This thread from Merriam-Webster's generally wonderful Twitter account makes a nice bright spot to close out this bastard of a year.

Is ESP real, or is science broken?

A Viking warrior's grave, long assumed to have been that of a man, is confirmed to have been for a woman.

Velveteria is a museum of velvet painting, and they have a flickr group.

What pollutants are in your tap water? (in the United States).

Pyrosomes in the Gulf of Tonkin could have pushed the United States towards war in Vietnam.

Recent sightings have raised hopes that the Tasmanian Tiger may not be extinct.

Baby goats in pajamas! (Long version). more inside

The SS Palo Alto , a concrete ship, was smashed and broken against the pier by storms this week. But concrete ships have been around since the late 19th century, and there are and were many others.

Feeding whipped cream to raccoons from a can. I am going to end up like this in old age, and I will die of rabies. Also, raccoons mob people for Doritos.

Monkey face orchids and more flowers that look like other things

Beehive art editing

The feral cats of Disneyland

How Money Travels (in the United States) more inside

Embroidered Eggs

Sharpie art on styrofoam cups. The artist's website (from a note on one of the Sharpie cups).

A description of the Joplin tornado by an ER doctor who was on duty at St. John's Hospital when it was hit. more inside

Carved pencils

The CBS blacklist during McCarthy's Red Scare

A new species is emerging in Canada and New England: the coywolf