What is this spirit which appears in the fog? Is it approaching you? No, it's just an unusual meteorological phenomenon called a Brocken Spectre. Les Crowley explains at Atmosphere Optics that the image is the viewer's own shadow cast on the mist:

The Brocken Spectre appears when a low sun is behind a climber who is looking downwards into mist from a ridge or peak. The "spectre" is the shadowy figure - the glow and rings are of course a glory centered directly opposite the sun at the antisolar point. But how is the ghostly figure produced? It is no more than the shadow of the climber projected forward through the mist. All shadows converge towards the antisolar point where the glory also shines. The sometimes odd triangular shape is a perspective effect. The Brocken Spectre is a similar effect to anti-crepuscular rays and cloud shadows.

-via Super Punch | Photo: P. Leedell

I AM PISSING MYSELF OVER THIS VIDEO HELP SHSJSBSJSBA pic.twitter.com/bIrutKEPlD

— 💘Cherri🌷 (@cherriimiu) June 9, 2021

This video of unknown origin (most likely hidden to protect the horses from public shaming) shows two horses, Domino and Pie, on their way to dinner. Their path is blocked by a ferocious rabbit. The horses, prudently heeding the warning of Tim the Enchanter, are keeping their distance.

-via Super Punch

Before he became Leondegrance in Excalibur, Gurney Halleck in Dune, and Captain Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Patrick Stewart was already an acclaimed Shakespearean actor. In 1996, he slipped on his tights again and played the titular role in Hamlet for Sesame Street. Shakespeare's script was changed a bit.

-via Kottke

Traditional forms of medicine attribute special powers to rhinoceros horns, which is why that animal is hunted by poachers. A rhino horn is worth a lot of money on the black market, so poachers are highly motivated to kill rhinoceroses and remove their horns.

The Rhisotope Project is an innovative effort by conservationists to right back. Scientists propose to inject radioactive isotopes inside the horns of living rhinoceroses, thus making the horns trackable if removed and smuggled. Hack A Day explains:

The radiation from these would not be enough to cause any harm to the animal. But smuggling the horn through illicit channels becomes immensely more difficult as the tell-tale radioactive signature would be hard to hide.

Presumably the radioisotope that would be picked would be a Gamma or Beta emitter, as these are significantly harder to block than Alpha (large helium atoms) radiation. This radiation would make the horn, and any shipping container it would be placed into, light up light a Christmas tree on any of the radiation detectors used at borders and ports around the world.

Photo: Rhisotope Project

For several weeks, journalists have been trying to convince us to eat bugs. Like those scientists who want us to drink dog urine, news outlets these days abound with articles advocating the consumption of cicadas.

This trend has, apparently, caught on enough that a pizzeria in Dayton, Ohio is offering a pizza topped with cicadas.

Yes, that's what you're looking at. The restaurant Pizza Bandit calls it the Spicy Thai Cicada Pie. CNN reports:

The restaurant did livestream a tasting panel trying out the pizza, which also featured miso hoisin sriracha sauce, mozzarella, provolone, mushrooms, cabbage, green onion, mango, cilantro and a spicy Thai sauce.

"Opinions of the pizza range from absolutely delicious to...well...uh...yeah...," the Facebook post said.

-via Dave Barry | Photos: Pizza Bandit

The divisive flavor is a frozen blend of raw herring, onion, sugar, and cream. https://t.co/cBtjP5UFma

— Atlas Obscura (@atlasobscura) June 14, 2021

Are you travelling to the Netherlands? If so, you may wish to try this Dutch specialty: ice cream flavored with raw herring. Inventor Robin Alting admits that some of his countrymen are hesitant to eat it. That may be a result of the ingredients, which Atlas Obscura lists:

The divisive flavor is a frozen blend of raw herring, onion, sugar, and cream. It’s been described as having the texture of traditional ice cream but the strong taste and smell of herring.

A few months ago, celebrity librarian Jessamyn West had an inspired idea to promote public library use: advertise for them on the side of race cars. She did some research and found that such advertising, at least on a local level, is quite affordable. Now her library promotion is written on the back quarters of two racing Honda Civics driven by Andrea St. Amour.

Photo: Chambers Racing

Benjamin Franklin once said that wine is "a constant proof that God loves us, and loves to see us happy." We can surely say the same about crocs, all the more so now that they are elevated on stiletto heels.

Or, perhaps, we should instead thank the Parisian fashion house Balenciaga, which has brought these shoes into existence. Complex reports that these wonders, as well as knee-high crocs, will be available in Balenciaga's 2022 Spring line of fashions. Personally, though, I'm holding out for thigh-high crocs.

-via The Mary Sue | Photo: Balenciaga

No, seriously, that's the name of this Québécois pastry. In the original French, the name of one is "pet de soeur", which is "fart of the sister." Atlas Obscura suggests origins for this aromatic delights filled with butter and brown sugar:

Regarding its name, explanations abound. Some say it stems from the sound the dough makes as it’s being fried in oil. Others tell tales of one nun’s fart causing such hysterical laughter that another sister accidentally dropped some dough in oil.

Photo: Twin1995

In Japan, the need for immediate, effective protection from earthquakes is great. Designer Kota Nezu offers this chair to help. When the ground begins shaking, remove the back and put it on your head to protect your skull and spine.

-via Toxel

Tilly, a border collie, was thrown out of a car that crashed in northern Idaho. He was found two days later at a nearby sheep farm, where he was busying himself by herding the resident sheep. KHQ News reports that he had lost weight, but Tilly was otherwise fine.

That's the kind of attitude that we need today. Although Tilly had lost his job, he immediately went out to find a new job and got right to work.

-via Dave Barry

It's too easy to forget the origins of our food when we aren't getting back to their original sources. Twitter user Caffeine Connoisseur has a helpful suggestion. Just poke a few holes in an appropriate location for a more authentic dairy experience.

-via Nag on the Lake

Sir Patrick Stewart as vacuum cleaners.

A thread. pic.twitter.com/o0nkYjoLxQ

— Amanda (@Pandamoanimum) June 7, 2021

When Patrick Stewart rises to begin his day, he goes to his closet with one question in mind: "Which vacuum cleaner should I look like today?" There are many, many options compiled by Twitter user Amanda. And, yes, one of them is a regulation Starfleet uniform.

-via Laughing Squid

The Concert is a 1956 ballet by Jerome Robbins. It's a spoof of the orchestral performance experience. The Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre summarizes it:

The setting is an all-Chopin recital where the attendees allow their decidedly imaginative minds to wander. When the resulting images are danced, human foibles and recognizable insecurities are revealed as Robbins brings each fantasy comically and vividly to life. 

The ballet includes this piece titled "Mistake Waltz" in which some of the dancers are a bit out of sync. The above video shows a performance by the Pacific Northwest Ballet. Every error is completely intentional.

-via Nag on the Lake

Blackmouth Design, a custom fabrication firm in Seattle, made this home entertainment console and table for a dedicated Trekkie. It's built to imitate the navigation and helm console from the Enterprise on Star Trek. One of the engineers describes the build on reddit:

The table is approx. 56" x 36" and 21" tall. It features 16 vintage rocker switches that activate custom programmed light patterns (Screen accurate LED backlit replica resin "gumdrops" controlled by an Arduino Mega) and plays sound effect audio files from The Original Series as well as a few hidden Easter Eggs (like playing the theme song or the Amok Time fight music) when the correct combination of switches are thrown.

In addition to the 16 rocker switches there are 8 red momentary push buttons that control the customers home media system (Turn on/off lights, lower projector screen, etc.). The table top and trim are 3/16" Powder coated Aluminum over red, grey and black laminated plywood. LED backlit graphics (recreated from scratch) sit under 1/4" plexiglass panels. The table also has 2 drawers for game controllers and remotes as well as 2 hidden shelves to support beverages.

-via Hack A Day