends to stay out in the wet for longer than most. I also wish that it were a little bit lighter.
Weighing over three pounds with nothing in it, it can be a heavy carry. But that's the price you pay for durability and outstanding design. Finally, there's the price. The Triple Aught Design FAST Pack Litespeed Cordura Standard will cost around $500, depending on taxes and shipping, as well as your location. But good stuff typically doesn't come cheap. I prefer to pay a lot for something, once, and then never have to worry about buying it again. As I already own a number of articles of clothing made by TAD, which have lasted me for years, I feel confident in the quality of their kit. With the amount that I travel and the expensive toys I bring with me, knowing that my pack will survive most things and protect its content is peace of mind that's well worth the money.
Study shows cheaters gonna cheat: Dishonesty is a personality trait after all
Ellsworth Toohey / 9:23 am PT Mon Jun 2, 2025
If you've ever caught someone in a lie and thought "Hmm, I bet they do this all the time," you might be onto something. A new study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology has found that dishonesty is actually consistent behavior — in other words, once a cheater, pretty much always a cheater.
Researchers led by Isabel Thielmann tracked 1,916 participants over three years, repeatedly testing their honesty using different cheating games where they could lie for personal gain (either to make money or to avoid tedious work).
Participants in the study could cheat without getting caught individually — similar to real-world situations where people can fudge their taxes or pad expense reports without obvious detection.
"Contrary to long-standing assumptions, there is notable consistency in dishonest behavior that can be attributed to underlying dispositional factors," the researchers write. In other words: some people are just more prone to dishonesty, and this tendency follows them across different situations.
The study used a statistical model to measure how consistent people were in their cheating behavior. The results showed "strong consistency" in most cases – meaning if someone cheated in one scenario, they were likely to cheat in others, even when the stakes or context changed.
The researchers found that certain personality traits — specifically low "Honesty-Humility" scores and high "Dark Factor" traits (the nasty personality characteristics like narcissism and psychopathy) — predicted not only who would cheat but also who would cheat consistently.
This research challenges the old "situation matters more than personality" view that's dominated psychological thinking about dishonesty since the early 19th century. Turns out your shifty cousin who "borrowed" money and never paid it back probably isn't just having a one-off ethical lapse — it might be a pattern woven into their personality.
So next time someone tells you "I only lied because of the circumstances," that's probably a lie, too. As this research suggests, the truth about lying is that some people just do it more than others – and they'll likely keep doing it, circumstances be damned.
Mike Lindell blames it all on Satan
Jason Weisberger / 9:21 am PT Mon Jun 2, 2025
When asked who is behind all this "voting machine fraud," MyPillow Conspiracy Theorist Mike Lindell identifies "Satan."
Perhaps Lindell's insanity defense needed a stronger foundation. At a press conference leading up to a defamation trial in which Lindell is accused of blaming the "rigging" of voting machines on a gentleman named Eric Coomer, Lindell took a novel approach:
"Mike, can I ask you, who's got access to the computer algorithms?" a woman wondered. "That's what's controlling the election."
"Well, you asked me who's done this to our country," Lindell replied. "It's the uniparty, Deep State Globalists, and the CCP. That's who I believe."
"There's so many different accesses because all computers are vulnerable," he continued. "But when you have a computer, you just change a zero."
Lindell insisted that larger forces were at play in the election.
"And this is much bigger than all of us, that it's beyond, you know, she asked who has access," he said. "We're in a battle of biblical proportions of evil and good… And when you say who's behind it all, Satan, there's one."
"You know, this is a nation that turned its back on God."
TikTokers are slathering beef fat on their faces, and dermatologists are alarmed
Jason Weisberger / 9:04 am PT Mon Jun 2, 2025
Holy cow, Batman! People are rubbing beef tallow all over themselves.
Despite the advice shared by dermatologists, some people are using rendered beef fat as a new skin care product. Essentially, they are wiping cow oil all over themselves. Tallow does leave a barrier of oil on your skin that traps in moisture, but it also causes a host of allergic reactions and is more likely to exacerbate than cure acne. TikTokers also seem to have no qualms about rancidity.
While some TikTok creators claim that tallow has cleared up their complexion, beef fat can actually make acne worse, warns Dr. Delila Foulad, a board-certified dermatologist at UCLA Health, who specializes in treating skin and scalp disorders
"Beef tallow is essentially a lipid, or an oil. Putting that on your skin could clog your pores," she tells NPR.
There's also a chance of an allergic reaction, similar to how some people's skin reacts to jewelry that contains nickel. Those with psoriasis or eczema should be extra cautious of tallow since their skin barrier is already compromised, says Foulad.
Perhaps what Ponce De Leon searched for was actually a bubbling font of beef tallow?
One TikToker @mercercaiden said that he uses a whipped tallow cream as an aftershave and to moisturize his knuckles.
"I feel younger already," he said as he rubbed what looked like a tablespoon's worth of fat into his face.
NPR
Pac-Man is dark and edgy now, and I'm here for it
Grant St. Clair / 9:00 am PT Mon Jun 2, 2025
With everything else going on in the gaming world, you could be forgiven for having missed the initial reveal of Pac-Man: Shadow Labyrinth a few months ago, but this bizarre project is now back with a vengeance and in full marketing mode. It only makes slightly more sense than the rumored live-action movie.
Shadow Labyrinth, from what we've seen, is a reimagining of the classic arcade game in Metroidvania style, casting Pac-Man as an ancient eldritch horror, which is certainly a… choice. Seeing a darker, gritter Pac-Man bouncing around a maze to a pounding EDM remix of the original theme is nothing short of surreal, but that's honestly half the appeal of this game. A little like Shadow the Hedgehog, it being so lame that it wraps back around to being unironically cool seems to be working well for Shadow Labyrinth.
Not that the Pac-Man formula needs to be dark and gritty, but the fact that they're doing something new with it is worth consideration in and of itself.
Will Jesus return in 2025? Traders bet half a million on Polymarket
Mark Frauenfelder / 8:59 am PT Mon Jun 2, 2025
Will Jesus Christ return in 2025? People are betting real money on this outcome on Polymarket.
If you think Jesus is due for a return visit by the end of the year, you can buy a YES share on Polymarket for $0.03, as long as there's someone willing to buy a matching NO share for $0.97. And there are: as of today, June 2, 2025, the volume for this bet is $513,000.
If Jesus returns sometime in 2025, YES shares will be worth $1 each, and NO shares will be worth nothing. If Jesus doesn't return by the end of 2025, YES shares will be worthless and NO shares will be worth $1.
Eric Neyman, who runs the Unexpected Values blog, looked into why anyone would buy a YES share. And also, why more people aren't buying NO shares. He concludes that the people who bought YES shares aren't really betting that Jesus is coming back; they are betting that people who locked up their funds buying NO shares will sell them at a loss to use the money on other bets with bigger payouts.
If enough people want to sell their "No" shares, the "Yes" holders may be able to sell out at an elevated price, like 6%, potentially getting a 2x return on their investment!
The Time Value of Money hypothesis posits that the Yes bettors are more sophisticated than they look. In finance, time value of money is the idea that a dollar today is worth more than a dollar tomorrow, because you can do things with that dollar, such as making bets. The Yes traders are betting that the time value of Polymarket cash will go up unexpectedly: that other traders will be short on cash to place bets with, and will at some point be willing to pay a premium to free up the cash that they spent betting against Jesus.
You are a border collie in this apocalyptic dog adventure game
Rob Beschizza / 8:31 am PT Mon Jun 2, 2025
If you liked Stray and Little Kitty Big City but are a dog person, Hounded looks like the game for you. You are Duke, a border collie in an apocalyptic rural England, searching for your lost master—who just happens to be the leader of a rebellion against the tyrant: "Hounded by a cunning hunter, can you track the scent, unearth the power of The Tide and find your way home?"
Here's a teaser trailer for what promises to be an epic tail.
The music is getting special attention; here's a short feature about the composers.
The Kickstarter project launches today.
LEGO set commemorating the Stonewall Uprising has a chance of being officially produced
Grant St. Clair / 8:30 am PT Mon Jun 2, 2025
As we enter yet another Pride Month, it's important to remember two things: A) corporations aren't your friends no matter how many rainbow logos they slap on, and B) we wouldn't be where we are now without the legendary Stonewall riots of 1969. The tavern was declared a national monument almost a decade ago for its contributions to the LGBT rights movement, a struggle that continues to this day.
It's in recognition of this struggle that a set commemorating the Stonewall Monument has shot to the top of LEGO Ideas, garnering ten thousand supporters and meriting consideration by LEGO on the cusp of Pride Month.
Flavio, the Italian LEGO fan behind the set, had this to say:
"I decided to pay tribute to an iconic place for LGBTQIA+ people and for everyone who shares these values, no matter their identity," Flavio tells PRIDE. "It felt natural to choose the Stonewall National Monument, because The Stonewall Inn, Christopher Street, and Christopher Park are powerful symbols of the LGBTQIA+ rights movement. They also represent the long journey the world still needs to take toward equality, a journey that began years ago, but still needs all our support."
As mentioned before, rainbow capitalism is something to be wary of, but it does serve one function — that being a cultural barometer. If corporations like LEGO pander to gay people, it means we're still worth pandering to, i.e. still outnumbering the people who want Dylan Mulvaney to die for doing beer commercials. It might "just" be a gesture if Flavio's Stonewall set makes it to market, but it's still a gesture with at least some meaning.
British Airways attendant dances naked in bathroom during flight
Carla Sinclair / 8:25 am PT Mon Jun 2, 2025
A crew member on a British Airways plane went missing during a flight from San Francisco to London, only to be found dancing in the business class bathroom — naked.
The 41-year-old man "was supposed to be serving meals to passengers" when he suddenly disappeared, reports The Independent.
When the man's fellow flight attendants finally discovered what he was up to, they put him in a pair of pajamas the airline usually hands out to first-class passengers. They then had him sit out the rest of the 10-hour trip in a first class seat, buckling him in for good measure, until the plane landed at Heathrow. That's when he was arrested and taken to a hospital for a welfare check.
"Officers arrested the man after he received medical attention. He was arrested on suspicion of being unfit for duty. He has since been released under investigation," London's Metropolitan Police said in a statement.
From The Independent
A naked British Airways crew member was discovered dancing in a business class toilet while on shift mid-flight after allegedly taking drugs, according to reports. …
The Metropolitan Police said a 41-year-old man on a flight from San Francisco to London Heathrow Airport was arrested on suspicion of being unfit for duty. …
"Enquiries remain ongoing into the circumstances, and an investigation has been launched."
Previously: British Airways flight serves KFC after trouble with the airline food
Penzeys puts Chicken T.A.C.O. Seasoning on sale, for "no reason"
Jennifer Sandlin / 8:00 am PT Mon Jun 2, 2025
Penzeys, the terrific company whose spices are as bold as its public stances in support of progressive politics, has done it again! In a recent letter posted on social media, company owner Bill Penzey announced that Penzeys Chicken T.A.C.O. Seasoning is now on sale, explaining that this decision was made, of course, for "no reason" at all. He further explains that, you know, it's:
Just one of those randomly occurring sales that in no way has anything to do with this week's headlines.
In the same Facebook post, Penzeys also kicks off Pride Month with a sober reminder that Pride is needed now more than ever, in these overwhelmingly challenging political times. Bill Penzey states:
Front and center for Republican anger and hate is immigrants, but the LGBTQ+ community is front of the line among the groups next up.
Polls show for those voters inside the Republican hate bubble, support for marriage equality is in free fall, dropping by more than 20 points in less than two years. This isn't by chance. This is them preparing their supporters for what they are planning to do next. Now is no time to look away.
From the Vietnam draft, to his Casinos, to standing up to Putin, to leading the charge January 6, to his Tariffs on China. So many brave promises. So much running away. Orange is the new Yellow. This label is gonna stick.
Thanks, Penzeys, for always being so vocal in your support of progressive politics!
You can get your Penzeys Chicken T.A.C.O. Seasoning here. It's a mixture of kosher salt, garlic, Ancho chili pepper, onion, Spanish-style paprika, cumin, cilantro, Tellicherry black pepper, Mexican oregano, and jalapeño powder, and it looks absolutely delicious!
You can also get brand-new "RESIST!" t-shirts from Penzeys, here (and they're also on sale!), and get a free Rainbow Spice jar with any five dollar purchase. If you need spices and have never tried Penzeys, you really should. It's an awesome company with great products and terrific politics — what's not to love? Now, go enjoy some chicken T.A.C.O.s!
CDC report reveals contaminated RV water source of brain-eating amoeba in recent death
Jennifer Sandlin / 7:29 am PT Mon Jun 2, 2025
As someone who regularly uses nasal irrigation — but, of course, only with bottled or distilled water — I read the most recent CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) with extreme interest. The MMWR's latest "Notes from the Field," dated May 29, 2025, describes the fatal case of a healthy 71-year-old woman who died in Texas last year from primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a rare but often fatal brain infection caused by Naegleria fowleri. While most people who suffer from PAM encounter N. fowleri through recreational activities, such as swimming, in bodies of water containing the amoeba, the CDC report revealed that in this case, contaminated RV water was the source of the brain-eating amoeba.
The CDC reports that the patient had performed nasal irrigation a few times using unaltered, unboiled tap water from an RV's water faucet at a Texas campground. Four days later, she developed "severe neurologic symptoms" which included a fever, headache, and "altered mental status." She was treated for a suspected PAM infection but developed seizures and died a little over a week after her symptoms began. Post-mortem lab tests revealed that her cerebrospinal fluid contained N. fowleri.
Investigators tested a dozen water and surface samples — including from the RV water tank and the campsite municipal water supply — for the presence of N. fowleri, but didn't find it in any of the samples. This could be partly due to the fact that sampling occurred a full 23 days after the last nasal irrigation event. However, investigators did discover that the RV's water supply wasn't sufficiently disinfected, and concluded that:
Nasal irrigation using tap water remains the suspected route of exposure, given the absence of other identified nasal water exposure and the concerning quality of the campground municipal water and RV tap water at the time of sampling.
Sadly, this tragic case highlights, as the CDC states:
The potential for serious health risks associated with improper use of nasal irrigation devices, as well as the importance of maintaining RV water quality and ensuring that municipal water systems adhere to regulatory standards.
This awful case is definitely a great reminder to always use proper water when I do my nasal rinses. I'm begging you, too: If you're going to do any kind of nasal irrigation, please use only distilled or sterile water.
And as a final note, this CDC factsheet provides the useful additional information that you cannot get an N. fowleriinfection or PAM from drinking contaminated water — to get infected, the contaminated water must go up your nose.
Trash pandamonium for Airbus at raccoon-occupied factory
Rob Beschizza / 7:06 am PT Mon Jun 2, 2025
A family of raccoons made their home in an Airbus factory in Canada, forcing the manufacturer to halt production of an A220 airliner there. Five babies were found in a partially-assembled airframe after their mother was "spotted climbing near the landing gear." Then they found the urine damage and chewed wires, triggering an almighty headache. "We had to open everything back up to inspect," one source told Reuters.
Workers on the overstretched assembly line had to be pulled off normal jobs to undertake the time-consuming task of quarantining the first jet and inspecting for damage from the furry intruders, which are known for foraging in trash cans for food. … While the incident is only a temporary headache, it comes as Airbus is scrambling to speed up production, having warned airlines that it faces another three years of delivery delays as it works through a backlog of supply-chain problems.
Spotted via Tool or Die, a new podcast and newsletter about reindustrialization and reshoring from Joel Johnson and Alex Roy.
Ink-splattered comics maverick, Paul Pope, gets his due in NYC show
Gareth Branwyn / 7:00 am PT Mon Jun 2, 2025
We here at Boing Boing have long been admirers of the work of iconoclastic comic artist, Paul Pope. This June, NYC's amazing "high-end narrative art" space, Philippe Labaune Gallery, is hosting a career-spanning exhibit of Pope's work. His collected art, from Batman: Year 100 and THB to Battling Boy and Heavy Liquid, forms something of a visual mixtape of manga energy, Euro comics atmosphere, and youth-culture angst.
Curated in collaboration with Felix Comic Art, the show features everything from Pope's Moebius-infused homages to lush band posters for The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion and The Grateful Dead to unpublished personal work that spills ink with purpose and punk-rock spirit.
"He's a comics destroyer," says gallery founder Philippe Labaune, not unkindly. "Pope doesn't just straddle genres—he wrecks boundaries, then redraws them with a brush dipped in future oil." Pope has long evoked the likes of Pratt, Moebius, and Bilal, but with a confidence and swagger all his own.
Timed with the release of Pulp Hope 2: The Art of Paul Pope from BOOM! Studios—a 300+ page visual immersion into the artist's life and work — the exhibit offers a rare chance to see Pope's original pages up close, and to trace the throughlines of a stellar, ever-evolving career.
The show runs June 19–July 26, with an opening reception on June 19, from 6 to 9pm.
We were lucky enough to get our hands on a few inks from the exhibition.
Chatty Italian Greyhound gives advice: "Being confused is normal"
Jennifer Sandlin / 6:30 am PT Mon Jun 2, 2025
Meet Pickle, an adorable Italian Greyhound who knows how to talk and, believe me, this doggo has PLENTY to say! His human mom is lucky enough to hear all of his wisdom – and gossip – every day. And, thankfully, Pickle's mom captures much of what he has to say on video and shares it with the rest of us!
Pickle is oh-so-very expressive, and chatters away with glee to his mom, telling her all about his day, complaining about the weather, and telling all kinds of tall tails about his brother. While some commenters have stated that they think Pickle sounds like a seagull screeching, I have to respectfully disagree, because Pickle's vocalizations are much more pleasing than that. To me, the sounds he makes are kind of like a cross between whining and talking, which I easily admit would be annoying in a human but are super cute in a tiny doggo!
Pickle's mom is so sweet and patient as she carries on conversations with him, responding with nods and uh-huhs, and asking follow up questions like, "Oh, really?", "You wanna tell me more?", and, "Did Ernie tell you that?"
I think my favorite video so far is Pickle explaining his New Year's Resolutions. He's so serious and emphatic! Pickle has even done his own canine version of a TED Talk, which is full of inspirational quotes like: "You don't have to have it all figured out," "Most of us are just vibing," and "Being confused is normal, being exhausted is expected, Being dramatic? Honestly, healing." Brilliant advice, Pickle, thank you!
Also, unsurprisingly, Pickle makes adorable noises when he yawns.
Pickle and his brother Ernie live in the UK with their human parents, where the charming fellows get up to no good. See more of their chatty antics on their YouTube or Instagram.
The world of Samurai Jack
Rob Beschizza / 6:16 am PT Mon Jun 2, 2025
Samurai Jack is Genndy Tartakovsky's best work, a perfect place, a striking world of its own. Animation Obsessive took a deep dive into that world, one whose draw is fresh again after the success of Flow and a new appreciation for low- and no-dialogue adventures.
Talking was kept to a minimum. Instead, Samurai Jack would need enough richness and variety in its look and movement (and its filmmaking) to keep people gripped without words. There was no doubt about the size of the risk that was Samurai Jack. See episode eight, which finds Jack battling a copy of himself — made from his own anger. Lingering shots of trees on fire, gorgeously painted, punctuate the fight.
By the way, Nintendo's Legend of Zelda movie should star Hunter Schafer as Link and Zelda and Link should have no dialogue.
If you haven't seen Flow, it's wonderful. My favorite dialogue-less animation, though, is 1977's Oscar-winning The Sand Castle, embedded below.
Watch a pre-SNL Steve Martin do schtick and dance in the 1974 streets of Toronto
Ruben Bolling / 6:00 am PT Mon Jun 2, 2025
Here is Steve Martin in a 1974 video he made at Ed's Warehouse restaurant and Markham Street in Toronto. Martin had done some late night talk show appearances, but this was still two years from his first SNL appearances, and three years from his 1977 debut album Let's Get Small, that propelled him to stardom.
It seems to me that Martin hadn't yet fully committed to the surrealist meta-irony that would shortly turn the corner on his comedy career, even though according to his autobiography Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life, he'd been experimenting with it for years. Or maybe he had honed that persona in his standup act, but was unable to translate it to video comedy.
I'm not sure why this video was made. But Ed's Warehouse was a restaurant opened up by Toronto businessman Ed Mirvish so that patrons of the nearby theater he had purchased, the Royal Alexandra Theatre, would have a place to eat before shows. As Martin alludes to in the video, Mirvish also bought other nearby properties, and rejuvinated the formerly derelict neighborhood. The YouTube video was posted in 2021 by "Mirvish Productions," so it seems likely he had done the video as a promotion for the restaurant.
Another video, viewable on Instagram, featuring Martin in 1974 Toronto playing banjo to an amused but somewhat confused street crowd, must have been made on the same trip to Toronto.
Aldi sued over copycat product packaging
Rob Beschizza / 4:56 am PT Mon Jun 2, 2025
Mondelez International, the corporate giant behind many of America's favorite snack brands, is suing German supermarket chain Aldi over the various inexpensive lookalike products to be found in its aisles.
In a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday in Illinois, Chicago-based Mondelez said Aldi's packaging was "likely to deceive and confuse customers" and threatened to irreparably harm Mondelez and its brands. The company is seeking monetary damages and a court order that would stop Aldi from selling products that infringe on its trademarks. … In the lawsuit, Mondelez displayed side-by-side photos of multiple products. Aldi's Thin Wheat crackers, for example, come in a gold box very similar to Mondelez's Wheat Thins. Aldi's chocolate sandwich cookies and Oreos both have blue packaging. The supermarket's Golden Round crackers and Mondelez's Ritz crackers are packaged in red boxes.
Note a special case of the Streisand Effect: media outlets across the U.S. running lavish visual spreads of photos that Mondelez put in its lawsuit which essentially advertise cheap, delicious replicas of its high-margin hits.
Perhaps the real problem is not so much that customers can't see the difference but that customers can't taste the difference either. Why pay $5.29 for Oreos at Target when Aldi's own-brand ones are $3.99? The age when the latter tasted worse, notwithstanding the golden tongues of cookie sommeliers, is long-gone.
It's not Aldi's first rodeo. The company has recently lost actions in the U.K. and Australia along similar lines, which perhaps encouraged Mondelez to roll the dice in the United States.
British cider company Thatchers won a trademark case on appeal after an earlier loss, and Australian baby snack company Baby Bellies preailed in Federal Court there on a copyright claim.
Wildfires in Canada are burning out of control. Again.
Séamus Bellamy / 9:31 pm PT Sun Jun 1, 2025
Fire season in Canada runs from March until October. We're only a few months in, and the country's already in pretty deep trouble. With a large number of out-of-control wildfires burning in the central Canadian provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba (along with growing flames in British Columbia and Ontario), we're off to another smoke-filled summer. Right now, tens of thousands of individuals are being forced to flee from fires encroaching on their communities. It's becoming an ugly annual tradition.
More than 180 wildfires were burning across the country on Saturday, with dozens spanning from northwestern Ontario through to large regions of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, along with some areas in Alberta and British Columbia. At least 90 of those are considered out of control and eight new fires have started since Friday.
…The situation this week has been so severe that Manitoba was forced to call upon the Canadian Armed Forces to rescue residents from several communities. The province was contending with 25 active wildfires on Saturday, with 106 in total this year. Before this week, the 20-year average for the region was 78 annual fires.
In Saskatchewan, where more than 500,000 hectares have been burned by wildfires, Premier Scott Moe said he has been in constant dialogue with the federal government and other officials about whether military support is needed, but has not called for it yet.
If you live in cities like Chicago, Milwaukee or Detroit, the chances of enjoying one of Canada's best-known national exports, acrid, visibility-buggering smoke, are pretty good right now. Things are already bad enough that, in addition to calling in the armed forces, Canada has also called for assistance from provinces that have yet to ignite and our pals to the south in states like Arizona and Oregon.
But with it being so early in the season, it's hard to say how long any equipment or personnel sent to central Canada to help will be able to remain there. More fires in more places mean less assistance to go around. With budgets being as austere as they are, the likelihood of additional resources having cash thrown at them seems doubtful.
Season 3 of Squid Game announced with spooky new trailer
Grant St. Clair / 9:30 pm PT Sun Jun 1, 2025
Back when Season 2 of Squid Game was first announced, I contested that it was an unnecessary addition to an effective, self-contained story. Now that Season 3 has been announced, I maintain this assertion and ask you to remember that I'm right about everything all the time. Although teased right at the end of Season 2, it's taken a while for Season 3 to finally manifest — but manifest it has, with a planned release date on June 27th.
One of the main complaints levied against Season 2 was that it was, in fact, half a season, composed largely of setup and ending on a cliffhanger while leaving most of its threads dangling. In a sense, Season 3 is more like Season 2.5 — and while it'll no doubt contain more colorful carnage and more twisted games, I sincerely hope it manages to make the previous season's choices look better in retrospect.
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