christmas "I am Skinny Santa" — Obama visits pre-K kids in Chicago (video) Mark Frauenfelder

Ad Inside Blackpool's beloved Uke Hunt Boing Boing

Science Germ theory denial is dangerous and on the rise Jennifer Sandlin

eastern equine encephalitis Deadly mosquito virus kills a man near Boston, causing parks and events to shut down Carla Sinclair

Kids Social Media needs warning labels, contributing to teenage mental health crisis says US Surgeon General Jason Weisberger

tourism The weirdest free tourism spots in the U.S. B.R. O'Deal

retro games Retro game store robbed in California—and another attempted Lux Sparks-Pescovitz

donald trump Trump rallies: demented, dangerous, and off-the-rails Yoy Luadha

happy birthday Buy-sell-trade thrift shop Buffalo Exchange celebrates 50 years of sustainable fashion Jennifer Sandlin

politics "Make the RNC White Again:" leadership abandons vestige of minority outreach Jason Weisberger

absurd Is your name Ryan? Come to the gathering of the Ryans. Natalie Dressed

magic This is what a great magic act looks like! Ferdinando Buscema

tumbleweeds Wild video of Utah town being overtaken by tumbleweeds burying cars and blocking homes David Pescovitz

crime 18 years for man who firebombed church hosting drag show Rob Beschizza

music New Zealand city in the crossfire of "speaker battles" that weaponize Céline Dion David Pescovitz

not-so-trivial trivia questions Michigan State "deeply sorry" for displaying Hitler image on scoreboard at football game Carla Sinclair

iceland The Museum of Sorcery and Witchcraft tells the story of Iceland's 17th century "witchcraze," complete with "necropants" Jennifer Sandlin

texas Celebrate Banned Books Week (October 1-7) with Harris County Public Library, which was recently declared a "book sanctuary" Jennifer Sandlin

Cryptozoology Celebrate "Louisiana's werewolf" at Rougarou Fest! Jennifer Sandlin

politics Advocate for keeping masks in healthcare settings followed, harassed, and hit by a car after testifying at the LA County Public Health Commission meeting Jennifer Sandlin