Sunday Links

Read the story behind iconic mid-century portrait, Slim Aarons’ Christmas Swim (image above of the photographer’s wife, Rita Aarons)

A story about US state name abbreviations. Via Memo Of The Air

Here's what Canadian provinces are doing with all the US liquor they pulled off shelves

The Legacy Of Grunge Via Web Curios

We aren’t sending out any Christmas presents... I’m sick of Jesus, and don’t see at all why he should go on being born every year. We might have somebody else born, for a change.  What do I want for Christmas? 

The Whoppers of 2025 Guess who dominates the list.

The Artful Codger

This is an interesting story about the takeover of a liveable US city by billionaires and legislation that is being introduced to stop them from further ruining the lives of the people who live there.

Sea Lion rescue in Cowichan Bay, British Columbia

“Historians will study how bad this book is. English teachers will hold this book aloft at their students to remind them that literally anyone can write a book: Look at this, it’s just not that hard to do.” The Most Scathing Book Reviews of 2025

Gifts for People You Hate 2025: Boycott Friendly Edition Some are appropriately horrific. Via everlasting blort

Woman kills 2 ex-husbands in Tampa, Bradenton, Manatee. Detectives let her know that they are there to speak about her ex-husband,” the sheriff said. “She says, ‘Which one?’

A selection of topics considered by the Athenian Society: “Eunuch, whether ever in Love?”, “Hedg-hogs, how are they propagated?”, “Kissing, is there any Pleasure in it?” and more…

Most Streamed English Speaking Artist By Country On Spotify In 2025 

A Christmas Memory A1959 original recording of Truman Capote reading his holiday story A Christmas Memory. (Via PfRC)

Who says you need a sled to go sledding? Via Memo Of The Air

When I was a kid there were quite a few movies where people got stuck in quicksand.  My friends and I treated it as a real threat and it turns out we were right. What it’s like to become trapped in quicksand.

Stressed rats self medicate with cannabis

A Santaland story. This one made me cry: Playing Santa Does Strange Things to a Man. Via Web Curios

BBC has posted their list of the 20 best places to travel in 2026. Usually I have already visited a few of their choices. This time there is just one place I have been (Uruguay). 

15 marvelous ice installations around the world.

Did you know that most Canadians live south of Seattle? We're Wrong About The Location of Many Countries  (a repost from 2023)

John Cleese plays a frustrated book store clerk, a role that seems to come quite naturally to him.

An hour of Persian jazz to soothe your soul. Via Memo Of The Air