There are parts of rural Vermont without consistent cell service. So, ABC News reports, an electrical engineer named Patrick Schlott refurbished old pay phones and installed them in public locations so that people can, when needed, call the outside world.

Schlott finds the pay phones for sale on auction sites for a few hundred dollars. With modification, they will transmit sound over the internet. There are now three in place, one at a general store and two at public libraries. One of those library locations has experienced at least 370 calls, thus demonstrating a real need for this old fashioned technology.

-via My Modern Met | Photo: RandTel

Scientists in the Atherlton tablelands of northeastern Queensland, Australia have named this insect Acrophylla alta. At 15 inches long, it may be the heaviest in Australia. Its huge size may serve as an evolutionary advantage by making it more durable in cold weather.

 The Guardian reports that researchers captured a female from the forested canopy and harvested its eggs. The scientists hope to also capture a male, although these have been so far difficult to locate. The implication is that these scientists have a great interest in breeding giant insects for research purposes. There's no way this project could have negative, unintended consquences.

-via Aelfred the Great

Smokey Bear, an icon of the US Forest Service and other state forestry agencies, has promoted wildfire prevention since 1944 and the firefighting manpower shortages of World War II. News 6 Orlando reports that state agricultural law enforcement officers arrested a man accused of stealing Smokey Bear signs from state forests to resell them on Facebook Marketplace for about $1,900 each.

Wilton Simpson, the Florida Commissioner for Agriculture, shared on X this photo of Smokey taking part in bringing down this criminal. At 81, Smokey is a bit old to engage in hunting down criminals, but he clearly takes protection of his forests personally.

-via Dave Barry

It’s been a couple years since I got a vintage Dickel Whiskey bottle… I keep meaning to paint the leather red to match how it appeared in original Star Trek. pic.twitter.com/WdAe9ZgKwI

— Subcommander Tal (@SubcommanderT) July 31, 2025

Actually, it's a brandy, not a whiskey. It's Saurian brandy, but Captain Kirk is currently concerned with the quantity of alcohol, not the favor of it.

The prop masters for the Original Series adapted a 1964 model of George Dickel brand sippin' (there's no 'g' at the end) whiskey for this futuristic bottle. It also appeared on Deep Space Nine. The bottles, where are, of course, no longer in production, are highly-prized collectibles among Trekkies. Other iconic Star Trek alcohol containers are, too.

9-volt batteries have positive and negative terminals on one end, so it's possible to feel electrical current by placing that side on a body part. If this body part is the tongue, one can taste the experience.

(Or so I have read.)

The Verge reports that Rewind, a European company, is releasing several corn chip flavors, among them conventional flavors such as paprika and sriracha. The brand wants to inspire nostalgia and has therefore decided to also issue a flavor that tastes like battery.

Dominic Preston agreed, presumably under duress, to test the new flavor. He found that the chips do indeed taste like a battery--a flavor created with baking soda and citric acid.

-via Dave Barry

Captain Kirk and Commander Spock had their most famous duel in the episode "Amok Time" by Theordore Sturgeon This dramatic battle, driven by Spock's fiercely libidinal urges, is one of the best in classic Star Trek.

It's a great story on par with those seen in professional wrestling. It is thus appropriate that Mega Championship Wrestling conducted a match at, I think, ColossalCon 2024. Both competitors work the crowds, building tension to a passionate climax. It ends in a close embrace as Spock uses a special Vulcan technique to finish off his best friend.

You can see the full match below.

-via Holodeck Four

"Error and shame," Richard Adams comments in Shardik, are "...the inescapable lot of mankind." Ben Ward of the webcomic One Giant Hand illustrates humanity not only exiling itself from the Garden but also bringing animals with him. Only the fool ignores Chesterton's Stop Sign.

Jalopnik tells us that Max Hazan, a custom motorcycle builder in Los Angeles, has produced what must be the ultimate street bike. This beauty is wrapped around a 400 horsepower, 3.5 liter V8 engine removed from a Ferrari F355.

The whole rig is a custom job--no standard frame could manage the engine. It's not that heavy, actually, topping the scales at 590 pounds with 237 pounds from the engine itself. But it does take up a lot of space. Hazan has already taken the bike out on the streets.

It's an Onion story that's become reality--unlike Seborga and Westarctica. These countries do not exist.

The Guardian reports that police in northern India arrested a man who is accused of running a fake embassy from imaginary countries. He even had cars with fake diplomatic plates.

Why would he do this? Police say that he scammed money out of people seeking overseas employment in these imaginary countries. It's unclear how much money he bilked from his victims, but police recovered approximately 4.5 million rupees ($52,000 USD) from the plush, rented building that served as the face of his operation.

There have yet to be responses from the governments of Seborga and Westarctica.

-via Dave Barry

I'm sure that we all had the same thought: "Finally!"

Before you get too excited, I should inform you that the cops got him on credit card fraud. But, hey, tax evasion charges put Al Capone away, so let's be satisfied that the rat is finally off the streets, preying on people.

The Tallahassee Democrat reports that police arrested a Chuck E. Cheese employee in costume. Although he had many duties at the restaurant, he was wearing the mouse outfit at the time that the cops arrived. Because of his behavior at the time of the encounter, police decided to immediately cuff him and lead him outside in full view of the children.

I think that's good. Kids need to know that no one is above the law.

-via Old Hollow Tree | Photo: Chuck Hobbs

The ninth Rule of Acquisition states, "Opportunity plus instinct equals profit." Sydney Charlet has the instinct and found the opportunity for great profit.

Jalopnik explains that legal parking in New York City is very expensive, sometimes runnning into six figures for reserved spots. Illegal parking can get pricey, too, due to tickets issued when street sweepers arrive. So some residents pay Charlet to sit in their cars. When the cars are about to get ticketed, Charlet moves them to avoid the fines.

This wasn't Charlet's planned career. She started her business after getting laid off from a marketing position. Clearly employers in that industry don't appreciate her cunning.

If you have a dog, you're familiar with this experience. Your pup maintains steady eye contact while excreting. Why? Karen Piwinski, a dog trainer, explains that it's an instinctive behavior.

In the wild, animals are vulnerable while relieving themselves. It's the same reason why you or I might carry a bat'leth while using the toilet: we want to be safe. Your dog is stating "I trust you to keep watch." So look at this canine behavior as an expression of confidence in you.

Similarly, when your dog tries to follow you into the bathroom, consider that he's really just trying to return the favor.

-via Dave Barry | Photo: Amy used under Creative Commons license

Yesterday, British rock star Ozzy Osbourne passed away at the age of 76.

Here in Texas, we remember him for a particular incident which is emblematic of our state. The excellent history X account Traces of Texas describes it.

In 1982, while thoroughly intoxicated, Osbourne urinated on the Cenotaph, a monument to the Alamo martyrs which stands in front of the old chapel. He was arrested and, after his performance the following night, banned from performing in San Antonio for a decade.

Osbourne returned in 1992, profusely apologized for his act of defilement, donated $10,000 to the Daughters of the Republic of Texas (which maintains the site), and performed for two nights.

David Crockett famously said, "You can all go to hell and I'll go to Texas," before leaving Tennessee on his final journey into glory. Texas is a home of second chances and starting over. Ozzy Osbourne received his second chance and redemption for an impulsive act just a few yards from where Crockett fell. The official Instagram account for the Alamo mourns his passing with respect and kindness.

Photo: Focka used under Creative Commons license

Occasionally, women must go to great lengths to stave off the romantic efforts of men. This is true for animals as well as humans. ABC News reports that a recent study found that the females of a species of frog will actually pretend to be dead when approached by males.

The males, the article notes, are not particularly choosy. They very interested in mating with any and every available female. The females are more selective and so must fend off the advances of many males during mating season. Sometimes they give off vocalizations that create the impression that they are actually male. But the most innovative tactic is playing dead--what the scientists call "tonic immobility."

-via Dave Barry | Photo: Richard Bartz

It is a truth universally acknowledged that, as an art form, television reached its zenith in 90s science fiction. YouTuber Rowan J. Coleman clearly understands the greatness of these narratives, as we have previously seen in his analysis of the subtle perfection of Patrick Stewart as Captain Picard.

Here, Coleman breaks down how, in particular scenes, two actors contributed to the glorious story of Babylon 5, which piloted in 1993 and and concluded in 1998. In this franchise, Andreas Katsulas depicted G'Kar and and Peter Jurasik took the role of Londo Mollari. These two men, through heavy makeup, used precise gestures, facial expressions, and intonations to bring to the screen flawed heroes that fascinated a generation.