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In this edition: Green Eyes and the explosion of cryptid festivals Appalachian folk horror Cryptid Media – Folk horror resurgence/British Cryptids Pop Cryptid – Jackalope or nope? Hello and welcome to the 3rd edition of the Pop Cryptid Spectator – my chronicle of observing the changing appearance of and attitudes towards “cryptids” in popular culture. My interest is in exploring the expansion of cryptozoology into a mass cultural phenomenon – …

By IlmariLast time, I had just arrived at the gates of the castle of Good Magician Humfrey. I asked Jenny, my new companion, how to get in, and she suggested using her cat, Sammy, to find a way in.Sammy kept pawing the wall, and checking it, I wound a loose brick, behind which I could find a switch. Flipping it opened the gate and let me in.There’s traditionally three obstacles …

I saw this interview in 1999, around when "The Straight Story" came out, and it totally changed how I look at/understand art/the world. I am always looking for the eye of the duck.Rest in peace, David Lynch.

Howdy Captain, Thanks for your work and for cat photos. All players in this story are mid 20s. I (call me Emm, she/her) have been in a wonderful, spellbinding relationship with Ell (he/him) for about a year and half now, and we’re getting engaged in a few months! He has gotten along swimmingly with all the people I care about in my life except…I’ve been unable to get May (she/her), …

This month we published To The Cold Land by J.M.K.E., the most legendary punk rock band in Estonia, in our 33 1/3 Europe series. Its author, Brigitta Davidjants, gave us some insight into why she wrote about this album, the connection between punk and political defiance and how we can explore soviet history through music. By Brigitta Davidjants Shortly after Estonia regained independence in 1991, my generation found itself in …

The first Soho Radio show of 2025. JON ‘MOJO’ MILLS goes baroque, plays some excellent new tunes, and throws in some garage-punk, mod-beat and prog to round things out Track list Dave Richmond ‘Baroque Theme’ (B) The Stone Poneys ‘Different Drum’ The Stone Poneyys ‘Evergreen (Pt One)’ The Zombies ‘Care Of Cell 44’ Quiet World Of Lea & John ‘There Is A Moutain’ Sunchariot ‘You’re Lovely’ Barclay James Harvest ‘Galadriel’ …

We all know that one of the juvenile pleasures of Wingspan is calling out the birds that sound like human anatomical features. Abbott’s Boobie! American Woodcock! Truly, I will never age past thirteen. Finspan is the second spinoff of Elizabeth Hargrave’s unexpected smash hit, following last year’s Wyrmspan by Connie Vogelmann. Designed by David Gordon and Michael O’Connell, Finspan drops us into the sea. It also changes the nature of …

The Great Smoky Mountain Council is celebrating 110 years of service in the Knoxville, Tennessee, area with a series of events over the next year. The council has upheld the core values of Scouting in East Tennessee for more than a century, shaping young men and women into productive citizens. The council has produced numerous leaders, including a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, and continues to impact local communities in …

Copenhagen duo snuggle drop a woozy and mercurial experimental pop gem, with a radiant, clear-eyed, softly anthemic chorus that would've absolutely killed on '90s alternative radio... Continue reading…

This Chinese Garlic Shrimp Clay Pot recipe is impressive, very delicious, and surprisingly easy to make. It is a great candidate for Chinese New Year dinner, not just because it symbolizes wealth and happiness “rolling in,” but also because you can prepare the entire dish in advance! This also makes it a wonderful makeahead weeknight ... View Post

I did my first Maine railfanning today at Northern Maine Junction in Hermon, Maine just outside Bangor. Posted 16 years ago today.

Though I own Bois de Violette and the original Dolce Vita, I really only have eyes for Feminité du Bois. I think this is because it is the only one that achieves a perfect balance between sparkle and gloom. God, the opening never fails to rouse me. Have you ever watched a downpour so sudden and violent that the raindrops bounce right back up off the ground? Here, the flirtier, …

I'm beyond honored to say that my playable essay, "individualism in the dead-internet age" is a nominee for this year's Nuovo award at IGF. This means I will be showcasing at GDC!

There seemed to be a hot minute when the tech industry understood the value of idle tinkering and made a point of providing ‘side project time’ as an explicit working perk. The concept endures — I’m lucky enough to work somewhere that has it — but it seems to have been outpaced in recent years by the endless charge toward efficiency. This seems a shame. We can’t optimize our way …

Back in 2020, while sorting out some old papers, I found an article in a gardening magazine from 2010, listing the three major changes we should expect in our gardens for the following decade or so - that is, pretty much, now.They warned us to expect long, hot, dry summers, mild winters, and prolonged periods of flooding, which would mean three major changes to how we garden, here in the …