In “An Instruction Manual To Oneself“, the School of Life offers thoughtful insight into the fact that humans, unlike machines, don’t come with instructions, but instead rely upon one another to communicate their emotional needs, wants and desires ahead of any prickly issues that arise.

Most machines of any degree of complexity are offered to us with an instruction manual, a guide to how an unfamiliar technology works, what we can expect from it, how to get the best out of it and how to interpret its signals – the assumption being that it will be so much easier and less enraging to deal with the machine when we have taken some time systematically and patiently to learn how it operates. Yet one area where we tend not to have manuals to read is when it comes to other people and their functioning…We don’t need our lovers to be perfect. We need them to warn us of their quirks in good time. We need them to give us an instruction manual to themselves.

Nora, the absolutely adorable polar bear cub was hand-raised by the dedicated staff at the Columbus Zoo after her mother rejected her just a few days after she was born, will be moving to her new home at the Oregon Zoo in the fall. The decision was made in order to provide an environment that would be most conducive to Nora’s busy schedule, which would have otherwise disturbed the pregnant females in Ohio.

Nora was born on Nov. 6, 2015, at the Columbus Zoo. Her mother initially provided maternal care, but after about a week she left the cub unattended in the den for prolonged periods of time. At that point, the Columbus Zoo care team made the difficult decision to hand-rear the cub and began providing around-the-clock care. Nora weighed about 1 pound when the care team began raising her; she now weighs more than 150. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan recommended Nora’s transfer so that the Columbus Zoo could provide the best environment for future cubs to be born. Would-be mothers require calm and quiet, which would not have been possible with the scheduled habitat rotations that occurred with Nora.

Nora’s story as told by Shannon Morarity, one of her dedicated caretakers at the Columbus Zoo.

In response to his brother Hanks‘s very succinct explanation of how to vote in every state and territory, author and vlogger John Green presented the six most common reasons given for not voting in the 2016 United States Presidential Election and his eloquent counter to each. Green also spoke about a time he didn’t vote because he had just moved to another state.

…I had no idea how to register and suddenly I looked up and the deadline had passed. It’s true that the system makes it hard for people who move around a lot to vote but I lacked the fortitude to stand up to that system and it’s one of the great shames of my life. I feel like I failed my community and myself and also people who live far away from me who desperately want the opportunity that I took for granted. Of course my vote wouldn’t have changed the outcomes in any elections but the combined votes of even ten percent of the thousands of people who were like me – that would have changed some outcomes. If you’re eligible to vote in the United States I’m asking you to become a registered and informed voter and to make your voice heard. Even if it’s hard, in fact especially if it’s hard

In the fourth episode of the wonderfully cheeky series Golden Thrones, host Jon DelCollo who seeks out the best public restrooms in the world, stopped in at The Way Station in Brooklyn to explore and eloquently puntificate about their incredible TARDIS-themed loo.

This is a type 40 TARDIS, able to take its passengers to any point in time and space. And fortunately, it’s currently set to take us to a fantastic water closet. …Whether you’re here to execute a Dalek, or just for a River Song, this state-of-the-art control room has all the hardware you need to assist you on any adventure. The white porcelain bowl by AquaSource is beautifully accented by this wood finished seat and lid—which isn’t too wibbly-wobbly, so you won’t be in for a very tough timey-wimey. The translucent windows allow any outsiders to BB-see if someone’s inside. So no one barges in and spots your Sonic Screwdriver.

DelCollo also created a 360° video of this WC, which truly made him a madman with a box.

A silly white-crested cockatoo joined a trio of adorable little kittens and began to meow and hiss in perfect imitation, seemingly in an effort to scare the young felines away.

via reddit

Allec Joshua Ibay recreated the crash landing of 1989’s United Airlines Flight 232 in Microsoft Flight Simulator. When the DC-10 suffered a failure of its tail-mounted engine, the flight crew lost control of the plane but were still able to save the lives of 185 of the 296 people on board.

The intense simulation of the tragic flight takes viewers through a step-by-step account of the flight’s final minutes and how the crew was able to save the lives it did.

United Airlines Flight 232 was a DC-10 (registered N1819U) that on July 19, 1989 crash-landed in Sioux City, Iowa after suffering catastrophic failure of its tail-mounted engine, which led to the loss of all flight controls. The flight was en route from Stapleton International Airport in Denver, Colorado to O’Hare International Airport in Chicago. Of the 296 people on board, 111 died in the accident and 185 survived. Despite the deaths, the accident is considered a prime example of successful crew resource management due to the large number of survivors and the manner in which the flight crew handled the emergency and landed the airplane without conventional control. The flight crew became well known as a result of their actions, in particular the captain, Alfred C. Haynes, and a DC-10 instructor on board who offered his assistance, Dennis E. Fitch.

via reddit

The MSTR KEY by the MSTRMND Collective is a 20-in-1 key-sized multitool that easily fits on a key chain. At just half an ounce, the MSTR KEY adds a lot of functionality without adding much bulk or weight. The MSTR KEY can be used as a wrench, screwdriver, bottle opener, wire stripper, and more.

MSTRMND Collective is raising money for the MSTR KEY through a Kickstarter campaign with discounted tools being offered as incentives.

submitted via Laughing Squid Tips

The Toasteroid is a unique toaster that is controlled by a proprietary app that offers a wide selection of fun designs that literally get baked into bread. Users can also toast designs of their own hand with the handy doodle function within the app.

Toasteroid is NOT just a toaster. An ordinary toaster turns bread brown and that’s the ONLY thing a toaster can do. Toasteroid can be your personal Weather Forecaster, Private Messenger, and Doodle Pad. It can do all of the above with simple commands from your smartphone and still make the most perfect piece of toast you’ve ever had. Making toast with Toasteroid is super easy. Just download the Toasteroid companion mobile app, connect your smart phone to Toasteroid via Bluetooth and toast away! …Making Custom images is just as easy. Select the Custom Image option from the main menu and start doodling! You can also use this option to write custom messages, reminders, and greetings too!

A photo posted by Toasteroid (@toasteroid_) on Jul 7, 2016 at 9:22pm PDT

A photo posted by Toasteroid (@toasteroid_) on Jul 7, 2016 at 9:28pm PDT

A photo posted by Toasteroid (@toasteroid_) on Jul 5, 2016 at 2:12am PDT

Pacman being chased ???????? #doodleart #pacman #toast #creative #creativetoast #toasty #toaster #like4like #instatoast #igdaily #doodle #art #toasteroid

A photo posted by Toasteroid (@toasteroid_) on Jul 4, 2016 at 2:06am PDT

via New Atlas, OhGizmo!, The Awesomer