Month: September 2016

In 1983, Leonard Nimoy produced a low-budget TV special called Leonard Nimoy: Star Trek Memories. In the hour-long special, he recalled the original series and talked about the first two Trek movies, as Star Trek III: The Search for Spock wouldn’t be out until mid-1984. The special was taped in Boston at Channel 56, which was the main station showing syndicated Trek episodes in the Boston market at the time.

More than a decade later, William Shatner came along with his own direct-to-video package, William Shatner’s Star Trek Memories.

But let’s step back and revel in 1983’s quiet hour spent with Nimoy, as he walks us through, quite literally, his memories of the show and movies. He talks about how he got the part, how the show worked, and gives just a hint of what might come next. (Keep in mind that at this point in the movies’ continuity, Spock’s fate was, at best, unclear.)

The special is broken into four parts on YouTube. Enjoy:

The waters of California’s San Joaquin River Delta are currently suffering from an alien invasion. Fortunately, the creatures don’t come from outer space, although looks can be deceiving. Over the past several weeks, local boaters and beach-goers have been finding gelatinous brown blobs known as magnificent bryozoans (Pectinatella magnifica)—although people also call them moss animals or dragon’s boogers.

The bryozoans, which are actually colonies of tiny organisms called zooids joined together, aren’t supposed to be west of the Mississippi, as the Stockton Record reports. It’s not clear how long the alien species has been in California, or exactly how they got there. However, in 2012 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also noted an increase in magnificent byrozoans in the Pacific Northwest, perhaps because of climate change. (Magnificent bryozoans need waters over 60 °F to survive.)

What IS this thing discovered in the Delta? Answer soon @Recordnet pic.twitter.com/xhkg7smHiM

— Alex Breitler (@alexbreitler) September 20, 2016

Locals residents and boaters have been alarmed by the creatures, which cling to docks and weeds throughout the Delta. But while their appearance might be disgusting, they won’t actually harm you. At least, not immediately. Since the bryozoans are an invasive species, as CBS Sacramento notes, they may be disrupting habitat for other creatures. Only time will tell what kind of effect they’ll have, but for now, at least we know they’re not from Mars.

You can learn more—and see the “dragon boogers” up-close—in the CBS video below:

[h/t: Stockton Record]

Know of something you think we should cover? Email us at tips@mentalfloss.com.

Halloween is still more than a month away, but an upcoming party in New York City wants to give you an excuse to break out your Catwoman costume a little early. On Wednesday, September 28, TIME reports that ailurophiles can attend the city’s “first annual purrrty for cat lovers,” hosted by local artist SuZen in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village.

SuZen is perhaps most famous for her iconic photo of the Empire State Building’s silhouette, as glimpsed through shutters, which was transformed into a Times Square mural in 1984. But she’s nearly equally well known for her love of cats. The artist released a photo book of her two Siamese kitties, Sushi and Sashimi, in 1990, and is currently raising funds on Indiegogo to create the “JacCAT,” a jacket emblazoned with her recently deceased cat Ari’s silhouette. Now, SuZen is celebrating her passion for all things feline (and promoting the JacCAT) by throwing a giant soiree.

SuZen’s “Cat Purrrty” will be held in the community space of Westbeth Artists Housing, a nonprofit housing and commercial complex for artists and arts organizations in Greenwich Village. (SuZen, herself, is a longtime resident.) According to DNAinfo, attendees will be provided with cat ears, and they’ll dance to “cat-themed music”—think “The Siamese Cat Song” from Lady and the Tramp (1955), or the soundtrack to the Broadway musical CATS. A face-painter will paint noses and whiskers, and partygoers can try on and purchase the JacCAT. (A portion of sales proceeds will be donated to cat rescue groups.)

The “Cat Purrrty” runs from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., and is open to all members of the public. Tickets are available online. The event is free, but donations to cover overhead costs and support cat rescue groups are welcome.

[h/t Time]

Know of something you think we should cover? Email us at tips@mentalfloss.com.

Earlier this year, France passed a law banning disposable plastic bags. Now, Quartz reports, France has announced it’s working towards eradicating all plastic cups, plates, and utensils by 2020. It is the first nation to announce a total ban on all plastic tableware.

The law, which is part of the country’s Energy Transition for Green Growth Act, will make it illegal to manufacture or sell plastic tableware in France, though biodegradable disposable tableware will be permitted. New regulations will require that any disposable tableware be made of 50 percent biologically sourced materials that consumers can compost at home.

The Washington Post explains that the law is the result of a conference in Paris last year on strategies for combating global warming. French lawmakers hope that by banning plastics, they will improve waste management strategies by creating a “circular economy” of waste disposal, and contribute to a greener planet. According to French president François Hollande, the plastic ban is part of France’s mission to become “an exemplary nation in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, diversifying its energy model and increasing the deployment of renewable energy sources.”

[h/t Quartz]

Know of something you think we should cover? Email us at tips@mentalfloss.com.