YEAH THE THING IS

[dapplejack]

[yeahthethingis]

Mood

[abs0luteb4stard]

This is the result of a political class that’s given up on morality and simply pursues popularity at all costs.

Malcolm Tucker The Thick of It “Series 4 – Episode 7” (via abs0luteb4stard)

[yeahthethingis]

[boobiwan]

[skunkbear]

A very furry story from the history of the space race! Khrushchev’s move strikes me as brilliant: half, “we may be engaged in a cold war, but we’re still human!” and half, “the dogs we sent to space are already having babies. How’s NASA coming along?”

Apparently, Pushinka (which means “fluffy" in Russian) was examined before arriving at the White House to check for listening devices.

Images: Daniel Mogford/Flickr, Ralphdj/Wikimedia Commons, The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, 

[npr]

What a cool story, and cute dogs! -Laura

[rubyvroom]

This was the crossword puzzle in the New York Times yesterday. 

Tausig’s crossword is a so-called Schrödinger puzzle, named for the physicist’s hypothetical cat that is at once both alive and dead. In a Schrödinger puzzle, select squares have more than one correct letter answer: They exist in two states at once. “Black Halloween animal,” for example, could be both BAT or CAT, yielding two different but perfectly correct puzzles. Only 10 such puzzles have now been published in Times history.

It’s the theme of Tausig’s puzzle, though, that makes it special. Four entries in Thursday’s crossword can include either an “F” or an “M.” Both are correct; neither is wrong. For example, “Part of a house” can be either ROOF or ROOM. The long “revealer” answer, tying those select entries together and spanning 11 squares smack-dab in the middle of the puzzle, is GENDER FLUID.

This puzzle, with “M”s and “F”s that aren’t fixed, is a masterful blend of subject and structure. “It potentially really evokes what gender fluidity is, which is not moving back and forth between two poles, but actually not being committed to either pole, and potentially existing in many states at different times,” Tausig said.

[mournjargon]

This is … really cool.

[mockiato-deactivated20200315]

The most incredible thing about this was discovering that fusty and musty both mean exactly the same thing.

[nthmetal]

[fuckyeahthethickofit]

The PM, whilst acknowledging the need for thoughts, is keener on actions these days. I’m going to be providing those. Stewart, there’s no need for you to clear your desk, cos you’re a walking thought pod, aren’t you?

[billieviperarchive]

[yeahthethingis]

[tastefullyoffensive]

How God Created Animals (via boredpanda) Previously: Dad Tweets

[climateadaptation-deactivated20]

Good fun.

[yeahthethingis]

[yeahthethingis]

[arrestedwesteros]

Michael: Do you know what they do to people who commit treason? George Sr.: First time. Michael: I’ve never heard of a second. George Sr.: I got the worst fucking attorneys.

Let ‘Em Eat Cake - 1x22

[yeahthethingis]

[betterbooktitles]

or How to Live in Your Friend’s Backyard Rent-Free

Henry David Thoreau: Walden or Life in the Woods

[betterbooktitles]

Check out the new Better Book Titles book here.