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Parliament even tweeted this out, when this whole thing was kicking off, they were like, “Well, it does enshrine the rights of the people in opposition to the king.” And I was like, “What the fuck are you talking about!” It does not! Like, even parliament is lying about what Magna Carta does, because they still want the story. The historiography of it is like, “Oh, yeah, the king can’t just come in here and walk all over you.” But the king 100 percent can come in here and walk all over you and there’s nothing you can do about it, and Magna Carta is not going to help. The king simply cannot go into 25 barons’ houses. You are not 25 barons! [more inside]
posted by medusa at 7:21 PM PST - 46 comments

VIDEO: Puffin burrow cam · puffin burrow - exterior view · puffin loafing ledge cam · puffin boulder berm cam · Extended description includes: audio, about, did you knows & photos. [more inside]
posted by aniola at 7:07 PM PST - 20 comments

Generally, people don't know what a hole is. [more inside]
posted by Stark at 2:51 PM PST - 165 comments

Rebecca Mead tells the tale of two British detectorists who, in 2015, discovered an astonishing Viking hoard – and flouted the Treasure Act to hide their find from the authorities (The New Yorker)
posted by adrianhon at 11:50 AM PST - 16 comments

How Eldritch Sports Sim “Blaseball” Inspired A 20-Person Rock Band (Bandcamp) As of press time, two of the best-selling Seattle rock albums on Bandcamp are by The Garages, a global 20-member (and counting) collective of musicians and writers who, over the past 14 weeks, have released 13 EPs of various concepts, lineups, and styles—all united around the thread of Blaseball. [more inside]
posted by CrystalDave at 11:22 AM PST - 20 comments

"The basic materialist approach to history and politics starts from a concept of man as a material being, and begins explaining everything else about society from there. That puts important emphasis on the connection between the ‘natural world’ and human society. Historically, this has often meant a focus on how humans have appropriated natural resources to wage competitions for status and control among themselves. But as the compound crisis of climate change and COVID-19 accelerates, we should be humbled by the emphatic reassertion of nature’s own causal powers. There’s never been a better time to get back to basics."
posted by Ouverture at 11:15 AM PST - 4 comments

An End to the Most Famous Paradox in Physics - "In a landmark series of calculations, physicists have proven that black holes can shed information." [more inside]
posted by kliuless at 8:42 AM PST - 37 comments

Japan’s Karelian Bear Dogs help save lives, reduce injuries and educate both people and bears. Thousands of black bears roam Japan’s forests, sometimes causing problems for humans and for themselves. That’s where a group of highly trained Karelian Bear Dogs comes in. Part of the Picchio Wildlife Research Center’s bear conservation team, they’re responsible for the safe relocation and redirection of dozens of burly bruins each year. Plus, they’re super-charming! (SLtheBark)
posted by Ufez Jones at 8:10 AM PST - 20 comments

Ariel Cordova-Rojas had planned to spend last Thursday afternoon immersed in nature. It was the day before her 30th birthday, and her intention was to ride her bike to Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in Queens, watch birds fly overhead and hike amid the vibrant fall foliage.

Ms. Cordova-Rojas had been trained to spot a bird in distress...

So when the swan did not move or make a sound when she approached, she knew something was not right.

A Sick Swan Is Saved After a 23-Mile Odyssey by Foot, Car and Subway
posted by y2karl at 5:26 AM PST - 21 comments