In 2023, these are the things that make us go "Hmmm..."

I think I have the right stuff to make a great psychonaut:

https://newrepublic.com/article/169525/psychonauts-training-psychedelics-dmt-ext...

This author is seeking funding for a book on M.R. James. I donated a few pounds, hope some folks here will do likewise:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-with-the-montague-rhodes-james-podcast?utm_campa...

The woman who paid for Charlie Manson's funeral:

https://crimereads.com/charles-mansons-body-or-how-i-ended-up-paying-for-the-not...

This is a lazy cross post from “Science” on a currently popular topic that fits in here I think.

Scientists have questions about a new James Webb Space Telescope image. I think the answer is obvious - an intergalactic Douglas Adams fan. Link to article

In these times of financial stress it is good to know science is still on our side.

quote from news report; A TV team sent a human DNA sample to a pet genetic testing company that reported it back as being part bulldog, border collie, and cane corso, CBS News reports.

https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/i-team-accurate-pet-dog-dna-testing-human/

This is one of the reasons I'll never submit to a request for a DNA sample.

With my family tree and genetics, God knows what they'd find.

>5 DugsBooks: I had been thinking of having my Scotties tested but think I will refrain for now.

Here in the UK, the Prime Minister has announced today that he is cancelling the proposed High Speed 2 project that was proposed to link Birmingham and Manchester. The link between Birmingham and Leeds was cancelled two years ago. The section from London to Birmingham is under construction now and is about 40% complete. The original plan was for the new railway to link London and the North of England, and then tie into the proposed High Speed 3 trans-Pennine link connecting Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds and Hull, for the purposes of re-invigorating the economy of the North. (People living north of the Manchester - Leeds corridor seem to have been quietly passed over.)

In the same week, Indonesia has opened its first high speed railway.

Apropos of nothing at all, here is a gallery of some of the high-speed trains operating in mainland Europe over the past twenty years:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/30301546@N06/albums/72177720311641287

All the U.K. has to do is sell their soul to China as part of the Silk Road/Belt and Road initiative and you'd have high speed trains to the north in no time.

I know somebody who knows somebody who's a pal of Xi Jinping.

Have your people call mine.

>9 CliffBurns: The UK has already joined the CPTPP, despite not having a Pacific coastline (they cheated, claiming possession of Pitcairn qualified them), and China is planning to join soon.

>9 CliffBurns: The Chinese aren't hindered by mere technicalities such as planning permission, planning enquiries, decisions to revise the route to keep marginal constituencies happy (and then having to go around the planning permission cycle again), Ministerial flip-flopping and compulsory purchase orders. "Build a railway" says the Party, and a railway is built.

"Slapping therapy?

Really?

REALLY?

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-wiltshire-67580439

>12 CliffBurns: I know a number of people who could be improved with a good slap. 😜

>13 varielle: Touche.