November 26, 2021

"Your Average Pool Player" seems much better than average

Watch Rollie Williams — who you may recognize from the Climate Town series — attempt to re-create incredible shots played in professional pool championships, but with the skill level of an ostensibly average player. Here is a ridiculous jump shot and a swerve shot to get you started. [more inside]
posted by nickheer at 10:46 PM PST - 11 comments

at the world you've left / and the things you know

Stephen Sondheim, Broadway composer, artist and lyricist, has died aged 91.
posted by fight or flight at 2:11 PM PST - 159 comments

Keep on building that chicken

Carol Off of CBC's "As It Happens" interviews Jim Puckett , the mayor of Fitzgerald, Georgia, who stands by a "giant topiary chicken that got him ousted as mayor." Roadside America: World's Largest Chicken Under Construction, and an earlier NPR interview with Puckett [both interviews are available as audio or an edited transcript]. Fitzgerald is home to a population of wild chickens. [more inside]
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 12:33 PM PST - 25 comments

Let’s talk about Chess

The 2021 FIDE World Chess Championship has started in Dubai. Magnus Carlsen defends his title against challenger Ian Nepomniachtchi in a 14 game match between November 26th- December 16th. You can watch the games daily on a number of chess focused Twitch channels linked below. Games start at 4:30pm in Dubai/ 12:30pm London / 7:30am New York. Games typically last 6 hours. [more inside]
posted by interogative mood at 8:11 AM PST - 89 comments

"I can help." "Maybe he expects that."

"Everybody knows about Thrull. Thrull like legend among us folk—biggest, greenest, meanest, nastiest, and dirtiest of all—with one big difference: legends false, Thrull true." "Big Thrull and the Askin’ Man" by Max Gladstone is a short fantasy story, told as a tall tale or fairy tale, in which a straightforward host learns to respond to manipulative questions from a seemingly weak guest.
posted by brainwane at 7:21 AM PST - 7 comments

Who Could Ask for Anything More?

It's So Easy This is a 1987 commercial for the Toyota Tercel. [more inside]
posted by box at 6:45 AM PST - 59 comments

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