travel A passenger realized the floor of his Air France flight was soaked with blood. They gave him wet wipes to clean it up. Rob Beschizza

Conservative activist's defamation case against ADL proceeds in Texas court Ellsworth Toohey

drugs Egyptian mug contained 2,000-year-old hallucinogenic brew Allan Rose Hill

Maya DNA reveals mystery of Maya human sacrifice Allan Rose Hill

archaeology Man makes his own "Aztec Death Whistle" and tests it on his family with disturbing results Mark Frauenfelder

politics According to Pizzagate conspiracy theorists, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on Pizza Hut boxes are encouraging Satanic ritual abuse Jennifer Sandlin

films Watch: Mommy Mommy, Where's My Brain? Popkin

britain How British Intelligence manufactured a Satanic Panic in Northern Ireland Thom Dunn

I hate rodents Sic semper evello mortem rattus norvegicus Jason Weisberger

History The brilliant book that inspired Dune author Frank Herbert Rob Beschizza

Boing Boing Gadgets Powerful Russian Orthodox cleric summoned to spritz computers with holy water to fight ransomware Cory Doctorow

authors Grant Morrison interview: "Laughter can banish any and all demons" Propaganda Anonymous

Technology What does it mean to be human in an age of machines? Institute for the Future

picks Clinton advisor Podesta is a sex magic witch: Drudge Report via Infowars via Wikileaks (seems legit) Xeni Jardin

christmas Babes in Toyland's Maureen Herman's most memorable Christmases Maureen Herman

Delightful Creatures How the bed bug infiltrated our bedrooms and took over the world Brooke Borel

A Short History of Game Panics Jesse Walker

Environment The revenge of the lawn Mark Dery