Friday, July 31, 2026

Absolute Poison Ivy cosplay







Dungeons and Dragons video game Humble Bundle

Starts at $5 for five classic games and two coupons. 

Also, the narrative game bundle ends today.

Today's news and jokes

(I assume it's this: "A Marketplace Advance allows you to receive up to 50% of the value of an individual card upfront before its sold at auction")

Are these mass art exams in China still a thing? (art roundup)

@jiemospuzzle How Examiners Caught a Cheat in China's Art Entrance Exam?#chineseculture #exam #art #drawing ♬ 原声 - Jiemo‘s puzzle
(From 2018, "The Grueling, Hyper-Competitive Exams That Decide the Futures of Chinese Art Students.")

Poster for "Sunshine" featuring the great spacesuit




(I don't think they sell the posters online).


Speaking of Sunshine:

Thursday, July 30, 2026

Today's news and jokes

@lastweektonighthbo

Get your totally original Mr. Nutterbutter merch at our arbitrarily named Buc-Off Shop at Buc-Off.com!

♬ original sound - Last Week Tonight
The Buc-Off shop

Wrestler with a basketball gimmick




Wednesday, July 29, 2026

L.A. County lifeguards performed nearly 2,000 rescues last weekend

@alyssatakitaki Looks like fun but also kinda scary #malibu #zumabeach #flooded #tsunami #bob ♬ FREAKED OUT - Fat Papi & prodshushy



Multiple swimmers rescued by Los Angeles County Lifeguards moments ago off Venice Pier. Craziest rip current I can recall in over a decade of living in the area. Absolute heroes!!! ❤️💪 Video of the intense rip and rescues in thread 🧵 👇

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— Adam Rose (@adamrose.bsky.social) July 25, 2026 at 4:05 PM



LA Material's write-up. (Sign up for their excellent newsletter, please)

Regal Robot's latest Star Wars maquette is an adorable baby Rotta the Hutt

Up for preorder.


New video game Humble Bundle featuring "Rage Inducing Difficult Games"

Starts at four games for $6.

Today's news and jokes



Gunship is giving away an Aztec Death Whistle




(Not a fan of any verison of Time After Time, but Tech Noir 1 and 2 and Doom Dance are great)

Elden Ring, Dark Souls, Sekiro, and Godzilla garage kits

Tuesday, July 28, 2026

Absolutely glowing review of Universal's new Fast & Furious roller coaster




Todd Martens for the LA Times:

I had perhaps the best view of the Valley I’ve ever seen.

Granted, it was fleeting. But I was alternately in awe and fearful of what Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift was presenting before me.

BTW, from years ago:

Washington's Bar Exam was canceled today due to tech issues




The official statement (they're contemplating a make-up months from now (so people will have to put their lives on hold and double pay for hotel rooms etc)), and a Redditor's detailed write-up.


Lady Cobra trooper and other new GI Joe (and Star Wars) figures up for preorder

BBTS link. I think Flash was already sold out there, but available at EE.

New TTRPG Humble Bundle

"Dive into the roleplaying worlds of Chaosium", starts at $5. 

Also, the Blade Runner comic book bundle ends today.

Today's news and jokes

TIL that sand is stored under certain LA Metro seats where it gets sprayed onto the wheels to create traction with the rails. At least that’s they’re saying on Reddit. Mystery… solved?

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— Bill Wolkoff (@billwearsties.bsky.social) July 27, 2026 at 10:14 AM
"It's for traction. Sadly I know because I play a lot of train simulation games" (the ensuing convo is funny)

Xenomorph dice

Balloon couture by Robert Wun




Monday, July 27, 2026

The Balrog still looks fabulous





Today's news and jokes

the temu app will be studied for generations. i opened the app. here’s my unedited, nearly two-minute launch sequence. i was just searching for a bookshelf

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— Cabel Sasser (@cabel.panic.com) July 26, 2026 at 9:03 AM
(I've never used the app)

"Hundreds of illegitimate donation bins scattered across San Jose"

NBC:

San Jose passed an ordinance years ago limiting donation bins and requiring permits, but officials said enforcement has lagged, allowing unapproved bins to multiply. They said it’s now unclear whether any permitted donation bins are even operating in the city

Vote for Berkeley Public Library's new mascot



108 contestants (they all had to incorporate fiber--"Creative use of fabric, yarn, thread, textile scraps, stuffing, and other textile elements is encouraged")

Sunday, July 26, 2026

Promare Mad Burnish garage kits






You're in for a treat if you've never watched Promare (sound way up!):

NECA's new Muppets figures are up for preorder

Christmas Carol Ultimate Kermit as Bob Cratchit and Robin as Tiny Tim, and Ultimate Oscar the Grouch.

Today's news and jokes



Eerie shapes on these driverless trucks (AI roundup)

@annegonzalez47 Self-driving cars will dominate city roads in China! #China #Travel #AutonomousDriving #Car #LocalGuide ♬ 原創音樂 - China local guide






Ever watch those Blue Grotto videos and think they look frightening?

People:
Since the Blue Grotto frequently closes when waves become too rough, Welch says she assumed the operators would only allow boats inside if it was safe. 
... 
“[He] just kept singing and rowing and showing us the grotto, meanwhile we were soaked and confused and scared,” she says. “There was a language barrier as well, so that didn’t help, but other boat guides in the grotto with other boats were all yelling at our guy and each other. The other couple in our boat started crying and I was trying to soothe her.”

@gma A Texas couple share their story after a dream vacation took a terrifying turn inside Capri’s famed Blue Grotto. #news #capri #bluegrotto ♬ original sound - Good Morning America

Saturday, July 25, 2026