Suko

Quarantine: we’re all doing it. Some of us are alone, others are staying with family, while many are shacked up with significant others and roommates. We’re accompanied by various assortments of children, pets, and more toilet paper than a human could conceivably use. With travel restricted and stay at home rules imposed, many of us find ourselves stranded on a seemingly permanent vacation.

And then there’s this Bolivian orchestra, which is currently taking up residence at a haunted German palace surrounded by wolves. In a situation that is equal parts Vincent Price movie and 90s Disney musical, The Orquesta Experimental de Instrumentos Nativos find themselves quarantining in Rheinsberg Palace, a moated castle just north of the city of Berlin. The musicians have been there for about 75 days.

What was supposed to have been a two week-long spring concert tour in Germany has now been extended to a strange extended stay in a centuries-old palace. Carlos, one of the musicians, was quoted as saying, “Our bus broke down on the motorway. I remember joking that this was bad luck and perhaps our concerts would be cancelled, … but never did I think it would actually happen.”

The company tried to return home to Bolivia, but were unable to after their home country closed its borders. Now the orchestra has nothing to do but explore the palace grounds, practice their music, and wait. Unfortunately, if the musicians wanted to explore the surrounding woodlands, they would be confronted by packs of wild wolves roaming the area.

That’s right, wolves. And in case that weren’t enough, there have been rumors of the palace being haunted by the ghost of Frederick the Great. Another musician, Camed said, “We all joke that Frederick’s ghost is following us and trying to trip us up, … I don’t usually believe in such things but it does feel as if there are ghosts on the grounds.”

With travel bans lifting, the musicians are hoping to return home in June, or before the last petal of the enchanted rose falls off the stem. Many took to Twitter to discuss the strange and deeply cinematic situation. I mean, this story has EVERYTHING: pan flutes, aristocratic specters, German wolf packs. What more could you want?

Oh to be stranded with a Bolivian orchestra in a German castle surrounded by wolves https://t.co/I2R5pGmGfI

— Karen Kilgariff (@KarenKilgariff) May 24, 2020

I've been working on this screenplay for a year and… they just tweeted it.

So much for Castle WolfenStrauss.

— Ken Stachnik (@KenStachnik) May 23, 2020

Rarely do I get to use my wolf knowledge, but the wolves the Bolivian orchestra are used to are very different from the European grey wolves in Germany. Bolivian maned wolves are like a cross between a fox and a wolf and look really cool. Also very tall! pic.twitter.com/CpNE45S7ch

— April Wolfe (@AWolfeful) May 24, 2020

This BOLIVIAN orchestra just inherited the Estate of a lifetime, but only one can be the true heir, to find out they will have to spend Quarantine together. But wait, what’s that creeping into the Foyer.. could it be the GHOST of the Manor?! No it’s a PACK of bloodthirsty wolves!

— The Safehouse™ (@xXsafehouseXx) May 24, 2020

15 horror movie producers across LA just got boners. https://t.co/El8VunLM5y

— Jason Porath (@jasonporath) May 24, 2020

In my humble professional opinion, I think there's room for multiple haunted Bolivian wolf orchestra novels. I personally would read at least 3 (assuming one is wolf POV, of course).

— Michelle Brower (@michellebrower) May 24, 2020

you are a member of a bolivian orchestra, I am the ghost of a bride in a haunted german castle, we are not the same

— Roiben is socially distant 🏳️‍🌈 (@RoibenxKaye) May 24, 2020

In the meantime, the orchestra is being sheltered and taken care of in the castle. Miguel Cordoba said, “There are worse places to be trapped, … When I wake up, I watch the sun rise over the forest and the lake. Back home, I only hear the sound of traffic.”

(via BBC, image: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

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—The Mary Sue has a strict comment policy that forbids, but is not limited to, personal insults toward anyone, hate speech, and trolling.—

utwo:

Northern  W I N D S

© N. Bondarev 

New Guinea Has Rare and Beautifully Haunting Creatures Called ‘Dracula Parrots’

There are some beautiful birds in the world but perhaps none with a name quite as frightening as one species found in New Guinea—the Dracula parrot. This is the nickname for the Pesquet’s parrot (Psittrichas fulgidus), which is endemic to the island’s hill and montane rainforest. With rich black feathers and a scarlet red underbelly, it has all the coloration of Count Dracula’s cape, but looks can be deceiving.

The Dracula parrot is a relatively large parrot, measuring a total length of about 18 inches and weighing between 1.5 and 1.75 pounds. Its long hooked beak and bare face, coupled with its large head, make it look a bit like a vulture. For that reason, it’s sometimes also called a vulturine parrot. But, don’t let these colloquial names fool you—this bird is no flesh-eater.

In fact, the Dracula parrot is a frugivore, which means that fruit is its preferred food. And for this parrot, we’re not just talking about any fruit. These parrots only feed on a few species of fig. This helps explain why they aren’t migrant and typically stick to one area. This is also why they’re only one of three parrot species without a bare face, as the fruit pulp they eat would cause facial feathers to become matted.

When they are left alone in areas where they aren’t hunted, it’s not uncommon to see groups of 10 to 14 roosting in the trees. They can almost always be found at least in pairs. Dracula parrots are believed to have a lifespan of 20 to 40 years and they nest in large, hollow trees. Interestingly, only one or two eggs are laid at a time.

These rare birds are the only members of their genus, and this genus is the only member of the subfamily Psittrichadinae, which shows how unique these parrots truly are. Unfortunately, the Dracula parrot has been classified as vulnerable on the IUCN’s Red List. This is mainly due to poaching, as well as habitat loss. Poachers go after the Dracula parrot for their feathers, which are highly prized by collectors. It’s believed that between 20,000 and 50,000 Dracula parrots exist in the wild and their population continues to decrease.

The Dracula parrot is a rare bird endemic to the New Guinea rainforest.

Its bare face makes it look a bit like a vulture, but in reality, this parrot only feeds on a few types of figs.

Its black feathers and scarlet red belly give it the appearance of Count Dracula’s cape.

Unfortunately, Dracula parrots are declining in number due to poachers who are after their feathers, which are highly prized.

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READ: New Guinea Has Rare and Beautifully Haunting Creatures Called ‘Dracula Parrots’

Woman’s Ingenious Life Hack Shows How We’ve All Been Closing a Cereal Box Wrong

Did you know there’s a right way to close a cereal box? Becky Holden McGhee recently discovered that she had been sealing up her Crunchy Nut and Cheerios boxes all wrong. Rather than inserting the tab into the flap on the top of the box, she realized that by folding the sides inwards that she could save her family from torn packaging and stale cereal. And best of all, the method is easy to replicate, making it one of those little life hacks you’re happy to know.

Once McGhee figured out this cereal box tip, she knew she couldn’t keep it to herself. So, she did what anyone would do. She shared it on Facebook. “It’s only taken me 40 years,” McGhee wrote, “but now I know the correct way to close a cereal box. Genius. It takes seconds, no more dried up cereal and ugly torn boxes to greet me every morning.” The photos and the step-by-step video went viral and racked up over four million views as people tried it for themselves.

The folded boxes came out of a desire for a more organized kitchen. “I was up late on a Saturday night looking at kitchen units (mine are driving me mad, just not enough space),” McGhee tells My Modern Met, “and I saw a pic of a cereal box folded that way.” The next morning, she tried it for herself. “I couldn’t believe how easy it was and taller boxes now fit in the cupboard!”

Want to try this hack for yourself? Scroll down to watch McGhee’s helpful step-by-step video.

Becky Holden McGhee shared an ingenious cereal box folding hack.

By folding the sides inward, the box stays neat and the cereal stays fresh.

McGhee shows how to do this hack step by step:

Becky Holden McGhee: Website | Facebook

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Becky Holden McGhee.

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READ: Woman’s Ingenious Life Hack Shows How We’ve All Been Closing a Cereal Box Wrong

South Korea — What seems to be a large aquarium with violent waves created by the water inside it turns out to be just a huge anamorphic illusion designed by District. It doesn’t make a sound, however, which would have made the illusion more convincing. But I guess, considering that the illusion was set up in a busy area, the sound would have annoyed the people nearby.

The digital media company created the public project utilizing the world’s largest advertising screen that spans 80.1 x 20.1 meters. As shown in the video, the deceptive aquarium looms over the outdoor area and splashes repeatedly into the sides.

(Image Credit: Colossal)

Born on February 18, 1930, 90-year-old Hamako Mori still enjoys playing video games. In fact, this has been her hobby for the past 39 years. She has a YouTube channel (Gamer Grandma) with 150,000 subscribers.

After seeing her children enjoying them, she wanted a slice of the action, sparking a hobby that’d see her become a world record-holder later in life.

And while you might think, “Oh, I bet she only plays Tetris and Pacman!”, then the answer is no. She also plays modern games like Skyrim, Resident Evil 3 Remake, and Call of Duty.

Earlier this month, she was officially recognised by the Guinness World Records as the planet’s oldest gaming YouTuber. ‘After living for this long, I feel more than ever that playing games for this long was the right choice. I am truly enjoying my life – it’s rosy,’ she said.

Her gaming career began back with the Cassette Vision. In the decades since, Hamako has kept most of the consoles and software she’s acquired. At the moment, she’s hooked on the PlayStation 4.

Keep it up, grandma! 

(Image Credit: Guinness World Records/ YouTube)

Here’s How to Make 6 Different Blanket Forts at Home Using IKEA Furniture

Remember when you used to build blanket forts as a kid? Well, it’s time to relive your childhood dreams. Swedish furniture company IKEA recently published 6 different structure ideas that will help you experience your childhood adventures at home once again. And if you’re still in lockdown, making one of these forts will keep you busy and provide a new space for you to hang out in!

Created by Instinct agency, the clever campaign is aimed at those who are struggling to keep their children entertained during the pandemic. However, that doesn’t mean adults can’t join in the fun, too. In typical IKEA fashion, each fort design has been given a Swedish name and features simple, illustrated instructions. From the classic Cåmpingtent to an elaborate Cåstle, each fort can be built from IKEA products, as well as items found around the typical home.

Perhaps the most traditional fort from the collection, Cåve comprises a chair, a sheet, a few pillows, books, and some fairy lights for a dose of magic. There’s also Höuse, which requires a table, two blankets, 8 books, 10 laundry pins, and a teddy bear for company. Fancy trying to create one yourself? IKEA has asked people to share photos of their homemade forts on social media, using the hashtags #StayHome and #IKEAHome.

Check out the 6 different fort designs from IKEA below, and if you need more inspiration, scroll down to see what others have created from the instructions.

IKEA has shared 6 ways to make blanket forts out of furniture and other home objects.

The campaign is aimed at those struggling to keep kids entertained during lockdown…

…but that doesn’t mean adults can’t have their own fort!

Here’s what some people have created at home using the IKEA instructions.

 

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IKEA: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest | YouTube 
h/t: [Laughing Squid]

All images via IKEA.

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READ: Here’s How to Make 6 Different Blanket Forts at Home Using IKEA Furniture

Go ahead and take the stairs. The lights will guide you to your destination. Skurk, a street artist, used a pair of streetlights and a staircase to depict a huge anglerfish on the hunt in Bergen, Norway. She waits patiently for you to come to her.

By the way: I use the pronoun "her" for a reason. Only female anglerfish have the natural lure. Males of the species have a, um, flexible relationship. National Geographic explains:

When a young, free-swimming male angler encounters a female, he latches onto her with his sharp teeth. Over time, the male physically fuses with the female, connecting to her skin and bloodstream and losing his eyes and all his internal organs except the testes. A female will carry six or more males on her body.

We've all known guys like that.

-via TYWKWIDBI

artalien-jpg:

… Julien Missaire

Sisters Imagine How Famous Characters Would Dress in Real Life Using Only Vintage Clothes

Winnie the Pooh is an unlikely fashion muse; but for twin sisters Danielle and Nicole, the beloved teddy bear and his little friend Piglet are inspirations for their everyday attire. And they aren’t the only cartoon characters to influence their creative outfits.  Looking to animated films like Frozen, Beauty and the Beast, and The Little Mermaid, the sisters create head-to-toe ensembles of the main characters using only second-hand clothes. Best of all, the results don’t feel costumey. Danielle and Nicole’s keen sense of style and selections capture the essence of the characters while still being the type of looks you’d expect to see on people walking down the street.

Danielle and Nicole “never stopped playing dress-up” and have made their love of clothing into a career. They own an online vintage shop called Betty Berry. “Now instead of a box of costumes, we have our ever-growing wardrobe of vintage and a constant stream of stock for our store,” they tell My Modern Met. The twins first enjoyed putting their twist on Disney princess looks by reimagining what the ladies wore using everyday attire, and they have since expanded the series to other types of movies and television shows.

“We take inspiration from their color palettes and personalities and put together outfits in our style that we then sell in our vintage collections,” Danielle and Nicole explain. “At the heart of what we do is sustainability and so by creating these looks and introducing more and more people to vintage, we’re aiming to provide a necessary alternative to fast fashion.”

While it might sound like a daunting task to create these outfits, doing so was not as hard for the sisters as you might imagine. Thanks to their store, they have a lot of vintage garments to choose from. “We handpick our vintage from wholesalers so if we have a particular theme in mind then we will keep a lookout for specific pieces while sourcing our stock. A lot of the time we come across unique pieces that themselves will inspire a whole look!”

Twin sisters Danielle and Nicole imagine how fictional characters would dress in real life, using only vintage clothing.

Betty Berry: Website | Instagram | Facebook

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Betty Berry.

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READ: Sisters Imagine How Famous Characters Would Dress in Real Life Using Only Vintage Clothes

‘Hamilton’ Is Coming to Disney+ Way Ahead of Schedule This Summer

 

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Disney is making the Fourth of July extra special for Hamilton fans by fast-tracking its release of the beloved Broadway musical. Originally, a recording of the show was set to hit theaters in October 2021 and then move to Disney+ (the company’s new streaming service) afterwards. Instead, as a gift to us all, Hamilton is skipping the cinema and will land on Disney+ on July 3—just in time for the holiday weekend.

Hamilton first premiered off-Broadway in 2015 and took the world by storm with its innovative telling of America’s founding fathers. Not only was Hamilton nominated for a record 16 Tony Awards—winning 11—but it also won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Now, both lovers of the musical and those who didn’t get to experience it on Broadway will have the chance to see the original cast take the stage.

Recorded in 2016 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, where Hamilton had its entire Broadway run, the film’s release is thrilling for fans and the cast. “I’m so proud of how beautifully Tommy Kail has brought Hamilton to the screen. He’s given everyone who watches this film the best seat in the house,” said Lin-Manuel Miranda, who not only wrote Hamilton‘s lyrics, music, and book but starred as the titular character. “I’m so grateful to Disney and Disney+ for reimagining and moving up our release to July 4th weekend of this year, in light of the world turning upside down. I’m so grateful to all the fans who asked for this, and I’m so glad that we’re able to make it happen. I’m so proud of this show. I can’t wait for you to see it.”

Hamilton‘s release is a smart move for the fledgling Disney+, which can expect an uptick in subscribers for those who want to relive the magic of the musical. Particularly during this time, when film and television production has come to a grinding halt, it’s a good way for the streaming service to continue to serve high-quality content to people who so crave it at home.

Disney is fast-tracking the Hamilton movie and releasing it on Disney+ on July 3, 2020.

It’s only a matter of time…

Our Hamilton film.
THIS July 3rd.
On Disney+.#Hamilfilm pic.twitter.com/cXTM949hRr

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) May 12, 2020

h/t: [Buzzfeed, Mashable]

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READ: ‘Hamilton’ Is Coming to Disney+ Way Ahead of Schedule This Summer

Dazzling Gold Leaf Details Illuminate Mysterious Portraits of Otherworldly Women

Artist Nikolaos Kafasis—also known as Nikolas Tower—combines watercolor and gouache to create rich, character-driven fantasy worlds. His paintings feature unusual, mystical women surrounded by abstract backgrounds of flowing colors, and often, layered with details in dazzling gold leaf.

The artist draws upon several areas of inspiration in his paintings. His influences include motifs from Ancient Greek and Asian mythologies, as well as nature, anime, video games, and fantasy novels. Kafasis places his figures in mysterious, decorative scenery and intends to evoke “silent human feelings that cannot easily be expressed in words.” The visual language is its own swirling universe, or as Kafasis calls it, “a Cosmos in Silence.”

Kafasis documents the step-by-step process involved in each painting on Instagram. First, the artist sketches the rough composition and, once satisfied, then tapes the paper onto a drawing board. Afterward, he slowly builds the color in layers of watercolor and gouache. Once the painting is complete, Kafasis adds gold leaf to select areas of the design, enhancing the sense of magic.

Scroll down to see more examples of Kafasis’s gilded illustrations, and, to purchase prints of his art, you can visit his website.

Greek artist Nikolaos Kafasis adds gold leaf to his incredible fantasy illustrations.

The artist is inspired by motifs from ancient Greek and Asian mythologies.

He incorporates abstract elements and flowing lines into his compositions of otherwordly women.

Here’s a peek into Kafasis’ gold leaf process:

 

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Nikolaos Kafasis: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Nikolaos Kafasis.

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READ: Dazzling Gold Leaf Details Illuminate Mysterious Portraits of Otherworldly Women

Dead Still centers around a practice many of us would view as odd—the Victorian tradition of mortuary photography. That’s taking a snap of a dead person, either on their own or posed with their family. The show follows a celebrated mortuary photographer who is dragged unwittingly into a murder mystery that hits close to home, and balances on a fine line of comedic sensibility against a morbid backdrop.

The six-episode first season of Dead Still, which premieres on Acorn TV on May 18th, is set in 1880s Dublin. Actor Michael Smiley, who is always excellent, is in rare form as the fussy, aristocratic Brock Blennerhassett, a pioneer in the field of mortuary photography. That is, no one takes such artful, “lively” photos of the dead. He’s assisted by his free-spirited niece Nancy Vickers (Eileen O’Higgins), and the stalwart, soulful Conall Molloy (Kerr Logan), an ex-gravedigger who aspires to become a photographer himself.

While the emotionally distant Blennerhassett wants to stay in his lavish, insular world, Detective Frederick Regan (Aidan O’Hare), a sort of blundering visionary with a nose for crime, draws him into an investigation of macabre deaths around Dublin. Regan, who is obsessed with busting up the new black markets for “obscene” photography, is pursuing the idea that someone is staging and photographing murders in a style eerily like Blennerhassett’s.

Dead Still is unique not just in its subject matter—which zooms in on practices of grieving that can feel profoundly alien to a modern audience—but in its co-mingling of dark humor, ghastly pastimes, and tongue-in-cheek period representation. The tension between characters often emerges from class differences, and it’s interesting to watch how that plays out amongst a distinctly Irish population.

Too often in period dramas, an Irish character will be stereotyped or secondary, but here Ireland, and its internal divisions and political conflicts, are in focus. Sometimes the temperature of society will be taken with a passing comment, and sometimes raised eyebrows are all that’s needed. There’s a fantastic bit where the privileged, naive Nancy, a would-be actress, gussies herself up to infiltrate a working-class neighborhood, but she’s a painfully transparent figure to the world-weary denizens of those parts who encounter her.

Victorian Dublin is not a setting I’ve seen represented often before on television, and it also makes for an intriguing jumping-off point. The show does a nice job of showcasing an era that was equal parts repressed, decadent, sensationalist, depraved, and prim—and one that was absolutely consumed with the rituals of death. On the whole, Victorian mourning practices were ornate, time-consuming, and intense by modern-day standards.

The etiquette and expectations were extensive across classes, with many standards set by Queen Victoria herself, who was devastated by the death of her husband Albert in 1861. While mourning-wear was often elaborate and strictly dictated (especially for women), it’s traditions like post-mortem photography and jewelry and mementos made of loved ones’ hair that have held a fascination for some of us for well over a century.

Photographs of the dead weren’t only the province of the wealthy, being more economically accessible than paintings, and in many cases would have been the only picture ever taken of a beloved subject. As Professor Mary Warner Marien wrote, grieving people turned to the practice so that they might “capture an image of a deceased loved one rather than have no photograph at all.” It’s hard for us to imagine as we carry around phones with thousands of pictures on them, but even a single exposure was precious.

Series co-creator (with Imogen Murphy) and writer John Morton seems to have been equally captivated by the photography aspect, telling period drama site Willow and Thatch, “It’s a very morbid concept, almost comically so at times, looking at the lengths people would go to in order to make a loved one look alive for a photograph. But there’s also something quite poignant about it.” It’s death as a central conceit of the show, coupled with gallows humor, that makes Dead Still tick along like the fine pocket-watches borne by the characters, whose chains and fobs are gleamingly displayed.

Dead Still is worth it to period drama fans for the gorgeous costumes and rich sets alone, and those who might not normally watch murder mysteries may find the comedic elements appealing, as they provide levity to an environment that harbors a vicious killer. It can verge at times on the slapstick and totally absurd, but we’re always grounded by engaging performances.

There are also winking plays on popular entertainment of the day, like Gothic novels—which got a significant boost by the Irish Victorian writers Sheridan Le Fanu and Bram Stoker—in a half-scary, half-hilarious episode where Blennerhassett and Molloy must stay over at a possibly haunted manor-house, and the Victorian preoccupation with seances, in perhaps the most off-the-rails seance sequence you will see on television. The show also has a rather modern sensibility despite its trappings, so those who aren’t necessarily drawn to period pieces will also find fun here.

For me, what made Dead Still so compelling to watch was its offbeat themes and the strength of its characters. Its arrival is also well-timed for our current circumstances. Most of us experience death these days as a distant, sterilized affair, and now we see it as frightening numbers on the news. But it used to be something that took place in homes, and, though tragically more commonplace—especially amongst babies and children—it could be embraced, understood, and made accessible at in a way denied to us today.

Mourning as the Victorians went about it provided a closeness to the deceased that may seem odd to us, but feels doubly poignant in a time when even funerals must be held on video conferences and burials are socially distanced. And while the characters’ concerns about technology are quaint—the obscene and disturbing pictures people are dealing under the table in Dead Still are available now in multitudes with the click of a button—its emphasis on the ramifications of technology being used for both good and, well, evil have never been more applicable than now.

This series really belongs to the actors and their characters. I may have guessed at the murderer pretty early on, but by God did I want to see how it would be played out. Smiley, a Northern Irish actor and comedian who has embodied a range of roles across every genre, is just astonishingly good as Blennerhassett. At first an insufferable snob, before long it’s impossible not to like the intrepid photographer, though I wish the show did more with its implications about his sexuality (if there’s a season 2, the set-up is that it might).

Logan’s Molloy is the strapping, soft heart of the piece, and O’Higgins’s independent Nancy refuses to be hemmed in by the expectations of her age (and her eccentric family, which must be met to be believed). I also adored Aoife Duffin as Detective Regan’s clever wife Betty; she’s clearly the brains of the operation, and if this were set a hundred years later, she’d be the one out solving crimes. In fact, all of the women on Dead Still are strong and smart, another element that is quite refreshing to see on television, let alone a period drama.

Dead Still is a particularly good diversion at this moment in time: it transports us to a different era, gives us plenty of pretty—and pretty strange—things to gaze upon at, and makes us laugh when we need it most. After seeing it through Brock Blennerhassett’s lens, you might never look at death in the same way again.

(images: Acorn TV)

Dead Still premiers May 18th, 2020 on Acorn TV’s streaming network, which hosts select British, Irish, Canadian, Australian, and other international content. It is the only channel that I watch now. You can sign up for a free 30-day trial using the code FREE30 at http://acorn.tv.

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Every now and then, a Twitter act of creation reminds us that good things can still emerge from our hellish Internet stomping grounds. Such is the case with a viral thread from writer Alex Arrelia, in which Arrelia painstakingly—and hilariously—takes on J.R.R. Tolkien’s characters under the heading of “Men of Middle Earth as bad ex boyfriends who ruined your life.”

Fuck it. I’m doing it: Men of Middle Earth as bad ex boyfriends who ruined your life:

— Alex Arrelia (@AlexArrelia) May 12, 2020

This is all in good fun, but the brilliance of the thread is in its co-mingled knowledge of both Tolkien characters and human nature. These labels attached to Middle-earth heroes and villains and Ents work so well because they play on the characters’ inclinations alongside recognizable modern types we may have met (or dated). Arrelia was kind enough to give us permission to feature the thread here, so let’s dig right into this tasty second breakfast:

Aragorn

– has a trust fund, asks you to split dinner anyway because he’s “broke”
– bad boy aversion to responsibility used to be hot, now it’s just getting annoying
– “shampoo is bad for your hair” pic.twitter.com/i8NaEsQUF5

— Alex Arrelia (@AlexArrelia) May 12, 2020

Sam:

– really affectionate, but if you don’t text back he melts down
– won’t let you buy non-organic produce
– his best friend is your best friend now, you’re the third wheel on all your dates pic.twitter.com/tZ5jaHOOok

— Alex Arrelia (@AlexArrelia) May 12, 2020

Legolas:

– will not tell anyone you’re dating so he can keep his options open
– steals your hair products
– complains when he sees girls wearing Thrasher tees pic.twitter.com/wLiE1i4OUU

— Alex Arrelia (@AlexArrelia) May 12, 2020

Gimli:

– used to be fun but you never leave the house anymore
– if you talk during a football game you’re dead to him
– enormous family who won’t stop asking when you’re going to have kids pic.twitter.com/AAmF2qKQhB

— Alex Arrelia (@AlexArrelia) May 12, 2020

Eomer:

– only drinks craft beer and he will not shut up about it
– has confused brooding with having a personality
– not so much a “boyfriend” as the hot mistake you keep making over and over and over… pic.twitter.com/AcOvxfuCxh

— Alex Arrelia (@AlexArrelia) May 12, 2020

Faramir:

– more baggage than the overhead compartment of a 747
– really sweet but cannot get his shit together
– all that vanilla sex is starting to get real boring pic.twitter.com/e5jUMO0n5X

— Alex Arrelia (@AlexArrelia) May 12, 2020

Merry

– complete burn out
– banter is fun only until you realize your entire relationship is based on antagonism
– he is going to get you into serious trouble one day pic.twitter.com/FRNvTCctdf

— Alex Arrelia (@AlexArrelia) May 12, 2020

Pippin

– secret artistic side kinda not making up for what a clown he is
– caves instantly to peer pressure
– you can’t leave him unsupervised for like a second pic.twitter.com/bScmy2mSoN

— Alex Arrelia (@AlexArrelia) May 12, 2020

Boromir

– horrible combination of inferiority complex and fragile ego
– has never heard the word “no”
– really, really thinks getting married will fix your relationship problems? pic.twitter.com/gXKTudqRsx

— Alex Arrelia (@AlexArrelia) May 12, 2020

Frodo:

– doe-eyed schtick is getting tired
– complete layabout who’s never worked a day in his life
– estimation of his own moral superiority is somehow both unshakeable and totally unearned pic.twitter.com/u71R2yw8TM

— Alex Arrelia (@AlexArrelia) May 12, 2020

Gandalf:

– ghosts you exactly when you need him most
– probably in a crappy prog rock band, keeps “reinventing” himself
– “weed sommelier” pic.twitter.com/xsHOcwk2b5

— Alex Arrelia (@AlexArrelia) May 12, 2020

Not to be limited by the famous characters many of us know from the Lord of the Rings books and films, Arrelia also ventured into more obscure and secondary-character territory on this adventure through Arda.

Treebeard:

– there are only so many hours in the goddamn day
– serves you mushrooms of suspect providence
– no seriously, what happened to your ex wife? You “lost” her? I’m gonna need you to be a lot more specific, bud pic.twitter.com/qHcIbhABDw

— Alex Arrelia (@AlexArrelia) May 12, 2020

Haldir:

– on again, off again bc he lives for drama
– backhanded compliments
– influencer who keeps mining your relationship for content pic.twitter.com/P4A2xtxfg0

— Alex Arrelia (@AlexArrelia) May 12, 2020

Elrond:

– dude…that was kind of racist
– orders for you at restaurants
– never apologizes ever, for anything, even if it’s his fault pic.twitter.com/X1CvsvLFMF

— Alex Arrelia (@AlexArrelia) May 12, 2020

Theoden:

– daddy dom well dried up
– not worth having to sit through another monologue about how “music today is all beeps and boops”
– performance in off-broadway production of Hamlet left a lot to be desired pic.twitter.com/HOA5JYG9W8

— Alex Arrelia (@AlexArrelia) May 12, 2020

Denethor:

– terrible table manners
– no
– why would you ever? pic.twitter.com/7nmc07zEcA

— Alex Arrelia (@AlexArrelia) May 12, 2020

Gollum:

– he is definitely going to steal your wallet one of these days
– does not want you to have any friends
– will not stop talking about himself in the third person pic.twitter.com/otuMbkKov5

— Alex Arrelia (@AlexArrelia) May 12, 2020

Sarumon:

– Spends way too much time on Reddit
– has a PHD in philosophy, and works it into every conversation
– is absolutely cheating on you pic.twitter.com/jyxI8lm3IE

— Alex Arrelia (@AlexArrelia) May 12, 2020

Isildur

– more of an ill-advised fling you had on vacation
– works in investment banking
– turns out he’s married pic.twitter.com/8jT3PA6Ym3

— Alex Arrelia (@AlexArrelia) May 12, 2020

Bilbo:

– allergic to fun
– thinks you need to “broaden your horizons” so he wants you to read Kerouac
– Calls himself a self-made man even though he inherented the house pic.twitter.com/8xiMm0eqKh

— Alex Arrelia (@AlexArrelia) May 12, 2020

Wormtongue

– 100% gaslighting you
– has never changed the sheets, ever
– “Name five of their songs, poseur” pic.twitter.com/jjLB1lI8n2

— Alex Arrelia (@AlexArrelia) May 12, 2020

The Witch King

– despite obvious predilection for gender-bending, doesn’t respect anyone else’s pronouns
– listens to screamo at ear splitting volumes
– won’t post photos of you together on Insta bc you’re bad for his aesthetic pic.twitter.com/aHpF9pZFyO

— Alex Arrelia (@AlexArrelia) May 12, 2020

Last by special request, Thorin:

– historical figure he relates to most is Lord Byron
– needs constant reassurance that he’s hotter than your exes
– won’t just come out and call you a gold digger, but he’s thinking it pic.twitter.com/Y2O8w0ZYmq

— Alex Arrelia (@AlexArrelia) May 12, 2020

But Thorin wouldn’t actually be Arrelia’s last request, as The Hobbit still has an active fanbase, and there was clamoring for further analysis therein.

Ok, I’ll cave, Thranduil:

– when you try to make plans, he says “whatever you want do”, but absolutely does not mean it
– can afford to tip, but doesn’t
– leaves you on read pic.twitter.com/ierBy4SuxO

— Alex Arrelia (@AlexArrelia) May 12, 2020

Kili:

– an absolutely prototypical fuckboy
– thinks his entire charm is his sense of humour, but is not actually funny
– sends unsolicited dick picks pic.twitter.com/hMV7V8IbVL

— Alex Arrelia (@AlexArrelia) May 12, 2020

Bard:

– manages simultaneously to be so handsome and so boring you forgot about him
– already in a committed relationship with his Bowflex
– you ran out of shit to talk about on your first date pic.twitter.com/I7jHzcb4Em

— Alex Arrelia (@AlexArrelia) May 12, 2020

And last but ever vigilant, the Lord of the Rings himself:

Sauron:

– brags about belonging to MENSA
– manages several sock puppet accounts he doesn’t want you to know about
– kicked out of his own doom metal band bc he always plays with his back to the audience—but it’s not because he has stage fright, okay? pic.twitter.com/BsMdZq2RGY

— Alex Arrelia (@AlexArrelia) May 12, 2020

The Mouth of Sauron:

– mad about perceived slights in this comedy thread
– hustle culture
– spends all his free time playing Warframe pic.twitter.com/nsUSWcc6Aw

— Alex Arrelia (@AlexArrelia) May 12, 2020

As with any viral thread, there has been some trollish responses that Arrelia is handling with further humor and wit; you can also find more character-with-bad-boyfriend-conflation over on Twitter, if you were wondering about the likes of Celeborn, Everard Proudfoot, and Tom Bombadil in a relationship.

Like the real joke is that I’ve spent so many hours of my life watching that trilogy

— Alex Arrelia (@AlexArrelia) May 13, 2020

Of course, the examples of behavior that Arrelia gives may also apply to women and genderqueer folks in your life. But as Arrelia points out in another Tweet to address some of the angry replies, “‘You did a sexism by mocking this story with a thousand men and three women in it’ is a hell of a take.”

Yet the widespread popularity and overall enthusiastic embrace of this fun thread gives me hope. If we couldn’t delight in the gentle ribbing of beloved characters from epic fantasy literature, it would probably be time to pack up the Internet and call it a wrap.

I have never read a more accurate take on Tolkien’s mythos.
He may have hated people over-analysing and over-interpetting his work – but this he surely would have made canon. https://t.co/OfG2Sjakf2

— Dr Stephen Maclean (@BoneDoctorPhD) May 13, 2020

(via Alex Arrelia on Twitter, image: New Line Cinema)

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iwasthylaonce:

Your voices are louder! You are the rational ones!

inspired by @hunxi-guilai‘s tags under this beautiful gifset

odinstyr:

“I sat with my anger long enough until she told me her real name was grief.”

— C.S. Lewis (via onlinecounsellingcollege)

The bad news is that students at The Julliard School didn't get to stage their spring performances live. The good news is that what they did instead is available to us all. Student musicians, actors, and dancers, along with some distinguished faculty and alumni, collaborated from their homes to produce Ravel's Bolero. Read how the performance came together here. -via Kottke

There have been some great challenges and creative collaborations emerging from our long time inside, like the “Boss Bitch” fight compilation, but this one takes the cake. In the last few weeks, the cast and creatives of Netflix’s The Witcher contributed their own unique “bake off” videos on social media, much to fans’ delight.

Tissaia bakes. #WitcherBakeOff ⁦@SophHollandCast⁩ ⁦@LHissrich⁩ ⁦@fayetimby⁩ ⁦@eamonfarren⁩ pic.twitter.com/ivWxCqzDGn

— MyAnna Buring (@MyannaBuring) April 29, 2020

Most of the responding Witcher folks had winking fun with the format, like MyAnna Buring, who plays the powerful sorceress Tissaia de Vries, summoning her tasty treat into existence. But it was Joey Batey, a breakout on the show as fan-favorite sidekick Jaskier, who took this friendly competition to the next level.

Via Twitter, Batey pointed followers and his Witcher fellows to a YouTube video in which he has a comedic breakdown over the baking process. His commitment to the bit is exemplary here, especially the serene intro and conclusion with which he bookends the segment.

While he’s being filmed by “Madeleine”—we assume this is his Amazing Devil bandmate Madeleine Hyland—Batey moves from assurances of his baking mastery to a total meltdown in the kitchen, throwing ingredients into the bowl willy-nilly, smashing up the mixture with a giant vegetable, and generally making a mess. While the video is funny, it’s also reflective of the frustrated mood many of us are feeling these days, and it’s a salty slice of catharsis.

The Witcher showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich was a fan:

I. Bow. Down. #GreatWitcherBakeoff https://t.co/dfQwfLpZi4

— Lauren S. Hissrich (@LHissrich) April 25, 2020

Batey’s effort called to mind the brilliant viral TikTok baking video that truly captures the times we live in. This is a masterpiece that should be included in future museum exhibitions on our era:

@rileybonaKeep your mind off things with this stunning strawberry pie recipe ! ##quarantine ##baking ##pie ##fyp ##foryourpage ##psychologicalthriller♬ Le Festin (From “Ratatouille”) – Los Pequecines

Need more of The Witcher bake off, including dance entries and fun with swords, to get through the day? We’ve got you.

Fresh out the oven! @MeciaSimson @fayetimby @PaulBullionLive @LHissrich over to you @SophHollandCast #GreatWitcherBakeoff pic.twitter.com/M5OIL3QI9M

— Yasen Atour (@YasenAtour) April 20, 2020

So I did a contemporary class this morning & didn’t realise it could count as my #greatwitcherdanceoff entry!

..no swords this time sorry

Haha @LHissrich @SophHollandCast @fayetimby @PaulBullionLive @_JeremyCrawford @MeciaSimson @YasenAtour @joeybateyuk @Tom_Canton @JackTWolfe pic.twitter.com/G6teKvK681

— Adele Oni (Adesuwa) (@adele_oni) April 30, 2020

So I did a contemporary class this morning & didn’t realise it could count as my

Witcher Mama got down and dirty in the kitchen last night… @eamonfarren, you’re up! Can’t wait to see those Nilfy knife skills. 🔪🧁#GreatWitcherBakeoff @SophHollandCast @PaulBullionLive @Tom_Canton @_JeremyCrawford @MeciaSimson @YasenAtour @fayetimby @adele_oni pic.twitter.com/0q7rbX3FjQ

— Lauren S. Hissrich (@LHissrich) April 24, 2020

BOOM! @PaulBullionLive Uh oh you’re in trouble! @Tom_Canton @_JeremyCrawford @MeciaSimson @JackTWolfe @YasenAtour @fayetimby
& NO @LHissrich meat loaf doesn’t count- You’re UP sister! Bring. It. @witchernetflix #TheWitcherBakeOff #NoShame🐺⚔️❤️ pic.twitter.com/M9WMGGqYu7

— SophieHollandCastingCSA (@SophHollandCast) April 22, 2020

Dwarven Homemade Apple Pie w/ a Scotch Carmel glaze & Whipped Cream. @Tom_Canton don’t bring a knife to an axe fight! For Mahakam! @SophHollandCast @fayetimby @PaulBullionLive @LHissrich @MeciaSimson #GreatWitcherBakeOff
And I nominate @adele_oni! You’re next! 🐺❤⚔ pic.twitter.com/NsqjpZ5gIK

— Jeremy Crawford (@_JeremyCrawford) April 20, 2020

Melt in the middle BanoFFee MuFFins 😉back to you @SophHollandCast @fayetimby @LHissrich @PaulBullionLive @Tom_Canton @_JeremyCrawford let’s see what you got baking in the oven @YasenAtour #GreatWitcherBakeoff 🧝🏽‍♀️⚔️🐺 pic.twitter.com/fT6Inzajwb

— mecia simson (@MeciaSimson) April 20, 2020

I like to #Bake between my training sessions. During this “Quiet time”. @SophHollandCast came at me with some fine hot cross buns last week. My response? Well….it’s this:

(Video Credit: Housemate @jackdouglasfilm https://t.co/nIxdVjZFdo) pic.twitter.com/xqwy36NErx

— Paul Bullion (@PaulBullionLive) April 18, 2020

And finally, while The Witcher star Henry Cavill isn’t on Twitter, he’s been cooking and baking up a storm in isolation over on his Instagram account. Can we get Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith on the line?

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Icing-olation

A post shared by Henry Cavill (@henrycavill) on May 5, 2020 at 10:28am PDT

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Isolation loaf

A post shared by Henry Cavill (@henrycavill) on Mar 20, 2020 at 11:52am PDT

(via Twitter, image: YouTube/Screengrab)

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aethersea:

actually you know what’s especially cool? it’s a retelling of a myth in which perseus straight-up murders his abusive stepdad, and in this version the Big Change there was that instead, he gave his abused mom the opportunity to do the murder herself, on her own terms, when she was good and ready, which was very cash money of rick riordan if I do say so myself

36epm:

Shoutout to Percy Jackson for being a kids book that straight up murdered the abusive step dad instead of doing some bullshit redemption arc where they have to forgive him

#BossBitchFightChallenge
Here it is…! Kicking lockdown boredom with some of the coolest! Ladies, you are all my hero’s.
❤️👊https://t.co/vnzAT5vBxK @DanielaRuah @traciethoms @rosariodawson @RealLucyLawless @CameronDiaz @MargotRobbie @DrewBarrymore @thandienewton @zoesaldana

— TheRealZoëBell (@TheRealZoeBell) May 1, 2020

There is just something about watching a bunch of stunt and celebrity women pretend to fight each other very intensely that is super cool. (But also really attractive?)

Over the weekend, a massive group of celebrity women made up of Zoë Bell, Lucy Lawless, Halle Berry, Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh, Margot Robbie, Drew Barrymore, Rosie Perez, Juliette Lewis, Cameron Diaz, Rosario Dawson, Zoe Saldana, Thandie Newton, Julia Butters, Daryl Hannah, Tracie Thoms, and others—basically, almost every celebrity badass lady you’ve had a crush on in the past 20 or so years—got together for an incredible long-distance fight scene.

Not only is it a great collection of actresses (overall), but the special effects and over-the-top drama of it all is just excellent. From the flipping to the falling in the pool (Halle Berry has a magnificent pool scene) and the excellent use of props, it’s just a really fun video that’s a spinoff of the quarantined stuntmen video, which was also super well done and edited—fitting since Zoë Bell is, in fact, a stuntwoman who I just found out was Cate Blanchett’s stunt double in Thor: Ragnarok. Also, for those who were actually looking forward to Black Widow, we get another reminder of what a fun and talented performer Florence Pugh is. (Her part is also super funny. Never waste the wine.)

Not only did this video remind me of all the movies that we’re missing out on while everything is shut down due to the coronavirus, but it made me really want to see a battle royale-style movie with a bunch of these women. There was a really great diversity of age in this video and it just made we wish for more of that in the industry. I know people would pay money to watch Lucy Lawless fight any of these women. It’s Marvel vs. DC vs. every cool girl franchise you could get your hands on. Plus, it’s just a reminder that it is a legitimate skill in knowing how to look like you are actually getting hit, but then looking like a bad bitch when you get your revenge blow in.

If we get a Part 2, I’m hoping we get Lucy Liu, some of the ladies from Sucker Punch, Jennifer Garner, Gal Gadot, Daisy Ridley, Anna Silk, some of the Wynonna Earp ladies, and Linda Hamilton, because we know she can take and deliver a stunt punch. Although, I think we would all be fine if ally Keanu Reeves showed up for a cameo. He is an honorary boss bitch.

Who do you want in the next #BossBitchFightChallenge, and what’s the next crossover challenge you want to see grace your quarantine feed?

(image: screenshot)

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Gourd crafts can be fun, but the shapes are often impractical for daily usage. With The Gourd Project, Jun Aizaki of the CRÈME design house is trying to change that. To reduce waste from packaging, he's making completely biodegradable cups, jars, and vases from gourds.

From a farm in Pennsylvania, Aizaki is able to grow complete vessels in six weeks. He grows the gourds inside molds with optimal shapes.

Molding gourds is not new. What is new about Aizaki's project is his objective of making this process available for mass production. He writes:

We plan to initially invest money towards R+D, so we can grow the gourds in both indoor farming facilities and outdoor farms, allowing us to scale up the quantity and lower the price per gourd. The goal is to keep the high quality and quantity, so that The Gourd can be a viable challenger to the plastic waste industry.

-via Colossal

“Grim Reaper” Is Visiting Florida Beaches to Warn About Dangers of Not Social Distancing

Many of you have asked if I am willing to travel around Florida wearing Grim Reaper attire to the beaches and other areas of the state opening up prematurely. The answer is absolutely yes. Beginning May 1 we will hit the road here in state. Please retweet and spread the word. pic.twitter.com/UO7QKg161n

— Daniel Uhlfelder (@DWUhlfelderLaw) April 22, 2020

Many people acknowledge that we have a long road ahead in order to slow and control the spread of COVID-19. Our commitment to social distancing has saved lives, and as restrictions will inevitably start to ease, we know not everything can return to how it was pre-coronavirus. Beaches, for instance, will be different. Though they were once for lounging all day among large groups of people, these public areas are now mostly for exercise like walking and running (at safe distances from one another). Florida has recently reopened its beaches, and not everyone is following the social distancing guidelines put forth by local governments. But for those that flock to—and stay at—the beaches, they just might get a visit from the Grim Reaper himself.

Beginning May 1, lawyer Daniel Uhlfelder plans to dress as the angel of death and visit beaches around the state to warn people about the dangers of not social distancing—something he calls the Florida Grim Reaper Tour. He wants to remind people that staying home is vital in preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus, and despite what the state government might say or do, social distancing must be practiced until it’s safer to resume parts of normal life.

While clever, Uhlfelder is not the first Grim Reaper to walk on beaches. New Zealand has the Swim Reaper, a public service campaign that involves an individual dressing up in a cloak and carrying a scythe around public waters to remind people not to “swim dumb and be done.”

On May 1, lawyer Daniel Uhlfelder is going to walk the beaches of Florida dressed as the Grim Reaper. But he’s not the first—there’s a Swim Reaper in New Zealand:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by The Swim Reaper (@iamtheswimreaper) on Feb 14, 2017 at 9:41pm PST

The Swim Reaper reminds people to stay safe around public waters and to not “swim dumb and be done.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by The Swim Reaper (@iamtheswimreaper) on Feb 18, 2018 at 1:05pm PST

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by The Swim Reaper (@iamtheswimreaper) on Mar 18, 2018 at 3:40pm PDT

 

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A post shared by The Swim Reaper (@iamtheswimreaper) on Jan 4, 2017 at 4:18pm PST

Daniel Uhlfelder: Facebook | Twitter
h/t: [Bored Panda]

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READ: “Grim Reaper” Is Visiting Florida Beaches to Warn About Dangers of Not Social Distancing

For the 50th anniversary of the first Earth Day (which was Wednesday), PBS Nature, KQED’s Deep Look, and Ze Frank got together to give awards to the Earth's animals. The categories include Best Dressed, Most Traumatic Early Childhood Experience, and Best Fish Out of Water, so you can assume that Ze Frank came up with them. You'll see some weird critters doing some amazing things. -via Kottke

tiny-gorilla:

Summer visits 🌿🌱💕

jellytartkingezran:

silverlightraita:

captainkirkk:

logo-comics:

captainkirkk:

AU where Zuko realises very early into his banishment that he’s been sent on a hopeless goose chase and, actually, he doesn’t want to return to the oppressive Fire Nation and his abusive father. And he sticks with this decision even after Aang wakes up from the iceberg

Except then Aang meets Zuko - probably when Zuko jumps in to save someone, because his sense of justice is too strong to just sit back while someone is hurt, even if he is trying to remain apolitical - and his brain goes “!!!!” Because that’s a good firebender. They do exist. And now Aang knows someone who can teach him firebending without trying to kill him

Except Zuko wants nothing to do with the Avatar. He especially doesn’t want to get entangled with his father’s war. So the rest of the season is about Zuko running from the Avatar, and Aang and co trying to capture the reluctant ex-Prince of the Fire Nation so he can be Aang’s firebending teacher

                                                                                                                                #oh how the tables have turned #ok but the thought of aang chasing zuko around like ‘pls teach me fire bender sifu!!! you’re so talented!!! teach me your wayyyyys!’ #while zuko does his best to avoid this overpowered puppy and his friends #is both hilarious and adorable #my posts #avatar #atla #atla headcanons #idk where iroh is in this AU #but he was probably a key component in helping zuko get to that point of acceptance #maybe he and zuko have a travelling tea shop

The obvious solution: Zuko’s naval vessel has been converted into a traveling tea shop.

They convert their naval ship into a floating tea shop oh my god

The Gaang ends up stopping by the tea shop one time not realizing it’s Zuko and Iroh’s ship and spot Zuko but Zuko is like “this is the busiest time of day on our busiest days at one of the busiest ports. I do NOT have time for this.” So he plays dumb. Like really dumb.

The Gaang: It’s Zuko!

Zuko, trying to ignore them: Who’s Zuko?

The Gaang: … You are? You look exactly like him.

Zuko, starts sweating: Nope. I’m Lee. Humble tea server.

The Gaang: Then how you get that scar?

Zuko, sweating more: A wild tea accident. Very bizarre.

Toph, who knows he’s lying but is an agent of chaos: Lee? I remember you! You came to visit my town a few times. Do you still carry that lovely Jasmine tea?

Katara: Toph isn’t your town landlocked?

Toph: Yes, your point?

Katara: This tea shop is a giant naval vessel??

Zuko, panicking: THIS VESSEL CAN FLY

Toph: Yes, exactly.

Sokka: …Katara, let it go. Let’s just get our tea and get out of here before Aang finds out that–

Aang, sprinting over to them: ZUKO?

Toph, without missing a beat: No, this is Lee, humble tea server who got his scar in a wild tea accident.

Aang: What? No it’s not, it’s–

Toph: I can tell when people are lying Aang. Are you calling me a liar?

The power of design has been on full display recently as designers and artists respond to the global pandemic with creative means of coping. One of those is designer Eisuke Tachikawa, who has developed a super-easy way to create a face shield from a clear plastic folder. Check out the video above. Simply print out […]

Studio Ghibi was faced with a tough decision but in the end, they decided to postpone their large-scale exhibition planned for this summer due to the ongoing public health crisis. But they also offered up some good news for all the workers who are now confined to their homes. They made available a series of […]

STEP ASIDE ALL.

These are hand-made models of figures playing cards and of gold miners hauling gold nuggets to the surface. BUT the figures are made from crab’s legs and claws… Typical Victorians, they loved weird/creepy stuff. #CreepiestObjectpic.twitter.com/A5NHiPGnVh

— York Castle Museum (@YorkCastle) April 17, 2020

The Yorkshire Museum kicked off another museum challenge, and we all get to enjoy the results. Museums were asked what their creepiest object is, and many rushed in to show theirs off. You'll see bad taxidermy, deteriorating toys, hoaxes, things made from body parts, weird art, nature specimens, and even food. See them in the replies to the original Tweet, or you can follow the #CreepiestObject hashtag. -via Mashable