Author: Miss Cellania

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Morning Cup of Links: The Rise of Pokemon

Miss Cellania
filed under: Links

Chasing Mew: How the World Became Obsessed with Pokemon. The secret was rumors and myths and marketing.
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16 Terrifying Horror Movies You Can Watch In 20 Minutes Or Less. It’s a mini-marathon of fright.
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Cybathlon 2016: Amazing Images from the World’s First Bionic Olympics. Paraplegic compete using state-of-the-art technology to move and communicate.
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The Emily Dickinson Movie Is As Brilliant -And Claustrophobic- As Its Subject. A Quiet Passion will hit theaters just in time for Oscar season.
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Extreme Weather Costs Taxpayers Billions Every Year. We rescue and recover, but should we rebuild?
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My Slave-Owning Ancestors Are Turning in Their Graves. A Confederate war hero has a “proudly multiracial bilingual Chicano” for a descendant.
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I used to have 10 fingers. Then a lovable golden retriever ripped one off.
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9 Gross and Gruesome Goodies for Your Halloween Party. Guests with strong stomachs will be rewarded.


October 12, 2016 – 5:00am

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Morning Cup of Links: The Work and Family Scale

Miss Cellania
filed under: Links
Image credit: 
Funny or Die

The Work and Family Scale. For women who already have it all. Contains NSFW language.
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How do you remove caffeine from coffee? There are several methods, all very complicated.
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Inside the New York Public Library’s Last, Secret Apartments. There are only 13 left; too bad they are crumbling.
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Whiz Kids. Extremely important research findings about urine.
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A Strange “Cold Earth” Spot in China Stays Frozen Through Scorching Summers. There’s permafrost further south than any should exist.
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How Medieval Agriculture Techniques Saved My Farm. Livestock first, then agriculture.
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Ruth’s Chris Steak House is practically giving away food after Facebook blunder. They didn’t foresee the biggest margin of victory in decades of college football.
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The Bell Witch of Tennessee. Read about the Tennessee farm that was haunted by rumors.


October 11, 2016 – 5:00am

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14 Fun Halloween Costumes for Babies

Miss Cellania
filed under: halloween, kids, Lists, Miss Cellania
Image credit: 

S7ar-lord via imgur 

Your baby’s first Halloween is a wonderful introduction to the world of children’s dress-up. You can let your imagination run wild, because an infant is too young to object to the costume you decide on. Enjoy some adorable babies showing off their costumes.

1. DAVID BOWIE

 

Johnny Miller’s son was David Bowie for his first Halloween last year. This little “Rebel Rebel” has gone through some “Changes” since then.

2. RIPLEY WITH EXOSKELETON

rdt156 via Imgur

Redditor rdt156’s friend Jason went all out for his daughter’s first Halloween. She is Ripley, from the movie Aliens, and her dad is the Power Loader exoskeleton that she uses to defeat the alien queen.

3. STAY PUFT MARSHMALLOW BABY

My first custom figure – stay puft marshmallow baby #ghostbusters

A photo posted by Dan Milano (@danmilano) on

 

Robot Chicken writer/voice actor Dan Milano went all out for his daughter’s first Halloween in 2012. She was just a baby, but as the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, she towered over Manhattan and the entire Ghostbusters cast.

4. THE LITTLEST MERMAID

Justine Galbraith knits and crochets adorable baby clothes, which are available for purchase through her Etsy shop YarnForLittles. She made this adorable mermaid costume for an infant that includes a starfish headband, bandeau top, and mermaid tail.

5. CHEWBACCA

Probably the best thing I’ve ever made. #chewbacca #starwars #babychewbacca #babyhalloweencostume #halloween2015

A photo posted by Stephanie Burgess (@tuesdayswithmarshall) on

 

Little Marshall is ready to battle a Sith Lord in his homemade Chewbacca costume. Stephanie Burgess says this is the second best thing she’s ever made. This year, it looks as if he has joined the Dark Side.

6. NECKBEARD

buterbetterbater via imgur

Redditor buterbetterbater said he was going to dress his infant daughter as a neckbeard, the stereotype of redditors that members have humorously embraced, for Halloween this year. He followed through by posting the completed costume: She has the requisite fedora (with hair attached), katana, Anonymous shirt, cape, and quasi-beard. Others in the forum suggested she carry Cheetos and a Mountain Dew.

7. LOBSTER IN A POT

She’s my loooooobster #babyhalloweencostume #firsthalloween #babylobster

A photo posted by Grissel Aguirre (@grisselaguirre) on

 

Grissel Aguirre created a mother-daughter costume last year to show off her culinary skills. The baby is just delicious! However, she escaped the pot.

8. POPCORN

Kate Eckstein

If your baby will be trick-or-treating in a carrier, you can use that as a starting point for a clever costume. Kate Eckstein made a popcorn bag from felt and hot glue to tote Owen around on his first Halloween in 2010.

9. SLASH

Relax it’s just dax as @slash ? #babydaxel #slash #babyhalloweencostume #gunsNroses #babydaxel

A video posted by ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ DAXΞL VAUGHN FRiΞDMAN (@castledaxel) on

 

We would recognize this little rock star anywhere. Daxel Vaughn Friedman was barely old enough to walk last year, but he pulled off playing the guitarist like a boss. We all wish we had a hat like that.

10. SCUBA DIVER

Mackenzie at I Love My Kids dressed up her son as a scuba diver for his first Halloween a couple of years ago—with a DIY costume that cost less than $5 altogether. She explained how she did it: The breathing apparatus is a pacifier connected to a painted Pepsi bottle “air tank.” A few other details made it not only recognizable, but adorable, too.

11. HERE COMES THE JUDGE

 

Julie H. shared a picture of her baby dressed as a judge for Halloween last year. She purchased a graduation cap and gown, then substituted a cotton ball wig and lacy tie for the cap. Add a gavel and you have a thoroughly judicious infant.

12. BABY GROOT

S7ar-lord via imgur

S7ar-lord’s son got the Baby Groot treatment last Halloween. His wife is Etsy seller Summer Wood, who knows a thing or two about making costumes and accessories.

13. TINKERBELL

 

Katie O’Hagan makes tutus of all sizes and colors at her Etsy store WhenMermaidsDream, so you can let your imagination run wild. This tiny Tinkerbell dress is just one of the many magical costumes she has for infants and little princesses.

14. MAVERICK AND GOOSE

These twins went trick-or-treating as Maverick and Goose, the Navy pilots from Top Gun, in their very own fighter jet.


October 10, 2016 – 2:00pm

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Morning Cup of Links: The Scariest Movie Monsters

Miss Cellania
filed under: Links

The Scariest Movie Monsters. With video evidence, if you really want to watch them.
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The World’s Last Great Wilderness. Preserving Antarctica will depend on international cooperation.
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Find the Most Hipster Neighborhood In Every State, In Case You Were Wondering. You probably haven’t heard of them.
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Will sitcoms ever stop shaming single people? It’s not a personal failure, just the latest fashionable group to make fun of.  
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Research May Show Why Acne Today Means Younger-looking Skin Tomorrow. One bright spot in a few miserable years.
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People of Earth: Inspired by the Truth and Empathy of Aliens. It’s a sitcom that actually has a lot to say.
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The pioneering paranoia of America’s preppers. They’re ready for disaster, or even an apocalypse.
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9 Halloween Pumpkin Projects. Just in case you want to do something besides a traditional jack-o-lantern.


October 10, 2016 – 5:00am

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11 Horror Film Festivals You Can Attend in October

Miss Cellania
filed under: festivals, Lists, Miss Cellania, Movies
Image credit: 

iStock

Film festivals are always fun, and in autumn that means horror films! You have plenty of them to select from for a frightfully good time.

1. SHRIEKFEST // LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

Shriekfest Horror Film Festival via Facebook

The Los Angeles Horror/Sci-Fi Film Festival & Screenplay Competition is a long name, so you can just call it Shriekfest. Now in its 16th year, Shriekfest will feature four days of feature films punctuated by dozens of horror shorts, submitted by filmmakers around the world. Prizes are awarded for movies and screenplays separately, for both short films and features, in the categories of horror, science fiction, and thriller. The festival runs October 6-9.

2. SITGES FILM FESTIVAL // SITGES, SPAIN

Sitges Film Festival

The International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia is better known as the Sitges Film Festival, as it takes place in the coastal resort town of Sitges, about 25 miles from Barcelona. An international jury recognizes the best in horror and fantasy films from around the world. This year’s slate of films contains hundreds of classics, competition features, and short films. Guests to be honored this year include Christopher Walken and Max von Sydow, and the festival will pay tribute to Star Trek during its 50th anniversary year. The 2016 festival runs October 7-16.

3. ATLANTA HORROR FILM FESTIVAL // ATLANTA, GEORGIA

Atlanta Horror Film Festival

This will be the 10th year of the Atlanta Horror Film Festival, so they’re throwing a huge anniversary party. The festival awarded 23 prizes last year, for everything from Best Feature to Best Short Short, with awards in horror, animation, horror comedy, thriller, science fiction, and foreign films, plus special awards for best local, experimental, and zombie submissions. This year’s festival will run October 13-16.

4. TORONTO AFTER DARK FILM FESTIVAL // TORONTO

Toronto After Dark Film Festival via Facebook

The Toronto After Dark Film Festival showcases horror, sci-fi, action, and cult films. The festival will screen a total of 19 features and around 30 short films, selected from over 800 submissions from around the world. The festival will run October 13-21.

5. TELLURIDE HORROR SHOW // TELLURIDE, COLORADO

 

Approximately 25 features and 50 shorts will be screened at this year’s Telluride Horror Show. They promise to be “an eclectic mix of horror, suspense, thriller, fantasy, sci-fi and dark comedy.” This year’s festival will run October 14-16.

6. BROOKLYN HORROR FILM FESTIVAL // BROOKLYN, NEW YORK

 

The Brooklyn Horror Film Festival boasts that it’s for “badass genre films,” regardless of classification, although all are independently produced. The festival will include a concert, art show, and storytelling contest in addition to the schedule of three feature film premieres, a dozen in-competition features, and lots of shorts, shown at half a dozen different theaters. Some events are limited to those over 21. The festival will be October 14-16 this year.

7. FEAR FETE HORROR CON & FILM FESTIVAL // BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI

 

The Fear Fete Horror Con and Film Festival is a festival that grew to become much more. Movies will be presented in themed blocks of two shorts and a feature, tracking themes of traditional horror, sci-fi and fantasy, paranormal, religious/occult, comedy horror, and psychological horror. Other events will include zombie laser tag and a zombie pub crawl. The accompanying Gamer Fete brings video game fans together for gaming and cosplay. A slew of celebrities from the horror and gaming industries are expected to appear. Fear Fete will run October 15-16 this year.

8. SCREAMFEST // HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA

Which one is real, and which one is not? Come take a picture with our #KillerClown and tag #ScreamfestLa for your chance to win a #GoodyBag

A photo posted by Screamfest Horror FilmFestival (@screamfestla) on

 

Screamfest—“America’s largest and longest running horror film festival”—lets Hollywood movers and shakers get to see what’s new from up-and-coming filmmakers. It’s where Paranormal Activity, The Grudge, The Human Centipede, and other features were first screened. If you’re going as a spectator, you’ll get to watch along with producers, directors, and actors. This year’s festival will be held October 18-27.

9. FREAK SHOW HORROR FILM FESTIVAL // ORLANDO, FLORIDA

FREAK SHOW Horror Film Festival via Facebook

This will be the 11th year for the Freak Show Horror Film Festival, which will showcase at least 30 independent and international films, with Q&A sessions with some of the filmmakers. A full schedule of featured movies will be available soon. The 2016 Freak Show will be October 21-23.

10. SAN ANTONIO HORRIFIC FILM FESTIVAL // SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

 

The San Antonio Horrific Film Festival’s theme for 2016 is “Aliens, Monsters, and Heroes.” Twenty features and shorts will be competing for the Chainsaw Awards in various categories, as well as the Johnson Family Awards for writing in different horror categories. Horror film celebrities will be there, and attendees are encouraged to come dressed for the cosplay competition and costume party. Participants in horror or sci-fi costumes will get a discount on day passes. The Horrific Film Festival will be held October 21-23.

11. BRAM STOKER INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL // WHITBY, ENGLAND

Bram Stoker International Film Festival via Facebook

What better way to celebrate Halloween than to watch horror films at a festival named after the author of Dracula? The Bram Stoker International Film Festival will feature around 35 independent feature films, plus documentaries and shorts from around the world. In addition to the movies, the festival has an art show, live dramas, concerts, lectures, and the annual Vampire’s Ball. Performers include daredevils, magicians, a mind reader, a Gothic belly dancer, and various other sideshow and cabaret acts. The festival runs October 27-30.


October 7, 2016 – 10:00am

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The Weird Week in Review

Miss Cellania
filed under: week-in-review, weird news
Image credit: 

Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain 

MOOSE FIGHT IS A DRAW THANKS TO FENCE

On Sunday, two bull moose encountered each other from opposite sides of a chain link fence on Raspberry Road in Anchorage, Alaska. They went at each other with their antlers, as moose do during mating season, but could not connect through the fence. The attempted battle raged on for hours, as a crowd of officials and drivers gathered, until one moose’s antlers got tangled with barbed wire. It then decided to wander away and rest a while. At that point, a biologist was able to approach the moose and tranquilize it long enough to remove the barbed wire. There was no winner in the battle between the two moose, but the fence was wrecked.  

TRANSPORTATION MINISTRY RESPONDS TO SIGN

The construction project on Anthony Henday Drive in Edmonton, Alberta, is finally finished. A programmable sign says so (link contains NSFW text). The photo of the sign went viral yesterday, although we don’t know whether anyone actually complained. Transportation ministry spokesperson Aileen Machell issued a statement.

“Two thousand people worked very hard to bring this project to completion, and there’s obviously a lot of pride in that work,” Machell said in a statement Sunday. “It seems someone changed the sign as part of the celebrations; however, the wording is not the kind we would use and we had it changed immediately.”

It is not clear who programmed the sign in the first place, or if that person could face disciplinary action.

The Edmonton ring project was started in the 1970s. The final phase of construction, on Anthony Henday Drive, has been going on since 2000.

NORWAY’S PRIME MINISTER CAUGHT PLAYING POKEMON GO AT WORK

News photographers caught pictures of Norwegian prime minister Erna Solberg playing Pokemon Go on her phone while a debate was going on in parliament. At the time of the incident, Trine Skei Grande, the leader of the opposition party was speaking. While it may seem rude to play video games during parliamentary session, both women are known video game fans. Solberg had previously played Pokemon Go during a state visit to Slovakia, and Grande was caught playing the game during a government committee meeting. 

FAKE COP TRIES TO PULL OVER UNMARKED POLICE CAR

The man impersonating a police officer did not, at first, realize that he was pulling over an unmarked police car. He positioned his Ford Crown Victoria behind the car and turned on his lights and siren. Then he thought better of the idea and sped away. The targeted car was a police vehicle with a Montgomery County (Maryland) Police detective inside. The detective turned the tables by then pulling over the Crown Victoria.

“On the exterior of the car, the detective observed red and blue grill lights, a push bumper, and multiple antennas. The detective also observed that the interior of the vehicle replicated a police car and contained items that included a center console with radio microphone, emergency lights and switches, a camera affixed to the windshield, siren, Stop Sticks, and flex cuffs,” Montgomery County Police stated in a press release.

The detective arrested 51-year-old John Vincent Angelini of Baltimore on charges of impersonating a police officer. 

MASS BRAWL BREAKS OUT AT CHUCK E. CHEESE RESTAURANT

A fight broke out Saturday at a Chuck E. Cheese restaurant in Miami, Florida, in which several parents from different families threw punches at each other. A 16-year-old who recorded the fight on her phone said that it all started when one diner objected to another diner looking at them. Police arrived about ten minutes into the fight and dispersed the combatants. Police have not yet released a statement on the fight. 

DENZEL WASHINGTON STRANGLES ARETHA FRANKLIN

Denzel Washington (no, not that Denzel Washington) appeared in court Wednesday in Manhattan to accept a plea deal in a case in which he was accused of strangling his mother, 52-year old Aretha Franklin (no, not that Aretha Franklin). Washington was accused of wrapping his hands around Franklin’s neck and causing bruising. In the deal, he pled guilty to harassment and must complete an anger management program and stay away from Franklin. Meanwhile, Denzel Washington the actor and singer Aretha Franklin are good friends.


October 7, 2016 – 9:00am

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Frightening Face-Off: 10 Halloween Makeup Tutorials

Miss Cellania
filed under: halloween, Miss Cellania
Image credit: 

Promise Tamang via YouTube

Determined to win first prize at your local Halloween costume contest? You’ll probably really have to get into character, complete with special effects makeup. But before you get started on your head-to-toe transformation, take a few cues from these pros who have already proven they know how to put on an impressive front.

1. SHARK GIRL

Kat Sketch set out to mimic what she calls a “creepy” shark face that she spotted in a painting. In the video above, she uses face moisturizer, face makeup primer, makeup setting spray, Halloween makeup, and more to create a detailed look.

And if you’d rather not dive into an ocean-themed transformation, Sketch’s other special effects makeup tutorials teach viewers how to turn themselves into Disney characters, horror movie villains, celebrities, and dismembered ghouls.

2. STRANGER THINGS‘S DEMOGORGON

Swedish duo ellimacs sfx—makeup artist Ellinor Rosander and photographer Macs Moser—created this recreation of the Demorgorgon monster from the Netflix series Stranger Things. Beware: This project isn’t for beginners. It takes over 2 hours to prepare and another 30 to 40 minutes to apply. See more of elliemacs sfx special effects tutorials on their website.

3. SKULL

In the video above, Chicago makeup artist Alex Faction transforms himself into a fearsome skull with only the power of makeup. You’ll see many variations of the skull at Faction’s Instagram page, and more of his Halloween makeup tutorials on YouTube.

4. SALLY

Promise Tamang can make herself into a number of characters, whether they are captured in CGI, live action, or stop-motion. One of her top tutorials: Sally from the 1993 film The Nightmare Before Christmas (seen above), which pulled in over 14 million views! Tamang is also known for taking on other Tim Burton characters, including Edward Scissorhands and The Corpse Bride as well as tutorials for all the Disney Princesses.

5. COMIC BOOK ART

British artist Emma Pickles is best-known for this look, inspired by Roy Lichtenstein’s comic book pop art. Check out Pickles’ portfolio of other special effects makeup art.

6. VENOM

Sarah Coy of Coy Makeup took on the challenge of recreating Venom, a villain from the Spider-Man comics with a huge mouth, enormous sharp teeth, and a long tongue. The trick, according to Coy, is to use the entire chin and neck for Venom’s mouth. The eyes must also be enormous for balance.

7. VALAK

Los Angeles-based special effects artist Angie Davis started working her recreation of Valak, a demon nun from the 2016 movie The Conjuring 2, almost immediately after seeing the film. If you would rather create your own original character, Starling also has a number of tutorials that explain how to create bloody body wounds.

8. ALIEN

DeviantART member Katie Alves works her Halloween magic with the help of UV blacklight paints. One example: this alien recreation, which also features glitter and a glow-in-the-dark wig. See more of Alves’ makeup masterpieces in her gallery.

9. WALKING DEAD ZOMBIE

Greg Nicotero and Andy Schoneberg create the zombies on the TV show The Walking Dead. At their day job, they have 30 sculptors, mold-makers, painters, and makeup artists producing prosthetics for thousands of stunt actors and extras. Some zombies and death scenes require special rigs to spew blood or even complete latex doubles to endure dismemberment. But in this makeup tutorial, they only use materials you can find at a Halloween shop or grocery store to help you become one of the undead for Halloween.

10. THE WALKING DEAD‘S NIGHT KING

Body paint artist Bethany Geek (YouTube user Geekup) treats skin as a canvas in order to turn herself into Night King, the leader of the White Walkers, the army of the undead in the Game of Thrones. She also takes on a number of comic book, video game, and movie characters in other tutorials.


October 5, 2016 – 12:00pm

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Morning Cup of Links: The Legacy of Ed Gein

Miss Cellania
filed under: Links

The Real Texas Chainsaw Massacre: How Ed Gein Inspired Classic Horror Movies. Psycho and Silence of the Lambs also were inspired by the real life killer.
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Hurricane Matthew Prompts South Carolina To Evacuate 1 Million. Georgia and Florida has declared states of emergency, too.
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This Is How To Tell If You’re In An Abusive Relationship. If you feel the need to erase your browser history after reading this, that’s another sign.
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The Unmasking of Elena Ferrante: Journalistically Defensible, Perhaps, But Morally Questionable. Does an author have a right to remain private?
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The Science Behind Senior Moments. Just as I thought, it happens when your brain gets full.
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Cat Scratch Fever’s Not Just an Infectious Song. Cat Scratch Disease is transmitted from fleas to cats to people.  
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The fascinating science of rainbows. They can tell us a lot about the world around us.
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The Haunted Hospital. Waverly Hills Sanitarium in Kentucky has seen more than its share of death.


October 5, 2016 – 5:00am

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Morning Cup of Links: The Gates of Hell

Miss Cellania
filed under: Links
Image credit: 

Peter Andersen via Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 3.0

11 Hidden Spots to Enter the Underworld. “The Gates of Hell” are found all over the world.  
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Three Nobel Prize Winners Who Went Bonkers. Genius is no safeguard against mental illness.
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Why a Historian Had to Prove the Holocaust Happened in Court. She did it, without having to subject Auschwitz survivors to another ordeal.
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Fake Food. You can thank William A. Mitchell for developing quite a few modern, um, edibles.
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Judd Apatow Commits Career Suicide with Chris Gethard. Feel the tension between the haves and the have-nots.
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What makes someone a ‘person of color’ or ‘white’ in America? Sometimes the divide is a matter of language or religion instead of ancestry or skin tone.
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We can’t even pick our favorite of these knockoff Halloween costumes. Manufacturers go to ridiculous lengths to avoid infringement charges.
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Gruesome Halloween Party Food and Creepy Halloween Party Food. In case you’re throwing the party everyone will be talking about.


October 4, 2016 – 5:00am

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Morning Cup of Links: The ‘Duck Soup’ Monologue

Miss Cellania
filed under: Links

The Case for Duck Soup and the Greatest Monologue in Movie History. Much funnier than Hamlet talking to a skull.
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22 Tips For Finding A College Where You’ll Actually Thrive. Do your homework now, so you won’t stress out later.
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The 10 Best Vacations You’ll Never Get to Take. These landmarks are just no longer there.
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How We Describe Books When We Can’t Remember the Title or Author. Artist Marina Luz has been in that situation, and created a series of images she calls IF I DON’T FIND THIS BOOK I WILL DIE.
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Here’s What Goodwill Actually Does With Your Donated Clothes. Only a fraction is sold at your local thrift store.
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How a Big Mac Can Teach You About the World Economy. The burger’s price varies, but not as much as its affordability around the world.
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How to survive a special needs marriage. An essay on what “for better or worse” really means.
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5 Scary Places and the Legends Behind Them. Would you dare to visit?


October 3, 2016 – 5:00am