Warren the 13th and the Thirteen-Year Curse

Written by Tania del Rio and Created and Illustrated by Will Staehle

We at, Neatorama, love books! How can you not love books? Books smell and feel great! They provide a form of escape that, in this nutty world we live in, is sometimes necessary and craved. Books help people forget their fears and find bravery in the strength of others.  

Given the craziness that the world is experiencing now, we truly appreciate the people at Quirk Books for sending us this lovely copy of Warren the 13th and the Thirteen-Year Curse. This book is the final installment of the trilogy. In first book, Warren the 13th and the All-Seeing Eye, and the second book, Warren the 13th and the Whispering Woods, we were introduced to Warren. Warren is a twelve-year-old orphan and hotel heir who lives in a fascinating hotel.

In this final book, we find Warren in his thirteenth year. As we continue to follow him on his journey we see that his life continues to be fraught with intrigue and danger.  More importantly, however, he is still surrounded by a cast of fascinating characters.

Navigating his trusty hotel turned ship, Warren, travels the high seas in an attempt to rescue his best friend from an elusive traveling circus. Did we mention that his best friend is actually a multi-eyed octopus-like creature named Sketchy?  How can you not be charmed by a book with an octopus-like creature. 

Warren the 13th and the Thirteen-Year Curse is a really beautifully illustrated book. Enclosed in this teal and black book you are likely to find the kind of drawings that inspire you to pick up a sketchpad and a pencil. The colors are simple, but the details are captivating. 

Reading is always a great way to stave off bordeom, encourage imagination, and escape your troubles. We encourage everyone, young or old, to read a good book today.   

Warren the 13th and the Thirteen-Year Curse (Quirk Books) is scheduled to be available for sale on March 24, 2020. It is suggested for children ages 8-12. 

E3 is officially cancelled due to the Coronavirus outbreak. There were events and conferences that were cancelled before E3, so this wasn’t really a big surprise to most. However, E3 is one of the gaming industry’s biggest and most famous expo. Big companies such as Sony and Nintendo usually announce their new products in this event. With the cancellation, most of the industry will be now looking for a new way to show off their upcoming releases, as IGN detailed: 

The most obvious immediate routes for those who were scheduled to attend E3 lie in two directions. The first is Gamescom. The German show is already the world’s biggest games event by footfall and comes with its own slate of (albeit smaller) conferences. Gamescom also has a major developer, publisher, and retailer presence – E3 has traditionally had a side-function of acting as a useful meeting space for companies, leading to future deals between them. Gamescom could provide a similarly useful space, leading to companies pivoting towards it. Set over two months back from E3, it might be seen as a safe bet in terms of the trajectory of the spread of Coronavirus, while retaining some of the sheen and prestige of an E3 announcement. It wouldn’t be hugely surprising to see a far more announcement-heavy Gamescom 2020 (should that show go ahead, of course) - particularly as Geoff Keighley's Opening Night Live (which began last year, and is due to continue this year) has already helped galvanise Gamescom-centric announcements.

The second is to follow Nintendo’s lead, and take those announcements in-house and online. The Direct model has been successful enough for the world’s biggest console manufacturer to adopt it, and Sony’s State of Play has been joined by the likes of Xbox, Devolver, and Blizzard, who have all taken digital announcement events in their own directions. It feels likely that some of E3’s major players will now attempt to create their own schedule, with the benefit of making big announcements entirely on their own terms, and with less possibility of being drowned out by someone else’s mega-news arriving on the same day.

image via E3

Parker The Snow Dog is now the honorary mayor of Georgetown, Colorado. The celebrity dog is the mascot for Loveland Ski Area and the Camp Therapy Dog for the Rocky Mountain Village Easterseals Camp, and the unofficial mascot for a football team. The Bernese Mountain Dog is two-years-old, and loves to nap and greet people, as Oddee detailed: 

Police Judge Lynette Kelsey performed the ceremony that took place at the Georgetown Community Center. Judge Kelsey said: “I, Parker the Snow Dog, Do swear, on my stuffed animals, that I will give love and hugs to the people and four-legged friends in Georgetown, Colorado. Parker, please stick out your tongue if you acknowledge.” When asked to stick out his tongue, Parker looked around at the people (making the entire crowd laugh), looking nervous. Then he ‘excitedly agreed,’ according to KRDO News . “We thank Parker for everything he does, and we are super honored to be here,” said an officer of Georgetown. They had the dog in a tie, cape, and glasses through the majority of the swear in.

image via KRDO News

No one has the exact (and agreed upon) measurement of Polaris, the North Star. Different methods are used by different researchers, which yield conflicting results. Because of that, humanity’s navigational star still eludes scientific explanation, as Futurism detailed: 

Part of the problem — and an equally baffling quirk — is that measurements suggest that one of the two binary stars is significantly older than the other, according to Live Science.

It’s possible, astronomers told Live Science, that the main star in the Polaris system used to be two smaller stars that merged — a process that makes stars appear younger than they are and also messes up some of the methods used to determine their mass.

image via wikimedia commons

Here's an old German folk tale that's too terrifying for Disney, but not for the Brothers Grimm. Their  version is different, and even that was toned down for publication. You just know the story has something to do with the plague. In this animated version, the godfather is Death, and he's serious about his business. Read more about this story in a TED-Ed lesson from Iseult Gillespie.

Queen Mary I became the ruler of England in 1553 when her younger brother died after a six-year reign, although taking the throne was not easy. She, the deceased Edward VI, and her younger sister Elizabeth were all children of the infamous Henry VIII.

During her five-year reign, Mary navigated the manifold challenges associated with her status as the first English queen to wear the crown in her own right, rather than as the wife of a king. She prioritized religion above all else, implementing reforms and restrictions aimed at restoring the Catholic Church’s ascendancy in England. Most controversially, she ordered 280 Protestants burned at the stake as heretics—a fact that would later cement her reputation as “Bloody Mary.”

The queen also set precedents and laid the groundwork for initiatives—among others, financial reform, exploration and naval expansion—that would be built upon by her much-lauded successor, Elizabeth I. Mary failed, however, to fulfill arguably the most important duty of any monarch: producing an heir. When she died at age 42 in 1558 of an ailment identified alternatively as uterine cancer, ovarian cysts or influenza, Elizabeth claimed the throne.

Those 280 Protestants are the reason that she is known as Bloody Mary in the history books. Or was it? Her father, Henry VIII, had tens of thousands of people executed, including two of his wives. Edward VI only had two Protestants burned at the stake, but his actions resulted in the deaths of thousands of Catholics. Elizabeth I, who followed her sister on the throne, had hundreds of Catholics executed. So why was Mary the one who got the "Bloody" name? Read about the trends in history, religion, and misogyny that recast Mary I as bloody at Smithsonian.

(Image credit: Master John)

Hannah P.'s baked loaves of bread look almost too good to eat! They're magnificent works of art that are carefully sculpted and painted with colorful foods prior to baking so that they turn into ornate carvings pleasing to both the eye and the mouth. For example, this rye bread is baked with red peppers and cheddar cheese and it's beautiful.

Browsing the internet for eye candy is a growing pastime, and many of us love to look at real estate just to dream. But if you are serious about wanting to live in an old house with a history behind it, and you have the time and skills for repairs, AND you are flexible about location, have I got a great website for you! Old Houses Under 50K is exactly what it says on the tin. The real estate listings are real, and the houses range from completely falling apart to "I could live with that." Most, however, would require an investment of time and work. You can sort the listings by state, style, or amenities, and there's even a category for haunted house stories. The 1910 house shown above has four bedrooms and three bathrooms, and if you want to live in Rockford, Illinois, you can get it for only $50K. Look inside for lots of fireplaces. There are others in almost every state. -via a comment at Metafilter. If you have more money (or are just dreaming), you can check out their other links.

Leech Bandages

As you go about your day working, playing, washing your hands, or stockpiling for armageddon, accidents are bound to happen. When injury strikes, the Leech Bandages from the NeatoShop are there for you. 

Real leeches can be harder to come by than toilet paper and hand sanitizer, so sometimes you just have to settle for the imitation. When medicinal leeches are out of stock at your local leach dealer try a Leech Bandage. They don't suck, but they do have pretty pictures of your favorite parasitic bloodsucker.  

Be sure to check out the NeatoShop for more great Bath & Body. New items arriving all the time. 

Don't forget to stop by the shop to see our large selection of customizable apparel. We specialize in curvy and Big and Tall sizes. We carry baby 6 months all the way to 10XL shirts. We know that fun and fabulous people come in every size. 

It's been a while since we featured the Unipiper! Brian Kidd, the master of multitasking, has been busy with TV and personal appearances, but recently he is more concerned with the coronavirus. In order to keep Portland weird, he's donned hazmat gear to spray disinfectant all around, while still riding a unicycle and playing his flaming bagpipes. It's a visual reminder to take precautions about spreading viruses. -via reddit

It’s hard to go around our daily routine without being conscious of how we act or what we look like. Some social interactions are difficult because we tend to think about what the other person thinks about rather than thinking about how to continue the actual interaction. It’s a torturous habit that diminishes our self-esteem and just makes us stiff and unapproachable. However, to actually stop caring what other people think is easier said than done. Popsugar shares six steps on how we can slowly and fully stop caring at all. 

image via wikimedia commons

ASMR content creators are now putting out videos that can help their audience unwind and be informed at the same time. Due to the spread of the Coronavirus, some people do need to find a place to calm down in these stressful times. ASMR content creators such as ASMR Darling uploaded a 30-minute video where the viewer has the point of view of someone who is being tested for Coronavirus. Buzzfeed has the details: 

Taylor runs the popular YouTube channel ASMR Darling, an account with 2.46 million subscribers. In her recent 30-minute video "Testing You For Corona Virus (Raising Awareness And Debunking Myths!)", Taylor is filmed in a point-of-view style as she introduces herself as "Dr Darling". She then soothingly conducts a full checkup for COVID-19, and then runs through some information about the virus.

Taylor said she made the video — which she said she hasn't monetised — to help her viewers learn more about COVID-19.

"I wanted to raise awareness and debunk myths around the virus. I know the virus really affects older people," she told BuzzFeed News. "Using my platform to raise awareness on how not to spread illnesses is a way I can feel like I can help not only them, but other people."

The video is obviously fake, but Taylor said she researched to make the video informative and relaxing. She opens the video by washing her hands for 30 seconds, and washes her hands two more times.

"I definitely thought this was an important thing to incorporate because it is all the WHO keeps [advising people] to do about the virus. I discovered what kind of tests they have for the virus and tried my best to mimic it to make the experience realistic, but also adding relaxing and calming touches to it," she said.

Sybil Wettasinghe enlisted the help of students across Sri Lanka to contribute stories, poetry, and drawings for her book, Wonder Crystal. Due to Wettasinghe and the childrens’ combined efforts, Wonder Crystal is now the Guiness World Record Holder for most number of alternative endings for a book. The book has a whopping number of 1,250 alternative endings. Truly a wonderful feat!  (via UPI)

image via wikimedia commons

While the title sounds like an April Fool's Day prank, this optical trick is real. If you put polished glass in an oil bath, it become completely invisible. So a marble run built of glass with a glass marble, submerged in oil, with some visible elements, gives us an eerie experience. The video is in Japanese, but you can turn on English subtitles. -via Geeks Are Sexy

Need a wedding or anniversary present soon? Did you snag an invitation to your neighbor's 5-year old's birthday party? Then here's how you leave a lasting impression: get a Kreatworks sculpture. Etsy seller Kreatworks, who is based in Bangkok, makes enormous pop culture sculptures from scrap metal. This Hulk sculpture sells for a bit under $18,000. Shipping can be a bit expensive, so consider Technabob's advice:

Or maybe wait for it to turn back into Bruce Banner, and then have him shipped.