Tuesday, July 08, 2025

Routing for Vampires

Vampires are often depicted as being weakened or even destroyed by sunlight. The Department of Computer Science at the Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences has developed a unique "vampire mode" that allows the undead in Zurich to navigate the city while staying out of the sun. Vampire mode may also prove useful for other city dwellers looking to avoid the intense daylight heat during the summer months.


Via Maps Mania

A Convincing Illusion


The entire left façade of a building on Madrid’s Plaza de los Carros is not what it appears to be. The windows, balconies, awnings, even people are a trompe-l’œil mural by Spanish artist Alberto Pirrongelli.

(Futility Closet)

German dishwasher 1959


Link 

How Do Muppets Go Outside?

Puppet shows are typically performed in a box so that the puppeteers can hide beneath the set, but what happens when they head out into the real world, lower extremities and all?


(Colossal)

Sunday, July 06, 2025

Sunday Links




The Lives of Stray Cats in NYC Written in 1961 Gay Talese’s New York: A Serendipiter’s Journey is an observer’s tale of people who make up a city. In one part he looks at the lives of the city’s stray cats.

Beyond The Surface: The Art of X-Rays This exhibit showcases Andrei Duman’s X-ray photography of well-known objects. 

Is your dog boring? This app will turn your pup into a Dancing Dog ((Via Web Curios

Sadly this put an end to their honeymoon. Stay far away from Sandman Hotel in Kelowna!

The ultimate dream journal: Users wake up in the morning, push a button and tell their dreams to the AI-powered Dream Recorder which generates a video reel that is played back on its screen. 

From Marion Ryan and Robert Ord’s The Heat Wave: A Strange Story of Ancient Rome and Modern New York (1929): “Morning after morning the sun rose triumphantly waving golden streamers, to blaze relentlessly through fifteen hours. When at last it subsided into a scarlet bed, the night brought no relief in the heavy pall that closed down upon a gasping people.” Read more


Arms dealer Adnan Kashoggi was once one of the richest men in the world. I am only posting this link because there is a (super tenuous) connection to me. Long ago our friend’s daughter was one of Adnan’s many girlfriends and she gave Mr. Nag a pair of his aviator sunglasses which are likely still kicking around in a drawer. 


Acts of Rebellion for the Middle-Aged: Let’s start with hopping on your Peloton with a belly full of Smashburger.

The 2024 Best Illusion of the Year Winners  Via Neatorama

The Tiny Car With a Space-Age Dream I think I’d feel safer on the road if everyone drove these.

Romeo and Juliet are urban coyotes who have made Central Park their home. Romeo has resided in the park since 2019. He lived alone for about four years until Juliet showed up.

This video reminds me of myself last week peeling chickpeas for hummus. I got it down to a science.

Murder, she measured: The science behind Agatha Christie’s poisons. (Via Miss Cellania)

Catlog is like an Apple Watch for your cat. I think it’s a little weird. (Via Web Curios)

Is handwriting still meaningful when we mostly call and text our loved ones? A study analyzes handwriting samples collected from participants to see how they differ across generations. I seldom write anymore and when I do I notice that my handwriting has changed over the years. I used to pride myself on my penmanship (sigh).

The Homeowners Association - A short story by Steve Vermillion.






Music For Sunday Morning

Wet Leg - davina mccall